"I wouldn't give my 1k to a third party website"
I do it all the time. Just in the last year I have donated to someone for surgery, someone who was asking for donations for a cancer run and a friend of mine passed away and we donated money towards the funeral. These sites are safe and its what people use today to collect money for things. Just a very common thing used nowadays.
I was the first person to say we might not need an Equity Committee (posts 15599 and 15608). I now believe one should be formed. I also believe if you are afraid of RG forming one, make sure someone else does it first.