October 2025
GoFundMe recently confirmed that it has automatically created donation pages for approximately 1.4 million nonprofit organizations across the United States, many of which were unaware that such pages existed. This development has sparked concerns throughout the nonprofit sector about issues of consent, donor engagement, and oversight of fundraising activities.
What Happened
GoFundMe generated these pages using publicly available IRS data and information from third-party databases. The stated purpose was to make charitable giving easier and more accessible for donors. However, many nonprofit leaders were surprised to discover pages associated with their organizations that had never been authorized or managed by them.
Why It Matters
Limited Control: Some organizations didn’t even know these pages existed, which means they couldn’t manage the content or branding being shared.
Donor Confusion: Supporters looking to give might end up on an unofficial GoFundMe page instead of the nonprofit’s verified website or donation platform.
Access to Funds: Donations made through unclaimed GoFundMe pages could be processed by third parties, which might delay or complicate how the funds are received.
Unexpected Fees: GoFundMe’s default settings for transaction fees and tips may not match the nonprofit’s usual fundraising terms, which could lead to confusion or mismatched expectations for donors.
Nationwide Scope
This is not a state-specific issue. Reports have surfaced from nonprofit organizations across the country including California, Texas, and Illinois indicating that this is a nationwide concern affecting both small and large nonprofits alike.
Recommended Actions for Nonprofits
Sassetti recommends that nonprofits take the following steps to protect their organization’s name and ensure transparency with donors:
Review GoFundMe: Search for your organization on GoFundMe using your legal name or EIN to determine whether a page has been created.
Page Removal: Claim or request removal of any auto-generated page through GoFundMe’s nonprofit support portal.
Document Retention: Keep a record of all communications with GoFundMe and retain documentation confirming any page claims or removals for your files.
Donor & Internal Communication: Use your official communication channels to inform donors about your verified methods of giving. Additionally, notify your staff, management, and board members about the actions taken in response to this event, and disclose any impact, if applicable.
Ongoing Monitoring: Regularly review fundraising platforms to identify any unauthorized activity or potential misrepresentation of your organization’s information.
Review detailed guidance here for page removal.
Staying Proactive
As digital fundraising platforms continue to grow, it’s more important than ever for nonprofits to actively monitor their online presence and protect donor trust. Maintaining control over how and where your organization’s name appears online promotes transparency and safeguards your reputation.
At Sassetti, we work closely with nonprofit organizations to help them navigate emerging financial, regulatory, and operational challenges. If you have questions about how this issue could impact your organization, please reach out to Sassetti.
We will continue to share any updates as we learn more about this unfortunate situation.
Author: Aroosa Shahab
