DONATE vs GoFundMe
GoFundMe is the best-known crowdfunding site in the world, and its name helps when a personal appeal is shared widely. For charities it offers low processing fees and passes Gift Aid on in full. DONATE is a multi-channel giving platform run by the National Funding Scheme, a registered charity, covering donations, text giving, raffles, auctions, team challenges, voting and contactless. The two are built for different jobs: GoFundMe for a single appeal shared online, DONATE for a charity's whole fundraising programme.
Pricing, side by side
| DONATE | GoFundMe | |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction fee (charity) | 4.5% + 22p without Gift Aid; with Gift Aid, no percentage fee (22p only) | 1.9% + 20p for verified charities (2.9% + 25p for personal fundraisers) |
| Fee to start | None (£3 usage fee per week, only in weeks donations reach £10, capped at £12 a month) | None |
| Gift Aid | Claimed for you by DONATE, with no HMRC Gift Aid registration needed. You keep 60% of the Gift Aid; our 40% replaces the 4.5% fee | Claimed by PayPal Giving Fund; the charity receives 100% of it, 15 to 45 days after the donation is paid out |
| Donor tips | Optional, and sized to our fee. A tip pays the fee on that gift, so the charity keeps the whole donation and all its Gift Aid | Donors are asked for an optional tip to GoFundMe; the charity still pays the 1.9% + 20p |
On online donations GoFundMe's fee is lower, and it passes all of the Gift Aid on. But a tip on GoFundMe goes to GoFundMe, while a tip on DONATE pays our fee, so when a supporter tips, your charity keeps the whole gift on DONATE and still pays the fee on GoFundMe. The comparison changes when you need anything beyond a donation page: GoFundMe's terms do not allow raffles, giveaways or anything given in return for a gift, and we could not find text giving or contactless on its UK site. Run your own numbers before deciding.
Feature coverage
Choose GoFundMe if you are running one appeal that you expect to be shared widely online, and online card donations are all you need.
Choose DONATE if you need any of these:
- Tips that work for your charity: a donor's tip pays our fee on their gift, so the charity keeps the whole donation and its Gift Aid
- Online raffles: run under your organisation's own lottery licence, with the draw handled for you. GoFundMe's terms prohibit raffles
- Charity auctions: silent, live and online, with Gift Aid on the part paid above a lot's value
- Text giving: keyword donations from £1 to £40 and monthly giving by text
- Voting events where every vote is a donation
- Contactless terminals and tap plaques for venues and events
- Team challenges where you set up every member's page, code and QR code for them, all adding up to one campaign
Both platforms take online donations by card and wallet, and both handle Gift Aid without you claiming it yourself.
DONATE vs GoFundMe FAQs
How much does GoFundMe charge a UK charity? ＋
GoFundMe charges verified charities 1.9% + 20p per donation, with no fee to start a fundraiser, and donors are asked for an optional tip to GoFundMe. Gift Aid is claimed by PayPal Giving Fund and passed on in full. DONATE charges charities 4.5% + 22p on a donation without Gift Aid, or no percentage fee on one with Gift Aid, where we keep 40% of the Gift Aid instead.
Can I run a raffle or auction on GoFundMe? ＋
No. GoFundMe's terms do not allow organisers to offer anything in return for a donation, including raffles, contests, giveaways or rewards. DONATE runs online raffles under your organisation's own lottery licence, and full charity auctions, alongside your donation pages.
See the full picture
GoFundMe facts on this page were checked on GoFundMe's own website and help centre in October 2026. The interactive comparison tool adds JustGiving, Enthuse, Zeffy and FundraisingBox. Or start fundraising with DONATE: no setup fees, cancel any time.