Helping minors raise funds

We have seen many inspiring fundraisers organized by kids and teens on GoFundMe for causes they are passionate about, but there are a few important things to keep in mind before you and your child get started.

Age requirements on GoFundMe 

The person who withdraws funds to their bank account must be at least 18 years old.

However anyone at least 13 years old can create an account. This means a teenager could manage the fundraiser, share it, and post updates. A parent or guardian will need to be added as the beneficiary in order to withdraw the funds. We recommend clearly writing in the fundraiser story that the parent or legal guardian is handling the funds. 

Please note, if you're located in the US or Canada, organizers may be required to enter their address and birthdate before creating a fundraiser. In these cases, the GoFundMe account should be in the parent’s name, and they can work together with the child to manage the account and create the fundraiser.

Fundraising for someone else's child

When raising funds for a child you aren't the legal guardian of, GoFundMe’s Terms of Service require you to have permission from the minor’s legal guardian, or transfer funds directly into a trust account for the sole benefit of the minor. 

If you have questions about the process of creating a trust account, you can contact a financial advisor, attorney, or banking institution. GoFundMe cannot provide or offer legal advice.
You may be asked to provide proof that the minor and/or their guardian received the funds raised on their behalf. Alternatively, our Trust and Safety team may reach out to the legal guardian to confirm they have authorized a third party to transfer funds and deliver the funds to them. Please know that these are proactive measures GoFundMe takes to ensure the safety and security of all parties involved.

Reporting harassment or bullying on GoFundMe

Abusive or hateful language is never acceptable on GoFundMe. This is a safe space for people to come together and help each other. If you see this kind of language on your teen’s fundraiser or anywhere on the site, please click "Contact us" to let us know immediately so we can take appropriate action. 

What to do if you do not authorize your minor’s GoFundMe

You can use this form to report a minor’s account to our Trust & Safety team, and they will then be able to help you further. 

Accessing your teen’s account

We certainly understand your concern for your teen’s safety; however, we are unable to provide unauthorized access to the account if you’re not the account holder. Please keep in mind all users ages 13 (or 16 for children located in Europe) and older are considered authorized account holders.

If you have any additional questions about accessing your teen’s account, or how to remove your teen’s fundraiser from public view, please file a report to our team for further guidance. 

Removing an image of your child from GoFundMe

GoFundMe wants to ensure your child’s photo is used only with a parent or guardian’s authorization. If a photo of your child appears on a GoFundMe without permission, please report it to our Trust & Safety team here. 

Making sure your teen’s GoFundMe account is secure

GoFundMe takes the security of your information seriously. We suggest you review tips on how to keep a GoFundMe account secure with your child. If your teen is having trouble signing into their account, please refer to this article for further guidance.