9.9
Overall Score21 days ago
In 2008 Brad Damphousse had a unique idea to create a web-based, social savings account. His best friend Andy Ballester, who happened to be a talented programmer, understood Brad’s vision; Andy quit his job to help his best friend develop this new idea. In the beginning, their company was a subscription fundraising service for small charities. After reading through many inspiring, uplifting stories shared by users, Brad and Andy were truly touched—they felt a profound determination to improve and expand their services. After some important breakthroughs in the world of online payments, the team was finally able to relaunch the product of their dreams: GoFundMe. The best friend duo devoted much time and energy responding to user feedback in an effort to make improvements on the site. Their hard work is paying off—today GoFundMe is one of the world’s most popular crowdfunding site with over $5 billion raised, and they are the cheapest crowdfunding platform!
The Good
- Fund Type
- Fees
- Maximum Allowed Raise
- Deadlines
- Administrative Work Options
- Receiving Funds
Fund Type
GoFundMe uses a 'Keep What You Raised' funding type. With GoFundMe, reaching your goal is not required. This works well because you keep each and every donation you receive.
Fees
GoFundMe doesn't charge anything to create and share your online fundraising campaign, nor do they charge for using the platform. GoFundMe is almost entirely free except for the payment processing fee, which is about 3% and will be deducted from each donation. There is no partial or non-completion fee in the case you do not complete your campaign. There are crowdfunding companies that do charge you a fee if you fail to meet your campaign goal, so this is definitely a perk of going with GoFundMe.
Maximum Allowed Raise
Many crowdfunding platforms using donation models for individuals have a maximum amount or limit to what funding amount you can raise. GoFundMe has no funding limit. This lets you raise as much as you want or need in one campaign.
Deadlines
With GoFundMe, there are no deadlines or time-limits. Your campaign will remain live until you choose to stop donations or remove the campaign altogether. In some cases, users have left their campaigns up indefinitely as a lasting memory of all the wonderful comments and support they received. This is a great policy for personal fundraisers. Sometimes people can't donate within 30 or 40 days (a typical deadline for many crowdfunding platforms), so having an indefinite deadline works very well.
Administrative Work Options
GoFundMe offers users several automated features for administrative tasks, which are extremely helpful for individuals trying to run an effective campaign without past experience. Even if they have experience, admin tasks take a lot of time and can get confusing the larger the donator pool gets.
GoFundMe's automotive administrative task features include: Thank You Messages: You can thank donators individually by selecting a recent donation and clicking the 'Say Thanks' button. GoFundMe will let you personalize the message and send it directly to the donor's email address.
Update Feature: In doing so, you can choose to share the post with your current supporters and donors - you can even share the Update on Facebook to attract more support. Update messages can also include up to 3 photos or videos. GoFundMe's 'Update' feature is a great way to keep your campaign fresh and your donators up to date without having to do it manually, which would take a lot of time away from campaigning.
Quick Assistance: GoFundMe will generally respond to your emails within 30 minutes during the day with any questions you have about your campaign.
Receiving Funds
Typically on crowdfunding platforms you have to wait until the end of your campaign to begin collecting funds. With GoFundMe, you can request your money right away as the donations come in. You can choose to withdraw your balance directly to your bank account. (Campaigns in the US may also request a check). Withdrawals may be made daily, weekly, or monthly and will always process for the full available balance in the user's WePay account. Funds may be received via electronic bank transfer within 2-5 business days, or paper check within 7-10 business days. (Daily checks are not available, weekly or monthly only.) However, although you can request a withdrawal at any time, the time it takes to receive funds is a bit long when compared to other crowdfunding sites that can sometimes do it in as soon as 24 hours.
The Bad
- Model Type
- No PayPal
Model Type
GoFundMe operates as a Donation Model. Equity model campaigns are not offered through GoFundMe. A donation model is a good thing for personal fundraising, but GoFundMe recommends signing up with your Facebook account if you want to appear in GoFundMe's Public Search Directory. Although this is optional, it actually isn't if you want your campaign to be featured publicly on their website. Not everyone has a Facebook account or wants to open one. Being "forced" to do so is not a good thing.
