If you’re planning to set up an online donation page for your nonprofit organization, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you should make sure the donation form is simple and easy to use. Secondly, you should verify the nonprofit’s status. Finally, you should make sure to set up suggested and recurring donations. These are just a few of the most important things to consider before setting up an online donation page for your nonprofit organization.
Confirm Your Online Donation Form is Easy
When creating a donation form, it’s essential to make it easy to fill out and easy to read on all devices. Donors will quickly give up if the process takes too long. Avoid clumsy forms with long fields, and make sure to provide email addresses so you can keep in touch with your donors and send them receipts. The next step is to make your donation form visually appealing.
Don’t add unnecessary fields or distracting features. While donation forms are an important way to collect information from your supporters, they shouldn’t slow the process down. Instead, ask for only the information you need and lead them to the thank-you page. If you want to collect more information, search for some online donation platforms. This will make your donation form easier to fill out and increase the chance of a successful donation.
Ensure That You Verify Your Nonprofit Status
Before donating online, make sure to check the organization’s nonprofit status. You can do this using several resources, including 990 Finder, GuideStar, Economic Research Institute, ProPublica, and the National Center for Charitable Statistics. In addition to these free resources, you can also visit your local library and the Internet to check on the charity you’re considering. Make sure to check if the nonprofit is incorporated, as not all charities are.
In addition, nonprofits should check if they have an EIN number. This number allows you to track financial activity, and is often required for certain types of transactions, including opening a bank account and hiring paid employees. In fact, nearly every major transaction requires the nonprofit to have an EIN. If you’re unsure whether your nonprofit has an EIN number, you can find out by checking the IRS website.
Set-up Recurring Donations
Many online donation tools allow you to set up recurring donations. The nonprofit’s website will ask for some personal information, such as name, email address, and phone number. You can also select the frequency of the donations, ranging from once a month to once a year. You can also set the day you want the recurring donation to be made. To set up recurring donations, follow the steps below.
A good recurring donation system should be simple to use and offer the maximum level of convenience. Donors should be able to set the frequency of their donations and be able to cancel them at any time. Other tips for developing a recurring donation system include accepting donations via preferred methods (such as bank draft or credit card).
Set-up Suggested Donations
If you’re new to donating online, you can set up suggested donations on your campaign’s form. These amounts are displayed beside the Donation Amount field and replace the default value. You can also add extra text to the label. If you want your suggested donation amount to automatically appear, you can check the box next to it. If not, you can manually input the amount and change it if you wish.
Don’t worry, though, because it is largely unnecessary for big and small organizations. Just make sure to leave the salutation/title field blank. You don’t want to send a generic email, so a simple, no-nonsense message won’t hurt. You can also use a picture of the product. In addition to letting donors know the value of the product, you can use this feature to pique their interest.
Avoid Scams
When making online donations, it’s crucial to keep a record of each transaction and check statements carefully. Be especially cautious of requests for cash donations, money wires, or gift cards, which you can’t track and cannot get back if the organization is a scam. You can also make your donations by check or credit card and avoid supplying any personal information, as scammers can use this information to steal your identity.
It’s not uncommon for fraudsters to pose as official organizations or reputable individuals to get your personal information. Be wary of anyone claiming to represent the government, oil rig, or other business. They will then ask you for money for things such as customs fees, travel, or financial aid. Do a reverse image search on any photos requested and check if they were skimmed from another account. This method protects you from many online scams.
