Nick LeRoy turns SEO consulting into fundraiser for Minnesota immigrant support

Nick LeRoy, a longtime SEO consultant, is turning his platform into a fundraising engine. He’s offering consulting in exchange for donations to Minnesota-based immigrant support efforts amid escalating ICE activity in the state.

• LeRoy said recent events in Minnesota crossed “every ethical line” he had drawn professionally, prompting him to act rather than comment from the sidelines.
• He announced the initiative yesterday on LinkedIn and in a blog post.

What’s happening. LeRoy is trading his services for donations to GiveMN, a Minnesota-based fundraising platform that distributes funds to individuals and families impacted by recent ICE raids and related unrest.

• Within seven hours of launching, LeRoy reported $1,850 raised, later updating the total to $1,950.
• Support came from well-known SEO agencies, SaaS companies, and individual practitioners.

Why we care. This effort highlights another side of the search marketing industry: we are a tightly knit community capable of mobilizing skills, attention, and resources for causes beyond search. LeRoy is willing to use his professional skills in the service of something larger. This is also another reminder of how quickly our community can mobilize for collective action.

Catch up quick. The fundraiser is tied to outrage over Operation “Metro Surge,” a federal immigration enforcement action launched in December. The operation sent roughly 3,000 ICE and Border Patrol agents into the Twin Cities.

• LeRoy said the action has led to racial profiling, warrantless home entries, workplace detentions, and the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in downtown Minneapolis.
• These events have triggered widespread protests.

What he’s saying. As LeRoy put it:

• “This is NOT about politics. This is about treating all people as humans.”