How to set up a donation site? Setting up a secure, mobile-friendly and payment infrastructure donation site in 2025 is easy. You can find all the steps in this guide.
How to Set Up a Donation Site?
In 2025, building a donation site has become very accessible even for non-technical people. With open-source content management systems like WordPress, you can create a professional, mobile-friendly and secure donation platform in a matter of days. In these systems, donations can be received via credit card, wire transfer/EFT and mobile payment methods, while features such as volunteer forms, automatic thank you emails and social media integrations can be easily added to build strong ties with supporters.
Here are the basic steps to set up a donation site:
Identify your purpose and target audience.
Get a domain name and reliable hosting.
Install WordPress.
Design your site by choosing a compatible theme.
Set up the payment system with WooCommerce and donation plugins.
Ensure security and GDPR compliance.
Support with SEO, social media and email notifications.
In the remainder of this guide, we'll walk you through each step in detail and with up-to-date information on how you can build a powerful donation platform from scratch for 2025.
Define Your Purpose: Why Are You Building a Donation Site?
First of all, clarify the purpose of your site:
Are you going to run a specific charity campaign?
Are you collecting donations on behalf of an association or foundation?
Are you aiming for ongoing funding?
Will you focus on specific themes such as education, health, shelter, disaster relief?
The answer to these questions will determine everything from your site architecture to your content.
How to Build an Online Donation Site | 2025?
Domain Name and Hosting Selection
For your donation site reliable, short, memorable specify a domain name. Example: yardimvakfi.org, bagisla.org, supportol.net
Hosting Advice:
Fast and secure hosting optimized for NGOs is recommended.
Prefer a server located in Turkey (in terms of KVKK & speed)
Choose a WordPress compatible hosting package.
Donation Website Setup with WordPress
In 2025, donation sites are still the easiest and most flexible solution WordPress is.
Why WordPress?
Open source and free
Too many donation themes and plugins
Mobile compatible (responsive)
SEO friendly
Payment infrastructure can be easily integrated with WooCommerce
Theme and Design Selection
Some 2025 compatible theme suggestions that you can use with peace of mind:
Astra - Fast and compatible with donation plugins
Charity Foundation - Special donation theme
Kadence - Light and modern
Salient or Divi - For those who want impressive designs
Things to consider when choosing a theme:
Mobile compatible
Fast loading (Core Web Vitals compliance)
Easy customizability
RTL and multilingual support (optional)
Setup Payment Infrastructure to Receive Donations
The most frequently used payment systems in Turkey:
iyzico
PayTR
Shopier
Param POS
Sipay
With these infrastructures via WordPress/WooCommerce credit card, money order/EFT, mobile payment You can receive donations through channels such as.
Donation System Setup with WooCommerce:
Install the WooCommerce plugin.
Create donation packages as "products" (e.g. 100 TL, 250 TL, Donate As Much As You Want).
Install the payment plugin (iyzico WooCommerce, PayTR, etc.).
Donation reception is activated via the cart and payment page.
Forms, Volunteer Applications and Contact
You should also build strong infrastructures for interactions other than donations:
WPForms / Contact Form 7 → Volunteer application, contact forms
FluentCRM → For Mail campaigns
MailPoet → Automatic thank you emails, post-donation notifications
Safety and Transparency
The most important element for a fundraising site is trust.
Always use an SSL certificate (Let's Encrypt is free).
Prepare privacy policy and KVKK texts.
Add transparency reports to the site (how much was raised, what was done).
Protect forms against spam using Google Recaptcha.
SEO and Social Media Integration
Your donation site allows people to find it organically for SEO compatibility:
Use SEO plugins like Rank Math or Yoast
Create a blog section and produce regular content (aid stories, campaign summaries)
Activate social media buttons and sharing features
Provide effective link previews by adjusting Open Graph and Twitter Card settings
Mobile Compatibility and Accessibility
2025 yılı itibariyle sitenizin %80+ trafiği mobil cihazlardan geliyor olabilir.
Theme must be mobile compatible
Buttons should be large and tactile
Accessibility settings for the visually impaired (font enlargement, high contrast, etc.) can be added
Advanced Features
Donation with QR Code: Very effective for mobile campaigns
Subscription Donation System: Regular monthly support system
Reporting Panel: Donation tracking and Excel printouts
NFT Donations: Innovative solutions for targeting crypto communities
AI Chatbot: Answers and directs frequent questions as an assistant
Building Your Own Donation Site Is Easier Than You Think
By building your own donation site, you not only collect more donations, but also build a stronger bond with your community. You automate your donation system and move forward transparently.
If you are not technically savvy, you can have an active donation site within a week with professional support.
Bonus Ready System Alternatives
Popular ready-made platforms in 2025 for those who want to fundraise without knowing how to code:
Fonzip
Foniva
Donorbox
GiveWP
Shopify + Simple Donation Apps
However, these systems may have commission rates. It is more advantageous to build your own infrastructure for long-term brand building.
If you are looking for installation support according to your specific needs, POS Integrator we can help you integrate your payment infrastructures into your site.
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