GoFundMe is a well-known crowdfunding platform, but is it the right choice for your nonprofit? In this article, I’ll highlight its benefits and drawbacks based on real user reviews to inform your decision.
Join the fundraising movement! Join the fundraising movement!If you’re considering cancelling your GoFundMe account – or not sure whether you should switch to the platform – and wondering what other nonprofit users think, I’m here to help.
Below, I’ll share real-life GoFundMe reviews focusing on various key areas to help you make a decision.
Customers appreciate how easy it is to use the platform and set up campaigns.
“The ease of using the site – sharing with others and the fact that I was alerted when a donation came in.” – Haverlina
“GoFundMe is great for getting campaigns up and running fast.” – Damien B.
GoFundMe reviewers note that its well-known reputation makes it easy to fundraise for important causes.
“GoFundMe is a well-known company that aids people with raising funds for important matters.” – Zoe D.
Some GoFundMe reviews highlight how the platform is great for raising awareness of your mission among local community members.
“I recently started a nonprofit and am working to fundraise for my cause. GoFundMe is a great way to reach members in the community who may or may not know about your cause…” – Lauren F.
GoFundMe relies on optional donor tips to fund its platform, with the default tip set to 16.5%.
Some users have expressed frustration with the platform requesting tips.
“After setting up a GFM account, every person who donated was automatically charged an additional 18% on top of their donation. GFM said this was an optional tip, but that was not true. I told them my donor sight did not give this option at all. It was set. Consequently, my donors stopped giving, and I was out hundreds of dollars that I felt responsible for repaying to my donors because GFM would not reimburse the funds!” – Julie Child
Requesting optional tips can frustrate donors and lead to tipping fatigue.
GoFundMe is a crowdfunding platform aimed at individual fundraisers. It therefore lacks essential nonprofit-specific fundraising features.
See what this user had to say:
“The association between GoFundMe which is typically for individuals seeking funding for something, and nonprofits is not a positive association.” – Amanda C.
GoFundMe reviews also note that its broad accessibility may create challenges for nonprofits. Since the platform is widely used among personal fundraisers, organizations may compete for supporters’ attention and trust, making it difficult to shine the spotlight on their causes.
“Anyone can use it for any reason. It makes it hard for organizations to use the platform since it doesn’t feel authentic since anyone can create a page for any reason.” – Nichole R.
Some users express frustration in accessing donations received, alluding to complex payment policies.
“TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE! Easy to set up a Fundraiser. NOT EASY TO GET YOUR FUNDS BACK!” – Daniel Kostella Sr.
“Getting money out of the system is way too hard. They just sit on your money, making interest.” – Steve K.
GoFundMe has a 4.1 out of 5 Value for Money rating on Capterra, based on 47 reviews.
It’s free to start a fundraiser on GoFundMe. The platform automatically deducts 2.9% + $0.30 from every donation to cover card and transaction fees.
As mentioned earlier, GoFundMe requests optional tips from donors to cover operational costs. The default tip amount is automatically set to 16.5%, and donors who don’t want to leave a tip need to opt out by sliding the tip scale down to 0%.
Various GoFundMe reviews express concern about the platform’s tipping model. Some donors also note that it was not immediately clear that they were leaving a tip in the first place.
“I donated $100 to a friend that lost her mom and was struggling financially. I look at my receipt from GoFundMe the next day and see that I was charged $117.50? Huh? The additional $17.50 they took out of my bank account was labeled as a tip. Who would I be tipping? I was not receiving any type of service that would warrant a tip.” – Shannon
“I made a donation as I have in the past and this time they added a tip on without my permission. I had to reach out to them to have it removed and was told that the tip is added automatically and you have to manually remove it before donating. I do not think this is right- you should have the option of adding a tip, not be forced to remove one.” – Susan Gallo
Shifting operational costs onto donors by requesting optional tips can erode trust and drive away supporters – impacting your fundraising over time. Your nonprofit may also face pushback from donors who feel misled by the unclear tipping model.
GoFundMe’s features are rated 4.3 out of 5 stars on Capterra.
Here are its main features:
As mentioned before, GoFundMe is a fundraising platform that has crowdfunding and general fundraising capabilities. If your nonprofit requires a more holistic suite of online and in-person fundraising features, you may want to consider alternatives.
GoFundMe’s customer service is rated 4 out of 5 stars on Capterra.
They offer a chatbot option for a faster response time or to request human support via email. They also offer various help articles.
Despite GoFundMe’s high customer service rating, some reviews note long wait times when requesting support.
See what this user had to say:
“I have been in the chat support online for 2 days! This has to be a record for one of the worst customer services. They are still unable to fix the problem.” – Dina R.
Now that I’ve highlighted various GoFundMe reviews, you may be wondering why more than 100,000 organizations – nonprofits included – choose to fundraise with Donorbox.
Donorbox offers a comprehensive suite of fundraising features and donor management tools to amplify your fundraising and impact while strengthening donor relationships:
And more. Explore all Donorbox’s features here.
Hear what Kendell Davy, the Founding Board Member of the Riley Rocks Foundation, has to say about their experience with Donorbox:
In addition to these features, Donorbox has a world-class customer support team that works 24/7 to resolve all queries. They also offer plenty of resources and help articles to scale your fundraising.
Donorbox offers three pricing plans. The Standard Plan costs $0 per month, with a platform fee of 2.95% for most features.
For a reduced platform fee of 1.75% for most features, upgrade to Pro for $150 per month and access additional benefits like Zapier integrations, and tracking and analytics.
Nearly 70% of Pro organizations raise an average of 9x more within six months of signing up.
Alternatively, sign up for Donorbox Premium to customize your plan based on your unique fundraising needs. Platform fees range from 1.6% to 2%. Enjoy personalized coaching, 24/7 customer support, and more.
For more reviews, comparison articles, and fundraising tips, visit the Nonprofit Blog. Subscribe to the monthly newsletter to receive a hand-picked selection of articles sent to your inbox.
Jamy-Lee has over 7 years of experience in copywriting and content marketing. With a background in volunteering, she now uses her passion for writing to help accelerate the all-important missions of nonprofits worldwide.
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