No PayPal
It's important to note that although PayPal Giving Fund is GoFundMe's payment processor for their charity campaigns, there is still no PayPal for personal fundraising.
The Bottom Line
It's no surprise that GoFundMe is one of the world's most popular crowdfunding sites. The company is highly successful. Customer Happiness representatives deliver answers to questions in a timely manner, (often within 30 minutes or less of submission), there's plenty of flexibility with funding options, and there are no limits on how much you can raise and no time restraints. GoFundMe is also the cheapest crowdfunding platform out there. A downside is that equity model campaigns are not offered and PayPal cannot be used for personal fundraising, but all in all, users can expect a convenient, simple experience when funding.
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User Reviews
I like the way it operates,but e-transfers and paypal need to be incorporated for secure payments,I do not do credit card pay on the internet and I know alot of people that feel this way also,otherwise keep up the great work.
Reply from GoFundMe
Jan 17, 2019
We truly appreciate the feedback, Dennis! Our certified charity campaigns do accept PayPal, but we're not able to support PayPal for our personal campaigns. However, all of our campaigns use the latest security measures to ensure that your donation is made safely and securely. Thank you for your kind words!
I’ve been able to donate to causes for friends that have really needed help. My friend needed money for his cancer expenses - donating to the cause was easy and overall a great platform to help out so many people.
Reply from GoFundMe
Jan 17, 2019
We're glad that GoFundMe could help and host your friend's campaign, Tanner. Our thoughts are with him in his fight against cancer, and we're always here to support you and your friend if any issues arise with donations on GoFundMe.
I have been attempting to make withdrawals for some time now but I never get any type of a confirmation when I enter my bank account information in and everytime I email these guys they never get back to me!!! I will never use the gofunme platform again...it looks like I will never be able to make any withdrawals from my donors so now I love issues going to the doctor's; thank you GoFundMe for being a complete waste of time and effort. You guys are complete garbage and I am speaking nicely about you when I say that!!!!!
have used this service for a family event to raise money. was a very easy process
Reply from GoFundMe
Jan 17, 2019
We're so happy you found GoFundMe easy to use, Darius! Please let our team know if we can assist with anything at all.
I enjoy browsing the personal and business fundraisers on GoFundMe. It feels good to be charitiable and know exactly what my donation is going to be used for. Also like learning about different blossoming industries entrepenuers are trying to break into.
Reply from GoFundMe
Jan 17, 2019
We're glad to hear you enjoy being on GoFundMe, Matthew! We're proud to host campaigns for a variety of causes, and we work each day to ensure that the safety of all campaigns is maintained. Should you have any questions about a campaign, please contact our Customer Happiness team!
Great way to give without having to take out cash. This site has helped so many people i know when it comes to funeral costs to helping friends with medical conditions.
Reply from GoFundMe
Jan 17, 2019
We're so glad to hear your community has benefited from using GoFundMe, Tiffany! Our team is working around the clock to consistently improve our site for a safer and easier fundraising experience. Should any issues come up, please contact our team!
Very easy website to use to be able to donate and to setup a donation for any family/friends emergency's.
Reply from GoFundMe
Jan 17, 2019
We're glad you were able to donate easily on GoFundMe, Fernando, and our thoughts are with those close to you who faced that emergency. If we can assist with anything at all, our Customer Happiness team is available 24/7.
My donation made it to where it was going. No problems.I'm glad to have found this even tho I know Kate the persons company I was donating to has used it for a long time. I'm pleasantly grateful for the honest service. We can always use honesty now days. And Go Fund Me has shown to be honest all these years.
Reply from GoFundMe
Jan 17, 2019
We're flattered to receive such kind feedback, Mary! If our team can assist in any way during your time on GoFundMe, please let us know!
I tried to contact gofundme.com, but could not get past the robot prove you are human by checking the box because it kept spinning around and around for over five minutes. Heard they do not like to answer questions. I donated $50 to a Fund and was charged $7.50, or 15% extra to process it. That really angered me. How much did the Fund have to pay to receive the donation, and how do I even know they received it or the fund received it? I really disliked having to give my credit card information and won't do it again. If I can't donate directly or by Paypal, I will not use my credit card info with the CCV. GoFundMe feels like a scam operation, excessively profitable for them
I have had a couple of friends in a real financial struggle after a tragedy and they have used GoFundMe to get back on track. Sites like this are great when used honestly. Gofundme is a great and simple way to raise money for good causes across the world.
