Built for people you know

The best way to raise money from friends and family online

One private link. Your people contribute directly. Funds go straight to your bank account or debit card — no waiting, no cuts, no public campaign.

Create a Free Request

Free to create  ·  No account needed for contributors  ·  Direct to your bank

How it flows
📋

You create a request

Describe your need, set a goal. 2 minutes.

🔗

You share a private link

Text, email, Facebook — whoever you choose.

💳

They contribute in one tap

No account needed. Any card, Apple Pay, Google Pay.

🏦

You receive 100% directly

Bank account or debit card. Near-instant or 1–2 days.

Why A Better Gift beats the alternatives

When you need to raise money from people you know, here's how your options stack up.

Venmo / Cash App GoFundMe A Better Gift ✓
Single organized request with a goal No Yes Yes
Private — not visible to strangers Partial Public by default Always private
Contributors need an account Yes Optional No account needed
You receive 100% of stated amount Fees deducted Fees deducted Contributors pay fee
Direct bank or debit card payout Yes Yes Yes — near-instant option
Progress tracking toward a goal No Yes Yes
No public social media campaign needed Yes Needed to succeed One private link

Built for your personal network, not the internet

Every feature in A Better Gift is designed around the fact that your contributors are people who know and care about you.

🔒

Completely private

Your request never appears in search engines or any public directory. It exists only as a private link — invisible to anyone you haven't personally shared it with.

One-tap for contributors

No account creation, no forms, no friction. Your friends and family click your link, choose an amount, and pay in under a minute. The easier it is to contribute, the more people do.

💯

You keep every dollar

A 6.9% processing fee is added on top of each contribution — paid by the contributor. If someone contributes $100, they pay $106.90 and you receive $100. Nothing deducted from you.

🏦

Straight to your bank

Contributions process directly to your linked bank account (1–2 business days) or debit card (near-instant for eligible accounts). No intermediary holding your money.

📱

Share anywhere

Your private link works everywhere — text message, email, Facebook, WhatsApp, a group chat. Share it with two people or two hundred, however you naturally communicate.

🎯

Goal and progress tracking

Set a goal amount and your supporters can see progress toward it. This creates momentum — people are more likely to contribute when they can see others already have.

How to raise money from friends and family

Four steps from setup to funds in your bank.

1

Create your free account and set up your request

Sign up in under a minute. Then create your request — write a description of your situation, set a goal amount, and add a photo if you'd like. The more specific and honest your description, the better people respond. You're not pitching strangers; you're talking to people who already know you.

2

Link your bank account or debit card

Before you can receive contributions, you'll link your bank account or debit card through our secure payment processor. This takes about two minutes and only needs to be done once. Contributions will go directly to this account as they come in.

3

Share your private link with the people you choose

Your request generates a unique private link. Send it by text, email, Facebook message, WhatsApp, or any app you use to communicate. You control who receives it — two people or two hundred. Contributors click the link, choose an amount, and pay with any major card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. No account needed on their end.

4

Receive contributions directly — no waiting

As contributions come in, they process directly to your bank account or debit card. You don't need to reach your full goal to receive funds — contributions are available as they arrive. Bank account deposits typically take 1–2 business days. Debit card payouts are near-instant for eligible accounts.

100%
Yours to keep —
contributors cover processing
Private
Never publicly listed
or searchable
No fees
Free to create
your request
Direct
Straight to your
bank or debit card

Any situation where you need support

A Better Gift works for any personal need — from expected milestones to sudden emergencies.

Funeral & memorial costs Vet bills Legal fees Childcare Home repairs Utility bills Disaster recovery Job transition Adoption

Common Questions

What is the best way to raise money from friends and family online?

A Better Gift is purpose-built for this. You create a private request, share one link with the specific people you choose, and contributions go directly to your bank account or debit card. Unlike Venmo (no organized goal or story) or GoFundMe (public by default), A Better Gift is designed specifically for the situation where you need real support from the people who already know and care about you.

Do my friends and family need an account to contribute?

No. They simply click your private link, enter an amount, and pay with any major credit or debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. The whole process takes under a minute and requires no signup on their end. Removing friction means more people actually follow through.

Why is A Better Gift better than Venmo for this?

Venmo works well for splitting bills between people who already use it, but it's not designed for organized requests with a goal, a story, and progress tracking. A Better Gift gives you a dedicated request page with your full explanation, a shareable link that works for everyone regardless of whether they have Venmo, and direct bank deposits — all in one place without requiring contributors to have an account.

How do I make sure my request is seen only by the right people?

Your request exists only as a private link — it's never indexed by search engines, never listed on any public directory, and never accessible without the exact link. Share it only with the people you trust and it stays between you and them. You can share it one-on-one or in a group chat — entirely your choice.

How quickly will I receive the money?

There's no minimum goal you need to hit before funds are released. Contributions are processed as they come in — directly to your bank account (typically 1–2 business days) or debit card (near-instant for eligible accounts). You don't have to wait for your campaign to end or your goal to be reached.

What does it cost?

Creating a request is completely free. When someone contributes, a 6.9% processing fee is added on top of their contribution — paid by them, not you. If someone contributes $100, they pay $106.90 and you receive $100. Nothing is deducted from what you receive.

One link. The people who care.
Money in your bank.

Create a free request in two minutes. Share it with the people you trust. Receive contributions directly to your bank account or debit card.

Create Your Request — Free