YouTube for Good FAQs for donors

Donation cards on YouTube are a new way to make voluntary payments to U.S. nonprofits. Use the information below to get answers to your questions about using donation cards.

What are donation cards?

Donation cards are a new way to make voluntary payments to U.S. nonprofits. If a YouTube creator has a donation card enabled, you'll see a Donate now button on their videos. Click that button to get started making a donation using Google Payments. Learn more about YouTube creators.

How are nonprofits selected to participate?

YouTube creators can select any U.S. 501(c)3 public charity in good standing. Nonprofits are not endorsed by YouTube or Google.

How much of my voluntary payment will reach the nonprofit?

The nonprofit will get all of your donation. Google covers the processing fees. Unless mentioned otherwise, your donation is unrestricted, so funds may be used by the nonprofit at it sees fit. It may take up to two months for a donation to reach the nonprofit.

Google partners with Network for Good, a U.S. nonprofit donor advised fund, to collect and distribute the donations to nonprofits made on YouTube. As required by the Internal Revenue Service, Network for Good has exclusive legal control over the donations once received. If Network for Good cannot disburse the funds to the nonprofit selected by the YouTube creator, Network for Good will distribute the funds to an alternate qualified U.S. nonprofit.

Which countries are supported?

As of 11/09/15, users in the following countries are able to make donations using Google Payments

Countries
  • United States
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Canada
  • Germany
  • Spain
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Hong Kong
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • South Korea
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • New Zealand
  • Poland
  • Philippines
  • Sweden
  • Slovakia
  • Taiwan
  • Switzerland
Can I get a refund on a nonprofit voluntary donation?

Voluntary donations to nonprofits are non-refundable. If you're having trouble with a payment, you may contact our support team.

What platforms do donation cards work on?

Donation cards are supported on your desktop browser, Android (version 4.0.3 or higher) and iOS.

Why does my credit card receipt mention Network for Good?

Google partners with Network for Good, a U.S. nonprofit donor advised fund, to collect and distribute the donations made to the nonprofits on YouTube. For each transaction, you will see a line item on your credit card receipt that notes you made a donation through Network for Good.

What is Network for Good? Why is my donation directed there?

Google partners with Network for Good, an industry leader in donor advised funds, to collect and distribute the donations at Google’s request. One-hundred percent of your contribution will go to the nonprofit (Google will take care of processing fees). As required by the IRS, Network for Good, as a donor advised fund, has exclusive legal control over the donations once received.

Is my donation tax deductible?
Donors in the United States

If you are in the U.S., donations to 501(c)(3) organizations are generally tax deductible, but please check with your tax professional to be sure. You will receive a confirmation email from Google, which serves as your donation receipt and confirms that no goods or services were received.

Donors outside of the United States

Please check with your tax adviser. Your donation may not be tax deductible if you are a resident of Canada.

Your donation is not tax deductible if you are a resident of one of the following countries:

  • Austria
  • Germany
  • Spain
  • France
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Norway
  • New Zealand
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland

If you are in the United Kingdom, tax benefits are not available for your donation. You will receive a confirmation email from your Google Payments account, which serves as your donation receipt. Users who make donations will not receive anything of value for their donation.

What information do you share with the nonprofits when I make a donation?

We do not provide your contact information to the nonprofits featured in donation cards. We do not provide your contact information to the YouTube creator.

 
Learn more about using donation cards to contribute to U.S. non-profit organizations selected by video creators in the YouTube Help Center.
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