Reply from GoFundMe
Jan 17, 2019
We're so glad to hear your friends have been able to use GoFundMe when they need it most, Eric. We're proud to be available to those who would like to raise funds for causes that are important to them.
Go fund me set a bridge to the terms and conditions in completely close my account and will not answer any emails explaining why . I donors are very upset .
I've donated to a handful of GoFundMe campaigns. It's a good service but you really do need to be weary of who you donate your money to. There's a lot of people that use it fraudulently just to get money from people. But the honest ones are worth donating to most of the time.
Reply from GoFundMe
Jan 17, 2019
We truly appreciate your feedback, Amber! Our team is consistently looking for ways to keep our platform safe, and if you have any concerns about the legitimacy of a campaign, please select the "Report this Campaign" button at the bottom of any campaign.
Well I typed go fund me in the search engine and this is what it says...…."""" The most trusted free online fundraising platform. """"" so if its free, how do they take $5 off when you withdraw......That ISN"T FREE
Gofundme helped make it easier for my family and I to raise money to help my grandpa pay for his medical and travel expenses. Now the Doctors say he is cancer free!
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 18, 2018
We're so glad to hear that positive diagnosis, Savanah! We're honored to be the platform you and your family chose to receive these funds to your grandpa. Our team is hoping for all the best for you, your grandpa, and your family!
We used GoFundMe for a fundraiser for funeral expenses after my brother passed away. It was easy to use and recognizable to others who wanted to donate. I would definitely recommend!
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 18, 2018
We're sorry to hear of the circumstances that brought you to GoFundMe, Leslie, but we're glad to be the platform to help you raise funds for these expenses. Our team is sending support to you and your whole family during this extremely difficult time, and we'll always be here to help if you have any other questions or concerns while using GoFundMe.
Hello I was wondering have any one had a problem with getting your money from go fund my money is stuck and my dates keep changing I put one because I’m trying to find out what going on but I would rate it 5 beverage it is a good thing to do
I am very appreciative of the staff at GoFundMe for their understanding and assistance to rectify an error that I made in my donation. I inadvertently selected the wrong campaign for my donation. After a few unsuccessful attempts at resolving this issue with the campaign I donated to in error I contacted GoFundMe and they were very responsive, helpful, understanding and assisted me in correcting my error. What could have been a very unpleasant experience for me turned out to be a positive one all thanks to the staff at GoFundMe.
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 18, 2018
We're so glad to hear our Customer Happiness Team could help with this issue, Marie! We'll always do all we can to ensure that you're able to donate to the intended campaign, and our team is here for you at any hour of the day. If we can help with anything else at all, just let us know.
I wanted $100 to go to the family but somehow it got donated to GFM. Customer service promptly refunded my $100. I had no problem with the donation itself.
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 18, 2018
Thanks for sharing your kind feedback, Cindy! We never want to keep a tip you didn't mean to give to GoFundMe, and if we can help with anything else at all, our Customer Happiness Team is always here to help.
Celine was incredibly helpful and supportive and prompt with replies. Even if there was nothing to report, Celine replied by email that she was working on the situation which really helped ease potential stress! Once the banking was set up properly, everything has been easy and deeply appreciated. This has made a big difference in our financial stress levels as my husband moves closer to his surgery.
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 18, 2018
We're so glad to hear that Celine was able to help, Donna! Our team is always here to support you, and we're here for you and your family, 24/7.
when you donate to GoFundMe, they ask for a "tip" you choose the percentage you want. i think there was 5%, 10%. i didnt see a phone number anywhere to call, i wanted to ask about this and why are they wanting a "tip." I emailed them and didn't get a response. i just chose the lowest percentage just so i can complete my donation. but beware at the end of your donation you will see that.
Help Desk provided good response to getting the correct link to the campaign I was interested in. The list when the campaign ended of the number of donors and names/amounts (for non-anonymous donors) was a good read.
