Since our original post, GoFundMe has issued an updated statement and announced <\/span>policy changes<\/b> in response to nonprofit and donor backlash. The platform now states that nonprofit pages will be <\/span>opt-in only<\/b> going forward, and that unverified or unclaimed pages will be <\/span>removed or de-indexed from search<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, GoFundMe is:<\/span><\/p>\n While these are positive steps, <\/span>existing unclaimed pages may still be active<\/b>, so nonprofits should continue to verify their presence on GoFundMe and take action where needed. If you already have a claimed GoFundMe page and would like to take it down, you can follow the steps listed below to do so.<\/span><\/p>\n In mid-October 2025, news outlets reported that GoFundMe Pro automatically <\/span>created more than 1.4 million donation pages<\/span><\/a> for organizations registered as nonprofits across the United States\u2014without those organizations\u2019 direct consent or knowledge.<\/span><\/p>\n These \u201cauto-generated\u201d pages were designed to help donors discover and give to nonprofits through the GoFundMe platform. However, many organizations were unaware these pages existed, had not authorized them, and did not have clear information about how funds would be processed or disbursed.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to automatically creating these pages, GoFundMe added an optional \u201ctip\u201d to each donation form, suggesting that donors contribute an additional 14\u201316.5% to support the platform. This tip is in addition to a 2.2% transaction fee plus $0.30 per donation for nonprofits using GoFundMe Pro. For individual fundraisers, that processing fee increases to 2.9% plus $0.30 per donation.<\/span><\/p>\n While GoFundMe states that the tip helps cover operational costs, many nonprofit professionals are raising concerns about transparency, donor confusion, and the potential impact on donor trust and conversion rates.<\/span><\/p>\n Even with GoFundMe\u2019s corrective actions, nonprofits must remain vigilant. <\/b>Automatically created donation pages and tipping prompts raise important questions for nonprofits\u2014particularly as organizations prepare for year-end giving, when donor trust and visibility are crucial.<\/span><\/p>\n In an age of phishing scams and online bad actors, the public is more alert than ever to potential fraud\u2014and more protective of their personal and financial information. When donors encounter unexpected or unfamiliar donation pages\u2014or are asked to pay extra fees\u2014they may hesitate or abandon their gift altogether. Supporters want assurance that their contribution is going directly to the organization they care about, through a secure and trusted channel. Any uncertainty or inconsistency in that experience can quickly erode confidence and damage long-term trust.<\/span><\/p>\n Nonprofits rely on clarity and ownership of their fundraising tools\u2014not just to process gifts, but to build relationships. When donation pages exist outside of a nonprofit\u2019s control, the organization loses access to vital donor data and can\u2019t properly or promptly follow up with supporters. That lack of visibility makes it harder to thank donors, issue timely receipts, or share the impact of their gift\u2014all key parts of effective stewardship. These missed moments can weaken relationships and limit opportunities to deepen donor engagement.<\/span><\/p>\n Auto-generated donation pages can appear high in search results\u2014sometimes even above a nonprofit\u2019s own verified website\u2014and we\u2019ve already seen this happen to organizations preparing for year-end giving. When that occurs, donors may be unintentionally diverted away from official donation pages, and the nonprofit\u2019s hard-earned visibility can take a hit.<\/span><\/p>\n The longer these unauthorized pages remain active, the more likely they are to impact your <\/span>AI-powered search and SEO rankings<\/b>, potentially pushing your organization lower in search results. For nonprofits that have invested time and resources to secure that #1 spot, this sudden shift right before the giving season can significantly reduce discoverability and gift conversions.<\/span><\/p>\n Even as GoFundMe begins de-indexing, nonprofits should <\/span>audit search results<\/b> for their name and donation keywords (e.g., <\/span>“Your Nonprofit Name donate”<\/span><\/i>) to ensure their official giving pages appear first.<\/span><\/p>\n Many third-party platforms now ask donors to add a \u201ctip\u201d at checkout\u2014often between 10% and 20%\u2014to cover technology costs. While this model may seem helpful, <\/span>research shows<\/span><\/a> it can reduce donation completion rates and create confusion about where a donor\u2019s money actually goes. When supporters realize part of their gift doesn\u2019t reach the nonprofit but instead supports a for-profit platform, it can erode trust and discourage future giving. The giving moment should always be simple, transparent, and aligned with the donor\u2019s intent.