When Platforms Hijack Nonprofit Trust: What You Need to Know About GoFundMe

GoFundMe has quietly created pages for over a million charities—often without consent. While this might sound like increased visibility, it poses a serious risk for nonprofits, including Canadian organizations. Here’s why:

Why It Matters

• SEO and Donor Trust at Risk: U.S.-based GoFundMe pages can outrank your official donation pages or even link to U.S. affiliates. This confuses donors and captures their intent, diverting potential revenue and eroding trust.
• Unclaimed Pages = Lost Control: If you haven’t claimed your page, you have no say in how your brand appears—or how donor dollars flow.
• No Donor Data: Donations made through GoFundMe do not provide nonprofits with donor contact information, making stewardship and future engagement impossible.
• Extra Fees for Donors: Donors pay GoFundMe’s platform fee in addition to their gift, which can create friction and reduce overall generosity.

What Should You Do?

1. Unpublish First: If you find an unauthorized GoFundMe page for your organization, request its removal via the GoFundMe Help Center. Unclaimed pages will now be de-indexed and removed by default.
2. Proceed Carefully if Claiming: Claiming your page gives you control over branding and donor data, but it also means agreeing to GoFundMe’s terms, which grant them rights over your organization’s name and content. Understand these implications before opting in.
3. Monitor SEO Impact: Check whether GoFundMe pages outrank your official donation page.
4. Communicate: Inform your board and staff about this platform risk.
5. Raise Your Voice: Contact GoFundMe at info@gofundme.org to express concerns.

FAQs About GoFundMe Nonprofit Pages

1. Why did GoFundMe create pages for charities without consent?

GoFundMe aimed to make giving easier by auto-generating pages for registered charities. However, this raised concerns about donor confusion and loss of control for nonprofits.

2. Can my organization remove its GoFundMe page?

Yes. Unclaimed pages can be unpublished by requesting removal through the GoFundMe Help Center. GoFundMe has stated that unclaimed pages will eventually be de-indexed and removed.

3. What happens if I claim my page?

Claiming gives you control over branding and donor data but requires agreeing to GoFundMe’s terms, which grant them rights to use your organization’s name, logo, and content. This could limit your ability to remove the page later.

4. Why is this an SEO risk?

GoFundMe pages are optimized for search and can outrank your official donation page, diverting donor intent and potentially reducing revenue.

5. Do nonprofits receive donor information?

Not reliably. Donations processed through GoFundMe (via PayPal Giving Fund) typically do not include full donor contact details—only minimal information required for compliance. This means nonprofits cannot steward donors or build long-term relationships unless donors voluntarily share their details.

6. Do donors pay extra fees?

Yes. Donors pay GoFundMe’s platform fee in addition to their gift, which can discourage giving or reduce donation amounts.

7. How can nonprofits protect themselves?

• Regularly search your organization’s name and related keywords on GoFundMe and search engines.
• Monitor whether GoFundMe pages outrank your official donation page.
• Communicate with donors about official giving channels.
• Contact GoFundMe at info@gofundme.org to express concerns or request removal.

Closing Thoughts

Nonprofits work tirelessly to build trust and nurture relationships with donors. When third-party platforms insert themselves into that process—without consent—it can undermine years of effort. Protect your brand, safeguard your donor relationships, and make sure your message isn’t lost in the noise. Awareness and proactive action are your best defense.