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 18, 2018
We're glad our Customer Happiness Team could offer support, Jim! We're always looking for ways to implement customer feedback to our platform, and if you have any other questions, concerns, or more you'd like to see from us, please do let our team know!
I managed a campaign for a friend. It was very easy to set up and use, and customer service was very responsive and helpful when I had questions.
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 18, 2018
We're so glad to hear you had an easy fundraising experience, Christina! Our Customer Happiness Team is proud to help answer questions at any hour of the day. If our team can help with anything else at all, please feel free to contact us, 24/7!
I teach a Business class, and have used GoFundMe to raise money for different student based projects. It is a fun, easy way to recruit people to your cause, and to raise the money needed.
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 18, 2018
We're so glad to hear you've found GoFundMe an easy place to raise funds, Derek! We're happy to hear that GoFundMe is able to be used in your class, and our team will always be here to help if you or your students have any questions.
I like the idea o a go fund me but I don't like that they take a percentage of the donations.
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 18, 2018
We appreciate your feedback, Shanna! Our free fundraising platform ensures that more of each donation goes to the campaign organizer or beneficiary, and our 2.9% + $0.30 per donation payment processing fees are an industry standard that help facilitate the safe transfer of funds. We're proud to be the safest place to give online, and we're also appreciative of the optional tip that our donors are able to give to GoFundMe. Their tips help power our service. Please do let our team know if we can help with anything else during your GoFundMe journey!
Ms Rosa C was very helpful and patient with all my inquiries.
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 10, 2018
We're so glad to hear Rosa was able to help, Jeanette! We'll pass on the kind words to her, and please do let our Customer Happiness Team know if you have any other questions or concerns while on GoFundMe.
This was my first time anything like this and I was confused about some of the steps; contacted customer services and they walked me through it step by step - even contacting me again to make sure my issue was solved. Thank you for making it easy to help my friends.
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 10, 2018
We're glad our Customer Happiness Team could help clear up any issues, Louise! We always want to make sure you have an easy and positive GoFundMe experience, and we're glad you were able to help your friends on our platform.
I made a mistake and the GoFundMe rep was very helpful to rectify the situation quickly and professionally!
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 10, 2018
We're glad our Customer Happiness Team could fix up that issue, Todd! Mistakes happen, and our team is prepared to help, 24/7.
I think this is a great service to help people out but I don't like how much they take of what is earned. I know they need something but this is to help people in great need and it seems too much to me. I like seeing it help people as they try to get back on their feet after tragic events.
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 10, 2018
Thank you for sharing your honest feedback with us, Joy! Our 0% platform fee helps give more per each donation to the campaign organizer and beneficiary, and our payment processing fees go to our payment processors to ensure safe donation and withdrawal transactions. We're now powered by tips from our donors, and we're always looking to improve our platform for those in need. If our team can help answer any other questions or if we can help during your time on GoFundMe, just let us know!
They are Fair, honest, quick to respond, respectful and doing a service to society by allowing compassionate people to donate to people in need... in a easy to navigate, straightforward and well organized format!
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 10, 2018
We're honored to receive such kind feedback, Jack! Thank you for your kind words about our Customer Happiness Team and our platform. We're striving every day to improve our fundraising experience for the GoFundMe community.
I had a lot of questions about fundraising, and would it meet my goal, so far it’s been slow going but I have been told to give to time and I will.
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 10, 2018
We're glad our Customer Happiness Team could help answer those questions, John! We recommend sharing your campaign as much as you can, and we've seen many campaigns start out slow but then pick up and reach their goal. Please let our team know if you'd like any other tips while on GoFundMe!
Great experience , The customer service response team should improve theur time responding or add to Option for customer service over the phone. But overall it was a great experience and big help
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 10, 2018
We're so glad to hear you've had a positive experience on GoFundMe, Lumary! Our Customer Happiness Team helps thousands of people each day, and keeping all communication via email makes sure that you're never on hold over the phone. We're always looking to improve our support speed, and we'll absolutely look at a faster way of providing help! If you have any other questions or concerns while on GoFundMe, please do let our team know.
