GoFundMe

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Corporate brand

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A global online fundraising platform for personal needs, charitable causes, emergencies, and community initiatives.

Last updated November 4, 2026

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Overview

GoFundMe is a privately held online fundraising and giving platform founded in 2010 by Brad Damphousse and Andrew Ballester. It enables individuals, families, community groups, nonprofits, and other organizations to create fundraising pages, explain a cause, collect donations, and share appeals through social networks, email, messaging, and offline channels. Common uses include medical and caregiving expenses, memorials, disaster recovery, education, housing and living costs, community projects, mutual aid, and nonprofit campaigns. The brand developed from the broader crowdfunding movement but became particularly associated with urgent, cause-based fundraising rather than creative projects or equity investment. Its model depends heavily on personal storytelling and social distribution: organizers typically activate their own networks first, while donors can contribute through campaign pages and receive updates from organizers. The platform has also become a recurring infrastructure for disaster relief and other crisis responses, although the existence of a fundraiser does not by itself establish that a claim is verified or that a campaign is operated by a registered charity. GoFundMe expanded through acquisitions and international growth. In 2015, its founders agreed to sell a majority stake to an investor group including Accel Partners and Technology Crossover Ventures, after which the founders stepped back from day-to-day management. The company acquired CrowdRise, a platform focused on charitable fundraising, in 2017 and YouCaring in 2018. These transactions strengthened GoFundMe's position in nonprofit and social fundraising and helped consolidate a fragmented market. The company broadened its business-to-business and nonprofit capabilities through the acquisition of Classy, announced in 2022 and completed later that year. Classy continued as a wholly owned subsidiary, serving nonprofits with more specialized fundraising software while GoFundMe continued to operate its consumer-oriented platform. This combination connected individual giving, peer-to-peer fundraising, and nonprofit fundraising technology under one corporate umbrella. GoFundMe is a for-profit private company and does not have a public stock ticker. Its public-facing proposition emphasizes making it easier for people to turn compassion into financial help. Revenue arrangements have included transaction-related fees and optional donor contributions or tips, with details varying by market and product. Because the company is private, comprehensive current financial statements are not publicly available. Its scale, trust-and-safety systems, donor protection messaging, and role in high-profile emergencies have made the brand one of the most recognizable names in online fundraising.

History

GoFundMe was established in 2010 by Brad Damphousse and Andrew Ballester as an online crowdfunding service. Unlike investment crowdfunding, the platform focused on donations and personal or community causes. Its early use cases included medical bills, emergencies, memorial expenses, education, and charitable initiatives. The service's growth was closely tied to the spread of social media, because organizers could publish a campaign quickly and distribute it through existing personal networks. By the middle of the 2010s, GoFundMe had become one of the best-known names in online charitable fundraising. In June 2015, Damphousse and Ballester agreed to sell a majority stake to an investor group that included Accel Partners and Technology Crossover Ventures. The founders withdrew from routine operational oversight, while Ballester remained associated with the board. The transaction gave GoFundMe additional resources to scale its technology, payments, trust-and-safety operations, and international presence. The company then pursued consolidation and category expansion. It acquired CrowdRise in 2017, adding a prominent charitable fundraising service with strong nonprofit and event-related use cases. In 2018, it acquired YouCaring. The YouCaring transaction expanded GoFundMe's donor and organizer base and reflected increasing competition among online fundraising platforms, including services operated by major technology companies. Existing YouCaring campaigns were given transition options, while new campaigns were directed toward GoFundMe. GoFundMe's public role grew during natural disasters, public emergencies, and other periods of collective hardship. The platform became a channel through which individuals, community groups, and organizations could solicit rapid assistance. That prominence also created continuing trust-and-safety responsibilities: the company has had to communicate campaign standards, address suspected fraud, verify certain fundraisers, and distinguish personal appeals from formal charitable organizations. Public reporting has periodically documented fraudulent campaigns or misuse by organizers, but those incidents concern particular fundraisers rather than establishing that the brand itself is a scandal subject. In January 2022, GoFundMe announced an agreement to acquire Classy, a nonprofit fundraising software company. The transaction was described as an all-equity deal, and Classy remained a separate wholly owned subsidiary after completion. Classy's nonprofit-oriented tools complemented GoFundMe's consumer fundraising network, allowing the combined business to serve both individuals seeking help and established organizations raising money for programs. The combination also supported the company's broader ambition to participate in workplace giving and other forms of modern philanthropy. GoFundMe continues to operate as a private company. Its service combines campaign creation, donation collection, social sharing, organizer updates, and safety or donor-protection processes. The company has expanded its marketing beyond direct-response acquisition into brand storytelling, including the 2021 New York State of Kind campaign, which presented giving as evidence of community generosity. Its current identity therefore spans emergency mutual aid, personal fundraising, nonprofit technology, and a broader mission of helping people convert concern into practical financial support.

