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What payment processors does GoFundMe use and their associated fees?
Executive Summary
GoFundMe relies on multiple third‑party payment processors — primarily Stripe, PayPal (including Venmo), Adyen, and Coinbase — and its transaction fees vary by region, fundraiser type, and payment method; typical U.S. donor processing rates reported range from 2.2%–2.9% plus a $0.30 fixed fee, with optional donor tips and occasional American Express surcharges cited [1] [2] [3] [4]. Reporting across the provided sources shows consensus that GoFundMe does not charge a separate platform fee for personal campaigns, but the precise processing percentage and fixed amount differ by official page and date, so campaign organizers should check current, region‑specific terms before relying on a single figure [1] [2] [3] [4].
1. What companies actually move the money — and why that matters!
GoFundMe’s payment stack is reported to include Stripe, PayPal (and Venmo), Coinbase, and Adyen, with Adyen specifically referenced for processing in the EEA, UK, Switzerland and Australia; Coinbase is noted in one source as a partner for crypto donations [1] [2]. The variation matters because each processor imposes its own risk, fraud‑prevention, card‑network, and currency‑conversion costs, which GoFundMe aggregates into the disclosed processing fees. Multiple sources align on the multi‑processor model, but they differ on which processor handles which geography and product: one source emphasizes Stripe and PayPal broadly [1], while another places Adyen as the regional handler for Europe and selected countries [2]. This multiplicity explains why reported fee levels and fixed‑fee components diverge across the analyses.
2. The headline fees: similar story, different numbers depending on the page
Across the analyses the core pattern is consistent: donors face a processing fee expressed as a percentage plus a per‑transaction fixed fee, and certified charities often receive reduced rates. The oldest summary lists a common U.S. consumer rate of 2.9% + $0.30 and a certified charity rate of 2.2% + $0.30 [3]. A GoFundMe Pro–oriented account shows 2.4% + $0.30 for credit cards via Stripe, 2.5% + $0.30 for PayPal/Venmo in some contexts, and 2.2% + $0.30 sometimes cited as the direct donation processing fee [1]. A more recent help‑page snapshot reiterates 2.9% + $0.30 as a common figure while also confirming lower certified rates; one 2025 dated summary repeats the standard 2.9% + $0.30 headline [4] [3].
3. Regions, cards, and exceptions — the devil in the details
The analyses uniformly warn that regional differences and card types matter: Europe and Canada are reported with different structures (e.g., ~2.9% + €0.25 in Europe or ~2.2% in Canada without a fixed charge), and American Express surcharges have been called out in at least one breakdown as an additional ~1% add‑on [2] [1]. Charity vs. personal campaign status yields lower certified rates in multiple accounts [3] [2]. These distinctions reveal why a single percentage can’t be treated as universal: currency, regulator rules, card networks, and the specific payment processor used for a transaction determine the final fee applied to a donation.
4. Voluntary tips, platform fees, and what organizers actually receive
All sources indicate that GoFundMe’s “platform fee” for personal campaigns is effectively zero and that the company instead relies on an optional donor tip model; however, the transaction (processing) fees are mandatory and deducted before funds are distributed [3] [5] [1]. That means organizers should budget using the processing fee figures rather than assuming a separate platform cut. The presence of voluntary tips and the different processor pathways can produce variability in net receipts: two donors giving identical amounts via different payment methods or geographies can yield different net proceeds to the campaign because of the layered processor and network fees reflected in the cited figures [5] [1].
5. Bottom line for campaigners — verify region and fundraiser type before you fundraise
The provided analyses agree on the broad architecture — multiple processors, percentage + fixed‑fee processing, optional donor tips, and lower certified charity rates — but disagree on precise numbers in some spots and assign processors to regions differently [1] [2] [3] [4]. Given those disagreements and the presence of a 2025 update reiterating older headline figures [4], the only practical step for organizers is to consult GoFundMe’s current, region‑specific fee disclosures and any Pro/Charity pages active at the time of fundraising. Knowing the processor used for your campaign’s country and whether your campaign qualifies as a certified charity will determine whether you face the typical ~2.9% + per‑transaction fee or a reduced rate.