Fundraising guide
Does GoFundMe work in Africa?
By the SenteMe team. Sources checked 23 September 2026.
SenteMe is one of the options mentioned on this page. Everything we say about GoFundMe comes from its own help centre, linked at the bottom.
The short answer
Not if you live in Africa and want to run the fundraiser yourself. GoFundMe can only send money to organisers in 20 countries, and none of them are in Africa. Its help centre says that if someone outside those countries creates a fundraiser, “it’s likely that all money raised will be refunded and the account will be removed”.
That list is about who withdraws the money, not about where donors live. The problem is getting the money out to the person who needs it.
The 20 countries GoFundMe supports
As of GoFundMe’s update on 24 June 2026, organisers must be able to meet the withdrawal requirements of one of these countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. The fundraiser’s country is chosen when it is created and cannot be changed afterwards.
The one GoFundMe route: a relative or friend abroad
Someone you trust who lives in a supported country, for example a cousin in the UK or a friend in the US, can create the fundraiser for you. GoFundMe says that person is “personally responsible for receiving the funds, then delivering the funds outside of GoFundMe”, and must post a transparent plan on the fundraiser explaining how the money will reach you.
In practice that means the money lands in their bank account first, and they pay the cost of sending it on to you by bank transfer or a remittance service. Agree on this in writing before you start, and tell donors who is holding the money.
Country by country
GoFundMe does not support organisers in any of these countries. Here is where people in each one can raise money locally instead. Local platforms are listed from their own published information; we have not tested their payouts, so confirm fees and eligibility with them before you share a link.
| Country | GoFundMe organiser | Local platform to check | SenteMe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benin | Not supported | ZINDO | Mobile money: MTN MoMo and Moov Money · See campaigns |
| Cameroon | Not supported | DON | Mobile money: MTN MoMo · See campaigns |
| Congo | Not supported | Kotiya | Mobile money: Airtel Money and MTN MoMo · See campaigns |
| Côte d'Ivoire | Not supported | DON | Mobile money: MTN MoMo and Orange Money · See campaigns |
| DR Congo | Not supported | Créons | Mobile money: Airtel Money, Orange Money, and Vodacom M-Pesa · See campaigns |
| Gabon | Not supported | DON | Mobile money: Airtel Money · See campaigns |
| Ghana | Not supported | Chango | Mobile money: MTN MoMo, Telecel Cash, and AT Money · See campaigns |
| Kenya | Not supported | M-Changa | Mobile money: M-Pesa · See campaigns |
| Rwanda | Not supported | Chango | Mobile money: MTN MoMo and Airtel Money · See campaigns |
| Senegal | Not supported | Diapci | Mobile money: Orange Money and Free Money · See campaigns |
| Sierra Leone | Not supported | Salone Crowdfunder | Mobile money: Orange Money · See campaigns |
| Uganda | Not supported | Akabbo · Full Uganda comparison | Mobile money: MTN MoMo and Airtel Money · See campaigns |
| Zambia | Not supported | ZamYaka Fund | Mobile money: MTN MoMo and Zamtel Kwacha · See campaigns |
South Africa
South Africa is not on GoFundMe’s list either. BackaBuddy is a South African crowdfunding platform; its fee page lists a 0% platform fee, with card processing fees still applying. SenteMe does not operate in South Africa.
Giving from abroad to someone in Africa
If you live outside Africa and want to support a family or community there, look for a campaign that collects directly in the recipient’s country. The money then reaches the organiser without a relative in between. On SenteMe, campaigns that accept cards show it at checkout, with a conversion estimate before you pay.
Questions people ask
Does GoFundMe work in Kenya?
Not for organisers living in Kenya. Kenya is not one of GoFundMe’s 20 supported countries. Kenyan fundraisers usually use a local platform such as M-Changa, which collects by M-Pesa, or ask a relative in a supported country to organise on GoFundMe.
Is Cameroon eligible for GoFundMe?
No. Cameroon is not on GoFundMe’s list of supported countries, so a Cameroonian organiser cannot withdraw funds. A trusted contact in a supported country such as France or Belgium could organise on your behalf and transfer the money.
Does GoFundMe work in Zambia?
Not for organisers in Zambia. Local options include ZamYaka Fund, and SenteMe accepts MTN MoMo and Zamtel Kwacha for Zambian campaigns.
What happens if I create a GoFundMe from an unsupported country?
GoFundMe says it is likely all money raised will be refunded and the account removed. If you already did this by mistake, it asks you to contact its support team.
What is a good alternative to GoFundMe in Africa?
Pick a platform that pays out in the recipient’s country and accepts the way your supporters pay, usually mobile money at home and cards abroad. Compare the fee on each contribution, the withdrawal charge and how long payouts take. The table above lists options for each country.
Sources
Raising money for someone in Africa?
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