If you’re trying to make a donation through Facebook and it’s not going through, there could be a few reasons why. Here are some quick troubleshooting tips to try:
Check Your Payment Method
The most common reason a Facebook donation won’t process is an issue with your payment method. Here are some things to check:
- Make sure your credit/debit card or PayPal account has sufficient funds. Facebook donations will fail if there are insufficient funds.
- Check for any fraud alerts or security blocks on your payment accounts. Your bank may block payments occasionally if they seem suspicious.
- Verify your payment information is entered correctly on Facebook. Double check the card number, expiration date, CVV code, and billing address.
- Try a different payment method if available. Switch to a different card or PayPal to see if that processes the donation.
If you can’t get any payment method to work, contact your bank/card provider or PayPal to make sure there are no blocks on your account preventing Facebook payments.
Confirm Your Donation Details
Issues on Facebook’s end could also prevent a donation from processing correctly. Check these items:
- Make sure you entered the correct donation amount. Verify it didn’t default to a much larger amount than you intended.
- Check that the nonprofit you’re donating to is legitimate and still has an active Facebook presence. Fake or inactive accounts could create donation issues.
- Make sure you’re on the official Facebook website and not a scam lookalike site. Only donate through facebook.com.
If the donation details look accurate, the next step is to contact the nonprofit directly. Let them know you tried to donate but it wouldn’t process. They can look into any problems receiving donations through Facebook.
Try Again Later or Donate Another Way
If you continue having problems donating through Facebook, here are some additional tips:
- Wait and try again later. Temporary technical issues could prevent donations from processing correctly.
- Use an alternative donation method the nonprofit offers, like their website, text-to-donate, mail-in, etc.
- Contact the nonprofit directly to notify them of the issues with Facebook donations. They may offer troubleshooting help or another way to donate.
Keep in mind Facebook takes a processing fee from all donations made through their platform. You may want to choose another donation method where 100% of your money goes to the nonprofit.
Get Help from Facebook
If you can’t resolve the issue through standard troubleshooting, reach out to Facebook support for help with your donation. Here are some options:
- In the Facebook app, go to Settings & Help, then submit a donation support request.
- Go to facebook.com/help and search for donation support. You can live chat, submit a request, or find an answer in their help center.
- Go to the Page of the nonprofit you tried to donate to. Click on the Page Options menu (three dots), choose Report Page, then select “Something Went Wrong with Donations”.
Provide details on the issue you’re experiencing and any troubleshooting you’ve tried when submitting a request. Facebook support can investigate why the donation isn’t processing correctly on their end.
Common Facebook Donation Problems
Here are some of the most common reasons Facebook donations may fail or encounter issues:
Insufficient Funds
The account you’re donating from doesn’t have enough money to cover the transaction. Add funds and try donating again.
Expired or Incorrect Payment Info
The credit/debit card or PayPal account entered is expired, has the wrong information, or isn’t valid. Double check all fields and update if needed.
Donation Amount Too High
Facebook caps single donations at $10,000. Donations over that amount will fail. For larger gifts, donate directly through the nonprofit’s website.
Bank/Card Declines Payment
Your financial institution may block the transaction due to suspected fraud or account security concerns. Contact them to allow Facebook donations.
Nonprofit Isn’t Set Up for Donations
The Page you’re donating to hasn’t enabled Facebook’s donation tools. Contact the nonprofit to make sure they can accept gifts through Facebook.
Technical Issues
Bugs, glitches, or temporary outage on Facebook’s end could prevent the transaction. Try again later or report issues to Facebook.
Account Security Restrictions
Donations may fail if your Facebook account has been temporarily restricted due to suspicious activity. Complete any security checkpoints to restore full account access.
Most Common Donation Payment Errors
Here are some of the specific payment errors you may see if a Facebook donation fails:
| Error Message | Cause |
|---|---|
| Incorrect payment details | Payment info entered incorrectly or doesn’t match account |
| Expired card | Credit/debit card entered is past expiration date |
| Insufficient funds | Account being donated from doesn’t have enough money |
| Exceeds issuer limit | Donation amount is over card/account limit |
| Lost or stolen card | Card marked as lost, stolen, or compromised |
If you receive a nonspecific error message, re-check all your payment details carefully for accuracy and contact your bank or card issuer if problems persist.
