Creating a GoFundMe with your child is an exciting and meaningful project for both a parent and child. Setting up a charitable campaign is the perfect way to teach social responsibility, encourage empathy from a young age, and get children excited to "do good." We’ve seen some amazing kid heroes making a difference through GoFundMe, and we look forward to seeing your kid hero shine, too!
- Be Inspired. Check out some of the amazing kids on GoFundMe, to get an idea for the magic you and your child can create to help others.
- Choose a Cause! If your child isn’t sure what they want to raise money for, browse through our Certified Charity List. Some charities we’ve seen children raise money for are Wounded Warriors, Wigs for Kids, and local homeless shelters.
- Sign Up. Use your email address and name, or your child’s email address and name (this is up to you!) to sign up for your GoFundMe account. If you use your child’s name, you’ll be able to enter your name with the withdrawal details (should you choose to withdraw the money to a bank account in your name).
- Pick a Goal. For children’s campaigns, consider starting small: $100-$500 is good to start. (Remember how much $100 seemed like to you when you were younger?)
- Choose a Catchy Title. We suggest including your child’s name so they really feel like the GoFundMe is theirs. Some examples are: Lauren’s Lemonade Stand, Help Lauren Support _______, Lauren’s Birthday Party Fundraiser, and Help Lauren Make a Difference!
- Charity or Personal? Decide if you want the funds to go directly to a 501(c)(3) organization or to an individual.
- Certified Charity campaign: For the funds to go directly to a 501(c)(3) certified charity, select "Charity or Non-profit" under "Who are you raising money for" on the sign-up screen, as shown here. If you choose to start a Certified Charity campaign, GoFundMe will send the funds directly to the 501(c)(3) you choose, and your donors will receive tax receipts for their donations.
- Personal campaign: If your funds are for someone you know, withdraw the funds directly or send the funds directly to a beneficiary. To learn more about adding a beneficiary, see: GoFundMe Guide: Inviting a Beneficiary
- Certified Charity campaign: For the funds to go directly to a 501(c)(3) certified charity, select "Charity or Non-profit" under "Who are you raising money for" on the sign-up screen, as shown here. If you choose to start a Certified Charity campaign, GoFundMe will send the funds directly to the 501(c)(3) you choose, and your donors will receive tax receipts for their donations.
- Select a Category. We suggest: "Volunteer & Service," "Non-profits & Charities," or "Celebrations & Events."
- Use a Colorful Photo. If you’re comfortable doing so, use an image with your child in it! Supporters may be more inclined to donate when they see a photo of a child they know, looking excited about their charitable cause! Plus, establishing a personal connection when fundraising is important.
- Write an Engaging Story. We recommend writing with your child, from their perspective. This is their campaign after all! Check out these amazing examples for ideas on how to write a story with your little do-gooder:
- Add Reward Levels. If your child is running a personal campaign, add Reward Levels to make it a fun and collaborative experience for everyone. Some ideas:
- A personalized drawing
- A handwritten thank-you note
- A video of your child singing a thank-you song!
- Homemade cookies?
Note: Reward Levels are not an option on Certified Charity campaigns.
- Start Sharing! We suggest sharing in the following ways:
- Post on Facebook, from either your or your child’s perspective.
- Add all relatives as email contacts (and ask them to share for you!).
- Text the link to the family group text message.
- Share the GoFundMe with your child’s teacher, to see if they can pass it on to the class email list.
- Help your child start a bake sale or lemonade stand to supplement the funds they raise online! This is a great place to share the link, as well.
- Encourage your child to make flyers or posters to hang around the community! Make sure they include the link to the campaign. Some great places to hang these are at the local library, coffee shop, or community center. Other places to pass them out are at school, to relatives, and sending them via email to people in other cities, to see if they might be willing to print and hang them in their communities as well!
Here are some examples:
- Keep the Campaign Current. Regularly post updates with your child to share your campaign’s success with friends and family. This simple exercise teaches children the importance of effective communication, timeliness, and showing appreciation.
Pro-tip: Adding photos to updates makes them something your supporters will really look forward to receiving. - Send Thank-You's. Help your child send thank-you notes with a thoughtful message through their GoFundMe Dashboard! If they’re interested, you can also encourage them to send handwritten notes via "snail mail."
Teaching children the value of altruism through charitable fundraising has never been easier. Remember, the GoFundMe team is here 24/7 to help you and your child run a successful campaign.