Easy to set up, Great Customer Service Assistance, Funds being transferred to bank on a timely basis.
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 10, 2018
We're so glad to hear GoFundMe was easy to use, Mitchell! Our Customer Happiness Team is always here to answer any questions about withdrawals, sharing, or anything else that may come up. Please do let us know if we can help during your time on GoFundMe.
A friend set up the page for me after I was scammed, and I was so nervous about it. But many friends and some donated and it means the world to me. Go Fund me helped me when I could not figure out how to transfer the money. They got back to me the next day! It was amazing, and the problem was fixed.
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 10, 2018
Our Customer Happiness Team is always here to help, Josephine! We're glad they could take care of that issue for you, and we're happy your friend could help you raise the funds you need. If our team can help with anything else, we're just an email away.
Everything went great until it wanted a photo. After several tries at downloading one I was ready to forget the whole thing. I sat here and cried. Finally I reached out to the HAPPINESS TEAM for help. They sent an email so I could send them the photo but for some reason that would not work for me ether. Now I kept sending calls for help the wrong way. Crying the whole time they sent me an email telling me what I was doing wrong. In just a few easy steps after that all of my problems went away and I was started in GO FUND ME. Thank you so very much for your staying with this old coot.
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 10, 2018
We're so glad our Customer Happiness Team was able to help, William. We're sorry you had any trouble at all to begin with, but we know our team is always able to fix up any issues. If we can help with anything else at all, just contact our team!
I had a personal request for assistance for the withdrawal. Response was quick and willingness to help.
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 10, 2018
We're happy our Customer Happiness Team was able to assist with your withdrawals, Peter! If any other issues come up during your time on GoFundMe, please let them know. Our team is available 24/7.
When i looked for a fundraising site go fund me was the best. The lowest fees, with the best reviews. Recently i had to contact customer service. They had a prompt response and resolved my issue within 24 hours! I highly recommend this sight for all of you fund raisers!
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 10, 2018
Thank you for your kind words, James! Our team is proud to offer our 0% platform fee, and our Customer Happiness Team always wants to provide prompt and helpful service!
Easy to get started using the site, but the flow of content authoring, fees, coordinating withdrawals with beneficiaries, etc. is not immediately clear without needing to consult piecemeal documentation. Lacking on very basic web content management features like publishing, rich text, resizable images, and mixed content. Also short on configuration of notifications; I wouldn't mind not getting notified, for example, every time someone donates. Support is extremely helpful and responsive. Overall, good value despite the usage challenges due to relative simplicity and very reasonable fees charged.
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 10, 2018
We appreciate the feedback, Wes! We're always looking to make GoFundMe the safest and easiest place to raise funds, and with our 0% platform fee, we're continuing our goal to get more funds to the campaign organizer or beneficiary. If we can help with anything during your GoFundMe journey or if you have any other feedback to share, our Customer Happiness Team is always here to help!
Teanna was very helpful and responded promptly to my emails, which I love. She was also friendly and professional. When teanna was out of the office, Francisco was able to help us. Great experience overall
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 10, 2018
We're so glad Teanna was able to help, Kathy! She's a star member of our Customer Happiness Team, and we're also glad to hear Francisco could assist when she was out of the office! He's another exemplary team member, and they're both happy to help if you have any other questions or concerns!
I was sunable to access my account for my withdrawal because my phone number was incorrect. I requested help via customer service and was immediatedly answered. Right after I verified my number I had a response as to what to do. It was amazing! It literally took a day. That's it! I love this site!
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 10, 2018
We're so glad to hear our Customer Happiness Team was able to help, Carly! They're happy to help with any issues, day or night. Thank you for your kind words about GoFundMe, and please let our team know if we can help with anything else during your GoFundMe journey.
GoFundMe has helped and supported so many families in need. What an amazing tool to reach out to the world to donate and help others in need. It's easy to donate by a simple click of a button. This site is very easy to set up and share. simple steps and user friendly.
Reply from GoFundMe
Oct 10, 2018
We're honored to receive such kind feedback, Mali! Thank you for sharing your GoFundMe experience with us, we're happy to be the platform to help people raise funds for their need or cause.