'Bring Madeleine home' fund.?

Is it usual for this type of fund, which is not clsed as a charity, so the money can be used almost as required, to be run by members of the family. In my view this is not acceptable as, like many, have followed this case with interest, but at no point did I realise that the donations made to 'bring Madeleine home' could be used to 'support the family' which of course could mean almost anything