frequently asked questions

GoFundMe.org is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises and distributes funds to address urgent, unmet needs of people and communities, informed by insights from the GoFundMe platform and the philanthropic priorities of a wide range of community partners. Our impact is powered by support from GoFundMe, Inc and a global network of donors who give generously to support our charitable funds. 

GoFundMe.org operates at a 96% efficiency rate. This means that $0.96 of every dollar donated goes directly to support the cause. The remaining 4% reflects a combination of (a) a standard transaction fee that allows for credit card processing and the safe transfer of funds over platforms; (b) bank fees; and (c) postage and other expenses incurred in the normal course of business. GoFundMe, Inc. supports GoFundMe.org by sharing resources, funds, tools, and staff so that GoFundMe.org can raise and distribute cash grants for individuals and nonprofits in a low-cost and effective manner.

Yes, because we are a public charity, donations made to GoFundMe.org are tax- deductible in the U.S. to the extent allowed by law. Our federal tax ID number (EIN) is 81-2279757.

The fund you donate to will describe its mission and the types of projects it supports. 

As a GoFundMe.org fund takes in donations, our staff distributes grants to verified individuals and vetted nonprofits that meet the charitable class and purpose stated in that fund description. In some cases, funds may prioritize granting to individuals first, and then to nonprofits. Some funds opt to benefit multiple nonprofit organizations addressing the same general need.

GoFundMe is a fundraising platform run by GoFundMe, Inc, a commercial, for-profit company. GoFundMe.org is an independently run registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that maintains its own board. GoFundMe, Inc supports GoFundMe.org by sharing resources, funds, tools, and employees so that GoFundMe.org can raise and distribute cash grants for individuals and nonprofits in a low-cost and effective manner.

To be considered for a grant from a GoFundMe.org fund that is granting to personal GoFundMe fundraisers, your fundraiser must benefit a charitable class and align with the mission of the GoFundMe.org fund. If you want to nominate a GoFundMe fundraiser for consideration, navigate to the Fund description where it says, “If you are unsure if your fundraiser is up for review, please submit it using this form.” Each fund has its own submission form on the fund page, and there is an option to include any other details you think might qualify it for a grant.

It depends on how you donate. If you donate online via the GoFundMe platform, your receipt will be automatically emailed to you.  

If you make an offline donation or donate through a different platform, we issue donation receipts within the quarter the donation was received. That said, at times, we may be delayed. If you did not receive a tax receipt, please reach out to us at info@gofundme.org.

GoFundMe.org fundraisers raise money into a central fund from which many people and nonprofits can benefit. An example would be a central wildfire fund that raises money following a disaster and grants out to many people affected. GoFundMe fundraisers benefit just one individual or one nonprofit.

When you give to a GoFundMe.org fund, you don’t have to specify a fundraiser or nonprofit to support – we do that for you. Simply make a tax-deductible donation to a GoFundMe.org fund, and we’ll pool your gift with other donations. Your money will go towards directly benefiting people in need or a nonprofit whose work aligns with the fund’s mission. 

GoFundMe.org accepts donations through traditional means such as wire, ACH, checks, grants from donor-advised funds (DAFs), and other entities like private foundations, stock, property, and cryptocurrency. Visit GoFundMe.org’s off-platform donation page to donate this way. GoFundMe.org accepts donations through the GoFundMe platform using credit or debit cards, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

If a grant application, reporting, or other requirement is necessary for any donation/grant, GoFundMe.org is happy to accommodate such requirements. Please reach out to us at info@gofundme.org for any additional information you need.

Yes, GoFundMe.org has both the experience and the systems in place to ensure donor anonymity for donations that it receives off the platform. For example, if the donation comes through a donor-advised fund, GoFundMe.org does not need to know the name of the donor.  

In certain contexts, information about the donor is required for legal compliance. For example, a $1,000,000 donation from outside of the United States may trigger a review under the Office of Foreign Assets Control. In that scenario, the donor’s information will be used only to comply with any legal requirements.

All grantees are verified prior to receiving a grant. 

GoFundMe.org works with GoFundMe, Inc.’s Trust & Safety Team to vet nonprofit organizations that are being considered for a grant. We deploy proprietary technical tools for this vetting, and have multiple processes in place that are on par with those used at financial institutions. The team responsible for vetting organizations is comprised of experts who conduct a full IRS-compliant vet of NPOs to ensure that GoFundMe.org is only granting to the highest quality organizations to ensure donors’ money is responsibly granted. Checks include but are not limited to being an actively registered nonprofit with IRS, that its leadership has not been flagged for any financial crimes or adverse mentions, and that its mission aligns with the purpose of our fund, and compliance with sanctions.  We also consider program efficiency.  

GoFundMe.org’s review team verifies all fundraisers that receive grants to ensure that the identified individual meets the charitable class, the flow of funds is clear, and meets other qualifying criteria. The team verifies the identity of GoFundMe fundraiser organizers and beneficiaries to detect fraudulent behavior.

It depends on how you donate. If you donate on the GoFundMe platform, there is a 2.9% transaction fee that is deducted by an external payment processor. If you donate via ACH/wire, check, crypto, DAF, or stock, then certain bank or other transaction or administrative fees may apply.

The amount varies and is based on the amount the fund has available to grant, and the size of the charitable class helped.

A GoFundMe Charity fundraiser will benefit a single nonprofit organization. A GoFundMe.org fund can benefit several nonprofit organizations working on a similar social problem, such as food insecurity or refugee resettlement.