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Behind the Kyle Rittenhouse Campaign
Posted by Alex Shipley on Oct 16, 2025
In August 2020, a 17-year-old from Illinois named Kyle Rittenhouse found himself at the center of one of the most polarizing moments in recent American history. What began as a night of unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, turned into a national firestorm when Rittenhouse, armed with a rifle, fatally shot two men and injured another during the riots. The footage spread instantly. Social media exploded. Politicians, pundits, and reporters all had something to say. Some saw Kyle as a vigilante; others as a young man defending himself in a city on fire.
And before a jury ever heard the facts, the court of public opinion had already issued its verdict.
What often gets lost in the headlines, though, is what happened next — how a teenager and his family suddenly had to face a legal battle no one is ever prepared for, and how GiveSendGo became a lifeline when others turned them away.
As Kyle faced serious charges, including homicide, his family turned to crowdfunding to help pay for his legal defense. Mounting a quality defense in a high-profile case can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars — sometimes more.
But when supporters tried to raise funds for him on GFM, their efforts were quickly shut down. The platform removed campaigns tied to Kyle, later citing “policy restrictions.” This left his supporters frustrated and searching for answers.
That’s when they found GiveSendGo.
Unlike GFM, GiveSendGo believes people deserve the chance to raise funds for their needs, regardless of how controversial their situation might be or whether or not we personally agree with the cause. We’re not meant to be judge and jury, but to offer a space where people can confidently fundraise without fear of being deplatformed or censored.
Because here’s the truth: if the media or public opinion decides who gets a defense, we lose the foundation of fairness itself.
Wouldn’t you want someone to have the best possible defense, so that when a verdict is reached, you know it was fair — not determined by who could afford a lawyer or who the internet liked that week?
A quality defense shouldn’t be reserved for the wealthy or the popular. It’s a right every American deserves — the right to due process, to fairness, and to truth.
When Kyle’s campaign launched on GiveSendGo, it went viral almost overnight. Donations poured in from people who didn’t all necessarily agree on what happened that night in Kenosha, but who believed in the importance of due process.
Thousands gave. Thousands more prayed.
Supporters shared messages like, “Stay strong,” “We’re praying for truth to prevail,” and “Justice for all means justice for you, too.”
In a 2021 press release, we shared that the campaign had become one of the most active legal defense campaigns on the platform, showing what can happen when ordinary people rally around the principle of fairness.
On November 19, 2021, after one of the most-watched trials in modern history, Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted on all charges. The jury found that he had acted in self-defense.
“Without GiveSendGo stepping in, this young man wouldn’t have been afforded that right to a fair trial,” said GiveSendGo co-founder Jacob Wells. “Rittenhouse has now been declared innocent in a court of law, and every platform that canceled him should be ashamed for not standing with the side of justice.” [Read official release]
The ruling sparked debate across the country, but it also raised a deeper question: What happens when public platforms decide who deserves help?
GiveSendGo’s role in that moment wasn’t about politics — it was about principle. It reminded the world that hope, freedom, and fairness can still find a place to stand when everything else seems divided.
And it set a precedent that continues to matter — for whistleblowers, veterans, workers, and everyday people who suddenly find themselves at the center of controversy and need help navigating it.
As GiveSendGo co-founder Heather Wilson said in the same press release, “What would have happened to Kyle had GiveSendGo not been there? GiveSendGo exists to provide hope to the hopeless through crowdfunding, and that’s exactly what happened with Kyle Rittenhouse. In the end, Kyle was found innocent, and we had his back — even when no one else did.” [Read official release]
Kyle Rittenhouse’s campaign wasn’t just about one person’s defense — it was about everyone’s freedom to ask for help. When every other door shut, GiveSendGo stayed open.
One day, any one of us could find ourselves in a position where we need help and others to stand with us. Regardless of personal belief or what you’ve done, would anyone be there to support you?
That’s what GiveSendGo exists to protect.
