How to Set Up a Fundraiser Webpage

1. Obtain an '.org' website domain name. The 'org' domain name was created specifically for nonprofit organizations.

2. Set up your website with five main pages: homepage, about the cause/charity, goals and mission, list of supporters, and make a donation. Create a menu at the top of left-hand side of the page that lists all of these pages with links.

3. Write a summary of your charitable cause on the homepage. Be sure to include the full name of the organization and a few photos pertaining to the charity. Place a counter on the front page of your fund-raising page to keep track of your fund-raising goal and money raised to date.

4. Discuss the charity for which you are fund raising in more detail on your 'about the cause' page. Talk about the people or animals who will benefit from the donations. If this is a fund-raiser for a special event, such as a walk-a-thon, be sure to give clear details about the date, time and location of the event on both the 'about the cause' and the homepage.

5. Clarify your fund-raising goal on the 'goals and mission' page of the website. List the amount of money that you need to raise and the date by which it needs to be received. If the charity has a mission statement, include it on this page.

6. Provide a running list of the people and companies who have supported your charity on a separate page. This will reward the givers and help motivate others to give. You can highlight people who give over a certain amount and set up a gold, silver and platinum giver level. Include links to the websites of companies that donate to the cause.

7. Create a 'make a donation' page to give information on how the viewer can donate funds. Provide a link to an online payment service or a mailing address to send checks and money orders. Be sure to clarify the giver levels that you defined in the last step.

8. Provide web visitors with proof of your non-profit status on both the home page and the 'about the cause' page with a link to either the IRS determination letter that you received or a link to your state's list of charitable organizations. (When you file your taxes as a nonprofit, your status is listed with the state.) You can also join a trusted state association (search the National Council of Non-Profits state database at councilofnonprofits.org/salocator) that lists all certified non-profits.

A visitor can only deduct a donation made with your site on his taxes if you have 501(c)3 status.

Be sure to explain to your visitors how you will be able to provide a receipt to prove the donation. The PayPal or other online receipt should be enough proof, as long as you do have 501(c)3 status.

9. Set up a blog on the website to communicate with your viewers and give them updates about your fund-raising progress. You can also make the blog your homepage and update visitors about your progress regularly.