How to Make My Own Donation Web Site for Free

Establish a website to attract donations.

Donations are a positive way to help a needy person and your community. While setting up a local food or clothing drive is one way of donating to others, setting up your own free donation site is a another alternative. Making your own donation web site for free will allow you to draw beyond your local community and increase the amount of donations you are able to attract.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Internet access
• Bank account
• PayPal account
• Accountant (optional)
• Board of advisors
• Incorporation papers

Instructions

1. Decide what type of free donation website you want to establish. Do you want to attract donations of food, clothing or money? Keep in mind what each type of donation will be involve. Food donations will require only non-perishable items to be sent to a street address. Clothing will also require a street address. The most common form of donation websites are for money donations.

2. Start your website. Choose a free Web hosting site such as www.weebly.com or www.webs.com.

3. Register your domain name and begin designing your website. Include what your organization is about, include relevant pictures, videos and articles. Establish the needs for donations. Who are the recipients? Why are they needy? What is the call to action -- what the needs are? How are the donations administered? Donors are wary -- even suspicious -- about giving funds via the Web. Do you have an independent board to oversee donations?

4. Seek advice from a certified public accountant or other financial advisor on how to manage your fund. Establish oversight and auditing by independent board members or an outside accountant. If you are establishing a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, you must meet IRS and state requirements. You will need to incorporate if you do not have an existing business. No matter what your structure, describe the financial oversight clearly on your website.

5. Sign up for an account with PayPal. Register for a "Donate Now" button by going to merchant services, choose the "Donate" link and choose the size and look of your donate button. You must provide bank information to PayPal.

6. Add your PayPal donate button to your free donation website and your visitors are now able to donate to your cause. Be sure you publish frequent updates. If you have a success story, report this on your website. Share your success story with local newspapers, broadcast stations, magazines and other media.

References

• Fundraising 123: How to start a website for your organization