Can You Use GoFundMe for Charity and What Are the Options

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GoFundMe is a popular platform for raising funds for various causes, but can you use it for charity? The short answer is yes, but with some limitations.

GoFundMe allows you to create a campaign for a charitable cause, and you can even apply for a GoFundMe Grant to help amplify your fundraising efforts.

To use GoFundMe for charity, you'll need to create a campaign that meets their requirements, including having a legitimate charitable purpose and ensuring that the funds raised will be used for the intended purpose.

You'll also need to register your charity with GoFundMe, which involves providing some basic information about your organization.

What is GoFundMe for Charity?

GoFundMe is a fantastic platform for charity fundraising. It allows individuals, groups, and organizations to connect with their network and beyond to raise money for their causes.

GoFundMe has a low (or no!) platform fee, which means you get to keep more of the funds you raise. This is a huge advantage for charities that need to stretch their dollars.

Credit: youtube.com, GoFundMe Charity - Onboarding

The platform is also secure and reliable, giving donors peace of mind when contributing. You can trust that the funds will be handled properly.

GoFundMe offers flexible fundraising options, so you can choose the approach that works best for your charity. Whether it's a one-time event or an ongoing campaign, you can set it up easily.

To get started, you can share your campaign on social media, reaching a large audience and spreading the word about your charity's cause.

Here are some benefits of using GoFundMe for charity:

  • Easy setup process
  • Access to a large audience
  • Flexible fundraising options
  • Social sharing
  • Secure and reliable

Alternatives to GoFundMe

If you're looking for alternatives to GoFundMe, there are several options available. One of the biggest selling points of GoFundMe is its price point - it's free, with no platform fees, but donors are asked for tips to cover fees.

DoJiggy is a free all-in-one GoFundMe alternative that's worth considering, especially for organizations. Fundly, on the other hand, is considered one of GoFundMe's biggest competitors in the crowdfunding market.

Donately is another free year-round giving alternative to GoFundMe, offering a customizable donation form that can be easily embedded into your nonprofit's website.

What Is Fundly

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Fundly is a fundraising platform that allows users to create campaigns for various purposes, including medical expenses, education, and community projects. It was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in San Francisco.

Fundly's fees are competitive, with a flat fee of 4.9% per transaction, which is lower than some other fundraising platforms. This makes it an attractive option for those looking to keep more of their donations.

Fundly offers a variety of tools and features to help users create successful campaigns, including customizable donation pages and social media sharing options.

Free Alternatives

If you're looking for a free alternative to GoFundMe, you're in luck. DoJiggy is a free alternative fundraising platform that offers a range of powerful features, including customizable donation forms, QR code generation, text-to-donate, and social media integrations.

Donately is another free year-round giving alternative to GoFundMe. This customizable donation form can be embedded directly into your nonprofit's website with little effort to start raising funds quickly.

Credit: youtube.com, GoFundMe Alternatives: Top 10 Platforms To Raise Money

It's worth noting that while GoFundMe doesn't charge a platform fee, they do ask donors for tips to cover fees. Several other software platforms follow this same pricing model and are free GoFundMe alternatives.

If you're looking for an all-in-one solution, consider DoJiggy, which offers an easy-to-use platform for all types of fundraisers, including raffles, online auctions and stores, event ticketing, and a-thons.

Here are some key features to consider when looking for a free alternative to GoFundMe:

Ultimately, the best free alternative to GoFundMe will depend on your specific needs and goals. Be sure to research and compare different options to find the one that works best for you.

Crowdfunding Platforms

You can use GoFundMe for charity, but you'll want to consider the platform fees and payment processing fees. GoFundMe Charity has a platform fee of 3% and payment processing fees of 2.2% + $0.30 per donation.

GoFundMe for individuals, on the other hand, has no platform fee, but payment processing fees of 2.9% + $0.30 per donation. However, GoFundMe Charity offers a feature where donors can cover your fees entirely, allowing you to get 100% of your money.

Credit: youtube.com, GoFundMe Complete Beginners Guide - How To Set Up A Campaign

Here are the campaign options for GoFundMe:

You may also want to consider FundRazr, which offers well-designed fundraising pages and allows you to add photos, videos, and more to engage donors. FundRazr offers several pricing packages, including a plan with $0 in platform fees if you ask donors to tip the platform.

FundRazr

FundRazr is a company that specializes in crowdfunding for nonprofits and individuals, making it a great option for those who want to raise funds for a specific cause or project.

You can set up a well-designed fundraising page in just minutes, and add photos, videos, and more to engage your donors.

FundRazr offers a few different pricing packages, and if you're willing to ask your donors to tip them, you can avoid platform fees altogether.

