Most GoFundMe donations are not tax deductible for the person who gives money

When you donate through GoFundMe, you generally cannot deduct that donation from your taxes, even if the money goes to a cause you care about. The IRS only allows tax deductions for donations to may have access to organizations — mainly registered charities, religious institutions, and certain nonprofits. GoFundMe itself is a crowdfunding platform, not a charity, and most campaigns on it are run by individuals or small groups without tax-exempt status.

The key difference is between giving to an organization and giving to a person. When you donate to the American Red Cross or your local food bank, those organizations have IRS approval to accept tax-deductible gifts. When you donate to someone's medical bills or education fund through GoFundMe, you are giving money to that individual, and the IRS does not treat personal gifts as deductible charitable contributions.

There is one narrow exception: if a GoFundMe campaign is run by a registered nonprofit or charitable organization, donations to that specific campaign may be deductible. This is rare and the campaign itself will usually say so clearly. You would need to verify the organization's tax-exempt status before donating if you want to claim a deduction.

Key Takeaways

  • Donations to individual GoFundMe campaigns are personal gifts and cannot be deducted on your tax return.
  • Only donations to organizations with IRS tax-exempt status (501(c)(3) charities, religious groups, and certain nonprofits) are tax deductible.
  • If a GoFundMe campaign is run by a registered charity, the campaign page will state that donations are tax deductible and provide the organization's tax ID.
  • Keeping a receipt or screenshot of your donation does not make it deductible if the recipient is not a may have access to organization.

How the IRS decides what counts as a charitable donation

The IRS has a specific list of organizations that can receive tax-deductible donations. These include charities registered as 501(c)(3) organizations, religious congregations, educational institutions, hospitals, and public foundations. You can search any organization's tax status on the IRS website using their Tax Exempt Organization Search tool, or ask the organization directly for their EIN (Employer Identification Number) to verify.

Personal fundraisers — even for sympathetic reasons like medical emergencies, funeral costs, or education — do not fall into these categories. The person receiving the money is not a may have access to organization, so donations to them are treated as personal gifts. This is true whether the money is raised through GoFundMe, a Facebook fundraiser, a church collection, or a direct transfer.

The distinction matters because the IRS wants to encourage giving to institutions that serve the public good, not to individuals. A donation to a homeless shelter is deductible; a donation to help a specific homeless person pay rent is not, even if the cause is equally worthy.

When a GoFundMe campaign might be tax deductible

Some GoFundMe campaigns are created by nonprofits or charities to raise money for their work. For example, a registered animal rescue might run a GoFundMe to fund a specific rescue operation, or a disaster relief nonprofit might use GoFundMe to collect money after a hurricane. In these cases, the campaign is run by an organization with tax-exempt status, and donations are deductible.

The campaign page will make this clear. It will typically state that donations are tax deductible and provide the organization's legal name and tax ID number (EIN). If you do not see this language, the campaign is almost certainly not run by a may have access to organization. Do not assume a campaign is deductible just because it supports a good cause — you have to verify the organization behind it.

If you are unsure, you can ask the campaign organizer directly for their organization's name and EIN, then search the IRS database to confirm their status. Keeping documentation of the organization's tax-exempt status along with your donation receipt is the safest approach if you plan to claim a deduction.

What to do if you want your donation to be tax deductible

If you want to support a cause and receive a tax deduction, donate directly to the established charity working in that area rather than to a personal GoFundMe. For example, if you want to help someone with medical bills, you could donate to a hospital's financial information program or a medical charity instead of to an individual's campaign. If you want to support disaster relief, donate to the Red Cross or a disaster relief nonprofit rather than to a personal fundraiser.

These established organizations have the infrastructure to accept tax-deductible donations and can provide you with a receipt that documents your gift for tax purposes. They also have IRS oversight, which gives you confidence that the money will be used for legitimate charitable work.

If you still want to donate to a specific personal campaign on GoFundMe, you can do so — but understand that you will not be able to deduct it. Treat it as a personal gift, the same way you would if you gave money directly to a friend or family member. There is nothing wrong with making a personal gift; just do not expect a tax deduction.

How to document a donation if you do claim it as a deduction

If you donate to a may have access to organization through GoFundMe, keep records of your gift. You will need a receipt showing the organization's name, the amount you gave, and the date. GoFundMe will send you a confirmation email when you donate; save this email or take a screenshot. The confirmation should show the campaign name and the organization running it.

For donations under $250, the receipt from GoFundMe is usually enough documentation. For donations of $250 or more, the IRS requires written acknowledgment from the organization itself — not just from GoFundMe. Contact the organization directly and ask for a formal donation receipt that includes their tax-exempt status and EIN.

When you file your taxes, you will report charitable donations on Schedule A (Itemized Deductions) if you itemize rather than take the standard deduction. Your tax software will walk you through this process. If you cannot produce documentation of the donation, the IRS will not allow the deduction, so keeping records is essential.

The difference between GoFundMe and charity platforms

GoFundMe is a general crowdfunding platform that hosts all kinds of campaigns — personal medical fundraisers, education costs, memorial funds, and more. Most campaigns are run by individuals, not organizations. This is different from platforms like Facebook Fundraisers (which can be tied to nonprofits) or GiveDirectly (which is itself a registered charity).

Some platforms are built specifically for charitable giving and have built-in verification of nonprofit status. GoFundMe does not require this. You can start a campaign on GoFundMe for almost any reason, which makes it flexible and accessible but also means you have to do the work of checking whether a campaign is run by a may have access to organization.

If you are looking for tax-deductible giving opportunities, platforms like Charity Navigator, GuideStar, or the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search can help you find registered nonprofits working on causes you care about. You can then donate directly to those organizations or through their own fundraising pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I deduct a GoFundMe donation if I give it to help a friend with medical bills?

No. Donations to individuals are personal gifts and are not tax deductible, regardless of the reason. Only donations to registered charities and nonprofits may have access to for deductions. If you want a tax deduction for medical-related giving, donate to a hospital's financial information program or a medical charity instead.

What if the GoFundMe campaign says "donations are tax deductible"?

Check whether the campaign is actually run by a registered nonprofit. Search the organization's name in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool. If the organization is not listed, the campaign organizer may be mistaken or misleading. Do not rely on the campaign page alone — verify the organization's status yourself before assuming your donation is deductible.

Do I need to report a GoFundMe donation I received as income?

That depends on the nature of the money. If you received a GoFundMe donation for a personal hardship (medical bills, funeral costs, education), it is generally not taxable income. If you received money through GoFundMe for services or goods, it may be taxable. Consult a tax professional about your specific situation, especially if the amount is large.

Can I deduct a donation if I give it through a church that uses GoFundMe?

If your church is a registered nonprofit, donations to the church are tax deductible. However, verify that the GoFundMe campaign is officially run by the church and not by an individual member. Ask your church leadership to confirm, and keep documentation showing the church's involvement.

What is the difference between a gift and a charitable donation for tax purposes?

A gift is money you give to a person with no expectation of return. A charitable donation is money you give to a may have access to organization to support its work. Only charitable donations are tax deductible. Personal gifts — even generous ones — are not deductible, and the person who receives them does not have to report them as income.