Attorney General Ellison releases consumer alert on crowdfunding for those impacted by DHS activity in Minnesota

January 22, 2026 (SAINT PAUL) — Today, Attorney General Ellison released the following alert for those donating to crowdfunding efforts to help Minnesotans impacted by current DHS activity in Minnesota, as well as to those fundraising money and goods to help their friends and neighbors. The Attorney General’s Office is sharing this alert to help stop bad actors from taking advantage of people’s generosity, and to help ensure fundraisers understand their potential obligations under Minnesota law. This alert comes after the Attorney General’s Office has received complaints about fundraising efforts in light of current DHS activity.

If you are donating through GoFundMe or other platforms

Minnesotans are generous people and want to help their friends and neighbors in times of need.  Some people have set up crowdfunding campaigns on sites like GoFundMe, social media, or other platforms for those impacted by the current activities in Minnesota. Many, but not all, of these efforts are legitimate. Bad actors sometimes try to take advantage of people’s generosity by keeping donations for themselves.  Protect yourself with the following tips:

• Before donating: Research the organizer of the crowdfunding campaign, the cause, and how the money will be used.  Do public facts support the organizer’s claims?  Will the website charge a fee?  How will the organizer handle and safeguard donations?
• Donating to help a specific person: If you are donating to people you don’t know, look for specific information about the situation that can be verified. 
• Donating to an organization: Donors should look for charities they already know and trust.  To be sure that your money is going where you want it to go (and to minimize the chance of any extra fees being taken from your donation), consider donating directly through that charity’s own website, instead of through a crowdfunding page.
• Donating smartly:  Be wary of charities that spring up overnight in the wake of a disaster or tragedy, that have names that sound like well-known charities, or that otherwise raise red flags.  If there is reason to suspect a charity might not be legitimate, contact the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office before donating.

More information can be found in the Attorney General publication, Don’t Just Follow the Crowd on “Crowdfunding” Websites.

If you are fundraising through GoFundMe, social media, or other platforms

If you are an individual or business raising money to help your communities through a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe, social media, or another platform, you should be aware that certain laws and duties could be triggered by that activity. Not all fundraising is charitable—raising money to benefit a specific named individual, business, or family is not “charitable” under the law.  

On the other hand, if you fundraise money or collect goods for a general charitable purpose to help the greater good—such as food or supplies for families in need in your community—that conduct comes with important duties and responsibilities under the law. These laws apply to all people, groups, and businesses fundraising for charity—not just nonprofits or 501(c)(3) entities. Specifically:

- There are laws on what you cannot or must say or do when soliciting donations from the public, including avoiding any deception, making appropriate disclosures, and registering with the Attorney General.  

- There are also specific duties that apply when holding on to funds that are intended to benefit the public, including holding them separately from your personal funds, tracking them with care, and using them strictly for their intended purpose. 

Failure to comply with these standards could subject a person to investigation and legal action by the Attorney General. More information is contained in the Attorney General publication, You Might Be a ‘Charity’—Yes, You! What Individuals Need to Know When Raising Money for a Charitable Cause.

If you are concerned about fundraising activity

The Attorney General’s Office has already received reports and complaints about fundraising efforts in light of current DHS activity and evaluates all complaints with seriousness. For those with concerns:

Not all crowdfunding—like efforts raising money for specific families—is charitable and within the AGO’s authority.  If you are concerned that someone is using the name of an individual or family to steal funds from generous donors, contact your local criminal law enforcement authorities.

The Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance and the Federal Trade Commission publish information and tips on crowdfunding on their websites, www.give.org and consumer.ftc.gov. 

Donors may also contact the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office for more information about crowdfunding, to research charities on the Office’s website, or to file a complaint on our website or as follows:

Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison
445 Minnesota Street, Suite 600
St. Paul, MN 55101
(651) 296-3353 (Twin Cities Calling Area)
(800) 657-3787 (Outside the Twin Cities)
(800) 627-3529 (Minnesota Relay)