Funeral Fundraising Platforms: GoFundMe, GiveSendGo and Other Options Compared

For a funeral fundraiser, the two platforms with published US fees are GoFundMe and GiveSendGo. GoFundMe charges no fee to start and takes 2.9% plus $0.30 from each donation. GiveSendGo charges no platform fee and takes 2.7% plus $0.30. The price gap is small, so choose on reach, payout timing and who receives the money. The Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA) lists crowdfunding sites among the ways families can raise money for a funeral.

What are your options?

Other crowdfunding sites exist, and fees and rules change, so read the current pricing page of any platform before you start. The sections below cover the two platforms whose published fees were checked for this guide.

How does GoFundMe work for a funeral?

GoFundMe is a widely used platform, so many donors will recognize the page. Here is what its own pages say:

• Fees. There is no fee to start or manage a fundraiser. One transaction fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 is deducted from each donation. Donors can add an optional tip to support GoFundMe, which is never required.
• Who gets the money. Donations are processed by its payment partners, held, then released to the person named as the beneficiary. It verifies the identity of anyone who receives funds. If you are raising money for someone else, you add them as the beneficiary and they set up bank transfers.
• Timing. Setting up and verifying transfers can take 3 to 7 business days or longer. Once the first transfer is sent, GoFundMe says it takes on average 2 to 5 business days to reach the bank account.
• Goal. You can edit the goal at any time, and you don't need to reach it to receive your money.
• Donor protection. Its Giving Guarantee promises donors a full refund in the rare case something isn't right.
• Charity option. You can fundraise for a charity in memory of the person, and ask guests to give there instead of sending flowers. It also suggests putting a QR code in the funeral program.

GoFundMe recommends asking the person you are fundraising for first, and putting what the funds are for at the top of the description.

How does GiveSendGo work?

GiveSendGo's pricing page lists a 0% platform fee and a third-party processing fee of 2.7% plus $0.30 per donation, for a total of 2.7% plus $0.30. It lists exceptions: a fundraiser in a currency other than US dollars pays 3.5% plus $0.30, and donations in other currencies to a US dollar fundraiser add 1%, and currency exchange fees may apply. It says there are no penalties for missing a goal, no deadlines or goal requirements, and that you keep every donation you receive. Check its terms for how payouts and verification work before you rely on it for a bill with a deadline.

What do the fee differences amount to?

These examples assume US dollar donations. They are arithmetic from the published fees, not quotes.

On a $5,000 fundraiser, the platforms differ by about $10. The $0.30 per donation weighs more when you receive many small gifts, but it is the same on both. Add a cushion for fees when you set the goal. Our guide to setting a funeral fundraising goal shows how.

How do you choose?

Ask these questions in order:

1. Who will pay the funeral home? Name that person as the beneficiary. The platform pays them, not the organizer, unless they are the same person.
2. How fast do you need the money? If a payment is due this week, no platform will reliably get cash to you in time. See why funeral homes ask for payment upfront.
3. Where will donors find it? Pick the platform your friends, workplace and faith community already trust, because you will be sharing the link with people who know the family.
4. What do the terms say? Read the fee, payout, refund and verification terms, and whether you can change the goal.
5. Is there a better fit than crowdfunding? A shared bank account, a funeral home that accepts several payers, or a charity donation page may suit a family who would rather not run a public page.

How can donors stay safe?

GoFundMe says misuse on its platform is rare, and that it has a team to review fundraisers and cooperates with law enforcement. Even so, donors should give to people they know, check that the named beneficiary is the person paying for the funeral, and be wary of pages created by strangers or that never say what the money is for. As an organizer, you build trust by naming the beneficiary, listing what the money covers and posting an update once the bill is paid. See funeral crowdfunding etiquette and asking for funeral donations.

What about taxes?

The IRS says money you receive from friends and family as a gift isn't taxable income and shouldn't be reported on a Form 1099-K. Third-party payment platforms must file a 1099-K only when payments for goods or services exceed $20,000 in more than 200 transactions, though the IRS says income from selling goods or services must be reported whether or not you get the form. The IRS says you can't deduct contributions to specific individuals, so donors generally can't write off a gift to a family's fundraiser. Keep the funeral invoice and receipts, and ask a tax professional if the amount is large. Our guides to funeral crowdfunding tips and memorial funds go further.

What to do next

1. Get a written quote from a funeral home so the goal matches a real bill.
2. Choose a platform, name the person who will pay the bill as the beneficiary and start the verification early.
3. Post what the money covers, then share the link directly with people who knew the person.
4. Have a plan for the bill that doesn't depend on the campaign. See our guide to paying for a funeral.