Besides collecting donations, what WordPress tools do nonprofits need? Tim Sisson of InMotion Hosting gave this presentation at WordCamp Baltimore in 2015.
He is the head nerd for Special Operations Care Fund, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. He says “I’m just the nerd. I make it happen online.” Special Operations Care fund raised $750,000 online in their first year.
What is your mission?
“As a charity one of the first things you need to do is explain your mission. Your mission should captivate visitors.”
Having clarity right on the landing page and on the donation page is an important part of telling your story. Make sure your message is clear. A good tip is to ask a third-party to read your site and, in their own words, describe your organization.
Use an Online Donation Tool
Of course, we’re beyond flattered that Tim mentioned Give. He said, “Give makes it super simple.” Our core plugin is free and always will be. It allows you to use PayPal standard and offline donations, which are still used in many organizations.
We are proud to have recurring donations as an available add-on now. Read why we think every nonprofit should use them here.
You can learn more about us on this video.
Customize Your Receipts
“Branding your charity is important.”
You have a logo — use it. Give does make it easy to customize all of your donor correspondence so take advantage of the opportunity.
Customizing your donation receipts is easy. Read our documentation here.
Fundraising Events
Most nonprofits hold fundraising events several times throughout the year. Tim likes Events Manager Pro: “It allows you to load in locations.”
Allowing your donors to invite their friends, purchase tickets, and RSVP, is an important part of any nonprofit’s fundraising efforts. Face to face meetings gives your nonprofit organization humanity and connection.
E-commerce
“When we think about e-commerce it sounds great; we want to sell our stuff online. Should you sell your stuff online? Yes. It’s a no-brainer.”
But it can have downsides: tax, shipping, etc. Think about it as you choose which platform you use and which e-commerce plugin you use.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that we have a Woo Commerce plugin called Quick Checkout. Quick Checkout allows you to add value to your website’s shopping experience with faster options to checkout on your product and shop pages.
Email Marketing
“You need to regularly engage your supporters.”
Tim recommends MailChimp. It has a great pricing plan and MailChimp grows with you. Their Free Forever Plan says “Up to 2,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month.” That’s perfect for any nonprofit.
This includes events, donation requests, updates on donations, etc. Tim’s nonprofit does it on a weekly basis.
Contact Forms
“It’s a form of customer service. Make sure you check it regularly and answer emails.”
“Gravity forms does way more than contact forms. You can do so much with it. It’s free to start.” Of course, Gravity Forms is a big contender, but their not the only one. Caldera Forms, WP Forms, and Ninja Forms are also great tools.
Find a Champion
“Find somebody that is willing to do, donate, or volunteer for the cause — so you can get the work done.”
A champion can be inside your team, rolling up their sleeves and doing work. They can be your biggest supporter. Even better, a champion can be your biggest promoter. This is why charities often partner with celebrities. Well-known people often start their own foundations, too, like the Tim Tebow Foundation or the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
WordPress developers are known for giving back to their communities and passions by building sites pro-bono.
Thank Your Sponsors
Tim recommends mentioning your sponsors on your site, and taking advantage of their branding. View it as advertisement.
Everyone wants to be appreciated, no matter how big or how small their contribution is. Your donation page is the first and most prominent place to show your gratitude.
We agree with Tim. Check out our own tips on how to optimize your thank you page here.
Ask Questions
WordPress forums, happiness bars, and WordCamps are great ways to get help from people in the community. Meetups and Facebook groups are great, too.
Your turn
How will you make your nonprofit better? If you’re not part of a nonprofit, will you find one to help? Giving back is good for the soul.
Watch Tim Sisson’s presentation here:
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