The Right Thing: Is it OK to share a GoFundMe link?

Is it wrong to post GoFundMe links to fundraising efforts? How can you make such posts without making your followers and friends feel obligated to contribute if they'd prefer not to?

A reader we're calling Tavish has an adult daughter who with her partner has made a personal decision to do something that's going to be costly. They've decided to raise money through a GoFundMe campaign.

Tavish wants to support his daughter. But he's concerned that by sharing a link to her GoFundMe page, his friends or colleagues might feel obligated to contribute. He'd like them to if they want to, but he doesn't want them to feel pressured to do so solely because of his post. He's also concerned that if he doesn't post a link to his daughter's site, she could take that as a sign that he doesn't really support her.

There's nothing wrong with Tavish sharing the link if he wants to. Anyone who sees his post is perfectly capable of deciding whether to contribute to the cause or not. Not every fundraiser appeals to everyone, even if they're important to our friends. Each of us should feel free to ignore any appeals we want.

Granted, it's much easier to ignore a request from a stranger than it is from someone we know, even if we don't know him well. It's fair for Tavish to be concerned that especially close friends and associates might feel obliged to consider giving.

That concern shouldn't stop Tavish from posting a link if he wants to. But he should make clear in his post that readers should feel no obligation to contribute or respond to his post. If he wants to lessen sending the message that he is urging them to give regardless of their genuine interest in doing so, Tavish would also be wise to post the link once rather than continuing to campaign for funds, with a simple: "For those of you who might be interested here's the link." The more persistent Tavish is in posting his request, the more likely it will feel like he's pressuring people to do so.

Tavish might also consider where he posts the link. If he uses one platform more to connect with family friends and another to connect to his professional audience, he might limit his post to the more personal platform to avoid something that could come off as awkward or inappropriate.

If he wants to avoid trying to shame people into giving, he should avoid the temptation of writing something like "only if you care" or "if you don't care, don't give," which might suggest that he believes those who don't care are uncaring galumphs.

Even if Tavish is careful about how and what he posts, some readers might feel obligated to give. Tavish can't really control this, nor should he try. Make the post and let people decide for themselves whether they give. Don't judge those who don't.

Tavish can support his daughter and respect his friends and colleagues simultaneously. Share the link once, make it clear he has no expectation that anyone will give, and avoid any language that might instill guilt. The right thing is for Tavish to offer the opportunity for others to help with his daughter's campaign, without judging those who do or don't.

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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 1:18 AM.