How to Accept Donations on Instagram (Free, 2026)
There are two ways to raise money on Instagram. Approved nonprofits, and people fundraising for them, can use Instagram's own fundraisers and Donation stickers. Everyone else, including creators, clubs and individuals, sends supporters to a donation link in their bio and Stories. This guide covers both, with the current rules from Instagram's help pages.
Quick answer
To accept donations on Instagram, either create a fundraiser for an approved nonprofit from your profile or with the Donation sticker in Stories, which works only in select countries, or add your own donation link to your bio under 'Edit profile' and 'Links' and share it with the Link sticker. Your own link works for anyone and pays out through your own payment processor.
Who can use Instagram's built-in fundraisers
Instagram's fundraisers and Donation stickers only raise money for nonprofits that Meta has verified and approved for its fundraising tools. To receive donations, a nonprofit must be based in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom or the United States, be enrolled in Meta's fundraising tools, use an Instagram professional account and link it to its verified Facebook Page. People in a listed set of countries can then create fundraisers for those nonprofits. If you are raising money for yourself, a creator project or an unregistered group, these tools are not available and you need your own donation link.
How to start a fundraiser or add a Donation sticker
To create a fundraiser from your profile, tap your profile photo, tap Create in the top right, tap 'Fundraiser', pick the nonprofit, add a cover photo and details, then tap 'Create fundraiser'. For a Story, tap Stickers at the top, choose 'Donation' and select the nonprofit; viewers tap 'Donate' on the sticker. A fundraiser stays in your bio for 30 days, and you can extend it, end it early or delete it later. You can only have one active fundraiser at a time. If your profile is private, only your followers can see and donate.
What fees apply to Instagram donations
Meta says that since 31 October 2023 it no longer covers payment processing fees for donations to nonprofits in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, so a processing fee applies to those donations. When a nonprofit's 'Donate' button sends people to its own website instead, Meta has no role in processing that donation: the nonprofit's payment processor handles it under its own fee and refund terms, and Meta doesn't issue receipts. Check your processor's current pricing page rather than relying on figures quoted in blog posts.
Collect donations through your own link
For everyone outside Instagram's fundraiser program, the practical route is a donation page with its own link. You don't need a traditional merchant account from a bank: processors such as Stripe and PayPal handle card payments for you once you open an account with them. With OneSol you can build a donation form with suggested amounts like $10, $25 and $50 plus an 'Other' option, and take payment by connecting your own Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay or Square account; selling with your own processor is part of the Pro plan. Supporters don't need to sign in to give.
Add your donation link to your bio and Stories
On iPhone, tap your profile picture, tap 'Edit profile', tap 'Links', then 'Add external link', paste the URL and tap 'Done'. On Android the button is 'Add link'. You can add up to 5 websites, so reorder them under Options, then 'Reorder links', and put the donation link first. In Stories, tap Stickers, choose 'Link', paste the URL and tap 'See Preview' before posting. Captions on posts and Reels aren't clickable, so end them with 'Donate through the link in my bio'.
Why your bio link or link title isn't showing
If the link appears as plain text, it was probably typed into the bio text instead of the 'Links' section, which is the only place Instagram makes bio links tappable. If a title you typed isn't showing, open 'Edit profile', then 'Links', tap the link and check the title was saved, then reopen your profile. Make sure the URL is complete and loads in a browser. If the Link or Donation sticker is missing, update the app; Instagram notes that not all stickers are available to everyone. Persistent problems can be reported under Settings, then Help, then 'Report a problem'.
Be clear about tax receipts and where money goes
Being able to collect money doesn't make a gift tax-deductible. Generally only registered charities can give donors receipts that count for tax relief, and the rules depend on your country, so check them before promising anything. If you are an individual or an unregistered group, say so plainly and avoid words like 'charity' that suggest otherwise. State who receives the money, what it pays for and when the campaign ends. Supporters give more readily when the ask is specific, such as '$25 covers one food parcel', than when it is vague.
Thank donors and show the impact
Reply to every donor with a short thank-you, ideally on the same day, and tell them what happens next. Share progress in Stories and posts: totals raised, purchases made and photos of the results, and save these to a Highlight so new visitors can see the history. If you collected emails with permission, send a short update when the goal is reached. People who can see that their money did what you said are the most likely to give again at your next campaign.
Ready to start? OneSol is free.
Sell, book and get paid from one link — no card needed.
FAQ
Can anyone use Instagram's Donation sticker?
No. The Donation sticker and fundraisers only raise money for nonprofits approved for Meta's fundraising tools, and they are available only in select countries. Individuals and creators raising money for themselves need their own donation link instead.
Why can't I put a donation link in an Instagram caption?
Instagram doesn't make links in captions clickable, so a pasted URL stays plain text. Use your bio links, which allow up to 5 websites, and the Link sticker in Stories, then mention 'link in bio' in captions.
Can I accept donations online without a merchant account?
Yes. Payment processors such as Stripe and PayPal process cards for you once you sign up with them, so you don't need a separate merchant account from a bank. You connect that account to your donation form or page.
How long does an Instagram fundraiser last?
A fundraiser stays active in your bio for 30 days. You can extend it, end it early or delete it, and the nonprofit receives what was donated before it ended. You can only run one active fundraiser at a time.
Do I have to be a registered nonprofit to collect donations?
Not to collect money people choose to give through your own link, but only registered charities can usually issue tax-deductible receipts. Be open about who you are, what the money is for and whether gifts are deductible.
Related guides
How to Add a Link to Your Instagram Story (and Fix Links That Don't Work)
Add a link to your Instagram story with the Link sticker, label it clearly, and fix the usual problems, from a missing sticker to bio links that won't click.
Read guideHow to Make an Order Form for Instagram (Free, 2026)
Make a free order form for Instagram: what to ask, how to add it to your bio and Stories, how to take payment, and why a bio link sometimes isn't clickable.
Read guideHow to Sell Stickers and Merch Online (Free to Start, 2026 Guide)
Sell stickers and small merch online: choose a model, prep print files, price for profit, take card payments without a merchant account, and ship for less.
Read guideHow to Make a Clickable Link in Email, Docs, Bios, WhatsApp and HTML (2026)
How to make a link clickable in Gmail, Outlook, Word, Google Docs, Instagram and TikTok bios, WhatsApp and HTML, plus why a link is not clickable and the fix.
Read guide