Set up a cash fund or chip in on a group gift

A cash fund collects recorded contributions toward a goal; group gifting lets several people contribute toward a priced item. Money goes through the owner's linked payment service. GiftList does not hold or process the money, and its progress total reflects recorded contributions rather than verified bank settlement.

Where the money goes

Money goes straight from the giver to the list owner's own Venmo, PayPal, Zelle or Cash App. GiftList never holds the money, so there is nothing to withdraw or transfer out of GiftList: check your payment app for the payments.

A contribution appears on the fund only after the giver returns to GiftList and taps Confirm contribution. Confirmed means the giver recorded that they sent it; GiftList cannot see your payment app. The owner sees each contribution's name, amount, message and payment method under View Contributions on the gift, whether or not gifts are revealed, so contributions are not anonymous.

If a payment is missing from the fund, check your payment app first, then ask the giver whether they finished the transfer and tapped Confirm contribution. As the owner, you can add a payment you received with Record contribution, or remove a wrong entry from the contributions list. If money shows as recorded but never arrived in your payment app, ask the giver to check their payment app; GiftList cannot trace or refund a transfer.

Watch the walkthrough

Prefer to watch? The written steps cover the full task.

Play video: How to Organize a Group Gift Online (Everyone Chips In)

Play video: How to Ask for a Cash Fund for Your Wedding (No GiftList Fee)

Set up your payment method and fund

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1. Sign in as the list owner and open its Settings.
2. In the payment settings, add the supported payment account you want to use: Venmo, PayPal, Zelle or Cash App. Check the account details and choose Save.
3. Open Add gift → Cash fund (some entry points say Add a cash fund).
4. Enter a clear fund title and details. Add a goal if you want one, then save it to the intended list.
5. Open the fund as a visitor and check that the payment destination is yours before sharing the list.

For a physical item already on the list, make sure it has a price, then open Gift options → Enable group gifting. Allow someone to buy the whole gift is checked by default. Leave it checked to offer both buying and contributing, or uncheck it for contributions only. Enabling group gifting does not order the item.

For an existing group gift, open Gift options → Group gifting settings, change Allow someone to buy the whole gift, and choose Save changes. Owners and list editors can change this preference without disabling group gifting. Saving preserves the fund's goal, status and recorded contributions. Buying the whole gift is available only while the fund is active, no contributions have been recorded and no one has reserved or purchased it.

Buy a group gift outright or reserve it

When the owner allows outright buying and no contributions have been recorded, the gift shows Buy this gift, Chip in, and Already bought it? Mark as purchased.

• Choose Buy this gift to reserve it first, then continue to the retailer. Reserving does not place an order.
• After reserving, use Go to store to shop and Mark as purchased after checkout. You can Cancel reservation if plans change. Other visitors see Reserved and cannot contribute while it is reserved.
• If you already bought the item, choose Already bought it? Mark as purchased and confirm. This stops new claims and contributions.
• Once contributions have started, visitors can only Chip in, including covering the remaining amount. Contributions go to the list owner, who arranges the purchase. Fully funded group gifts stop accepting new contributions; cash funds may still accept additional contributions.

Keep the reservation confirmation email or copy the cancellation link. A buyer signed in with the email used on the claim can also manage their reservation when returning on another device. Existing reservation holders can finish or cancel even if the list stops accepting new gifts.

GiftList coordinates recorded activity. A stale page or an external transfer made before it is recorded can still conflict with a reservation. If you already sent money and GiftList cannot record it, do not send it again; contact the list owner to reconcile the payment.

Make and record a contribution

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1. Open the fund or group gift and choose its contribution action.
2. Select the amount and a supported payment method. Check the recipient and amount before completing the transfer in that provider's app or website.
3. Return to GiftList. Choose Already sent? Confirm your contribution when shown.
4. Enter the requested contributor details and how you sent the payment, then choose Confirm contribution only for money you actually sent.
5. Keep both the payment provider's receipt and any GiftList confirmation.

GiftList charges no platform fee for this feature. Your payment service may have its own fees, availability limits or rules. Check those in the provider before sending.

Fix a mistake or a missing payment

If a GiftList contribution was recorded incorrectly, use the undo link in its confirmation email or the available undo action. Removing the GiftList record does not reverse an external transfer or request a refund.

For a failed, missing or mistaken money transfer, check the payment service directly and contact the recipient/provider as appropriate. Do not resend just because GiftList's total has not changed. Owners should confirm actual payment receipt in their payment account before relying on a recorded total.

The contribution flow is shared across web and supported app versions, but the payment-provider handoff depends on the device and installed payment apps. If the fund is closed, contact the owner rather than attempting another transfer through an old link.

Related: Share your list, adding gifts. Contact support for the GiftList record; keep financial credentials out of the message.