Yes, you can absolutely ask for money on GoFundMe for various needs like medical bills, education, funerals, or even just general financial help, but you must tell a compelling, transparent story, set a clear goal, and share it widely with friends, family, and on social media to get donations. Success depends on explaining why you need help and how the money will be used, building trust with potential donors.
For a $100 donation to a personal fundraiser, GoFundMe takes a standard payment processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30, meaning $3.20 is deducted, and the recipient gets $96.80; however, donors can add an optional "tip" to GoFundMe, and charities have slightly lower fees (around 2.2% + $0.30).
To get more donors to your GoFundMe campaign, create a clear and emotional story, use strong visuals, and explain how the funds will help. Share consistently on social media, reach out personally to your network, and ask others to share. Regular updates and showing gratitude also encourage more support.
Securely receive funds
Add your bank information, or invite your fundraiser beneficiary to add theirs, and start receiving funds.
Be specific in your ask
Providing specific information about what donations will pay for is an effective way to grab their attention and earn trust. People like to know where their money is going, and transparency will give potential donors tangible reasons to support your fundraising efforts.
Here's how the timeline works: 💚 Donations process in up to 5 business days 💚 Once ready, your funds automatically transfer to your bank 💚 Transfers typically arrive in 2–5 business days That means money from a donation could hit your bank in as little as 3 business days (and sometimes up to 10, but that's rare).
During the ask
Cons of using GoFundMe include significant fees, potential tax implications for recipients, issues with trust/scams, lack of built-in promotional tools, challenges in withdrawing funds, and risks to personal credibility in legal cases due to public sharing and potential for misinterpretation.
3-to-1 fundraising recognizes that your supporters want something in exchange for their cash. It works like this: For every single donation you receive from a major supporter, you should (1) thank them, (2) report on the results, and (3) provide an engagement offer before asking for another gift.
If a GoFundMe doesn't reach its goal, the organizer still keeps all the money raised, as GoFundMe uses a "Keep it All" model, not an "all-or-nothing" one, meaning there's no automatic refund to donors if the target isn't met, though organizers can choose to refund donors if funds aren't needed. You can continue raising funds past your goal, and you can edit the goal amount at any time to better reflect your needs.
Another reason for not getting donations is that people are unsure if the fundraiser is legit. To fix this, start by ensuring everything about your fundraiser is open and honest. This means telling people who you are, what you're doing with the money, and showing them proof that their donations are making a difference.
Just a small donation of $[amount] can help me [accomplish task/reach a goal/etc.]. Your donation will go toward [describe exactly what the contribution will be used for]. [When possible, add a personal connection to tie the donor to the cause.] Thank you in advance for your support.
Your fundraiser doesn't need to be perfect, but don't be sloppy. The biggest mistake in writing appeals is failing to proofread. Typos can also make your message seem more confusing and prevent potential donors from clicking through.
When donors make a single donation, they can leave an optional contribution to help GoFundMe remain free for people who start a fundraiser. Leaving a tip is not mandatory, and it can be changed to any amount, including 0. By leaving a voluntary tip, you're helping us do more good in the world.
Alternatives to GoFundMe, like Givebutter, Kickstarter, Donorbox, and Patreon, offer different strengths, often focusing on specific needs such as nonprofit features (Givebutter, Donorbox), creative projects (Kickstarter), recurring donations (Patreon, Donorbox), or lower fees (Zeffy, Givebutter with tips), providing better options depending on whether you're an organization, creator, or individual.
We see people use GoFundMe to raise money for themselves, friends and family, or even complete strangers in random acts of kindness.
Unlike GoFundMe, JustGiving is an Approved Payment Institution (API), regulated by The FCA, giving you peace of mind that the donations you receive are safeguarded by the highest industry standards.
The 80/20 Rule (Pareto Principle) states that for many outcomes, roughly 80% of results come from 20% of the causes. To effectively apply the rule, nonprofits must first centralize their donor, volunteer, and marketing data into a modern CRM system.
NPO Fundraising Best Practices (Top 8 DOs and DON'Ts for Nonprofit Fundraising)
The name you enter will be displayed publicly on the fundraiser page. If you don't want to use your full name, whether for safety or personal reasons, you can enter your chosen name here. Be sure to enter your legal name when it comes time to set up transfers.
Our team might need additional information before we can send your funds. You can check this within your GoFundMe account on your "Transfers" page. If we need additional documents or weren't able to verify documents you've already provided, you'll see a red banner detailing what the issue is.
GoFundMe takes a 2.9% processing fee plus $0.30 per donation, automatically deducted from each gift, meaning from $1,000, about $28.70 to $30.00 (depending on how many donations make up the $1,000) goes to fees, leaving around $970-$971 for the fundraiser, with donors optionally tipping GoFundMe.
Donation request tips that make asking for money easier
With the Givebutter WhatsApp integration, nonprofits can collect donations safely and securely—and engage supporters like never before.
Simple Paragraph Wording for Money Gifts
We respectfully ask that no gifts are brought. To help us purchase some larger home items. We have everything we need after living together for a year, And only ask that you share our special day.