Table 2.

Perceptions and experiences of crowdfunding among crowdfunders

Theme	Sub-theme	Description	Exemplar quotes
The crowdfunding compromise	Crowdfunding as useful and/or helpful	Participants described crowdfunding as a solution to meet their immediate financial needs, and allowed them to focus on other aspects of cancer care and treatment.	“As the old saying goes, something is better than nothing and we needed all the help we could get.” (P32) “[Crowdfunding] helped cover costs I wouldn’t have been able to cover on my own.” (P16) “I wouldn’t have been able to survive financially without [crowdfunding].” (P40) “[Crowdfunding] allowed me to help provide for my family.” (P44)
	Factors associated with crowdfunding success	Participants described both facilitators (factors that helped with raising money on crowdfunding); and barriers (factors that limited successful campaigns) to crowdfunding.	“Media attention gets the largest donations.” (P20) “I think if you have friends and connections with money you will make money crowdfunding anywhere.” (P19) “While people in our immediate circles - parents, grandparents, close friends, etc. - could help directly, crowd funding allowed other people who cared to give in a convenient way.” (P14)
	Questioning the “Why”	Participants struggled with asking “Why is crowdfunding even necessary?” Participants saw crowdfunding to be humiliating and were frustrated they were required to leverage their vulnerability against financial support.	“I felt uneasy about asking for help paying for bills and living costs while I went through chemo.” (P5) “I’ve noticed crowdfunding gets the most support immediately after diagnosis. After treatment, the attitude seems to be ‘I already gave what I could.’ [Those without cancer] think the drama is over even if the patient is still financially struggling.” (P31)