​Tool will compete against other donation platforms

Facebook users can from today raise money for themselves or causes they care about.

The social media giant’s personal fundraisers tool is part of the company’s wider expansion of fundraising tools announced in Europe earlier this year.

Fundraisers have to be over 18 and categories include education, medical, pet medical, crisis relief, personal emergency, funeral and loss, community, and sports.

To launch a fundraising campaign users can select the option from the drop down menu on mobile devices or they can visit facebook.com/fundraisers.

The feature launched in the US earlier this year and has been used to raise money for medical bills and support people affected by natural disasters.

One father used it to raise $38,000 to cover the costs of his daughter’s heart transplant.

To figure out the best way to design personal fundraisers and have them function, Facebook spoke to dozens of people who have either created fundraisers, been the beneficiary of fundraisers, or donated to them to hear their stories.

"We take an iterative approach to designing, which basically starts from a position of ignorance," said Nick Inzucchi, product designer at Facebook. "Assuming we don't know the right answer, and going out and talking to people, listening to them to hear their needs, and evolving the product from that point."

In addition to personal fundraisers, the company also announced that verified pages can add a Donate button to Facebook Lives to increase giving.