Question 1

What is YouFundMe?

Accepted Answer

YouFundMe is a fundraising platform open to everyone, built for mobile money and card payments. It connects people who need help with those who want to give.

Question 2

Is YouFundMe free to use?

Accepted Answer

Creating a campaign is free. Charges apply when a donation is made: donors pay a 4% payment processing fee and 3.5% tax on top of their gift, and fundraisers pay a 7.5% platform fee on each donation and a 4% disbursement fee when they withdraw.

Question 3

How do I start a campaign?

Accepted Answer

Sign up for an account, click "Start a campaign", add your story and goal, then publish your campaign. It takes about 60 seconds.

Question 4

Who can create a campaign?

Accepted Answer

Anyone with a valid email or phone number can create a campaign. Campaigns are reviewed before funds can be withdrawn.

Question 5

What payment methods are supported?

Accepted Answer

YouFundMe supports MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money, Visa, and Mastercard. All payments are processed securely by our payment processor.

Question 6

Are donations refundable?

Accepted Answer

Donations are generally final. In limited cases, such as confirmed fraud or a duplicate payment, a donation can be refunded. A refund returns the donation amount. The processing fee, tax, and any tip are returned where we can recover them, and the refund message states the exact amount. Contact support@youfundme.org for assistance.

Question 7

What are the fees?

Accepted Answer

Donors pay the donation plus a 4% payment processing fee, 3.5% tax, and an optional tip. The exact total is shown before you pay. Fundraisers pay a 7.5% platform fee on each donation and a 4% disbursement fee on each withdrawal, deducted from the payout, plus a USh 50 SMS fee for the withdrawal code. Donors who give no email address pay USh 100 for an SMS receipt. Mobile money network charges from MTN or Airtel may also apply and are paid by you directly to the network.

Question 8

How do I withdraw funds?

Accepted Answer

Campaign owners can request a withdrawal from their dashboard. Admin approval is required before funds are disbursed to your mobile money or bank account. A disbursement fee of 4% of the requested amount is deducted from the payout, so you receive the amount you requested minus that fee.

Question 9

What does a donor pay on top of the donation?

Accepted Answer

A payment processing fee of 4% of the total paid, tax of 3.5% of the donation, and an optional tip if you choose to add one. You see the exact total before you confirm payment, and the campaign is credited with the full donation amount. Mobile money network charges from MTN or Airtel may also apply and are paid by you directly to the network.

Question 10

Why is there tax and a processing fee on my donation?

Accepted Answer

The processing fee (4%) is charged by our payment processor for collecting your payment. The tax (3.5%) is collected by us and passed on to the tax authority. It is not platform income. Neither one is added to the campaign’s total.

Question 11

What is the platform fee?

Accepted Answer

The platform fee is 7.5% of each donation. It is deducted on the fundraiser’s side and is not added to what the donor pays. It pays for running the platform, campaign verification, fraud prevention, and support. Creating a campaign is free.

Question 12

What does a fundraiser receive when they withdraw?

Accepted Answer

A fundraiser can withdraw each donation minus the 7.5% platform fee. When they withdraw, a disbursement fee of 4% of the requested amount, which is the cost of sending the payout, is deducted. They receive the requested amount minus that fee. The Platform fees explained page in the Help Center has a worked example.

Question 13

Why might MTN or Airtel charge me extra?

Accepted Answer

Mobile money network charges from MTN or Airtel may also apply and are paid by you directly to the network. These charges are set by the network, not by us, and they are separate from the processing fee and tax on your donation.

Question 14

How do I reset my password?

Accepted Answer

Click "Forgot Password" on the login page, enter your email, and follow the reset link sent to your inbox.

Question 15

Can I donate without creating an account?

Accepted Answer

Yes, guest donations are supported. You can donate without signing up, though creating an account lets you track your donations.

Question 16

How do I verify my campaign?

Accepted Answer

After creating your campaign, submit verification documents from your campaign dashboard. Our team will review and approve within 48 hours.

Question 17

How does YouFundMe verify campaigns?

Accepted Answer

Every campaign undergoes identity verification and story review before funds can be withdrawn. We check government IDs and supporting documents.

Question 18

What if I suspect fraud?

Accepted Answer

Report the campaign immediately at support@youfundme.org. We investigate every report and remove campaigns that violate our terms.

Question 19

Is my donation secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All payments are processed by our payment processor over encrypted connections. Your payment details are never stored on our servers.

Frequently Asked Questions

general

payments

account

trust

Frequently Asked Questions

general

payments

account

trust