Authored by Emily Barson, Director of Policy & Engagement, GoFundMe
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. More than $30 billion of help has been raised for communities across the globe, including $235 million raised in 2024 alone to aid in natural disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts, and more than $250 million raised in response to the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year.
Every year, millions of people face devastating impacts from hurricanes, floods, wildfires and other climate-fueled natural disasters. When these disasters strike, communities look to their leaders for guidance, strength and support — and GoFundMe has worked hand-in-hand with public officials in these moments. A notable example of this collaboration happened recently in Altadena, CA. The Altadena Eaton Fire Relief Fund was launched by city leaders to help residents recover and rebuild following January’s devastating wildfires. This is an Altadena-specific relief fund, with proceeds to be directly disbursed to Altadena fire survivors; the vehicle for grantmaking is GoFundMe.org, and the distribution will be overseen by a local advisory committee.
Altadena Town Council Chair Victoria Knapp stated, “Our partnership with GoFundMe.org came about in such an organic way, rooted in a shared commitment to helping those in need. I’m incredibly grateful for their support and their willingness to step up for our community in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, which devastated Altadena. Now, as we look ahead to long-term recovery, I’m hopeful that together, we’ll continue to make a real difference for the Altadenans who need it most.”
As we mark Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 1-7) and prepare for potential extreme weather events this year, GoFundMe is here to help you prepare to respond quickly and effectively, ensuring that your community gets the support it needs when it’s needed most.
Here are some best practices for city leaders:
1. Share GoFundMe’s Centralized Hub
In the wake of a crisis, GoFundMe often launches a dedicated hub, featuring verified fundraisers related to a specific event, making it easier for people to help. Amplifying this single link through social media or other communications channels is simple and can help direct widespread support to impacted community members.
2. Use Your GoFundMe Profile to Share Multiple Fundraisers
With a GoFundMe Profile, you can feature multiple fundraisers at a time. It’s easy to share and can be a resource for others looking to local leaders for guidance on how and where to give.
Don’t have a profile yet? Set yours up now.
3. Start a Fundraiser
Whether it’s for immediate relief or long-term recovery, you can start a fundraiser to provide direct support to individuals or nonprofit organizations affected by the crisis.
Being a safe and trusted place to give and receive help is our top priority, especially in times of crisis. We have a world-class Trust & Safety team, innovative technology, partnerships with payment industry leaders and a GoFundMe Giving Guarantee. You can learn more about our Trust & Safety practices on our safety hub.
Feel free to reach out to us anytime at community@gofundme.com. We are here to help!
Visit the NLC Strategic Partnerships page to learn more about the organizations like GoFundMe dedicated to making NLC the premier resource for local governments.
Webinar
Join us! GoFundMe and NLC will host a webinar for city leaders, GoFundMe and Cities: Partnering for Crisis Response and Resilience, on June 3 at 1 PM ET.
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