When your friend or loved one is going through a challenging time, it can be difficult to know how to help. By starting a GoFundMe on behalf of someone you care about, you have the power to bring people together to help ease stress.
Your friends are there for you- now you can be there for them. Starting a GoFundMe for a friend raises on average nearly 5x more!
Click the ‘Start a GoFundMe’ button to get started. You’ll be guided by prompts to add fundraiser details and set your goal, which can be changed anytime.
Once live, share your fundraiser link with other friends and family to start gaining momentum. Be your friend’s champion!
Funds are securely sent to the person you are fundraising for- and they can start receiving funds once bank information is added.
Spencer, the founder of a Kansas-based landscaping company, has been transforming yards across his community for free.
After Spencer posted the clean-up he did for Beth, his online community wanted to help more. Spencer started a GoFundMe fundraiser and raised $550,000 from more than 21,000 donors in 24 hours.
When he shared the news with his new friend Beth, the kindness of strangers brought her to tears. In just a few steps, you can make a difference for your friend or someone in your community. Start a GoFundMe and see the kindness grow.
After her best friend and family were affected by the Altadena wildfire, Angelica was looking for ways to help. She started a GoFundMe to help raise critical funds while her best friend focused on navigating the challenge. Angelica raised nearly $70k to help her best friend and family get… Read more
A mom and son befriended an 81 year-old waitress at a local restaurant in Pittsburg. The looked to the internet to help them raise money to help their new friend finally retire. The results will make you smile.
Ms. Linda has been working at her school for 15 years, and during that time, became a beloved staff member by her fellow teachers and students alike. For Christmas, staff members rallied with student families to raise money so that Ms. Linda could finally have a new set of chairs… Read more
Absolutely! Raising money for someone else is not only okay, it’s often one of the most compassionate and impactful ways to offer support. By starting a GoFundMe on someone’s behalf, you’re offering a lifeline during difficult times, relief from financial worries, and allowing them to focus on what matters most. But before you start a fund, it’s important to ensure that you have the person’s permission (or the family’s permission, if appropriate) and that you’re transparent about how the funds will be used.
Yes, if you know a friend or loved one who needs help covering medical bills, starting a GoFundMe is a great way to help. We recommend you first ask if the person you are fundraising for is comfortable with you starting the fundraiser. Once you set up the fundraiser, you can invite them to set up bank transfers so they will receive the money directly. Learn more about inviting the person you are fundraising for to receive funds.
Yes, GoFundMe allows you to have the funds go directly to the person you’re raising money for. When setting up the fundraiser, you can invite the person to be the beneficiary. Then they will be able to add their banking information to the GoFundMe. This option adds transparency and peace of mind for both the donor and the recipient, ensuring that the funds reach the person in need as quickly and securely as possible. GoFundMe’s platform is designed to make this process simple and safe, so you can focus on raising support, knowing the money will get to where it’s needed most.
Yes, you can raise (or lower) your fundraising goal at any time.
The process of setting up and verifying transfers can take 3-7 business days or longer to complete. Then, once your first transfer is sent, it will take on average 2-5 business days for the funds to be safely deposited into the bank account on file.
One small transaction fee (2.9% + $0.30) is automatically deducted per donation—that’s it. Everything else goes directly to your cause. For more information and to estimate what you will receive, check out the GoFundMe pricing calculator.
Yes, you can add team members to help you run the fundraiser after the fundraiser is set up. Visit this help center article for a step-by-step guide to adding team members to your GoFundMe.
GoFundMe provides a simple, effective way to tell your loved one’s story and let others get involved in a meaningful way. With every donation, you are helping to lift the weight off their shoulders, reminding them they are not alone. And you give others the opportunity to show they care and be a part of something bigger.
Our most recent data shows creating a GoFundMe fundraiser for a friend can raise nearly five times more. You don’t need to be an expert to start – just a caring person who wants to make a difference. Your community is stronger together, and you can be the catalyst for that change.
More than $50M is raised a week on GoFundMe to support people like you