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.
No fee to start fundraising
With GoFundMe’s smart tools, it’s easy to publish your fundraiser in just a few clicks.
Step 1
Our tools will help you write an effective story, add photos or videos, and set your goal.
Step 2
Share with friends and family to get donations early. Check your dashboard often for tips.
Step 3
You can transfer funds safely, securely, and at any time—even before reaching your goal.
Safely support fundraisers for people seeking help for their best friends.
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. Once you get started, we’ll be there with resources, tips, and built-in tools to help your fundraiser reach its goal.
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 and helping them focus on what matters most. Before you start, make sure you have the person’s (or family’s) permission and are transparent about how the funds will be used.
Yes. If you know a friend or loved one who needs help—for example, covering medical bills—starting a GoFundMe is a great way to help. It’s recommended to first ask if the person you’re fundraising for is comfortable with it. Once the fundraiser is live, you can invite them to set up direct bank transfers so they will receive the money.
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 so they can add their bank information to receive transfers. This adds transparency and peace of mind, ensuring the funds reach the person in need quickly and securely.
Yes—you can raise (or lower) your fundraising goal at any time.
The process of setting up and verifying transfers can take about 3–7 business days (or longer), and once the first transfer is sent, it typically takes another 2–5 business days for the funds to be deposited into the bank account.
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! After the fundraiser is set up, you can add team members to help you run it.
GoFundMe is the #1 crowdfunding platform, trusted by millions of people.
More than $50M is raised a week on GoFundMe to support people like you
