Plan a fundraising campaign that actually reaches its goal
We break down how crowdfunding platforms and their fees really work, how to size a goal and timeline you can hit, and how to check whether a campaign or platform is legitimate before you commit money or time. We are not a crowdfunding platform and we do not host campaigns or process donations.
Are you giving, or raising?
Six routes into the same subject
Pick the one that matches what you're actually trying to decide.
I need to plan my campaign's goal and timeline
How to size a number you can actually reach and a schedule that supports it.
Plan the goal →I don't know which platform fits my situation
How GoFundMe, Kickstarter, Indiegogo and Donorbox fee structures actually compare.
Compare platforms →I want to check a campaign before I give
The concrete checks that separate a legitimate campaign from one to skip.
Vet a campaign →I'm not sure how taxes work on what I raise
The general US tax picture for money raised through crowdfunding.
See the tax basics →I want my campaign to actually build momentum
What genuinely drives shares and donations, and what doesn't.
See what works →I need to keep clean records as an organizer or donor
A simple system for tracking donations, receipts and acknowledgments.
Set up record keeping →Plan your numbers before you launch
Four small tools that answer one specific question each — from what your goal actually needs to be after fees, to what a recurring monthly gift adds up to over a year.
Campaign goal planner
Enter your estimated need, network size and typical gift amount to see a realistic goal and how long it might take to reach.
Assumptions this uses
- Assumes a modest response rate — not every person in your network will actually give
- Does not include platform or processing fees; use the fee comparison tool alongside this one
- Treats the close network as more likely to give than the wider network, at a higher assumed response rate
Limitations: This is a planning estimate based on typical response patterns, not a prediction — actual results depend heavily on your specific story, timing and outreach effort.
Runs entirely in your browser.
Read the fee structure before you pick a platform, not after
Every major crowdfunding platform publishes its fee structure, typically a platform fee plus a separate payment processing fee. Search '[platform name] fees' directly on the platform's own site rather than relying on what a friend told you last year — fee structures change, and the number that matters is what actually lands in the account, not the headline amount raised.
Ask about a specific campaign or planning question
A focused assistant for crowdfunding planning and vetting questions, not a general chatbot.
Get help planning or checking a campaign
This goes to a real person, not a bot — no cost, no obligation, and we won't tell you which specific cause to give to.
We do not publish an email address, so this form is the fastest route to a person. We cannot answer questions about your personal financial situation or tell you whether you qualify for anything.
Partner link — we may be paid a fee at no cost to you. How we make money.
See where to host a campaign next
Once you know your goal type — personal, nonprofit, or creative — comparing real platform options is the next practical step.
Compare platforms →A few physical things people in this situation actually buy
Not required reading or a product list disguised as advice — just the handful of physical items that come up naturally once you're planning or running a campaign.
How we make money: some links here are partner or affiliate links and we may be paid a fee at no cost to you. It never changes what we write or how options are ordered — see our disclosure and methodology.
Fundraising planner journal
A dedicated place to track your goal, timeline, donor list and update schedule rather than scattered notes.
Check price →Personal finance book
Background reading that helps organizers and donors alike understand the money side of a campaign with more confidence.
Check price →Document organizer folder
Keeping donation records, receipts and acknowledgment letters findable when tax season or a donor question comes up.
Check price →Thank-you card set
A handwritten note to early donors is a small, low-cost habit that consistently strengthens a campaign's momentum.
Check price →The Free Crowdfunding Campaign Planner
This free download walks through the same method used across this site: how to size a goal from your actual network, how to choose between platform types, and what to do in the first two weeks after launch.
Where to host or manage a campaign next
These are the places we point people once they know roughly what kind of campaign they're running. They are partners, not endorsements of one platform over another.
How we make money: some links here are partner or affiliate links and we may be paid a fee at no cost to you. It never changes what we write or how options are ordered — see our disclosure and methodology.
GoFundMe personal campaign
The most widely used platform for personal campaigns — medical, memorial and life-event fundraising.
See GoFundMe options →Crowdfunding and fundraising questions, answered straight
No hedging, no upsell — where the honest answer is 'it depends', we say exactly what it depends on.
How do crowdfunding platform fees actually work?
Most platforms charge two separate things: a platform fee (a percentage of what you raise) and a payment processing fee (a smaller percentage plus a flat fee per transaction, charged by the card processor). Some platforms combine these into one advertised rate and some list them separately, so always check the platform's own current fee page rather than a number you heard secondhand.
Is money raised on GoFundMe taxable income?
In most cases, personal gifts given to help someone through a crowdfunding campaign are not considered taxable income to the recipient under US tax rules, because they're treated as gifts rather than payment for goods or services. This varies with specifics like whether a business or nonprofit is involved, so treat this as general information and check with a tax professional for your exact situation.
How do I know if a crowdfunding campaign is legitimate?
Check for a specific, verifiable beneficiary (a named person, a linked news story, or a verified organizer), a clear and specific use for the funds, visible updates over time, and — where relevant — a connection to the beneficiary that the organizer can actually demonstrate. A campaign with a vague story, no updates, and a brand-new organizer account with no other footprint deserves more scrutiny.
What's a realistic fundraising goal for a personal campaign?
It depends entirely on your actual network and how much of it will realistically engage, not on what you need in an ideal world. A rough starting method: estimate how many people in your direct network would give, multiply by a modest average gift, and treat that as your first realistic milestone rather than your final goal — campaigns that beat a modest early goal tend to gain more momentum than ones that stall short of an ambitious one.
Should I choose GoFundMe, Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or a nonprofit platform like Donorbox?
It depends on your goal type. Personal campaigns (medical, memorial, life event) generally fit general crowdfunding platforms best. Creative and product campaigns fit reward-based platforms built around funding models and backer rewards. Registered nonprofits usually get more value from dedicated nonprofit fundraising software with donor management and recurring-giving tools built in.
What happens if my campaign doesn't reach its goal?
It depends on the platform's funding model. Some platforms let you keep whatever was raised regardless of the goal (flexible funding); others return all funds to donors if the goal isn't met (all-or-nothing funding, common on reward-based platforms). Check this specifically before you launch — it changes how you should set your goal number.