Why Facebook Donations Are Failing: Top 10 Reasons
Based on user reports and Facebook’s known issues, these are the most common reasons donations on Facebook may fail to process properly:
- Incorrect or incomplete payment information entered
- Insufficient funds in account user is donating from
- Expired debit/credit card or PayPal account
- Card issuer or bank declines the transaction due to suspected fraud
- User enters incorrect donation amount by mistake
- Temporary technical issues on Facebook’s end
- Donating to a Page that isn’t setup to receive payments
- Hitting the $10,000 max donation limit
- Geographic/country restrictions on the user’s account or payment method
- Account security restrictions temporarily placed on user’s Facebook account
Fixing Common Facebook Donation Problems
If your Facebook donation isn’t going through, try these troubleshooting tips to fix common issues:
Incorrect Payment Info
Carefully re-enter your credit/debit card or PayPal details. Triple check for accuracy, including the card number, expiration date, CVV code, and billing address.
Insufficient Funds
Add money to your payment account, or donate a smaller amount if you’re hitting your limit. Facebook donations can’t exceed available balances.
Expired Card/Account
Update the expired card or PayPal account with valid, non-expired payment details and try donating again.
Donation Amount Wrong
Verify you entered the correct donation amount before submitting. The default amounts may be higher than intended.
Account Security Restrictions
Complete any security checks Facebook has placed on your account. Restrictions must be resolved before donations can process.
Nonprofit Not Setup for Donations
Contact the Page owner directly to confirm they have Facebook donation tools enabled. Donate another way if needed.
What to Do if Your Donation Fails on Facebook
If you’ve tried troubleshooting and your Facebook donation still won’t go through, here are the next steps:
- Contact the nonprofit directly to notify them of the donation issue.
- Try donating again later in case temporary technical problems are preventing it from processing.
- Donate through an alternate method offered by the nonprofit, like their website, text-to-give, mail-in form, etc.
- Submit a donation support request to Facebook describing the problem.
- Check for any restrictions on your account that could block payments.
- If needed, consult your card issuer or PayPal on why they declined the transaction.
With enough persistence and troubleshooting, you should be able to successfully complete the donation through Facebook or another method.
Best Practices for Donating on Facebook
Follow these tips to ensure your next Facebook donation processes smoothly:
- Double check all payment details for accuracy before submitting.
- Use a payment method with sufficient funds to cover the donation amount.
- Only donate through legitimate nonprofits with Facebook Pages you can verify.
- Watch for account security notifications Facebook may send to protect your account.
- Start with smaller donation amounts to test before making large gifts.
- Be aware Facebook caps single donations at $10,000.
- Consider donating directly instead to avoid Facebook’s processing fees.
Taking precautions can help minimize errors and ensure your donations complete successfully. But even if you run into trouble, following the troubleshooting steps above should help get things working.
Facebook Donation FAQs
How do I donate on Facebook?
To donate on Facebook:
- Go to the nonprofit’s official Page.
- Click the Donate or Support Button.
- Select a preset donation amount or enter a custom amount.
- Enter your payment information and complete the transaction.
What payment methods can I use to donate on Facebook?
You can donate through Facebook using major credit/debit cards like Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. You can also donate using your PayPal account.
Is there a fee to donate through Facebook?
Yes, Facebook charges payment processing fees on all donations made through their platform. The fee depends on donation amount and payment method.
Are Facebook donations tax deductible?
Donations made to verified 501(c)(3) registered nonprofits through Facebook are tax deductible like other donations. You will receive a receipt from Facebook after donating.
Can I donate anonymously on Facebook?
No, Facebook donations are not anonymous. Your name and account details will be associated with the donation. If you wish to donate anonymously, do so directly through the nonprofit’s website or other channels.
What do I do if my Facebook donation won’t process?
If your Facebook donation fails, first ensure your payment method has sufficient funds and all details entered are accurate. Contact Facebook support if issues continue. You can also donate through an alternate method.
Why do Facebook donations have a limit?
Facebook currently caps donations at $10,000 per transaction as a safeguard against fraud, money laundering, and other risks associated with large online transactions.
Can I get a refund for a Facebook donation?
You’ll need to contact the nonprofit directly regarding refunds for donations made through Facebook. Facebook processes the transactions but doesn’t control refund policies.
Conclusion
Donating through Facebook provides a convenient way to give to causes you care about. However, like any online transaction, donations may fail to process properly for a variety of reasons. If your Facebook donation won’t go through, carefully check your payment method, account restrictions, and donation details for any errors. Contact Facebook support if issues persist. With enough troubleshooting and patience, you should be able to successfully complete your charitable gift.