LastDonor reviews fundraisers before publication so donors can read a clear story, understand the goal, and see what supporting details are available before they give.
Source Requirements
Every campaign needs at least one credible, independently reviewable source before we will publish it. Acceptable sources can include:
- Official military and defense publications (DVIDS, Stars & Stripes, Defense.gov)
- Law enforcement and fire service official reports (ODMP, USFA, LODD databases)
- Government disaster declarations (FEMA, NWS)
- Established news organizations with editorial oversight
- Hospital or medical facility confirmations
- Court records or existing fundraiser pages as supplementary context
How We Verify Each Campaign
- We find the story - Through news feeds, official reports, and community submissions. We go looking for people who actually need help.
- We check the sources - At least one primary source has to be independently verifiable. We cross-reference with multiple sources whenever we can.
- We confirm the need - We verify that the person or family has a real financial need, and that a specific dollar amount is justified and not inflated.
- A person reviews it - A member of our editorial team reads the campaign for accuracy, tone, and completeness. Not an algorithm. A person.
- It goes live with citations - Every published campaign includes source citations so you can verify the story yourself if you want to.
What We Will Never Do
- We will never fabricate or embellish a story to get more donations.
- We will never use guilt-based language, manipulative appeals, or sensationalized headlines.
- We will never run campaigns for celebrities, politicians, or anyone who is not in genuine financial need.
- We will never publish photos of identifiable people without proper sourcing. Campaign images are editorial illustrations unless sourced from official public domain outlets.
When We Get Something Wrong
If we discover an error in a campaign, here is what happens:
- We fix it immediately and note the correction on the campaign page so everyone can see what changed.
- If the error is serious (wrong person, incorrect incident), we pause the campaign, contact every donor who gave, and publish a transparent correction.
- If a campaign turns out to be based on false information, we suspend it, notify donors, and publish a clear explanation.
Campaign Review FAQ
- What does LastDonor review before a fundraiser goes live?
- A reviewer checks whether the campaign has a clear beneficiary, specific need, reasonable goal, appropriate category, and supporting details that help donors understand the fundraiser.
- What documents help with campaign verification?
- Helpful materials can include bills, official letters, public records, photos, school documents, disaster reports, veterinary estimates, memorial information, or other evidence related to the campaign.
- Can campaign details change after publication?
- Yes. Campaign updates can clarify progress, add new information, correct errors, or show impact after a fundraiser receives donations.
See Something Off? Tell Us.
If you think any information on our platform is wrong, email us at editorial@lastdonor.org. We take reports seriously and review them promptly.