Welcome! GoFundMe is the world’s largest crowdfunding platform, with over $9 billion raised so far. With a community of more than 50 million donors, GoFundMe is changing the way the world gives.
With GoFundMe, it’s easy to raise funds for yourself, your family or for the causes you are most passionate about. Donors from all over the world can securely donate using any major credit or debit card. Backed by the GoFundMe Guarantee, GoFundMe is a safe and secure platform for giving. Our team of specialists works hard to make sure that funds get to the intended recipient, every time. In the rare case that something isn’t right, you can look to our GoFundMe Guarantee, which ensures that we will work with you to determine if misuse has occurred. Learn more.
Before you get started, the video and article below share a helpful overview of what to expect when you start a GoFundMe.
What can I use GoFundMe for?
The short answer is: you can use GoFundMe for just about anything.
Most people use GoFundMe to raise money for themselves, a loved one, or a friend in need during life's most important moments. This can include anything from medical expenses, education costs, trips & aspirations, volunteer programs, youth sports, funerals & memorials, or animals & pets. GoFundMe can also be used to raise money for your favorite charity.
We encourage you to check out some recent Success Stories or Take the Tour. You may also review our Terms of Service if you're unsure that the content of your fundraiser is allowed. If you have additional questions, the Prohibited Conduct section lists the most common types of fundraisers we do not currently permit.
Starting your GoFundMe
First, please click “Start a GoFundMe” from our homepage.
When you click “Start a GoFundMe”, you will automatically be prompted to sign in or sign up for a GoFundMe account. If you already have a GoFundMe account, please use the option of signing in. Otherwise, you can enter your name, email address, and a password to create a new account!
Please note, the name you enter when creating a GoFundMe is the name that will be displayed on the fundraiser page. For our customers who no longer use their legal name, whether for safety or personal reasons, you can enter your chosen name here, and it won’t affect the name entered for purposes of setting up withdrawals, to have the funds raised transferred to the beneficiary (either you or the intended recipient of the funds).
Creating your fundraiser
When you sign into your new GoFundMe, you will automatically be prompted to create your fundraiser. If you signed into a preexisting GoFundMe, you will need to click “start new fundraiser” on your dashboard.
The first step will be to enter the basic information about your campaign. Don’t worry, all of this (except for the currency type) can be edited later if you change your mind!
1. Choose goal amount
Your goal is important but you’ll want to make sure it’s attainable. It’s always a good idea to reflect on how much you’re looking to raise, but you always have the option to edit this later in your fundraiser if you find the goal is too low or too high. Additionally, your fundraiser won't automatically end if you reach your goal.
You should also keep the transaction fees in mind when you're setting your goal. There is no cost to an organizer to create a GoFundMe, but a transaction fee (which includes debit and credit charges) per donation applies. Beneficiaries receive all funds raised minus the transaction fees so if you're fundraising for a very specific amount of funds, considering transaction fees when setting your goal will be important. Check out this link to find pricing and fees for your country.
Important: Please choose the currency that you plan to withdraw the funds in. You will not be able to change the currency after creating your fundraiser, and we cannot convert the currency once funds have been raised. You can also check out the withdrawal requirements here.
2. Create a fundraiser title
This is your chance to stand out. Create a title that is specific to your cause, using names or a call to action. For example, ‘Help Kelly Smile Again’ has more impact than ‘funds for the dentist’. It has to be 35 characters or less, so make sure it fits!
3. Who are you raising funds for?
This helps establish whether you’re creating a personal fundraiser (for an individual or organization) or a certified charity fundraiser (for a charity or non-profit). If you are creating a personal fundraiser, please select “Myself or Someone Else”. If you are creating a Certified Charity Fundraiser, you can select “Nonprofit”.
You can find out more about choosing a fundraiser type here.
4. Enter your zip or postal code
GoFundMe is home to many causes around the world but we aren’t in every country just yet. Please make sure you are entering a valid postal code for a supported country. If your postal code is not recognized by our system, your campaign cannot be created. You will know it is a valid postal code because the location name will pop up and you can select it. If you don’t see your location’s name, and instead see “use my entry”, it most likely means you are entering an invalid postal code. Please double-check it, and then re-enter a valid postal code.
5. Choose your category
Choosing a category is a way to help us keep fundraisers organized. It’s mainly helpful for our team to provide tips that are related to your category. Don’t overthink it!
6. Are you fundraising as a team or as an individual?
You can choose either of these options when setting up your fundraiser. If you’re the sole organizer, then you will manage all aspects and sharing for the fundraiser. If you want a bit of support from friends or a club that can help you share the fundraiser and post updates with you, then choosing the team option might be a good option for you. Find out more about adding a team here.
You can always opt in to adding a team after your fundraiser has already been created.
7. Add a main image
We always suggest adding an image of yourself or what you’re raising funds for. The image should be an image you own or have the rights to post and share. In addition, the image you choose should be 550 pixels wide by 300 pixels tall. You will want to use a JPEG, PNG, or BMP to ensure that it’s uploaded properly. Check out this article on why choosing the right image for your fundraiser is important.
You also have the option of embedding a video that you uploaded to YouTube. Make sure it’s public, so that everyone can see it!
8. Write your story
A great story will be open and descriptive, and include a bit about who you are, what you're raising funds for, and how the money will be spent. If you're raising money for someone else (the beneficiary), it's a good idea to share how you know them! You can also use the bold formatting or photo upload links in this section to further bring your story to life!
Read more about fundraiser stories here.
Sharing your fundraiser
At this point, your fundraiser can start receiving donations. However, no one will see your fundraiser until you start to share it!
That’s why we ask you to connect your Facebook and even attach your Facebook photo! If you don’t have social media (or prefer not to connect it just yet) you can skip this option.
Another option is to email your friends about your fundraiser, which you can do by connecting your email with GoFundMe. This is a great way to import your contacts and send invitations to invite your network to view your fundraiser.
Remember, sharing is the key part to getting donations on GoFundMe. If you aren’t sharing your fundraiser with your friends and family, then it’s likely not going to get donations. Using your personal network can help get you closer to your goal.
Finally, you can create your own memorable link to easily share. You can simply choose the “Edit link” button to change it to something personal to your cause. You can only change your link once, so if you make an error, reach out to our team and we can get that edited on our end.
Managing your fundraiser
You should now be taken to your dashboard. It is important to note that you will have to set up the withdrawals, (or invite the beneficiary to) so that the funds raised are deposited into the right bank account. You can do that here, or wait until you receive an email from GoFundMe.
Otherwise, the dashboard is where you’ll manage all aspects of your fundraiser. Edit your story, share your fundraiser, post an update, and invite donors. It’s all found here!