Anjana is a front-end developer and managing technical infrastructure for IWWOF. She aims to bring all IWWOF’s entrepreneurs to one platform so that members of the community can enjoy the benefits and support each other in their ventures.
“We are a vibrant community of women from around the world living in Finland. Our core mission is to empower and support each other through our shared work experiences and ambitions. We want to make everyone feel included and facilitate their integration in Finland. We have grown of 9000+ members on our Facebook group and it continues to grow fast. Join us today and let's make Finland a more inclusive country.” - https://iwwof.com/
Anjana shared valuable insights with us during an interview, forming the basis for this article. At DigiUp, we appreciate her contribution and the opportunity to share this information with other NGOs. Frequently, website updates have been a common question in the multicultural NGO field, along with the perpetual challenge of securing finances. If your organization is contemplating collecting donations online, this article offers excellent advice on where to begin and what aspects to consider. Don’t miss the checklist of where to start at the end of the article.
The following content is based on an interview with Anjana.
Why did you think about collecting donations?
We have 10,000 supportive members, and we organize multiple events on a completely voluntary basis. These events, aimed at serving our many members, incur costs. Sometimes, when you help someone and it changes their life, they want to be involved. If they can't contribute their time, they are eager to participate by making a financial contribution as well. Despite applying for some funding, it hasn’t been sufficient, so we came up with the idea of having a donation button. We first had to apply for permission to collect donations.
How did you decide on the system for collecting donations?
The concept of a simple donation button was always in my mind. The idea for implementing it online is because it is easy for people to visit the link and pay whatever amount they desire instead of creating an event and then asking people to donate. So, we decided to have a flexible amount that doners can choose, like from 1€,10€ to 100€.
IWWOF is using Stripe, why did you decide to use this service?
In considering payment options, I explored both PayPal and Stripe due to their acceptance of international transfers. Additionally, both platforms do not impose fees unless transactions are made. Stripe was a better choice for IWWOF because it proved to be slightly less expensive than PayPal and offered a more user-friendly interface.
While Mobile Pay is a good option, as it allows for easy integration of codes or QR codes on websites or event pages, it wasn't suitable for us as we lacked a dedicated phone number for the organization. This is why we decided to go for Stripe, ensuring that donations go directly to the organization's account.
How long did it take for you to set up Stripe and add a donation button to the website?
It can take maybe 2 to 3 days, depending on the skills and knowledge of people. If you're not selling products but merely adding a button with a link to donate, the implementation is less challenging.
Setting up the gateway might take a while if someone is new to the terms. To clarify, Stripe acts as a bridge, facilitating a solution where people can enter their card details and the desired donation amount. Once I configured the Stripe payment system as a link, I conducted tests – first to check if I could make a payment and then from the admin side to ensure refund capabilities. Testing is crucial, especially to examine how refunds work, as someone might accidentally input an extra zero when donating.
After obtaining the Stripe link, the final step is to add the link to the button. Also, keep in mind the design of your website; the donation button should have a distinct appearance from other buttons to avoid confusion, such as with the newsletter sign-up button.
Any advice to other organizations planning to add a similar donation system?
I would like to emphasize that Stripe account credentials should not be shared widely, given that the organization is handling financial matters. So, if other organizations are considering implementing a similar system, I recommend creating an agreement outlining the terms of use and ensuring clarity on who has access to these credentials. Keeping these credentials secure is very important.
How has this donation button helped in running IWWOF?
When we launched the donation system, we received some, which is valuable for inviting speakers and organizing on-location events. Additionally, these have assisted in covering expenses such as renewing the website domain. So, donations have helped us sustain our activities and enhance the quality of events. That’s why I recommend that every organization should have a donation button in order to serve their own target audiences. I also advise organizations to have a website where all the information is collected and then add a donation button, making the organization’s journey and events visible to visitors.
2. The steps below with screenshots show the test version of how to set up a payment link on Stripe:
Get started with setting up the payment link.
Select a product type and then click add a new product.
Describe your product type, such as donations or membership fees. Make sure to check the preview.
IWWOF's experience in setting up a donation system, guided by Technical Lead Anjana, can offer practical insights for other NGOs dealing with financial challenges to foster a culture of sustainable operations. Anjana's tips on choosing Stripe, the straightforward integration process, and the practical use of a donation button have not only helped IWWOF support their communities but also provided a helpful guide for organizations with similar challenges.
Below is a checklist for those considering a similar donation system, aiding in creating a clear plan.
For more information on creating a payment link and details about fees charged for transactions, click the button below.
Checklist for setting up and collecting donations online
- Get permission to collect donations. Read more about this topic from Association Resource Library of Järjestöhautomo.
- Make a bank account for your organization.
- Do your research on what payment gateways are most suitable for your organization and check if they have pricing for NGOs. In case you need to contact them, it can take a longer time to receive the approval. Check also what language options they provide, so it services your target audience.
- Mobile pay is one option, however, keep in mind that you would need a phone number and a bank account that is connected with it.
- PayPal and Stripe can be good options for accepting international transfers.
- If you are not familiar with technical terms, be aware that the process of setting up can take longer than expected. Make sure to reserve enough time.
- (Recommended) Create a website if your organization doesn’t now have one.
- Consider data protection and security of credentials by following up who has access to them.
- If you have a website, make sure that information is up-to-date and the design of the donation button is distinct from other elements on your website.
