Here's How to Start a Personal Facebook Fundraiser to Help Hurricane Victims in Just 4 Easy Steps

By Ann-Marie Alcántara

When it comes to natural disasters like Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, it's hard not to feel completely helpless or at a loss on how to aid in remedying the situation. While some people are able to volunteer and donate their time, it's not always possible to do so. If you're one of those people who's out there looking for a way to pitch in, you might want to look toward starting a personal fundraiser for a specific organization on Facebook. The social media company lets you quickly set up a fundraiser and will even prompt you two weeks before your birthday to dedicate it to a special cause.

Personal fundraisers were launched on Facebook on May 24. Anyone in the US can use them, just as long as they are over 18 years old. And it's not limited to helping out those in need in the wake of natural disasters. Facebook also lets you start a fundraiser for the following causes: education, medical, pet medical, crisis relief, personal emergency, funeral and loss, sports, and community. Once set up, Facebook reviews your submission within 24 hours and deducts 6.9 percent and $0.30 cents for "payment processing, fundraiser vetting, and security and fraud protection."

Follow the steps ahead to figure out how to start a fundraiser — and if you're still confused, you can watch this very helpful video straight from Facebook.

01
First, head to the Fundraising section on Facebook.

First, head to the Fundraising section on Facebook.

If you're on a phone, tap the three bars on the bottom right corner. Once there, tap the "Fundraisers" section.

If you're on a desktop or laptop computer, you can just go to facebook.com/fundraisers.

02
Tap the "Raise Money" option to begin.

Tap the "Raise Money" option to begin.

If you're on a desktop, you'll get a pop-up screen of what exactly a fundraiser can do.

On mobile, you'll proceed directly to the fundraising creation page.

03
Select who or what you're raising money for.

Select who or what you're raising money for.

This can be anything: a certain friend, yourself, a nonprofit that's listed, or even something not easily tagged on Facebook.

04
Tell your fundraiser's story and start receiving donations.

Tell your fundraiser's story and start receiving donations.

Set up a goal amount, pick a category, and configure your privacy settings.

You can raise money for a variety of causes.

You can raise money for a variety of causes.