Facebook’s Fundraising tools are changing: Here’s what your charity needs to know

Meta’s fundraising tools for nonprofits operating in the EEA (including Ireland) are about to go through some significant changes. The Empower paid media team have reviewed the announcement and distilled the key parts into this article, to help you digest exactly what’s changing and what we’d recommend you do about it.

What Meta / Facebook Fundraising tools are changing?

Meta / Facebook is changing several of its fundraising tools, including:

• Facebook Donate Ads: These will automatically stop from 25 April 2024.
• Fundraisers and donate buttons: Only people who previously donated to a fundraiser using an e-money account will be able to create or donate to a fundraiser or donate using a donate button. From July 1, all active fundraisers and donate buttons will end automatically / be disabled.
• Charity Manager and Donation Receipts: From July 1, insights, supporter lists, automated thanking, and bulk messaging will no longer be available, meaning you won’t have access to past data from these features. Receipts will only be provided to process refunds or chargeback requests.

These changes will affect charities’ fundraising strategy, including donor acquisition, as only people who previously used an e-money account can make a donation on Facebook or Instagram to benefit a charity in the European Economic Area until 30 June 2024.

Please note that charities in the US, UK (including Northern Ireland), Canada and Australia who are registered to use Meta’s fundraising tools can continue to raise funds from donors based in the EEA and other approved countries.

What do I do if Meta’s fundraising changes impacts my charity?

If this impacts your charity, we would recommend:

• Downloading your data: before these features become unavailable.
• Reviewing and adapting acquisition strategies: some of your supporters might not be able to donate to you using Meta tools. Adapt your way of working by using other tools, including new integrations with platforms like GivePanel, to help transition existing fundraisers, and be ready with FAQs about any changes to continue a positive supporter journey.
• Speaking to us: If you’d like to discuss upcoming campaigns or plans for end of year fundraising then we’d love to chat further and help support your fundraising strategy!

We hope this is helpful, and we look forward to hearing from you if you need any support with your fundraising strategy. Get in touch with the Empower paid media team.

Meta’s Fundraising Tools Changes: Full Announcement

Hello,

We are writing to inform your charity of important upcoming changes to Meta’s fundraising tools that impact your charity.

Currently, your charity is enrolled to use our fundraising tools and Facebook Payments International Limited (Facebook Payments) processes donations made to benefit your charity. Beginning 1 July 2024, fundraising tools will no longer be available on our platforms to any charities in the European Economic Area.

We are providing notice at least two months ahead of these changes as required by applicable laws and our terms and conditions. We want to ensure you have the information you need to prepare and thank you for choosing Meta to raise money to support your charity.

What’s changing?

Please review this email thoroughly to understand how these upcoming changes will impact your organisation. Here are some important details to note:

• Donation services and e-money accounts. The agreement you made to use our donation services with Facebook Payments will end. This means, on 1 July 2024, your current e-money account agreement with Facebook Payments will end and your Facebook e-money account will be closed. You should receive your final payout from Facebook Payments on or before 15 July. Charities that still have outstanding funds can contact us for support. Please note we may be required to refund undistributed balances to the donors.
• Payout timelines. Facebook Payments will continue to distribute any donations made to benefit your charity on or before 30 June, according to our payout timelines and conditions.
• New donors. Starting today, only people who previously used an e-money account to make a donation will be able to donate until 30 June. This is because we are required to give donors at least two months’ notice. Page admins and people who haven’t used an e-money account to make a donation will not be able to create or donate to fundraisers. See the table below for more details.
• Fundraising tools. Starting 1 July, fundraising tools will no longer be available to charities in the European Economic Area. Until then, your charity can continue using most of our fundraising tools with limited disruptions. Below is a list of the main features that will be affected:

What actions do you need to take?

1. Claim any outstanding funds You should receive your final payout from Facebook Payments on or before 15 July. Charities that still have outstanding funds can reach out through the Payouts contact form for support on required account actions to receive their payouts. Separately, we may contact you to seek to resolve any issues with the outstanding payments. Already approved financial admins can find their current payout method in the Payouts section under settings. Please note that if we cannot process the payment to you, we may be required to refund the donor(s).
2. Send people to your website to donate. We understand these unexpected changes will impact your organisation and want to point you to helpful tools. If you currently have the Donate button at the top of your Facebook Page, you can change it to send people to your website to donate. Click here to get started or follow these steps:

   • – Go to your Page settings
   • – Select “Action button”
   • – Choose “Learn more”
   • – Add the link to your website

We deeply value our partnership and thank you for choosing Meta to raise money to support your charity. You can read our full terms and learn more about the changes to Meta’s fundraising tools. If you need support, you can contact us.

From,

Meta Social Impact Team