Donations are the lifeblood of any nonprofit! Not only do they bring in regular revenue, but they also represent the strength of your relationships with your supporters.<\/p>\n
Looking for an easy way to turn those supporters into donors? Then it\u2019s time to set up a donation page on your website!<\/p>\n
A donation page is a web page where your supporters can directly give money to your organization. Instead of sending cheques through the mail or donating at in-person events, your donors can support your organization with the click of a button!<\/p>\n
A quality donation page:<\/p>\n
These web pages are becoming an increasingly popular way for nonprofits to collect donations. If you want to stay on top of the latest giving trends, creating a donation website<\/a> is a must-do!<\/p>\n Figuring out how to set up a donation page doesn\u2019t have to be difficult! Here are 15 simple steps to get you started.<\/p>\n Determine whose responsibility it is to build your donation page! If possible, get someone who already has some knowledge around web design, can connect your site to your donor CRM, and is confident with your branding.<\/p>\n The best donation pages connect to the rest of your fundraising software. Look for platforms that can build your website<\/a> and donation page, as well as set up a donation tracking system.<\/p>\n The right fundraising software can:<\/p>\n Psst\u2014WildApricot covers all of these bases for you, and even comes with a 60-day free trial<\/a>!<\/p>\n Having the right customer relationship management (CRM) software\u2014also known as donor management software, or a DMS\u2014is key to maintaining and developing your donor relationships.<\/p>\n The best CRM system<\/a> should:<\/p>\n Positive customer relationships are what lead to donations. Be sure to pick the CRM system that\u2019s right for your specific organization!<\/p>\n Before you create a donation page, it\u2019s important to have a plan! Drawing out a wireframe<\/a> will help you structure your information in a way that\u2019s aesthetically pleasing and easy to understand.<\/p>\n A wireframe is a two-dimensional drawing made specifically for web design. It helps you map out how you want to use the space on your webpage\u2014think of it as a blueprint specifically made for a screen.<\/p>\n Remember: building a donation page is about more than just slapping information on a website! Aim to make your user experience intuitive and enjoyable.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re figuring out what to put on a donation page, it\u2019s best to ready your page components in advance.<\/p>\n Some copy and design elements you should prepare include:<\/p>\n It\u2019s much easier to structure a donation page around your content rather than the other way around. With your building blocks gathered in advance, assembling your website should be a breeze!<\/p>\n Feedback is your friend! While one person should own the project, multiple perspectives will help you catch what\u2019s missing, or what could use a little more massaging.<\/p>\n Checking in with your fundraising and marketing departments will be especially helpful. After all, your goal is to bring in donations through a powerful expression of your nonprofit\u2019s values!<\/p>\n Prioritize the changes that simplify your process. A donation page should be easy to work with\u2014if it feels like you\u2019re getting lost in the details, you might be overthinking it!<\/p>\n With feedback applied and changes made, you’re ready to finalize all the assets that will make up your donation page. Do your final checks that graphics, copy and forms are looking sharp and working as they should!<\/p>\n With your elements gathered and your feedback incorporated, all that\u2019s left is to build the page! Put it together and see if it looks as cohesive in practice as it felt in theory.<\/p>\n There are a few must-have features for any successful donation page. Before you go live, make sure these three elements are included:<\/p>\n Did you know that 54% of internet traffic is mobile<\/a>? If your page isn\u2019t mobile friendly, you\u2019re likely missing out on donations! Be sure all of your images, text, and forms can adjust to fit the screen sizes of multiple devices.<\/p>\n Your donation page should be accessible to people with varying disabilities. This means incorporating features such as high color contrast and alt text.<\/p>\n Check the University of Waterloo\u2019s collected web accessibility<\/a> resources for more information!<\/p>\n When people donate to your cause, they need to trust that their bank information will be safe! Two simple ways to ease their minds and avoid security breaches are to:<\/p>\n Donating should be easy! A big, eye-catching button will direct your supporters exactly where they need to go to donate.<\/p>\n Collecting information on your user activity will help you see what\u2019s working on your donation page. Use this data to troubleshoot and update your page as needed.<\/p>\n Share share share! Use newsletters and social media to spread the word about your organization. No matter how beautiful your non profit donation page is, it won\u2019t do much if people don\u2019t know about your organization!<\/p>\n Putting in a \u201cshare\u201d button after people have executed their donations can give you an extra boost. People are proud of where they donate to\u2014encouraging them to spread the word is an easy way to bring in those invaluable word-of-mouth connections.<\/p>\n Remember that you aren\u2019t the first organization to seek out online donations! Don\u2019t try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, research other nonprofits (especially with similar missions!) and see what\u2019s working for them. Take notes, and incorporate it into your donation page.<\/p>\n Before building a website, it\u2019s important to be aware of donation page best practices! Here are 20 key elements to include on your page.<\/p>\n Remember: the goal of this page is to bring in donations for your organization. Don\u2019t confuse the messaging by including competing CTAs! The focus should always be asking for donations.<\/p>\n Bonus Tip: <\/strong>Be aware of \u201cThe Fold.\u201d<\/p>\n The Fold is the content that exists on the page before the user scrolls down. All of your essentials should be there, dressed up in your very best branding. Include information on why donors should give, the call to action, and the donation form itself!<\/p>\n First make sure you have online payments<\/a> set up! Once that\u2019s done, you can set up your donation form.