The money will go to International Medical Corps, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and Save the Children.

Facebook is also paying for 100 satellite communication terminals to help improve internet and phone services in west Africa. The disease has killed nearly 5,000 people across Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg announced the Ebola donation button with a video on his own profile page, saying "I want to make sure Facebook does its part to help fight Ebola."