I Protect the Family
- Lynne Wester
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
We say fundraising is funny, but today? I’m not laughing.
This week, the nonprofit sector was jolted by a decision from GoFundMe that—if it had gone unchecked—could’ve threatened one of our most sacred responsibilities: our relationship with donors.
If you’ve been around here a while, you know I don’t just talk about donor relations—I live it. Every keynote I give, every blog I write, every late-night brainstorm with my team stems from one simple belief: Donors aren’t data points. They’re people.
And our job is to honor the relationship, not just the revenue.
So when I saw that GoFundMe scraped the internet and created 1.4 million nonprofit giving sites FOR nonprofits without their consent, I was irate.
This wasn’t just a technical update.
This was a threat to the entire donor experience.
This decision wasn’t just a poor user experience. It undermined donor trust, donor recognition, impact reporting, and our ability to honor the very people who keep our missions alive.
Let me be very clear:
Donor data belongs to the nonprofit, not the platform.
Donor stewardship is not optional.
And extortion should never be disguised as a product feature.
We Spoke. They Listened.
On Tuesday, I took to LinkedIn and posted what I thought was a strong warning:
“Buckle up, because what I’m about to share is not OK.”
And you—my community—you showed up like a thunderclap. Within hours, the post went viral. Development directors, consultants, fundraising firms, nonprofit CEOs, even everyday donors—all of you spoke up.
Hundreds of thousands of views. Hundreds of comments. Countless reposts. Several news outlets have reached out, even CNN!
Your voices made it clear:
You will not tolerate anything that threatens your ability to protect the donor experience.
And then? GoFundMe blinked. But before they blinked they went with “messaging” and no apologies, action or accountability. They fumbled the bag. I will forgive but NOT forget.
Just 24 hours later, they updated their statement, clarified the confusion, and reversed course:
“GoFundMe’s DMS is optional. You can keep using your own CRM. You will still receive your donor data.”
Let’s be honest—this change didn’t happen because of one LinkedIn post.
It happened because a community of advocates refused to be silent.
We Shouldn’t Have Had to Fight
The truth is, we should never have had to push this hard in the first place.
The idea that a fundraising platform could try to leverage donor data for profit—at the expense of nonprofit integrity—shows just how vulnerable our sector can be to outside forces.
It’s exhausting. It’s demoralizing. And it’s wrong.
But here’s the difference: When one of us stands up, all of us rise.
What This Really Means
This wasn’t just a win for donor relations professionals. It was a win for donors.
When donors give, they’re placing their trust in us, not in the platform. They expect to be thanked. To be informed. To know they made a difference. That only happens when nonprofits have full access to donor data and the freedom to steward that relationship with care.
Our work is rooted in:
Transparency
Gratitude
Impact
Trust
And every platform, every partner, and every product we use must reinforce those values—not compromise them.
To My Community: You Are My People
This isn’t just a job for me. It’s a calling. A campaign. A crusade. My vocation. My family.
When I say I protect the family, I mean every single one of you who:
Stayed up late crafting the perfect thank-you letter.
Spoke truth to power in the boardroom.
Sat in the back of a donor event, scanning the room for who needs a warm welcome.
Fought like hell to keep your program donor-centered when others were chasing shiny objects.
You are the reason I do what I do. And I will always, always protect you.
Because you are the architects and guardians of the donor experience.
Because this work matters.
Because we are better together.
So thank you—from the depths of my gratitude-fueled heart.
Let this be a reminder: when we advocate fiercely and collectively, we win.
Now, let’s keep showing the world what real generosity looks like.
With endless gratitude,
Lynne