With FundRazr, you can also utilize wish lists and perks to make your fundraising campaign more effective.

Wish lists allow you to create a registry of items you need, making it easy for donors to contribute to a specific cause.

Perks are a great way to offer incentives to donors, such as prizes or rewards for reaching certain donation levels.

FundRazr is a good fit for nonprofits who have specific wish list items to fulfill or who want an easy way to organize perks in exchange for donations.

Key Features of Crowdfunding Platforms

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Crowdfunding platforms offer a range of features to help nonprofits succeed. One key feature is the ability to create a variety of campaign types, such as donation-based campaigns, as seen on GoFundMe.

GoFundMe, for example, has two types of campaigns: plain ol' GoFundMe for fundraising by individuals and GoFundMe Charity for nonprofit businesses. This allows nonprofits to choose the platform that best suits their needs.

A platform fee can be a significant consideration when choosing a crowdfunding platform. GoFundMe Charity, for instance, charges a 3% platform fee, while GoFundMe has no platform fee but charges a processing fee for payments.

Here's a comparison of GoFundMe and GoFundMe Charity fees:

Some crowdfunding platforms, like GoFundMe, also offer features that make it easier for nonprofits to manage their campaigns. For example, GoFundMe Charity offers a dashboard with donor and financial data, the ability to add custom branding to campaigns, and integrations with websites and email.

Ultimately, the key to a successful crowdfunding campaign is to promote it effectively and engage with donors. This can involve sharing updates on how donations are being used and offering incentives for donors to share the campaign with their friends.

Customer Reviews

Credit: youtube.com, GoFundMe Review by Yosef - They have extremely terrible 48-hour per reply e-mail service.

GoFundMe has a 4.6 out of 5 score on Trustpilot, which is the best score seen for a crowdfunding platform.

Users praise GoFundMe's customer service for quickly handling issues like mistaken payments and money withdrawal problems.

GoFundMe charges a payment processing fee, which can be a surprise to some users.

Users have complained about GoFundMe making it difficult to get funds.

Some people have been disappointed when they didn't receive the funding they wanted.

Overall, GoFundMe is a positively reviewed crowdfunding platform, with users appreciating its ease of use and customer service.

Pricing and Options

GoFundMe offers two main campaign options: plain ol' GoFundMe for individuals and GoFundMe Charity for nonprofit businesses.

If you're considering GoFundMe, you should know that there are alternative crowdfunding options available, like Donorbox.

Donorbox is free to get started with, but you'll pay a 1.5 percent platform fee per transaction, which you can ask donors to cover.

Pricing:

Getting started with Donorbox is free, but you'll pay a 1.5 percent platform fee per transaction, which you can pass on to your donors.

This fee is in addition to a small payment processing fee from Stripe or PayPal.

Getting Your Money

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GoFundMe operates on a keep-what-you-raise model, so you can withdraw money from your campaign donations at any time.

This means you don't have to meet a fundraising goal to get money. You can use the funds as soon as you receive them, although it may take a few days for the funds to reach your bank account.

GoFundMe doesn't have time-sensitive campaigns, so your campaign will stay open forever unless you actively choose to close it or delete it.

Creating a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign

Creating a successful crowdfunding campaign requires effort and strategy. You'll want to promote your campaign on your website and social media.

To get attention on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, consider taking pictures or videos to supplement your campaign page. These visuals can help beef up your campaign page and encourage donations.

Offering updates to your donors is a great way to keep them engaged. You can share how you used donations, which can inspire people to donate more money or share the campaign with their friends.

Credit: youtube.com, How to Do GoFundMe (& Actually Get Donations)

A successful crowdfunding campaign should also have a goal tracker to show real-time donation updates, keeping donors informed and motivated to give.

Remember, crowdfunding can be hard work, but with the right tools, it can be easy to set up and customize a fundraising campaign. Some platforms offer easy-to-use dashboards that walk you through creating your campaign in minutes.

Your donation page should be simple to use and offer multiple ways to give, making it easy for donors to complete their donation using a popup form on the crowdfunding page.

Don't forget to brand your page with beautiful and engaging donation pages that showcase your impact and a powerful call to action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does GoFundMe count as a charitable donation?

GoFundMe donations are generally considered personal gifts, not charitable donations, unless made to a charity fundraiser

Felicia Koss

Junior Writer

Felicia Koss is a rising star in the world of finance writing, with a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics into accessible, engaging pieces. Her articles have covered a range of topics, from retirement account loans to other financial matters that affect everyday people. With a focus on clarity and concision, Felicia's writing has helped readers make informed decisions about their financial futures.

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