<\/span><\/p>\n Default tipping options (previously set around 15\u201317%) confused donors who thought these were mandatory or that they went to the nonprofit. Although GoFundMe has clarified and modified this, nonprofits should still communicate clearly on their own giving pages about any platform fees or optional tips.<\/span><\/p>\n There are several steps you can take right now to ensure your donors find and give through trusted, official channels.<\/span><\/p>\n Go to<\/span> GoFundMe\u2019s Nonprofit Search<\/span><\/a> and search for your organization\u2019s name or EIN. If a page appears that you did not create, make note of the URL and when you found it.<\/span><\/p>\n If you find an unauthorized GoFundMe page for your organization, the <\/span>best course of action is to have it taken down immediately<\/b>. Leaving it live\u2014even for a few weeks\u2014can cause long-term harm to your visibility in Google and confuse donors who are looking for your official website. The longer these pages persist, the greater the likelihood they\u2019ll compete with you.<\/span><\/p>\n If you discover that donations have already been made, <\/span>confirm those funds are properly transferred to your organization before requesting full page removal. <\/b>Once funds are cleared, your goal should be to remove your account and ensure the page is fully delisted. You can request page removal directly through GoFundMe\u2019s data privacy channels.<\/span><\/p>\n When submitting your request, include:<\/span><\/p>\n Use clear phrases such as \u201cunauthorized charitable solicitation\u201d and \u201cbrand misuse.\u201d\u00a0 If your organization is based in California, you may also reference California Government Code \u00a712599.9, which requires fundraising platforms to verify charities before listing them.<\/span><\/p>\n If donations have been processed and GoFundMe will not distribute funds to you without a user account, you may need to create a temporary GoFundMe account to access and transfer the funds to your nonprofit. Once the funds are cleared, immediately request that the account and page be closed and de-indexed.<\/span><\/p>\n Tip:<\/b> Keep records of all communications and confirm via search results that the page has been fully removed. Taking this step protects your nonprofit\u2019s digital presence, ensures donor data and funds flow through trusted channels, and helps you maintain the integrity of your donor relationships\u2014especially during the critical year-end giving season.<\/span><\/p>\n Review your current online giving experience to make sure donors clearly understand where every dollar of their gift goes.<\/span><\/p>\n A clear giving experience builds trust and confidence. When donors understand exactly where their money goes, they\u2019re more likely to give\u2014and to give again.<\/span><\/p>\n Remind your supporters where to give safely and directly:<\/span><\/p>\n Add a short reassurance message to your website such as, <\/span>\u201cYour gift goes directly to our mission when you donate through our official site.\u201d<\/span><\/i> Maintain consistent branding and messaging across all donation touchpoints. Consistency reinforces credibility, and credibility builds donor trust.<\/span><\/p>\n In October 2025, GoFundMe automatically created over <\/span>1.4 million donation pages<\/span><\/a> for U.S. nonprofits. Many of them were without the charities\u2019 knowledge or consent. The pages looked official and accepted donations on the nonprofits\u2019 behalf, sparking backlash across the nonprofit sector.<\/span><\/p>\n GoFundMe claimed it wanted to make it easy to<\/span> \u201cdiscover and donate to nonprofit organizations”<\/span><\/a> by building pages from public IRS and PayPal Giving Fund data. Critics argue it was a way for the company to collect tips and processing fees on donations without getting nonprofits\u2019 consent first.<\/span><\/p>\n In a <\/span>recent statement<\/span><\/a>, GoFundMe announced a major <\/span>policy reversal<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n Even with these changes, existing pages may still be visible, so every nonprofit should check and verify.<\/span><\/p>\n Nonprofits can <\/span>request the removal of their GoFundMe page.<\/span><\/a> The company has a process for verification, though some charities reported delays. Bloomerang recommends nonprofits monitor major fundraising platforms and clearly direct supporters to official donation links to avoid confusion.<\/span><\/p>\n If your GoFundMe nonprofit page is unclaimed, you\u2019ll need to claim and verify it first, typically within 1-2 business days. Once verified and enrolled with PayPal Giving Fund, payouts occur monthly. Donations made before the 15th pay out that month; however, if donations are<\/span> processed after the 15th<\/span><\/a>, they will disperse the following month.