# M-Changa, GoFundMe or Your Own Website: Fundraising Options in Kenya

URL: https://fosiarw.com/mchanga-gofundme-own-website-kenya/
Updated: 2026-11-05
Site: FOSIA AGENCY

**In short:** in the M-Changa vs GoFundMe question, Kenya has a clear local answer: M-Changa is a Kenyan platform that takes M-Pesa and works by USSD even without internet, while GoFundMe cannot be opened from Kenya and needs an organiser abroad. There is also a third option for churches, schools, clubs and companies that run campaigns often: M-Pesa donations on their own WordPress website with Fosia Crowdfunding, where the money goes straight to their own PawaPay account.

A harambee for a hospital bill, a funeral in Kisumu, a new classroom in Nyeri: Kenyans have raised money together for generations, and M-Pesa made it faster. Today the question is not whether to raise online, but where. Here is a fair comparison of the three options people weigh most, and how to choose.

## Option 1: M-Changa, built for Kenyan fundraising

[M-Changa](https://www.mchanga.africa/) describes its mission as fundraising “for Kenyans, by Kenyans”. It covers the causes families know well: medical bills, funerals, weddings, school fees, churches, group projects and sports clubs.

What it does especially well:

- **USSD fundraising.** By dialling *483*57#, an organiser can register a fundraiser, share it by WhatsApp or SMS, add treasurers, check statements and withdraw. M-Changa presents this as made for people without regular internet access, in Kenya only.
- **Several ways to give.** Its fees page covers M-Pesa and Mobile Money as well as Visa, Mastercard and PayPal, so donors who prefer a card can give too.
- **Clear fees.** At the time of writing (November 2026), its fees page shows a platform fee of 4.25% on donations (3.5% for fundraisers raising KES 3,000,000 or more within 30 days), 0% on M-Pesa and Mobile Money payments, 2.5% on card and PayPal payments passed on from the providers, plus withdrawal charges that depend on the method.

For a family that needs to start today, from a basic phone, M-Changa is hard to beat.

## Option 2: GoFundMe, through someone abroad

At the time of writing, Kenya is not on GoFundMe’s list of 20 countries where a fundraiser can be created. GoFundMe does allow raising money for someone in an unsupported country: the organiser, who lives in a supported country such as the United Kingdom or the United States, receives the funds and is personally responsible for delivering them outside GoFundMe.

This can make sense when most donors are in the diaspora and pay by card. It depends entirely on one trusted person abroad, and donors at home are not offered M-Pesa.

## Option 3: M-Pesa donations on your own website

Some organisations raise money all year: a parish with a building fund, a school with a bursary scheme, a football academy, a company with a staff welfare kitty. For them, a page on their own website has real advantages. [Fosia Crowdfunding](https://pay.fosiarw.com/crowdfunding/), a WordPress plugin built by FOSIA in Kigali, adds that page.

- Donors enter their phone number and confirm on their phone. M-Pesa is among the networks Fosia Pay supports, and Kenya is one of its 21 countries; availability depends on what PawaPay has enabled on your merchant account.
- The money goes straight to your own PawaPay account. FOSIA never holds it and takes no commission; only PawaPay’s processing fees apply.
- Each donation is a WooCommerce order, so your treasurer gets a full log and a CSV export.
- The free Lite version allows unlimited campaigns and donations, budget lines, updates, and WhatsApp, link and QR sharing. Recent donors are shown anonymously by default, never with a phone number.

You need WooCommerce and [Fosia Pay](https://pay.fosiarw.com/) (Fosia Pay Lite is free). If you already sell online in Kenya, our guide to [M-Pesa on WooCommerce](https://fosiarw.com/mpesa-woocommerce-kenya/) covers the payment setup.

## Side by side

| | M-Changa | GoFundMe | Your own website |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Open it from Kenya | Yes | No, needs an organiser abroad | Yes |
| M-Pesa for donors | Yes | Not listed among donor options | Yes, through Fosia Pay and PawaPay |
| Works without internet | Yes, by USSD (Kenya) | No | No, donors open a web page |
| Who receives the money | The fundraiser, by withdrawal | The organiser abroad | Your own PawaPay account |
| Your name and address on the link | Platform page | Platform page | Your own domain |
| Best for | One-off family needs, fast | Diaspora with cards | Organisations with repeat campaigns |

## How to choose in two minutes

1. **Does the organiser have a website?** If not, and the need is urgent, M-Changa is the quickest start.
2. **Will you raise money more than once?** If yes, a page on your own site builds a lasting home for every campaign and its reports.
3. **Where are the donors?** Mostly at home: M-Pesa matters most. Mostly abroad with cards: GoFundMe through a trusted organiser, or M-Changa’s card option.
4. **Who should see the money first?** If your committee wants funds to land in the organisation’s own account, your website with your own PawaPay account fits.

## Good practice, whatever the tool

- Name two people responsible for the money, not one.
- Split the goal into lines people understand: theatre fees, transport, food for mourners.
- Post updates and receipts. With the Pro version of Fosia Crowdfunding ($29.99 a year or $89 for life), proof of spending, milestones and offline gifts (such as cash collected at a church service) are built in.
- Close the campaign and thank people when the goal is reached.

More ideas in our [Fosia Crowdfunding guide](https://fosiarw.com/mobile-money-fundraising-fosia-crowdfunding/) and in [GoFundMe in Africa: what to use instead](https://fosiarw.com/gofundme-alternative-africa-mobile-money/).

## No shop on your website? Fosia Collect

Fosia Crowdfunding builds on WooCommerce. If your website has no shop and you only need a Donate or Pay button, [Fosia Collect](https://pay.fosiarw.com/fosia-collect/), the new free plugin from FOSIA, adds a Mobile Money form to any WordPress page, without WooCommerce. Supporters pick an amount and approve the payment with their PIN. Each payment is checked with your own PawaPay account before it shows as paid, and the money settles in that account, with no commission. You get totals per form, e-mail receipts, anonymous giving and a CSV export. Keep Crowdfunding when you need a full campaign page with a goal, a progress bar and updates.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I use M-Changa and my own website at the same time?

Yes, but count carefully. With Fosia Crowdfunding Pro, you can record money received elsewhere as an offline gift, with its source, so your page shows one total.

### Does Fosia Crowdfunding work by USSD?

No. Donors open the campaign page on their phone, enter their number and confirm the M-Pesa prompt. For people with no internet at all, a USSD service such as M-Changa’s fits better.

### Which tool is cheapest?

It depends on your amounts and payment methods. Compare each provider’s own fee page on the day you start; with Fosia Crowdfunding, FOSIA takes no commission and only PawaPay’s processing fees apply.

### Can a church committee control the money?

With your own website, donations go to the PawaPay account you choose, ideally one in the church’s name, and the donations log can be exported for the treasurer.

Running campaigns for a church, a school or a club in Kenya? [Try Fosia Crowdfunding Lite](https://pay.fosiarw.com/crowdfunding/) for free, or [book a free call](https://fosiarw.com/book-appointment/) and we will help you set it up.