Since our original post, GoFundMe has issued an updated statement and announced policy changes in response to nonprofit and donor backlash. The platform now states that nonprofit pages will be opt-in only going forward, and that unverified or unclaimed pages will be removed or de-indexed from search.
Additionally, GoFundMe is:
While these are positive steps, existing unclaimed pages may still be active, 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.
In mid-October 2025, news outlets reported that GoFundMe Pro automatically created more than 1.4 million donation pages for organizations registered as nonprofits across the United States—without those organizations’ direct consent or knowledge.
These “auto-generated” 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.
In addition to automatically creating these pages, GoFundMe added an optional “tip” to each donation form, suggesting that donors contribute an additional 14–16.5% 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.
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.
Even with GoFundMe’s corrective actions, nonprofits must remain vigilant. Automatically created donation pages and tipping prompts raise important questions for nonprofits—particularly as organizations prepare for year-end giving, when donor trust and visibility are crucial.
In an age of phishing scams and online bad actors, the public is more alert than ever to potential fraud—and more protective of their personal and financial information. When donors encounter unexpected or unfamiliar donation pages—or are asked to pay extra fees—they 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.
Nonprofits rely on clarity and ownership of their fundraising tools—not just to process gifts, but to build relationships. When donation pages exist outside of a nonprofit’s control, the organization loses access to vital donor data and can’t 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—all key parts of effective stewardship. These missed moments can weaken relationships and limit opportunities to deepen donor engagement.
Auto-generated donation pages can appear high in search results—sometimes even above a nonprofit’s own verified website—and we’ve 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’s hard-earned visibility can take a hit.
The longer these unauthorized pages remain active, the more likely they are to impact your AI-powered search and SEO rankings, 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.
Even as GoFundMe begins de-indexing, nonprofits should audit search results for their name and donation keywords (e.g., “Your Nonprofit Name donate”) to ensure their official giving pages appear first.
Many third-party platforms now ask donors to add a “tip” at checkout—often between 10% and 20%—to cover technology costs. While this model may seem helpful, research shows it can reduce donation completion rates and create confusion about where a donor’s money actually goes. When supporters realize part of their gift doesn’t 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’s intent.
Default tipping options (previously set around 15–17%) 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.
There are several steps you can take right now to ensure your donors find and give through trusted, official channels.
Go to GoFundMe’s Nonprofit Search and search for your organization’s name or EIN. If a page appears that you did not create, make note of the URL and when you found it.
If you find an unauthorized GoFundMe page for your organization, the best course of action is to have it taken down immediately. Leaving it live—even for a few weeks—can 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’ll compete with you.
If you discover that donations have already been made, confirm those funds are properly transferred to your organization before requesting full page removal. 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’s data privacy channels.
When submitting your request, include:
Use clear phrases such as “unauthorized charitable solicitation” and “brand misuse.” If your organization is based in California, you may also reference California Government Code §12599.9, which requires fundraising platforms to verify charities before listing them.
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.
Tip: Keep records of all communications and confirm via search results that the page has been fully removed. Taking this step protects your nonprofit’s digital presence, ensures donor data and funds flow through trusted channels, and helps you maintain the integrity of your donor relationships—especially during the critical year-end giving season.
Review your current online giving experience to make sure donors clearly understand where every dollar of their gift goes.
A clear giving experience builds trust and confidence. When donors understand exactly where their money goes, they’re more likely to give—and to give again.
Remind your supporters where to give safely and directly:
Add a short reassurance message to your website such as, “Your gift goes directly to our mission when you donate through our official site.”
Maintain consistent branding and messaging across all donation touchpoints. Consistency reinforces credibility, and credibility builds donor trust.
In October 2025, GoFundMe automatically created over 1.4 million donation pages for U.S. nonprofits. Many of them were without the charities’ knowledge or consent. The pages looked official and accepted donations on the nonprofits’ behalf, sparking backlash across the nonprofit sector.
GoFundMe claimed it wanted to make it easy to “discover and donate to nonprofit organizations” 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’ consent first.
In a recent statement, GoFundMe announced a major policy reversal.
Even with these changes, existing pages may still be visible, so every nonprofit should check and verify.
Nonprofits can request the removal of their GoFundMe page. 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.
If your GoFundMe nonprofit page is unclaimed, you’ll 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 processed after the 15th, they will disperse the following month.
Yes. Initially, many of these pages appeared above official donation pages in search results. Although GoFundMe says they’re de-indexing unclaimed pages, nonprofits should still:
Monitoring SEO during the year-end giving season is especially important, as donor traffic peaks and any brand confusion can directly affect fundraising results.
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’ll be able to access donor information for future gifts.
If donation pages go unclaimed for too long, funds will need to be physically mailed to nonprofits’ mailing addresses. This process could take 3-5 months.
GoFundMe has stated that it is moving to a strict opt-in model, meaning nonprofits will explicitly approve any future pages. However, this change may take time to roll out, so continue monitoring for any unexpected listings.
Proactive transparency helps prevent confusion:
“We’re 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.”
Send a brief note via email or social channels to clarify, especially before Giving Tuesday and year-end campaigns.
At the time of this writing, GoFundMe has not announced any compensation or restitution. The company has focused instead on policy fixes — opting in, de-indexing, and removing logos — to address nonprofit concerns. Nonprofits are encouraged to document correspondence and screenshots of affected pages for recordkeeping.
If you believe your organization’s name, logo, or fundraising information has been used without authorization — or if donations haven’t been disbursed as expected — you have the right to file a complaint with your state’s Attorney General (AG) or charitable solicitations division.
Here’s how to proceed:
TIP: In your complaint, clearly state that you are a registered 501(c)(3) organization, describe the unauthorized use of your name, logo or page, and request removal or corrective action. Retain all correspondence for your records.
Adding this step can help ensure accountability and oversight if resolution through GoFundMe’s internal channels proves difficult.
The nonprofit sector depends on transparency, accountability, and trust. As new fundraising tools and technologies emerge, it’s critical that platforms respect nonprofit ownership, donor intent, and clear consent.
GoFundMe’s shift to an opt-in model represents progress, but it underscores a larger truth: nonprofits must continually protect their brand and donor trust in an evolving digital fundraising ecosystem. With year-end giving approaching, take time now to confirm your organization’s visibility, donation integrity, and donor transparency and ensure a seamless giving experience that truly reflects their mission.
The Bloomerang team will continue to update this blog as more information becomes available.
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