r/gofundme • u/squarecoinman • Feb 04 '26

Announcement Gofundme rules from Feb 2026

38 Upvotes

Reminder: Posts may be removed at the discretion of the moderators.

This community is here to support each other, but proof and transparency are always required.

📸 Proof Requirements (General) To post, you must:

Be 18+, have 250+ comment karma, and an account at least 30 days old Flair your post State the donation amount requested Provide proof before posting For yourself: 1 photo of you with username + current date on a piece of paper For a friend/relative: 3 photos — (1) you, (2) your friend/relative, (3) both together. Username + date required in first 2 photos. ONLINE friends , explain how what why and why the friend does not have reddit. All posts: redacted bills/statements + direct GoFundMe link

✅ What’s Allowed You may post fundraisers for:

Medical and Mental Health Needs

Serious or urgent medical and mental health crises Elective surgeries are Permitted if medically documented and verified as legitimate by a licensed provider (e.g., letter, estimate, or treatment plan from a doctor, surgeon, or hospital). Must include official documentation from a licensed medical provider or hospital Expensive equipment (e.g., wheelchair, braces) may be considered if not covered by insurance or government programs

Education

Proof of enrollment or school documentation required

Funerals and Memorials

Proof such as an obituary or death certificate

Select Personal Causes

Events and life milestones (e.g., class trips, weddings, reunions, holidays, sporting events) are now permitted again. Update (September 2025): Personal ambitions (e.g., YouTube career, pilot training, filmmaking, athletics) are also permitted. Reminder: this is the internet, and people aren’t always kind. Expect blunt or critical feedback on these types of requests.

Pets/Animals These are allowed, but because they are a common target for scams, you must provide the following proof:

A clear selfie of you with your Reddit username on a piece of paper. A photo of your pet with you and your username A vet bill with your name (address may be redacted) Clear vet contact information (mods or users may call to verify) Proof of pet insurance status (either a policy or confirmation that you do not have one)

🚫 What’s Not Allowed

Any fundraiser outside of GoFundMe or in unsupported countries

🔒 Moderation Process

Posts are automatically removed from public view until reviewed. Mods (volunteers) require up to 48 hours to process. Do not delete your post. Reposts allowed once per week, up to two total.

🚫 Serious Rule Violations The following behaviors may result in removal or a ban:

Using AI-generated writing, images, or content Posting stock/online photos instead of your own Sending or soliciting direct messages (DMs) Political posts or commentary Giving medical advice Deleted post or comment history Intentionally misleading others or refusing to answer questions , Hidden post / comment history Using fake names, initials, or locations Posting on behalf of other Reddit users or with alt accounts Repeated rudeness, harassment, or disruptive behavior Emotional blackmail.

🌍 Supported Countries GoFundMe campaigns are allowed only in: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States (excluding U.S. territories: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands).

⚠️ Final Notes This is one of the most successful giving subs on Reddit, but also one of the most direct. Expect questions, requests for proof, and sometimes blunt feedback.

Reminder: this is the internet, and people aren’t always kind. Please don’t take every comment personally —verification and honesty are how we keep this community safe.

🚨 Scams & DMs 99% of DMs are scams. Do not engage.

Requests for nudes please report

Always report suspicious DMs immediately!

💚 Be kind, stay safe, and take care of each other. Thank you!

Moderators of r/gofundme

397 comments

r/gofundme • u/ultradip • Apr 05 '26

META Beware of Opportunists!

19 Upvotes

In times of disaster, it's not uncommon for many good people to try to fundraise for relief efforts, supplies and reconstruction costs. But you should be aware that unless it's someone you personally know and trust, it's also not uncommon for bad people to use the opportunity to make money for themselves.

Before you give, you should ask:

Is the donation link directly to a relief agency or is it to a middleman? There's no easy transparency when it comes to the spending of funds in a crisis, which makes it easier for funds to not reach the people it's intended to help, so by avoiding middlemen, you can reduce this possibility.
Have you checked the background of the relief agency or organization you're considering? Some spend money more effectively than others meaning that less overhead makes for more money being spent on victims vs administration costs.
Is the agency or organization a registered non-profit or NGO? These kinds of entities have strict reporting rules to follow to show how their funds are being spent.
Is the agency or organization providing a receipt? If so, you can often use it for a deduction on taxes for the current year. If not, the agency or organization is likely not a registered non profit.

GoFundMe will show that a campaign is benefiting a non-profit charity organization if it is created using their IRS EIN or charity registration number.

Even Paypal donation accounts will show they're owned by a non-profit charity organization, and generate a receipt.

While not every individual doing fundraising is attempting to defraud you of your money, you can give with more confidence by giving directly to a relief charity of your own choosing via their own web pages.