How to give
Whether you have five dollars, five hours or a skill that someone needs, here is how to help in a way that counts.
Choosing who to help
You do not have to find the perfect cause. Find one that moves you.
- Browse and filter by kind of help, cause, country, state, city or ZIP. Look near home, or in the place you came from.
- Sort by most urgent, closest to goal, most discussed, or needs a first supporter. A first gift matters most.
- Search by a word like rent, surgery, tuition, or the name of a town.
- Thank a person you know in People: a teacher, nurse, coach or neighbor.
What to look for
No post is guaranteed. These signals help.
| Signal | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Trust checklist | Email, photo, ID, address, organization and background check status, and how long the person has been a member. |
| Badges | A reviewer saw a photo or ID document, or a registration certificate for an organization. |
| Specific costs | A list of items that adds up to the goal, with named providers and dates. |
| Questions and answers | Honest, quick answers in the comments. Ask your own. |
| Updates | Receipts, progress and thank-yous. People who update tend to be careful with money. |
| Local context | Does the story fit the place? Is there someone in the comments who knows the area? |
Walk away if
The owner asks you to pay or message outside HelpBLESS, pushes you to give immediately, will not answer reasonable questions, or the photo and story do not match. Use the Report button.
Giving money
Pick an amount
Any amount from $1.00. Preset buttons or your own number.Add a message or a dedication (optional)
Messages help owners feel less alone. You can give in honor or memory of someone, or hide your name from the public list.Decide on a tip (optional)
You can add a small tip to HelpBLESS (default 10%). It is separate from your gift and pays for review, verification and support. Choose none if you prefer.Pay securely
Pay by card or wallet. We never see your full card details. Your receipt is emailed immediately and has a printable page.
Payments are final
All payments, including gifts and tips, are non-refundable. Ask questions first. If something looks wrong afterwards, report it. See the refund policy.
Giving time, skills or goods
Often the most valuable kind of help.
- Open a post that asks for time, labor, services, mentoring, advice, goods, rides or a room and send an offer. Say what you can do, when, and how often.
- Do not put your phone or email in the offer. If the owner accepts, you both receive each other\'s contact details by email, along with a safety checklist.
- Offering a room or rides needs a verified photo, ID or background check. Get verified.
- Meet in a public place first. Tell someone where you are going. Never send money or documents to someone you only just met. More tips.
Giving from another country
Help does not stop at a border.
- Gifts are charged in US dollars. Your bank converts from your currency and may add its own foreign-exchange fee.
- Card payments from outside the United States cost slightly more to process. That fee comes out of the gift, not out of your pocket.
- You can pay with most major cards and wallets. Availability can vary by country and bank.
- Use the display menu to translate pages into about 48 languages.
- See countries for details on sign-up, giving and payouts.
After you give
- Receipt: emailed and available on your dashboard under My giving. A gift is generally not tax-deductible, because HelpBLESS is a platform and not a charity. See taxes.
- Follow: save the post and read updates. Owners can send thank-you notes to donors.
- Share: the best help you can add after a gift is to tell two people.
Questions
Do I need an account to give?
No. As a guest you only enter an email for your receipt. With an account you can also keep a record of everything you have given.
Can I give anonymously?
Yes. Tick the box to hide your name on public lists. We still keep a record for legal reasons.
How do I know the money is used well?
Look at the badges, trust checklist, cost breakdown and updates. Owners are asked to pay providers directly and post receipts.
What happens if a post turns out to be a scam?
Report it. We will investigate, may remove the post and hold unpaid funds, and cooperate with authorities. Reporting does not create a right to a refund.
Is there a minimum?
Yes, $1.00. For gifts above $10,000 please contact support.