Helping the less fortunate is something everyone should aspire to do, but not everyone is in a position to do so. For those who are, a quick and easy way to help out is to create a charitable website where people can donate to help out your cause.
If you are interested in starting up a website where people can donate to your charity, here are a few guidelines to help you get started.
Explain What the Charity is About
People are less inclined to donate to charity if they don’t know what exactly they are spending their money on. The first thing you should do is create a mission statement summarizing what your charity is all about.
Create a Template
If you aren’t sure about what you want your website to look like, and easy solution is to check out similar websites to get an idea of what your page should look like. This doesn’t mean you should copy the other websites, instead, you should take the things you like about the sites you visit and implement them on your site. A website like gofundme.com is a good place to start.
Let Donors Know How Their Money Helps
Transparency is very important when it comes to charities because there have been a lot of cases where money earmarked for charity ended up in the wrong places. You can put the minds of your donors at peace by letting them know exactly how the money they donated is spent, which shows them how much of a difference they are making, and the fact that they know they are making a difference will make them want to donate more to the cause or to another cause you might have.
Provide Photos if Possible
If you are running a charity for needy people or animals, providing photos of the people or animals is a very good idea because it lets your donors see the lives that they are improving. Personal communications from those being helped is also a good idea.
Have a Way to Keep Donors Informed
People that donate to charities usually care about what is going on, which is why it is a good idea to keep them informed of any progress being made. An easy way to do this is by having them fill out a sign up sheet on your website and providing you with their email addresses. Having their information allows you to send them a periodic newsletter that contains updates on the progress your charity is making.
Have a Funding Goal
Having a monetary goal you want to achieve for your charity is a good idea because it lets people know how much money you need, and can also save you a lot of time if a wealthy donor decides to singlehandedly meet the goal.
Let Donors Know How Much You Have Raised
In the spirit of transparency that was mentioned earlier. Letting donors know how much you have raised is a good idea because it shows them that you are being upfront about the donations you have received, and also lets them know how useful they have been to your campaign.
Have a Donate Button on Your Page
The fastest way to receive donations is by having people send donations through your website. This eliminates having to wait for the mail and having to go deposit checks into your account. You can easily sign up for a PayPal or Venmo account so people can make their donations online.