<\/p>\n Donation forms are set up through using \u201cgadgets.\u201d Wild Apricot has a specific donation gadget which you can learn more about here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019re setting up your form, be aware of two different kinds of fields. There are common fields (which apply to information that would be on any records, such as names) and donation-specific fields.<\/p>\n Choose the fields you want to include. Note that the Amount<\/strong> field and Payment<\/strong> frequency fields are donation fields that cannot be deleted.<\/p>\n If you want to embed your form on a website that is not hosted by Wild Apricot, you can use our donation widgets<\/a>!<\/p>\n Here are 25 donation page examples that can serve as inspiration! Each of them have different pros and cons, so pull what works best for you from them.<\/p>\n This donation page engages the reader with an eye-catching design and focuses attention on how donations benefit the organization.<\/p>\n This donation page features a user-friendly and visually appealing donation form. It also lists out what specific impact can be made at each donation amount!<\/p>\n This donation page features a clever design with two side by side scrolling panes.<\/p>\n This donation page features a compelling photo of a beneficiary holding up a \u201cThank You!\u201d sign. This is an opportunity for an emotional connection and an expression of gratitude all in one!<\/p>\n This donation page includes an easy to use form and an option for the donor to give anonymously.<\/p>\n This page features helpful links in the sidebar and impactful photos of the nonprofit\u2019s beneficiaries. Visually appealing and easy to navigate!<\/p>\n This donation page has an appealing color scheme and design. It also features a compelling photo right at the top.<\/p>\n Along with a user-friendly design, this page includes lots of ways for the site visitor to engage with the organization beyond just making a donation.<\/p>\n This page features a powerful photo and story about a beneficiary, as well as simple yet appealing design elements.<\/p>\n This donation page is different from others in that it belongs to a fund of a larger foundation. Still, it clearly explains everything the potential donor needs to know!<\/p>\n This nonprofit begins their donation page with a compelling photo, and is transparent about how the money raised is spent.<\/p>\n This donation page presents a lot of useful information and includes a scrolling feed of announcements to keep site visitors up to date.<\/p>\n This donation page has a couple of unique elements, such as a catchy slogan and a flexible donation schedule.<\/p>\nHow to Make a Donation Page in 15 Simple Steps<\/h2>\n
1. Choose a Project Owner<\/h3>\n
2. Choose Your Fundraising Software<\/h3>\n
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3. Choose Your Donor CRM<\/h3>\n
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4. Wireframe or Draw Out Your Page<\/h3>\n
5. Gather Your Page Components<\/h3>\n
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6. Get Internal Feedback<\/h3>\n
7. Make Changes (and Make it Simple!)<\/h3>\n
8. Finalize Your Collateral<\/h3>\n
9. Build Your Page<\/h3>\n
10. Check for the Must-Haves<\/h3>\n
Mobile Responsiveness<\/h4>\n
Accessibility Standards<\/h4>\n
Secure Payments<\/h4>\n
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11. Add a “Donate” Button to Your Site<\/h3>\n
12. Add Tracking to Measure Success<\/h3>\n
13. Share on Your Marketing Channels<\/h3>\n
14. Ask Donors to Share<\/h3>\n
15. Watch other Nonprofits & Optimize!<\/h3>\n
What to Put On a GREAT Donation Page: 20 Best Practices<\/h2>\n
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How to Set Up a Donation Page in WildApricot<\/h2>\n
To upload a form to a page on your Wild Apricot website\u2026<\/h4>\n
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25+ Examples of Donation Pages to Fire Up Your Fundraising<\/h2>\n
1.\u00a0The Australian Thyroid Foundation<\/a><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s done well:<\/h4>\n
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What\u2019s missing:<\/h4>\n
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2.\u00a0Lakeside Hope House<\/a><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s done well:<\/h4>\n
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What\u2019s missing:<\/h4>\n
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3.\u00a0American Dance Therapy Association<\/a><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s done well:<\/h4>\n
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What\u2019s missing:<\/h4>\n
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4.\u00a0Good Shepherd Centres<\/a><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s done well:<\/h4>\n
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What\u2019s missing:<\/h4>\n
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5.\u00a0Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation\u00a0<\/a><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s done well:<\/h4>\n
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What\u2019s missing:<\/h4>\n
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6.\u00a0Change for Children<\/a><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s done well:<\/h4>\n
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7.\u00a0Friends at Your Metro Animal Shelter\u00a0<\/a><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s done well:<\/h4>\n
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8.\u00a0CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions<\/a><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s done well:<\/h4>\n
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9.\u00a0Forsyth Humane Society\u00a0<\/a><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s done well:<\/h4>\n
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10.\u00a0Rancho Santa Fe Women\u2019s Fund\u00a0<\/a><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s done well:<\/h4>\n
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11.\u00a0International Rescue Committee<\/a><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s done well:<\/h4>\n
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12.\u00a0Families Forward<\/a><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s done well:<\/h4>\n
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13.\u00a0Mano a Mano<\/a><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s done well:<\/h4>\n
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