Online donations are essential for many nonprofits. In fact, online giving grew by 12.1% to recent studies, with nonprofits receiving 28% of total donations online.
Contact Form 7 is a popular WordPress plugin for creating forms. However, it doesn’t offer a built-in donation feature. The good news? You can easily turn Contact Form 7 into a donation form with a third-party plugin.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to use Contact Form 7 to create a seamless donation experience for your supporters. Let’s dive in and make giving easier for everyone!
Table of Contents
What is a Donation Form?
A donation form is an online tool used by nonprofits, charities, or organizations to collect financial contributions. It allows donors to easily submit their details, choose a donation amount, and select a payment method.
Donation forms are designed to be simple, secure, and user-friendly, ensuring a smooth experience for both the donor and the organization.
They are often integrated with payment gateways to process transactions and can include options like one-time or recurring donations, making it easier for supporters to give at any time.
Why Donation Form is Important & Useful?
A donation form is crucial for any organization looking to raise funds online. It streamlines the donation process and ensures a secure, easy experience for both donors and recipients.
- Convenience for Donors: A donation form makes it simple for supporters to give at any time, from anywhere. Donors can quickly fill out their information and contribute with just a few clicks, without needing to visit a physical location.
- Increased Donations: By providing a seamless online giving experience, donation forms encourage more people to contribute. Clear call-to-action buttons and simple payment options can lead to higher conversion rates.
- Security and Trust: Donation forms integrated with trusted payment gateways ensure that donor information is processed securely. This builds trust with supporters, reassuring them that their contributions are safe.
- Automated Record Keeping: With online donation forms, organizations can automatically capture and store donor information. This makes it easier to track donations, generate receipts, and manage donor relationships.
- Customizable Options: Donation forms can be customized to fit the specific needs of an organization. You can offer different donation amounts, recurring donation options, and even fund-specific campaigns.
- Global Reach: Unlike traditional fundraising methods, donation forms allow you to collect donations from a global audience, increasing your reach and potential donor base.
- Cost-Effective: Using an online donation form is more affordable than traditional fundraising methods, such as hosting events or sending physical mail. It reduces overhead costs while expanding your fundraising efforts.
Traditional Fundraising Method vs Donation Form
Traditional fundraising methods, like events and direct mail campaigns, have long been used to raise money for causes. However, with the rise of digital tools, donation forms offer a modern, efficient alternative.
| Criteria | Traditional Fundraising Method | Donation Form |
|---|---|---|
| Convenience | Often requires in-person meetings or phone calls. | Accessible online 24/7, from anywhere. |
| Speed | Can take time to organize events or meet with potential donors. | Instant submission of donations. |
| Reach | Limited by geography and personal network. | Global reach; donors from anywhere can contribute. |
| Donor Experience | May involve paperwork, checks, and physical efforts. | Easy, user-friendly online process. |
| Cost | Requires expenses for events, venue, staff, and materials. | Minimal fees for processing; no physical event costs. |
| Data Management | Hard to track donations without manual effort. | Automated tracking and easy integration with CRM systems. |
| Security | Prone to errors in processing checks or cash. | Secure online payment methods with encryption. |
| Follow-up & Engagement | In-person or manual communication for follow-ups. | Easy to send automated thank you notes and updates. |
| Customization | Limited ability to personalize campaigns. | Flexible design, personalized messages, and options. |
| Transparency | Donor info may be lost or unclear. | Clear, real-time donation status and records. |
Must-have Plugins to Create Donation Form Using Contact Form 7
How to Create Donation Form Using Contact Form 7?
Creating a donation form with Contact Form 7 requires adding a third-party plugin to extend its functionality. In this section, we’ll guide you step-by-step on how to build a fully functional donation form using Contact Form 7.
Enable Form Generator
You must enable the Form Generator feature to create a donation form using Contact Form 7. To do that, follow the below steps:
- Navigate to the Contact Form 7 menu.
- Essential Addons.
- From the Features tab enable the Form Generator. Note: enable all fields & features to let the form work without any missing fields.
Setup Donation Form
After enabling the Form Generator, now you can generate pre-designed donation forms. To understand how to generate donation forms, follow the below steps.
- Navigate to any existing form or create a new one.
- Click on the Form Generator button. A new popup will appear.
- Select Form from the Type section.
- Search for the Donation Form and select online donation form (you will discover other donation forms as well).
- Click the Generate button to generate the selected form.
- Click the Copy button to copy the generated form or the Insert button to insert the generated form inside the form editor.
Output
Conclusion
creating a donation form with Contact Form 7 is a simple yet effective way to enhance your website’s fundraising capabilities.
By integrating a third-party plugin, you can easily transform Contact Form 7 into a powerful tool for accepting donations securely and efficiently.
Whether you’re raising funds for a nonprofit or a personal cause, a well-designed donation form helps streamline the process, making it easier for supporters to give and for you to manage contributions.
With the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be ready to set up your donation form and start generating support for your cause today.