Answering your questions on how to fundraise in response to the Hamas terror attacks on Israel and for impacted civilians in Gaza and Israel

GoFundMe unequivocally condemns Hamas’ attacks on Israel and is deeply saddened to see the ongoing violence and tragic loss of civilian lives in Gaza and Israel. Our mission is to help people help each other. We have already witnessed an incredible outpouring of support from the GoFundMe community for those impacted by this crisis. 

We remain committed to distributing funds as quickly as possible, balancing speed ​​with safety to ensure fundraisers are in compliance with relevant international laws, global regulations, and requirements dictated by our payment processors. Many of the funds raised are already in the hands of those who need immediate relief.

Here are responses to frequently asked questions on how to fundraise for relief efforts and what may be required during our Trust & Safety verification process:

How can I help support those affected by the conflict?

The fastest, safest, and most helpful way to help those in need is through charities working on the ground. Please consider starting a certified charity fundraiser for a verified organization providing critical support to those affected. Consistent with our long-standing policies, fundraisers are allowed for humanitarian aid and medical supplies to individuals, and for humanitarian aid and medical supplies to registered 501(c)(3) public charities providing support to those affected.

Why is my fundraiser under review?

Our top priority is ensuring a safe platform that protects the generosity of our donors. Just as we have done with past crises, we have a team of experts reviewing and vetting fundraisers through our standard verification process to help ensure they are verified, and compliant with relevant international laws, global regulations, and the requirements dictated by our payment processors. We understand that briefly delaying fundraising can be frustrating – but know that our global Trust & Safety team is working 24/7 to review each fundraiser related to this crisis, to protect your generosity, and provide support as quickly & safely as possible. This will sometimes require our team working directly with organizers and beneficiaries to gather additional information to confirm compliance. GoFundMe has already helped deliver tens of millions of dollars to individuals and organizations supporting those in both Israel and Gaza, and we will continue to do so as quickly, securely, and safely as possible.

What details do I need to provide to help the fundraiser review process?

To speed up the review process, we recommend you include the following details in your fundraiser description:

• All cities where funds and assistance are being sent. Specificity is important here — please include the name of the city, town, or village. We cannot accept generally stated regions or territories, or vague and undefined groups of people.
• Clearly detail the purpose of the fundraiser and how the funds will be used. This can include, but is not limited to, humanitarian aid for civilians, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity for medical supplies, or clothing and food for displaced persons.
• If you are distributing funds to an organization after withdrawing to your bank account, you must list the organization’s name on your fundraiser and you will be expected to agree, in writing, that you will transfer funds to that organization and that the funds will only be used for humanitarian purposes.

Why do you need my documentation?

As part of our review process to distribute the funds raised, we may need to gather additional documentation to verify your identity or the identity of the recipient, as well as plans to distribute funds. We know getting money to people as quickly as possible is important, however, this is necessary to meet payment processor requirements and help ensure the fundraiser is compliant with our Terms of Service. The information you share is only required for internal GoFundMe verification purposes and will be used in compliance with our Privacy Policy: https://www.gofundme.com/privacy

Why can’t I get my funds immediately?

We are required to verify the identity of anyone raising the funds, the intended recipients, as well as the reason for raising funds to ensure it is in accordance with applicable laws. As part of this process, it may take some time while we work with you to complete required reviews. This time for review may increase during high-volume times. We appreciate your patience as we work as quickly as possible to support you and your fundraising efforts.

Why haven’t I heard from you yet?

Our Trust & Safety team will communicate with you through the email address you used to set up your GoFundMe account and fundraiser. Please be sure to monitor the email address for any important updates or notifications from our team that impact your ability to continue fundraising. If you are not receiving notifications from our GoFundMe team, please check your spam mail folder.

Can I raise funds for the military?

No. Fundraising to support any armed conflict efforts is not allowed, regardless of the country. This includes funding weapons, protective gear, defensive equipment, travel to participate in any armed conflict except as required by a national government, or goods and services for soldiers, territorial defense or security force, and more. These long-standing policies are consistent with our processes following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and other armed conflicts.

Why did you remove my fundraiser?

Please remember fundraising is not allowed for:

• Any support for armed conflict, regardless of the country, which includes funding weapons, any supplies to soldiers, territorial defense forces and more.
• Travel to any location to support military or territorial defense, except as required by a national government.
• Any fundraisers in violation of our Terms of Service and our processing partners’ terms of service.

In instances of removal because we are unable to support a fundraiser moving forward, donors will be refunded.  

What fees does GoFundMe charge?

GoFundMe doesn’t charge fundraiser organizers any fees to set up or run a fundraiser on the platform. The only fee on GoFundMe is a standard transaction fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per donation. That fee primarily goes to our industry-leading payments processors who play a crucial role in ensuring the safe and secure flow of funds, as they do for businesses worldwide that run on credit card and debit payments. At GoFundMe, we run our business primarily through voluntary tips from donors. Should a fundraiser need to be removed, a full refund will be issued to all donors. Learn more about pricing: https://www.gofundme.com/c/pricing.