Additional Reading:
And before a jury ever heard the facts, the court of public opinion had already issued its verdict.
What often gets lost in the headlines, though, is what happened next — how a teenager and his family suddenly had to face a legal battle no one is ever prepared for, and how GiveSendGo became a lifeline when others turned them away.
When Help Was Needed Most
As Kyle faced serious charges, including homicide, his family turned to crowdfunding to help pay for his legal defense. Mounting a quality defense in a high-profile case can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars — sometimes more.
But when supporters tried to raise funds for him on GFM, their efforts were quickly shut down. The platform removed campaigns tied to Kyle, later citing “policy restrictions.” This left his supporters frustrated and searching for answers.
That’s when they found GiveSendGo.
Unlike GFM, GiveSendGo believes people deserve the chance to raise funds for their needs, regardless of how controversial their situation might be or whether or not we personally agree with the cause. We’re not meant to be judge and jury, but to offer a space where people can confidently fundraise without fear of being deplatformed or censored.
Because here’s the truth: if the media or public opinion decides who gets a defense, we lose the foundation of fairness itself.
Wouldn’t you want someone to have the best possible defense, so that when a verdict is reached, you know it was fair — not determined by who could afford a lawyer or who the internet liked that week?
A quality defense shouldn’t be reserved for the wealthy or the popular. It’s a right every American deserves — the right to due process, to fairness, and to truth.
His Fundraising Journey
When Kyle’s campaign launched on GiveSendGo, it went viral almost overnight. Donations poured in from people who didn’t all necessarily agree on what happened that night in Kenosha, but who believed in the importance of due process.
Thousands gave. Thousands more prayed.
Supporters shared messages like, “Stay strong,” “We’re praying for truth to prevail,” and “Justice for all means justice for you, too.”
In a 2021 press release, we shared that the campaign had become one of the most active legal defense campaigns on the platform, showing what can happen when ordinary people rally around the principle of fairness.
The Verdict and the Ripple Effect
On November 19, 2021, after one of the most-watched trials in modern history, Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted on all charges. The jury found that he had acted in self-defense.
“Without GiveSendGo stepping in, this young man wouldn’t have been afforded that right to a fair trial,” said GiveSendGo co-founder Jacob Wells. “Rittenhouse has now been declared innocent in a court of law, and every platform that canceled him should be ashamed for not standing with the side of justice.” [Read official release]
The ruling sparked debate across the country, but it also raised a deeper question: What happens when public platforms decide who deserves help?
GiveSendGo’s role in that moment wasn’t about politics — it was about principle. It reminded the world that hope, freedom, and fairness can still find a place to stand when everything else seems divided.
And it set a precedent that continues to matter — for whistleblowers, veterans, workers, and everyday people who suddenly find themselves at the center of controversy and need help navigating it.
As GiveSendGo co-founder Heather Wilson said in the same press release, “What would have happened to Kyle had GiveSendGo not been there? GiveSendGo exists to provide hope to the hopeless through crowdfunding, and that’s exactly what happened with Kyle Rittenhouse. In the end, Kyle was found innocent, and we had his back — even when no one else did.” [Read official release]
Why His Story Matters
Kyle Rittenhouse’s campaign wasn’t just about one person’s defense — it was about everyone’s freedom to ask for help. When every other door shut, GiveSendGo stayed open.
One day, any one of us could find ourselves in a position where we need help and others to stand with us. Regardless of personal belief or what you’ve done, would anyone be there to support you?
That’s what GiveSendGo exists to protect.
Additional Reading:
- GiveSendGo.com, the Only Platform to Stand With Innocent Man, Kyle Rittenhouse | GiveSendGo Press Release
- Article by WORLD News
- New York Post Says Crowdfunding Site Was Created For Rittenhouse Campaign. A Blatant Misrepresentation.| GiveSendGo Press Release
- Discover Card bans users from donating to Christian crowdfunding site after campaigns raise money for Kyle Rittenhouse, Kenosha officer| GiveSendGo Press Release
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