2022
Classy acquisition completed
[6]GoFundMe Completes Acquisition of Classybusinesswire.com
GoFundMe completed its acquisition of Classy, which continued as a wholly owned nonprofit fundraising software subsidiary.
2021
New York State of Kind campaign
[3]GoFundMe Celebrates New York's Generosityadweek.com
GoFundMe ran a New York-focused brand campaign using films and outdoor advertising to spotlight local generosity.
2018
YouCaring acquisition
[4]GoFundMe acquires YouCaringtechcrunch.com
GoFundMe acquired YouCaring, consolidating another major cause-based crowdfunding community into its platform.
2017
CrowdRise acquisition
[2]GoFundMe, Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
GoFundMe acquired CrowdRise to strengthen its position in charitable and nonprofit fundraising.
2015
Majority stake sale
[2]GoFundMe, Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
The founders agreed to sell a majority stake to an investor group including Accel Partners and Technology Crossover Ventures and stepped back from daily oversight.
2010
GoFundMe is founded
[2]GoFundMe, Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Brad Damphousse and Andrew Ballester founded the online donation-based crowdfunding platform.

Products and positioning

GoFundMe positions itself as a trusted, accessible bridge between people in need, donors, communities, and nonprofit organizations. Its brand centers on social sharing, human stories, rapid response to hardship, and the idea that small individual contributions can become meaningful collective support.

Personal crowdfunding · 2010
GoFundMe personal fundraisers
Campaign pages allow individuals or families to explain a financial need, set a goal, receive donations, and communicate updates. Typical situations include medical treatment, housing pressure, education, funerals, accidents, and unexpected emergencies. Distribution generally depends on the organizer and supporters sharing the campaign through personal and social channels.
Charitable fundraising
GoFundMe charity fundraisers
The platform supports fundraising for charitable purposes and nonprofit organizations. These campaigns are designed to make donation appeals shareable and accessible while connecting donors with causes, organizations, and community initiatives. The service is distinct from Classy's more specialized nonprofit software offering.
Nonprofit fundraising software
Classy
Classy is a GoFundMe-owned subsidiary focused on software and services for nonprofit fundraising. Its capabilities complement GoFundMe's consumer and peer-to-peer network by giving established organizations tools to run campaigns, engage donors, and support broader programmatic fundraising.

Controversies

2022
GoFundMe announces automatic refunds for Freedom Convoy donations
After Florida officials said they were preparing to investigate GoFundMe, the platform said it would automatically refund donations made to the Canadian Freedom Convoy fundraiser. It later said it had refunded donations, with remaining funds to be distributed to charities.
Source
2020
Yelp faces backlash over small-business fundraising page
In a controversy involving GoFundMe, Yelp faced backlash after teaming up with GoFundMe to raise money for small businesses. According to the source, some businesses had not been alerted about the arrangement. The report describes the criticism directed at Yelp over the fundraising page created for small businesses through the partnership with GoFundMe. The source does not provide further details on the businesses involved, the amounts raised, or any outcomes of the criticism.
Source
2020
GoFundMe freezes donations and changes search results after charity confusion
After the situation was disclosed, GoFundMe said it had frozen nearly $350,000 in donations and would refund donors who no longer wished to contribute. The article also reports that its search results were adjusted so that local BLM organizations appeared first and the foundation could no longer be found.
Source

2021New York State of Kind
United States
GoFundMe partnered with videographer Jack Coyne on short films featuring New Yorkers who used the platform for charitable efforts. Outdoor advertisements used platform-derived giving observations to challenge the stereotype that New York residents are unkind.
Outcome. The campaign positioned GoFundMe around community generosity and described giving as a form of social currency.
Source

