In mid October 2025, it became clear that GoFundMe had automatically created over 1.4 million online donation pages for U.S. nonprofit organizations—without those organizations’ prior knowledge or consent. Using public IRS data and information from partners such as PayPal Giving Fund, GoFundMe built these “Nonprofit Pages” so users could donate to charities even if those charities hadn’t joined the platform— a move first analyzed by Bloomerang, which highlighted how nonprofits discovered these pages unexpectedly.
The goal was to make giving easier. But many nonprofits were surprised to find pages with their names already live, raising questions about consent, transparency, and control.
Why These Auto-Created Pages Matter
Loss of Control and Confusion for Donors
GoFundMe created and published pages using nonprofits’ names—and in some cases, their logos and descriptions—without permission. Some listings contained outdated or incomplete information. This raised concerns about accuracy and loss of control over organizational branding.
Donors who found these unexpected pages often wondered whether they were legitimate. When supporters can’t tell if a donation page is official, trust erodes. Industry observers, including Bloomerang and coverage by ABC7 News, noted that many nonprofits first learned of their pages only after donors reached out with questions. A donor who gives through an unauthorized page may not receive confirmation, a receipt, or follow-up communication from the organization they intended to support.
Donor Stewardship and Transparency
When a page is unclaimed, donor details stay within GoFundMe’s system. The nonprofit can’t access that information to issue acknowledgments or tax receipts. This disconnect prevents organizations from properly stewarding donors and can leave supporters feeling unrecognized or uncertain.
Visibility and Fund Flow Concerns
Auto-generated pages can also compete with a nonprofit’s official website in search results. In some cases, GoFundMe pages appeared higher on Google than the nonprofit’s own donation link. That creates confusion and may divert gifts away from official channels.
For unclaimed pages, funds still reach the nonprofit through PayPal Giving Fund. However, the process takes time—sometimes several months—and the nonprofit may not know who donated or why. This can make reconciliation and acknowledgment difficult.
How the Auto-Generated Pages Worked
Each GoFundMe Nonprofit Page functioned as a general donation portal. Donors could give directly or start peer-to-peer fundraisers connected to a charity’s name.
- If claimed: The nonprofit verifies its identity and gains control. It can edit content, review donor data, receive scheduled payouts, and decide whether the page appears in searches.
- If unclaimed: Donations can still be made, but donor data remains hidden, and payments are delayed until GoFundMe or PayPal Giving Fund transfers the funds by check.
This system allowed donations to reach legitimate nonprofits—but without coordination or consent from those organizations.
GoFundMe’s Public Response and Current Status
On October 23, 2025, GoFundMe announced major changes following widespread nonprofit concerns — a timeline also confirmed by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, which reported on how nonprofits and donors responded to the policy reversal.
- Opt-in only: Nonprofit Pages will now appear publicly only if an organization opts in and verifies its identity.
- Removal of unclaimed pages: GoFundMe will remove and de-index all pages created without consent.
- Interim safeguards: For unclaimed pages that remain visible during transition, GoFundMe removed logos, disabled extra fundraising prompts, and restricted donor activity until verification.
- Future transparency: GoFundMe committed to notifying and partnering with nonprofits directly before launching future initiatives.
If you take no action, your organization likely won’t have a live GoFundMe Nonprofit Page once removals are complete. Still, it’s wise to check and confirm.
What Your Nonprofit Should Do Now
These steps help Child Advocacy Centers and other nonprofits verify their presence, decide how to respond, and safeguard donor trust.
Step 1: Check Whether a Page Exists for Your Organization
Search GoFundMe for your organization’s legal and common names. If nothing appears, try your EIN.
Also run a quick Google search (“[Your Nonprofit] GoFundMe”) to find cached or indexed versions of older pages.
Document what you find, including URLs and screenshots.
Step 2: Decide—Claim or Remove (Unpublish)
Option A — Claim and Control It
Choose this if you want to manage your presence on GoFundMe.
- Verify your organization through GoFundMe.
- Update content, logos, and links to ensure accuracy.
- Adjust settings such as search visibility and donor reporting.
- Monitor donations and peer-to-peer fundraisers tied to your page.
Option B — Remove or Unpublish It
If you don’t want a GoFundMe page:
- Submit a removal or de-indexing request using GoFundMe’s privacy or data removal form.
- Include your nonprofit’s name, EIN, and page URL.
- Request that the page be permanently deleted and removed from search results.
- If you already claimed the page, use the admin settings to unpublish it and confirm it’s offline.
Step 3: Reconcile Any Donations Made Before Removal
If donors already contributed through your page:
- The fastest way to access those funds is to temporarily claim the page, complete verification, and withdraw the donations.
- If you don’t claim it, confirm with GoFundMe or PayPal Giving Fund when checks will be mailed. Keep records of correspondence and transaction IDs.
- Thank donors whenever possible. If you can’t identify them individually, share a public message acknowledging that gifts received through third-party platforms have been accounted for.
Step 4: Align Internal Teams and Messaging
Make sure your staff and board understand your decision to claim or remove the page.
Prepare short talking points for anyone who fields donor questions.
For example:
“Our preferred way to give is through our official website. If you donated through GoFundMe, thank you—please contact us so we can confirm and acknowledge your gift.”
If you removed the page, add a short note on your website or social channels explaining that you’ve taken steps to protect your donors and ensure transparency.
Step 5: Strengthen Your Official Donation Pathways
- Keep your “Donate” button prominent on your website and social media profiles.
- Make your giving form clear and transparent—avoid hidden fees or confusing options.
- Update your Google Business and directory listings so your official donation link ranks first.
- Schedule quarterly checks across platforms like GoFundMe and Facebook Fundraisers to ensure no unauthorized pages appear.
GoFundMe’s auto-generated pages highlight how quickly third-party platforms can impact nonprofits without warning. Although GoFundMe has moved to an opt-in model and is removing unapproved pages, every organization should verify its online presence.
By checking whether your nonprofit has a GoFundMe page, claiming or removing it, and reinforcing your official donation channels, you can protect donor trust and ensure that every contribution supports your mission directly.
At Guardify, we understand how critical funding is for every Child Advocacy Center. Fundraising and grants power the technology and tools that help protect children. To support that work, contact us to learn about our Guardify Give Back Fund for digital evidence management and our Grant Writing Guide designed for CACs.
Reporting and analysis for this topic were informed by coverage from Bloomerang, ABC7 News, and The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
