A match sharing a fundraiser tells you that someone in your network posted a link, not where your money would go. Before donating, identify three separate parties: the donor (you), the crowdfunding organizer who receives and controls the platform payment, and the named charity or beneficiary. Then choose a donation route you open independently, such as the named charity's own page. The FTC advises researching who actually gets the money before giving, because a crowdfunding payment goes to the organizer rather than automatically to the named charity, and a friend's share does not verify a request.
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Start with the three-party map
A fundraiser link blends three roles that are easy to merge in your mind: the person giving money, the organizer collecting it on the crowdfunding platform, and the charity or beneficiary named in the description. Write each on its own line. The organizer is the recipient of a crowdfunding payment, not the named charity. Until you can name who controls the collection and who is meant to benefit, you have not identified the donation route. [FTC: researching donations and social-media fundraisers]
- List: donor (you), organizer on the platform, named charity or beneficiary.
- Note whether the organizer claims to be the charity, an employee, a volunteer or an unrelated supporter.
- Mark any line you cannot fill as unknown rather than assuming the match is the organizer.
Why a match's share is not verification
A repost, a shared post or a friendly message is a pointer to a page, not a check of that page. A friend's share does not make a social-media donation request verified, and the same holds for a match you met through an app. Treat the share as a lead to examine, not as evidence of identity, intent or safe routing. [FTC: researching donations and social-media fundraisers]
Check the money path, then the charity
On the crowdfunding page, look for who withdraws funds and how the platform describes payment. Because a crowdfunding payment goes to the organizer rather than automatically to the named charity, a campaign naming a hospital, shelter or family does not mean that institution receives your gift. Independently research the named charity through its own official channels before deciding. If the cause is individual, ask what documentation the organizer offers without demanding private records from anyone. [FTC: researching donations and social-media fundraisers]
| observation | limit | next step |
|---|---|---|
| The page names a charity and an organizer | Does not prove the charity receives funds or endorsed the page | Check the charity's own official donation route |
| A match or friend shared the link | Does not verify the organizer or the cause | Do not donate solely on the strength of the share |
| The description uses urgency or a personal story | Not proof either way; urgency can be genuine or manufactured | Slow down and complete the three-party map |
| The post includes contact details in a comment or message | Contact details from an unsolicited message are not a trust signal | Find the organization through an independent search |
Choose your own donation route
Decide between donating through the crowdfunding platform to the organizer and donating directly through a charity you have checked yourself. Direct giving can bypass the organizer's control but may not fund the same individual need; platform giving can be faster but depends on organizer behavior. Neither is automatically safer, so choose based on which recipient and money path you can name and confirm. Avoid donating under pressure or through contact details supplied in an unsolicited message. [FTC: researching donations and social-media fundraisers]
- Prefer a route you opened yourself rather than one sent to you.
- Keep a short note of the route, date and amount before paying.
- If you cannot confirm the recipient, pause rather than guess.
Hypothetical worked example
Suppose a match you have chatted with for two weeks shares a fundraiser saying a relative needs surgery. The page names a clinic and shows photos, and the organizer is the match's cousin. Your map reads: donor, you; organizer, the cousin; named beneficiary, the relative. Nothing yet shows the clinic will receive funds. You decide to pause on the crowdfunding link, look for the clinic's official giving page yourself, and if the specific need cannot be routed that way, you either decline or give a small amount you can treat as a gift rather than an investment in a story. This example is illustrative only; it is not a test of the match or the organizer.
If you have already donated
Record the campaign page, organizer name, payment route and amount in your own notes, and keep your own copy before the page changes. Then re-check whether the organizer or named charity can be identified through an independent official channel. If the recipient still cannot be named, do not send further money, and re-verify any charity through its own official current help before deciding anything else.
- Keep your own copy of the campaign details before the page changes.
- Do not send additional money while the recipient remains unidentified.
- Re-check the organizer or charity through an independent official channel, not the fundraiser's contact details.
Access limits and stopping rule
If the campaign page, charity information or payment route is unavailable to you, record it as unavailable and stop there. Do not fill gaps with assumptions drawn from a share or a match's reassurances. Ask only for a voluntary public link if the person offers one, and do not ask for account access or private records.
- Note the missing item and date.
- Do not donate until you can name the recipient and route.
- Use the charity's official current help page if you need guidance.
A couple more questions
A match shared a fundraiser — does that mean the money reaches the charity?
No. A crowdfunding payment goes to the organizer, not automatically to the named charity, so identify the organizer and confirm the charity independently before donating.
How do I decide between the crowdfunding link and a direct charity donation?
Compare the named recipients and money paths. Direct charity giving keeps control with the charity you checked; platform giving depends on the organizer's behavior. Choose the route whose recipient you can name and confirm.
What is the first thing to do if I already sent money?
Record the campaign and payment details in your own notes, avoid sending more while the recipient is unidentified, and re-check the organizer or charity through an independent official channel.
Sources & editorial notes
Official references checked on October 23, 2026. Checklists, comparison tables and example wording are DateClues editorial tools, not official tests or validated risk scores.
General information. No guide or tool can certify a person’s identity, intentions or safety. Read our editorial standards.