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Yes. Initially, many of these pages appeared above official donation pages in search results. Although GoFundMe says they\u2019re de-indexing unclaimed pages, nonprofits should still:<\/span><\/p>\n Monitoring SEO during the year-end giving season is especially important, as donor traffic peaks and any brand confusion can directly affect fundraising results.<\/span><\/p>\n If the donation went through the PayPal Giving Fund (which powers GoFundMe charity payouts), the funds should still reach your organization if your EIN is listed correctly. However, you may not receive full donor contact details for stewardship. Once you claim and verify your page, you\u2019ll be able to access donor information for future gifts.<\/p>\n If donation pages go unclaimed for too long, funds will need to be physically mailed to nonprofits\u2019 mailing addresses. This process could take<\/span> 3-5 months.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n GoFundMe has stated that it is moving to a <\/span>strict opt-in model<\/b>, meaning nonprofits will explicitly approve any future pages.\u00a0 However, this change may take time to roll out, so continue monitoring for any unexpected listings.<\/span><\/p>\n Proactive transparency helps prevent confusion:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re aware that GoFundMe recently created pages for many nonprofits without prior consent. Our official donation link is [insert your donation URL]. Please use this link to ensure 100% of your gift reaches us directly.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Send a brief note via email or social channels to clarify, especially before Giving Tuesday and year-end campaigns.<\/span><\/p>\n At the time of this writing, GoFundMe has <\/span>not announced any compensation or restitution<\/b>. The company has focused instead on policy fixes \u2014 opting in, de-indexing, and removing logos \u2014 to address nonprofit concerns. Nonprofits are encouraged to document correspondence and screenshots of affected pages for recordkeeping<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n If you believe your organization\u2019s name, logo, or fundraising information has been used without authorization \u2014 or if donations haven\u2019t been disbursed as expected \u2014 you have the right to file a complaint with your <\/span>state\u2019s Attorney General (AG)<\/b> or <\/span>charitable solicitations division<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s how to proceed:<\/span><\/p>\n\n
What Happened<\/b><\/h2>\n
Why It Matters<\/b><\/h2>\n
Donor Trust<\/b><\/h3>\n
Transparency and Stewardship<\/b><\/h3>\n
Search Visibility and SEO<\/b><\/h3>\n
As of 10\/24:<\/b><\/h4>\n
The Impact of Tipping on Donor Experience<\/b><\/h3>\n
As of 10\/24:<\/b><\/h4>\n
What Nonprofits Can Do<\/b><\/h2>\n
1. Check Whether You Have an Automatically Created Page<\/b><\/h3>\n
2. Remove the page\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
Option 1: Request form removal\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n
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Option 2: Request Removal Through an Account (if funds were collected)<\/b><\/h4>\n
3. Audit Your Own Donation Forms for Clarity Around Fees and Tips<\/b><\/h3>\n
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4. Direct Donors to Your Official Giving Channels<\/b><\/h3>\n
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\n<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n5. Strengthen Your Website\u2019s Visibility<\/b><\/h3>\n
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FAQ: GoFundMe auto-generated donation pages<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What exactly did GoFundMe do?<\/b><\/h3>\n
Why did GoFundMe create donation pages without permission?<\/b><\/h3>\n
What has GoFundMe changed in response?<\/b><\/h3>\n
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What can nonprofits do if they find one of these pages?<\/b><\/h3>\n
How long will it take to receive donations from an <\/b>unclaimed<\/i><\/b> GoFundMe page?<\/b><\/h3>\n
What about SEO \u2014 could these GoFundMe pages affect our search rankings?<\/b><\/h3>\n
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What happens if a donor gave through one of these pages before we claimed it?<\/b><\/h3>\n
What if I don\u2019t claim the donation page generated by GoFundMe?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
Will GoFundMe contact us before publishing new nonprofit pages in the future?<\/b><\/h3>\n
How should we communicate this to our donors?<\/b><\/h3>\n
Is GoFundMe planning to compensate nonprofits for any confusion or SEO disruption?<\/b><\/h3>\n
What should we do if we believe GoFundMe has misused our nonprofit\u2019s name or donations?<\/b><\/h3>\n
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