You can delete a GoFundMe campaign at any time, but the process and what happens to your money depend on whether you've already received donations

GoFundMe lets you remove a campaign from the platform, but deletion works differently depending on your campaign's status. If your campaign has no donations yet, you can delete it when ready and the page disappears. If people have already donated, you cannot delete the campaign — you can only close it to new donations. Money that's already been raised stays in your account until you withdraw it, and the campaign page remains visible to donors who contributed.

The reason for this structure is straightforward: GoFundMe needs a permanent record of where money went. Deleting a campaign with donations would erase the transaction history for people who gave to you. Closing a campaign stops new donations but keeps the record intact.

Key Takeaways

  • Campaigns with no donations can be deleted entirely and will no longer appear on GoFundMe.
  • Campaigns that have received donations cannot be deleted — you can only close them to new contributions.
  • Money already donated to you stays in your GoFundMe account after closing and must be withdrawn separately.
  • Closed campaigns remain visible to people who donated, so they can see where their money went.
  • You can reopen a closed campaign if you change your mind, as long as you do it within 30 days.

How to delete a campaign with zero donations

If your campaign has not received any money, you can remove it completely. Sign into your GoFundMe account, go to your campaign dashboard, and find the campaign you want to delete. Look for the three-dot menu icon (often called "more options") next to the campaign name. Click it and select "Delete campaign." GoFundMe will ask you to confirm — once you do, the campaign is gone and the page will no longer exist.

This is the cleanest option because there's no record left behind. The campaign URL will return a "not found" error, and anyone who bookmarked it won't be able to access it. If you started a campaign by mistake or changed your mind before telling anyone about it, deletion is the right move.

How to close a campaign that has received donations

If people have donated to your campaign, you cannot delete it. Instead, you close it. Sign into your account, open your campaign dashboard, and find the campaign. Click the three-dot menu and select "Close campaign." GoFundMe will ask why you're closing it — you can choose from options like "Goal reached," "No longer needed," or "Other reason." You don't have to explain, but GoFundMe uses this information to understand why campaigns end.

Once you close a campaign, it stops accepting new donations when ready. The campaign page stays live and donors can still see it, but the donation button disappears. People who gave money can view their contribution history and see that the campaign is closed. You keep all the money that was raised.

What happens to your money after closing

Money donated to your campaign sits in your GoFundMe account after you close it. You are not forced to withdraw it right away. You can leave it there indefinitely, or you can transfer it to your bank account whenever you're ready. GoFundMe does not charge you to hold the money — there are no storage fees or expiration dates.

To withdraw, go to your account settings, find the "Payouts" or "Withdrawals" section, and request a transfer to your linked bank account. The transfer typically takes three to five business days. If you haven't linked a bank account yet, you'll need to do that first — GoFundMe requires your routing number and account number to send money.

Reopening a closed campaign within 30 days

If you close a campaign and then change your mind, you have 30 days to reopen it. Go to your campaign dashboard, find the closed campaign, click the three-dot menu, and select "Reopen campaign." The campaign will go live again with the same URL, the same donation history, and the same fundraising goal. Donors will see that it's active again.

After 30 days, you cannot reopen a closed campaign. At that point, if you want to fundraise again for the same cause, you would need to create a new campaign from scratch. The old campaign remains visible as a closed record, but it won't accept donations.

Removing your personal information from a deleted campaign

When you delete a campaign with no donations, the campaign page disappears, but GoFundMe may keep some backend records for legal and tax purposes. If you're concerned about your personal information, you can request that GoFundMe remove your data by going to your account settings and looking for privacy or data deletion options. You can also contact GoFundMe support directly through their help center to ask about data removal.

For closed campaigns (which you cannot delete), your information remains tied to the campaign record because donors need to see who received their money. This is a legal requirement — charities and fundraisers must maintain transparent records of who collected funds.

Why you might want to close instead of delete

Even if you could delete a campaign with donations, closing is usually better. A closed campaign serves as a permanent thank-you to people who gave you money — they can return to it anytime and see that their contribution mattered. Deleting would erase that history for them. Closing also protects you legally by keeping a clear record of the funds you received, which is important if you ever need to report the money for taxes or other purposes.

If you're closing because the goal is reached or the need has passed, leaving the campaign visible actually builds trust. People who see a closed, completed campaign are more likely to donate to your next fundraiser because they know you followed through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a campaign after people have donated to it?

No. Once a campaign receives donations, GoFundMe will not let you delete it. You can only close it. The campaign page remains visible so donors can see where their money went, but the donation button disappears and no new contributions are accepted.

What happens to my money if I close my campaign?

The money stays in your GoFundMe account. You can withdraw it to your bank account anytime by linking your account in the settings and requesting a payout. GoFundMe does not charge fees to hold the money or to transfer it.

Can I reopen a closed campaign?

Yes, but only within 30 days of closing it. After 30 days, the campaign is permanently closed and you cannot reopen it. If you want to fundraise again after that, you'll need to create a new campaign.

Will people still see my campaign after I close it?

Yes. Closed campaigns remain visible on GoFundMe. Donors can see the campaign, view their contribution, and see that it's closed. The page just won't accept new donations. If you want the page completely gone, you can only delete it if it has zero donations.

Do I have to explain why I'm closing my campaign?

GoFundMe asks you to choose a reason when you close (like "Goal reached" or "No longer needed"), but you can select "Other" without providing details. The reason helps GoFundMe understand campaign outcomes but is not required to complete the closure.