Ethical Fundraising Platform Checklist

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10 flashpoints to check

FlashpointA practice named in the Alaska, multi-state GoFundMe, or California Flipcause actions. If you can't check it, ask the platform why.

You, not the platform, decide whether and how your organization appears.

The platform gets written consent from an authorized representative before soliciting or collecting donations in our name. FlashpointThis is the exact failure at the center of Alaska's six lawsuits and the 21-state GoFundMe letter.

It gets written consent before using our logo, branding, images, or messaging, including in ads and promotions. Flashpoint

It only uses logos, images, and copy we affirmatively provided, nothing scraped from public sources.

We can find and remove our organization for free, without registering or agreeing to any terms and conditions first. Flashpoint

Transparency to donors

A donor can tell, at the moment of giving, where their money goes and what's skimmed off it.

Key information is clear, legible, and not buried in small print or terms and conditions.

At the point of donation, donors see whether the gift is tax-deductible and the exact name of the receiving organization.

Donors are told when we actually receive the donation.

All fees, charges, and “tips” are disclosed at the donation point, in a font at least as large as the rest of the page, so donors see the net amount we receive. FlashpointA default “tip” routed to the platform was one of the four harms cited in the multi-state GoFundMe letter.

It's clear whether a tip goes to the platform or to us, processing-fee coverage is separated from tips, and tips are never the pre-selected default. Flashpoint

The platform's business model, including how it earns revenue from fees and tips, is easy for the public to find.

It discloses whether it's for-profit or nonprofit, and whether donations pass through a donor-advised fund (DAF), including DAF fees, timing, and any power to redirect gifts. FlashpointUndisclosed DAF structure was a specific harm regulators flagged against GoFundMe.

Donors get an easy way to opt out of future marketing.

Accountability

The platform answers to nonprofits, donors, the public, and regulators.

It's registered and in good standing everywhere required, such as California (AB 488) and Hawaii. FlashpointOperating unregistered was a core finding in California's action against Flipcause.

It complies with all applicable state charitable-solicitation laws.

It supports reasonable accountability measures so bad actors can be held liable under state and federal law.

It publishes an annual report to donors, nonprofits, and regulators: donations received, amounts redirected or refunded, net dollars to each nonprofit, and all fees collected.

It engages regularly with the nonprofit community and state charity officials.

Does your donation platform pass the ethics test?

Transparency to donors

Partnership

Accountability

Fundraising you can audit

Nonprofit consent

Transparency to donors

Partnership

Accountability

Fundraising you can audit