You can close a GoFundMe campaign at any time, whether it's fully funded, partially funded, or not funded at all

Closing a GoFundMe means stopping the campaign from accepting new donations and deciding what to do with the money that has already been raised. You can close a campaign yourself through your GoFundMe account, and the process takes just a few minutes. Once closed, the campaign page will no longer accept donations, though people who donated will still be able to see the campaign and your updates.

The money you've raised stays in your account until you withdraw it. GoFundMe doesn't automatically return donations when you close a campaign — that's your choice to make based on your situation. You can keep the funds, refund donors, or donate the money to another cause.

Key Takeaways

  • You can close your campaign from the "Campaign" tab in your GoFundMe account by selecting "Close campaign" — no special reason or full funding required.
  • Closing a campaign stops new donations but doesn't automatically refund existing donors or move the money anywhere.
  • Money raised stays in your GoFundMe account after closing; you decide whether to withdraw it, refund donors, or transfer it to another campaign.
  • If you want to refund all donors, you can do this through your account settings, though GoFundMe processes refunds in batches rather than when ready.
  • A closed campaign can be reopened from your account if you change your mind, as long as the campaign hasn't been flagged or removed by GoFundMe.

How to close your campaign through your account

Log into your GoFundMe account and go to the "Campaign" tab. Find the campaign you want to close in your list of active campaigns. Click on the campaign name to open it, then look for the "Campaign settings" or "More" menu — the exact location varies slightly depending on whether you're on desktop or mobile, but it's always in the top right area of the campaign page.

Select "Close campaign" from the menu. GoFundMe will ask you to confirm that you want to close it. Once you confirm, the campaign will stop accepting donations when ready. The campaign page itself stays live — people can still view it and see all the donations and updates you've posted — but the donation button will no longer work.

If you're on mobile, the process is the same: tap the menu icon (three dots), scroll to find "Close campaign," and confirm. The campaign closes right away.

What happens to the money after you close

The funds you've raised remain in your GoFundMe account. They don't disappear, and they don't automatically go anywhere. You have three main options: withdraw the money to your bank account, refund the donors, or leave it in your account for later.

To withdraw funds, go to your account settings and select "Payouts" or "Withdrawals." You can transfer the money to a connected bank account. GoFundMe processes payouts on a schedule — usually within a few business days, though it can take longer depending on your bank. There is no fee to withdraw money you've raised through a personal campaign.

If you want to refund donors instead, you can initiate refunds through your account. GoFundMe processes refunds in batches, so not all refunds happen at once. Donors will see the refund appear in their original payment method within a few business days after GoFundMe processes the batch.

Refunding donors after closing

You are not required to refund donors when you close a campaign, but you can if you choose to. This is most common if the campaign didn't reach its goal, if circumstances changed, or if you decide you don't want to keep the money for some reason.

To refund donors, log into your account, open the closed campaign, and look for a "Refund donors" or "Issue refunds" option in the campaign settings. You can refund all donors at once or select individual donations to refund. Once you start the refund process, GoFundMe handles the rest — you don't need to contact donors individually.

Refunds go back to the original payment method each donor used. If a donor paid by credit card, the refund appears as a credit on their card statement. If they paid by bank transfer or another method, the refund goes back to that account. The process usually takes a few business days after GoFundMe processes the batch.

Reopening a closed campaign

If you close a campaign and then change your mind, you can reopen it from your account settings. Go to your closed campaigns list, select the campaign, and look for a "Reopen campaign" option. The campaign will go live again and start accepting donations.

When you reopen, the campaign keeps all its previous donations, updates, and comments. Donors who supported it before will see it active again if they visit your campaign page. However, GoFundMe does not automatically notify past donors that a campaign has reopened — you would need to reach out to them separately if you want them to know.

You cannot reopen a campaign if GoFundMe has removed or flagged it for violating the platform's terms of service. If your campaign was removed, you'll see a message explaining why when you try to access it.

Closing a campaign versus deleting it

Closing and deleting are different actions. When you close a campaign, it stays on your account and on the internet — people can still see it, but it doesn't accept new donations. When you delete a campaign, GoFundMe removes it from your account and from public view.

You cannot delete a campaign that has raised money. If your campaign has donations, your only option is to close it. The funds stay in your account, and you can withdraw them or refund donors, but the campaign page itself cannot be erased.

If your campaign raised no money, you can delete it outright. Deleted campaigns cannot be reopened, so only delete if you're certain you don't want any record of it.

What to do if you can't find the close option

If you don't see a "Close campaign" option in your account, check that you're logged in as the campaign organizer. You can only close a campaign you created — if someone else set it up, they have to close it.

If you're the organizer and still don't see the option, try refreshing the page or logging out and back in. Sometimes the menu takes a moment to load on mobile devices. If the problem persists, contact GoFundMe support through the help section of your account. They can close the campaign for you or explain why it can't be closed.

Campaigns that have been flagged or removed by GoFundMe for policy violations cannot be closed through the normal process. If this is the case, you'll see a message on the campaign page explaining the issue. You would need to contact GoFundMe support to discuss next steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to refund donors when I close my campaign?

No. Closing a campaign does not require you to refund anyone. The money you raised is yours to keep, refund, or use however you decide. Refunding is optional and entirely your choice.

Can I close a campaign that hasn't reached its goal?

Yes. You can close a campaign at any point, regardless of how much money it has raised. There is no minimum amount or important date you have to meet before closing.

What happens to my campaign page after I close it?

The page stays live and visible to the public. People can still read your story, see the donations, and view your updates. The only thing that changes is that the donation button stops working and new donations cannot be made.

How long does it take to withdraw money after closing my campaign?

GoFundMe processes payouts within a few business days, though the exact timing depends on your bank. Once GoFundMe sends the money to your bank account, it may take an additional one to three business days to appear, depending on your bank's processing speed.

Can someone else close my campaign?

Only the person who created the campaign can close it. If you need someone else to manage your campaign, you can add them as a beneficiary or co-organizer through your account settings, but only the original organizer can close it.