Unexpected refund from GoFundMe

We think it’s wonderful that you’ve chosen to support someone through GoFundMe in their time of need. However, because every fundraiser has different circumstances, there can be times when unrequested refunds will be issued. You could receive an unexpected refund because:

The GoFundMe organizer decided to deactivate their fundraiser

The GoFundMe organizer may have decided to deactivate their fundraiser and refund all donors. If you’re a donor, it would be best to get in touch with the GoFundMe organizer for more information. If the fundraiser is still active, you can use the contact button to reach out to them. If it’s deactivated, we can assist you in contacting them if needed.

The donation couldn't be verified

The GoFundMe Risk team or our payment partners may proactively refund donations if we’re unable to verify a donor’s identity. These security measures are designed to protect GoFundMe organizers from fraudulent donations. If you’re a donor and would like to contribute again, we can work with our payment processor to verify your identity by reviewing your government-issued ID or a link to your social media, such as Facebook or LinkedIn. Please get in touch with us by clicking "Contact Us" on this page to get that process started.

The GoFundMe organizer didn’t verify their account or transfer funds within required deadlines

Due to federal regulations, our payment processors can’t hold funds for extended periods of time. Our team sends several reminders to the GoFundMe organizer to assist them with the transfer process.

If a GoFundMe organizer doesn’t verify their account within the required time frame, their donations will be automatically refunded in full back to donors. Donors will receive funds back to the card used to make the donation within 3-10 business days.

The donation was disputed with a card provider

Donors have the right to dispute their donation with their card issuer. This usually happens if the donor doesn’t recognize the charge in their bank statement.

This results in the card issuer pulling the funds from the GoFundMe organizer’s payment account (not their personal bank account). If you’re a GoFundMe organizer, read this article to learn more about addressing a disputed charge.

The donation was made by the GoFundMe organizer

GoFundMe organizers aren't allowed to donate to their own personal fundraisers, even if the donation was given to you by someone else by cash or check.

This can be seen as a cash advance in the banking world, and these donations will need to be refunded.