Start a memorial fundraiser on GoFundMe

Yes, if you want to help support a family who has just lost a loved one, a GoFundMe is a great way to help. We recommend you first ask if the person or family you are fundraising on behalf of 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 someone else to receive funds.

The fundraiser story or description is a great place to honor the memory of the deceased. You can add memories, photos, and brief overview of their life. We also recommend including details at the beginning of your fundraiser description that shares what the funds will be used for to help potential donors understand how their donation will be used. If there is a date by which you are hoping to collect funds, it is also recommended that you include this information. For example, if you are looking for help covering end of life costs before they are due, set a date.

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 safely be 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 fundraise for a charity or nonprofit you care about by selecting “Charity” when prompted to select who you are fundraising for in your GoFundMe setup.

The average funeral or memorial service in the United States costs $8,300, according to The National Funeral Directors Association. Other costs may include cemetery fees (e.g., plot cost, monument, or grave marker) or items such as an obituary, flowers, fees for the priest or minister, etc. Memorial fundraising is a great way to help offset these costs.

We recommend using the full name of the person’s memory in which you are fundraising for so that donors can easily search for your fundraiser. For example, “In loving memory of Jane Doe.”

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.