The potential for harnessing the internet for fundraising has never been more profound. Increasingly, nonprofits are going online to fundraise and garner support.
At the center of this online movement is WordPress – a widely-used content management system that empowers individuals and organizations to create impactful websites. WordPress can be used to build any kind of website, without code and an easy-to-use interface. It’s no wonder it powers over 40% of all websites on the internet.
While a WordPress site can be used to raise money online, that’s just the start. In fact, you can turn a WordPress site into a complete fundraising platform by using a plugin like GiveWP. GiveWP allows you to accept donations through custom forms that you can embed onto your WordPress site. However, it doesn’t stop there. With GiveWP, you can have an entire fundraising management platform that can:
- Support multiple payment gateways
- Turn on recurring donation options
- Provide robust reporting with charts and key performance indicators
- Manage donor data to track history and payments
- Integrate with popular tools including Google Analytics, Mailchimp, WooCommerce, Constant Contact, and more
Let’s explore how a plugin like GiveWP turns a WordPress site into a complete fundraising management platform for your next campaign: from installation, customization, analytics, to reporting.
- Install and set up GiveWP
First, get WordPress! Once you have the basics down, you’ll install GiveWP as you would any other free WordPress plugin. From your WordPress admin dashboard, find “Plugins > Add New” and search for GiveWP in the directory. When you find it, choose “install,” and “activate.”
You can also download GiveWP for free on our site!
Once activated, you can connect GiveWP to Stripe or PayPal immediately without purchasing an add-on. If Stripe and PayPal don’t work in your country, or you prefer something else, we have a growing library of other payment gateways to choose from.
2. Create Unlimited, Unique, No-Code Campaigns
After you’ve set up a payment gateway, you can create your first campaign. You’ll start by adding a form, choosing a donation form template, customizing as you go. Make sure to set a donation goal that aligns with your campaign needs and that will inspire your community to help you reach it.
If you’re happy with your form, publish it! It’s ready to be used anywhere on your WordPress site. If you need more help creating a donation form with GiveWP, we have detailed documentation to guide you.
If you’re ready for a fully robust campaign, add-ons will expand the functionality of the GiveWP plugin. Here’s a quick look at some of our most popular add-ons:
- Peer-to-Peer allows you to open up your WordPress donation forms to your supporters. Your community can raise money for you in the traditional peer-to-peer style or through team fundraising.
- Recurring donations allow your donors to “set it and forget it” so a determined amount of money is donated each month without your donors having to lift a finger.
- Tributes allow donors to give to your cause “In honor of,” “In memory of,” or any dedication you prefer. You can also use Tributes to send eCards and mailable cards that your donors and their honorees will love.
- If you sell anything on your website using WooCommerce, you need Donation Upsells for WooCommerce. Folks can add a small donation to their purchase to provide more flexibility in donation options and another way for you to add to your donation total.
3. Integrate Analytics and Email Marketing
Next, to make sure your campaign is successful, you’ll need to implement email marketing and use analytics to your advantage. This will help you get your message out in front of more folks, as well as track how sucessful your message was.
For analytics, we recommend using Google Analytics 4, which GiveWP has full support for. With our GA4 Donation Tracking add-on, you’ll have even more data at your fingertips to understand how people experience your site. Analytics provide an opportunity for your nonprofit to stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape and effectively engage with supporters.
You can also use automated emails to send out reminders about your campaign. Providing updates and encouragement via emails can increase engagement and the likelihood to raise more money. When writing emails, think about what you want your audience to do and what the call-to-action in your email should be. Make sure the sense of urgency is appropriately communicated so folks feel compelled to give.
The GiveWP MailChimp add-on allows you to easily gather donor contact information when people give to your cause. Or, With the GiveWP Constant Contact Add-on, you can add an optional Constant Contact newsletter sign-up checkbox to each donation form. The add-on also integrates with any existing Constant Contact account, if you have one, and is customizable on global and per-form levels.
4. Use Robust Reporting Features
None of these WordPress donation plugin features work successfully without a strong reporting backbone. The good thing is that it can all be done with your GiveWP fundraising platform.
After you’ve received a few online donations, you can view your fundraising report through the admin dashboard on your WordPress site. Your fundraising report includes total income, average donation amount, number of donors, and number of refunds. Reports include multiple styles of charts, graphs, and lists with data breakdowns that help you gain a more granular understanding of your online donation performance.
With annual receipts added on, your donors can access yearly tax-deducible receipts in a downloadable PDF format. Install and activate in just a few minutes, and then every donor will see this report in their dashboard.
Use these reporting features to your advantage to see how you can grow robust campaigns over time and track performance!
Conclusion
By harnessing the power of your WordPress website, you can not only raise funds for your cause, but you can also build a lasting connection with your audience. By integrating a plugin like GiveWP, you can turn a WordPress site into a complete platform, with all the forms, analytics, and reporting features you need to be successful.
Remember, you’re not just creating a fundraising platform – you’re creating a force for positive change in the world. Your WordPress website can become a catalyst for mobilizing support, driving impact, and turning your vision for a better future into a reality.