Brand decisions

2022
Acquire ClassyM&A
Background
GoFundMe aimed to serve both individual donors and professional nonprofit organizations across a broader giving ecosystem.
Action taken
The company announced and completed an all-equity acquisition of Classy, retaining it as a wholly owned subsidiary.
Aftermath
The combined business added specialized nonprofit fundraising software and explored adjacent opportunities such as workplace giving.
Source
2018
Acquire YouCaringM&A
Background
The online charitable crowdfunding sector was consolidating amid competition from both specialist platforms and larger technology companies.
Action taken
GoFundMe acquired YouCaring and directed future campaigns toward GoFundMe while providing transition options for existing campaigns.
Aftermath
The deal expanded GoFundMe's donor and organizer community and reinforced its position in cause-based crowdfunding.
Source
2015
Sell majority stake to institutional investorsM&A
Background
GoFundMe sought additional scale and resources as its donation-based crowdfunding service grew.
Action taken
Founders Brad Damphousse and Andrew Ballester agreed to sell a majority stake to an investor group including Accel Partners and Technology Crossover Ventures.
Aftermath
The founders stepped back from day-to-day oversight while the company continued expanding its platform and market reach.
Source

Recent events

2022.02.05
Reported2022.02.06
GoFundMe announces automatic refunds for Freedom Convoy donations[9]GoFundMe announces automatic refunds for Freedom Convoy donationsepochtimes.com
After Florida officials said they were preparing to investigate GoFundMe, the platform said it would automatically refund donations made to the Canadian Freedom Convoy fundraiser. It later said it had refunded donations, with remaining funds to be distributed to charities.
2021.08.31
Reported2021.08.31
Adyen launches Score[10]Adyen推出Scoreprnewswire.com
Adyen launched Score, a machine-learning feature for signaling irregular activity and monitoring platform compliance. GoFundMe was one of the first merchants to implement it.
2021.07.09
Reported2021.07.09
Hopin and GoFundMe partner on in-event donations[11]Hopin 与 GoFundMe 合作推出活动内捐赠ftnnews.com
Hopin and GoFundMe partnered to enable event organizers to add GoFundMe fundraisers, charities or causes and offer in-event donations.
2021.03.03
Reported2021.03.03
GoFundMe launches AAPI fundraising hub[12]GoFundMe推出亚裔美国人及太平洋岛民募款专区nextshark.com
GoFundMe launched a hub collecting fundraising campaigns dedicated to helping the AAPI community as part of its #StopAsianHate initiative.
2020.10.08
Reported2020.10.08
Reading Terminal Market launches recovery fundraiser[13]Reading Terminal Market发起复苏筹款活动phillyvoice.com
Reading Terminal Market launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking $250,000 in donations to help it recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020.06.19
Reported2020.06.19
GoFundMe freezes donations and changes search results after charity confusion[8]GoFundMe freezes donations and changes search results after charity confusionfinance.sina.com.cn
After the situation was disclosed, GoFundMe said it had frozen nearly $350,000 in donations and would refund donors who no longer wished to contribute. The article also reports that its search results were adjusted so that local BLM organizations appeared first and the foundation could no longer be found.
2020.05.28
Reported2020.05.29
GoFundMe removes North Korea COVID-19 aid fundraiser[14]GoFundMe撤下为朝鲜新冠援助筹款的活动nknews.org
GoFundMe removed a campaign seeking funds for coronavirus-related medical supplies for North Korea. The platform reportedly told the organizers that sanctions and its terms and conditions prohibited the fundraiser from continuing on its platform.
2020.04.22
Reported2020.04.22
Spotify launches Artist Fundraising Pick[15]Spotify推出Artist Fundraising Pick募款功能techcrunch.com
Spotify launched Artist Fundraising Pick, a feature that lets artists raise funds for themselves, their crews, or verified music relief initiatives through their profiles.
2020.04.02
Reported2020.04.03
Apple and partners launch America’s Food Fund[16]Apple与合作方推出America’s Food Fundcnet.com
Apple partnered with Leonardo DiCaprio and Laurene Powell Jobs to launch America’s Food Fund, with the Ford Foundation also among the founders. The fund began with $12 million and will collect donations through GoFundMe for World Central Kitchen and Feeding America.
Unconfirmed
Reported2020.03.27
Yelp faces backlash over small-business fundraising page[7]Yelp faces backlash over small-business fundraising pagefool.com
Yelp faced backlash after teaming up with GoFundMe to raise money for small businesses; some businesses had not been alerted, according to the source.

Sources21 sources

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