Can a charity legitimately ask me to pay a processing fee before my donation goes through?
No. Legitimate charities never require donors to pay a fee before a donation is processed. Processing fees on a real donation platform are deducted from the donation itself.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
When you donate to a legitimate charity through their official website or a verified fundraising platform, any card processing fees are either absorbed by the charity or deducted transparently from the donation amount. You are never asked to pay an additional fee upfront before your donation reaches the charity.
Charity donation scams ask for a fee to 'process', 'verify', or 'match' your donation. They may claim the fee unlocks a corporate matching gift or government match that will multiply your contribution. Once the fee is paid, no matching donation materialises and your original contribution may also be lost.
Disaster relief periods see a spike in charity impersonation. Scammers create convincing fake charity names, websites, and social media profiles that mimic real organisations responding to recent events. Emotional urgency around a natural disaster or humanitarian crisis reduces the time people take to verify where their money is going.
Donate exclusively through the charity's official website (type the address directly), established platforms like JustGiving or GoFundMe with verified charity accounts, or by cheque to the charity's registered address.
Common red flags
- Asked to pay a fee before your donation can be processed or matched
- Charity cannot be found on the official charity regulator's database
- Donation request arrived unsolicited by phone, text, or social media
- Payment requested by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
- Website was created recently and uses vague language about its mission
- No registered charity number or equivalent is provided
What to do now
- Do not pay any processing fee
- Verify the charity on the official regulator's database before donating
- Donate through the charity's official website by typing the address directly
- Report fraudulent charity solicitations to your national charity regulator
- Report to your consumer protection or fraud authority
- If you already paid, contact your bank or card provider about recovery options
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a charity is legitimate?
In the UK, search the Charity Commission register at register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. In the US, check GuideStar or Charity Navigator, or look up the EIN at the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
Are GoFundMe campaigns automatically trustworthy?
GoFundMe campaigns are created by individuals and are not independently verified. Donate to campaigns run by people or organisations you can independently verify. GoFundMe does have a refund policy for certain cases of fraud.