How to Close a GoFundMe Campaign: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

GoFundMe is one of the most widely used crowdfunding platforms, but knowing how to properly close a campaign is just as important as knowing how to start one. Whether your fundraiser reached its goal, the need has passed, or you simply want to stop accepting donations, closing a GoFundMe campaign is a straightforward process — with a few important details worth understanding before you act.

What "Closing" a GoFundMe Actually Means

There's an important distinction between pausing, ending, and deleting a GoFundMe campaign. These are three separate actions with different outcomes:

When most people say they want to "close" a GoFundMe, they typically mean one of two things: stopping new donations from coming in, or removing the campaign entirely. Both are possible — but the order of operations matters, especially if there are funds you haven't yet withdrawn.

How to Stop Accepting Donations (Without Deleting the Campaign)

If you want to stop donations but keep the campaign page visible — perhaps as a record of the fundraiser or to share a thank-you update — follow these steps:

1. Log in to your GoFundMe account at gofundme.com.
2. Navigate to "My Campaigns" from your dashboard.
3. Select the campaign you want to close.
4. Click "Manage" or the campaign settings option.
5. Look for the "Stop Fundraiser" or "Turn off donations" option.
6. Confirm your selection.

Once donations are turned off, the campaign page remains live and publicly viewable, but no one can contribute further. This is a good option if you want to keep the page as a record or continue posting updates for donors.

How to Delete a GoFundMe Campaign Entirely

Deleting a campaign removes it from public view permanently. Before you delete, you must withdraw any remaining funds — GoFundMe does not automatically transfer your balance when a campaign is deleted.

Here's the process:

1. Withdraw your funds first. Go to your campaign dashboard, select "Withdraw", and follow the prompts to transfer your balance to your linked bank account. Allow the standard processing time (typically a few business days, though GoFundMe's current timelines may vary).
2. Once funds are cleared, return to "My Campaigns."
3. Select the campaign and open "Settings" or "Manage."
4. Look for the "Remove" or "Delete Campaign" option — this is sometimes found under advanced or account settings.
5. Confirm deletion.

⚠️ Deletion is permanent. Once removed, you cannot restore the campaign, recover its donation history, or retrieve donor information through the platform.

What Happens to Funds When You Close a GoFundMe

Closing or deleting a campaign does not automatically send funds to you. GoFundMe holds your balance in your campaign account until you manually initiate a withdrawal. This is true whether you raised $50 or $50,000.

Key points about funds:

• Withdrawals happen separately from closing the campaign. You can withdraw at any time — before, during, or after closing.
• GoFundMe charges a transaction fee on donations (a payment processing fee is standard; check GoFundMe's current fee structure for exact percentages, as these are subject to change).
• Donor tips to GoFundMe are separate from organizer withdrawals — these go directly to the platform.
• Refunds: If you need to refund donors before closing, GoFundMe has a separate refund process. Refunds are not automatic when a campaign is closed.

Can Donors Get Refunds After You Close a Campaign?

This is a common concern for organizers. Closing a campaign does not automatically trigger refunds to donors. If a donor requests a refund, GoFundMe handles this on a case-by-case basis under their terms of service. 💡

As the campaign organizer, you can also initiate refunds from your dashboard before closing — particularly important if the fundraising goal was not needed or the situation changed significantly. Being transparent with donors about why you're closing is always good practice.

Closing a GoFundMe You Don't Manage

If you're a team member rather than the campaign organizer, your ability to close or delete the campaign depends on permissions granted by the organizer. Team members can typically post updates and sometimes manage donations, but full closure and deletion is generally reserved for the account owner.

If you're trying to close a campaign you no longer have access to — for example, the original email account is inaccessible — GoFundMe's support team can assist with account recovery before you proceed.

Before You Close: A Quick Checklist

• ☑️ Withdraw all remaining funds to your bank account
• ☑️ Post a final update thanking donors and explaining the campaign's outcome
• ☑️ Save or download any donor information you may need (this is unavailable after deletion)
• ☑️ Consider whether "pausing" donations is sufficient instead of full deletion
• ☑️ Process any necessary refunds before closing

The Part That Varies by Situation

How you close a GoFundMe — and whether you should pause, end, or delete — depends entirely on your specific circumstances: how much you raised, whether funds have been withdrawn, whether you have team members on the account, and what you want to happen to the campaign page afterward.

Someone who raised nothing and simply wants to remove the page has a much simpler path than an organizer managing a large fundraiser with multiple team members, partial withdrawals, and pending donor questions. The steps above cover the mechanics, but the right sequence for your situation depends on where your campaign currently stands.