Authored by: Amanda Brown Lierman, Senior Director for Policy & Engagement & Executive Director of GoFundMe.Org
GoFundMe is a community-powered fundraising platform dedicated to helping people help each other. Founded in 2010, GoFundMe combines storytelling and fundraising to make it easy for people to ask for help, connect with supporters, and reach their goals. Together with its nonprofit fundraising software business, Classy from GoFundMe, GoFundMe has enabled more than $30 billion of help since 2010 for communities across the globe.
Immediately following the news of the wildfires in Southern California, the GoFundMe team activated an all-hands-on-deck response, with teams working around the clock to ensure communities impacted by the wildfires receive the support they need.
- GoFundMe launched a centralized hub housing all verified fundraisers related to the wildfires and nonprofit organizations who are mobilizing in response, including World Central Kitchen, Salvation Army, Baby2Baby, Pasadena Humane, and more.
- GoFundMe’s strategic nonprofit partner, GoFundMe.org, is actively raising money into the 2025 Wildfire Relief Fund. Just 24 hours after the fires started, GoFundMe.org started distributing emergency relief grants, quickly getting cash into the hands of impacted people and families and will continue to do so as long as funding is available.
How You and Your Community Can Help
We are working closely with federal, state, and local leaders in the impacted areas. As trusted messengers and leaders, city officials are an important voice in educating their communities. Here are recommendations for how to help, whether you are in California or across the country:
- Start a fundraiser for an individual or on behalf of a charity.
- Donate to the GoFundMe.org Wildfire Relief Fund.
- Donate to a verified fundraiser on the Wildfire Relief Hub.
- Share the Wildfire Relief Hub and the Wildfire Relief Fund on social media.
Ensuring the safety of our users is our top priority. During natural disasters and other crises, our team proactively monitors and verifies fundraisers so the communities impacted can receive the quick and trusted support they need. With a world-class Trust & Safety team, innovative technology, partnering with payment industry leaders, and the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee, our community of over 190 million can trust that GoFundMe is keeping their donations safe and protected. You can learn more about our Trust & Safety practices on our safety hub, as well as find tips that can be shared with your audiences.
In the face of such despair, what is happening on the GoFundMe platform offers hope. There are truly no words to express how we feel, so just sending all our love and support to California — and doing all we can to help! If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas to get more help to those who need it, please reach out to community@gofundme.com.
Visit the NLC Strategic Partnerships page to learn more about the organizations like GoFundMe dedicated to making NLC the premier resource for local governments.
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