![\"I](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/create-a-donor-portal-in-wordpress-in-post.png\")
<\/figure>\nWhy Create a Donor Portal in WordPress?<\/h4>\n
A donor portal offers your supporters a secure, convenient space on your nonprofit website<\/a> to manage their own donations \u2013 anytime they want.<\/p>\n Instead of reaching out for updates or paperwork, donors can simply log in to:<\/p>\n And for you and your team, it means less time spent on admin tasks like resending receipts or updating records by hand.<\/p>\n Now that you know why a donor portal matters, let\u2019s walk through how to set one up using the Charitable plugin. <\/p>\n Here\u2019s everything I\u2019ll cover in this guide:<\/p>\n Before you can build a donor dashboard, you\u2019ll need the right tool, and that\u2019s where Charitable<\/a> comes in.<\/p>\n Charitable\u00a0is the best donation and fundraising plugin for WordPress<\/a>. It comes with a built-in donor dashboard, which gives your supporters an easy, secure way to view their giving history, manage recurring donations, and update their information.<\/p>\n Our team has explored all of its features, and you can learn more about it in our Charitable review<\/a>.<\/p>\n To get started, you\u2019ll need a Charitable account. On the Charitable website<\/a>, go ahead and click \u2018Get Charitable Now.\u2019<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcdd<\/strong> Note:<\/strong> Charitable has a free version<\/a> for creating simple donation forms. However, to build the donor portal as shown in this guide, you will need at least the Basic plan that includes the Donor Dashboard feature.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n After signing up, you\u2019ll find the plugin\u2019s zip file and license key in your Charitable account. Be sure to download the file, copy the key, and keep it somewhere safe.<\/p>\n The Charitable Pro plugin works as an extension of the free core plugin, so we\u2019ll need to install that from your WordPress dashboard<\/a>.<\/p>\n To do that, let\u2019s head over to Plugins \u00bb Add New<\/strong> Plugin<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Then, go ahead and use the search bar to look for the Charitable plugin.<\/p>\n In the search result, simply click\u00a0\u2018Install Now\u2019 and then\u00a0\u2018Activate.\u2019<\/p>\n After activating the plugin, you\u2019ll need to install your Charitable Pro version.<\/p>\n On this page, go ahead and click the \u2018Upload Plugin\u2019 button, select the zip file from your local computer, and click \u2018Install Now.\u2019<\/p>\n Then click the \u2018Activate\u2019 button when it appears. If you need help, then you can see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now, you can enter your license key to unlock all the premium features that come with your chosen plan.<\/p>\n You can go to\u00a0Charitable <\/strong><\/strong>\u00bb<\/strong> Settings <\/strong>\u00bb<\/strong> License, paste it into the \u2018License Key\u2019 field, and click the \u2018Verify Key\u2019 button.<\/p>\n With that done, you\u2019re ready to move on and start building your donor dashboard.<\/p>\n Now that Charitable is set up on your WordPress website<\/a>, it\u2019s time to enable the built-in Donor Dashboard feature. This handy dashboard gives every donor a secure, private spot where they can check their donation history, update personal information, and manage any recurring gifts.<\/p>\n In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Charitable \u00bb Settings \u00bb Donors<\/strong> and look for the option that says\u00a0\u2018Enable Donor Dashboard.\u2019<\/p>\n Just toggle that switch, and your donors will now have access to their very own dashboard as soon as they sign up<\/a>.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve enabled the Donor Dashboard, you\u2019ll unlock a bunch of configuration options to show or hide fields from your donor portal.<\/p>\n In the\u00a0\u2018Overview\u2019\u00a0section, you can decide if you want to display:<\/p>\n Let\u2019s say you want donors to see all their giving stats at a glance. You can simply check all these boxes so everything shows up in their dashboard.<\/p>\n After that, you can decide whether donors can update contact and social details, like:<\/p>\n You can enable any combination, but I recommend turning on all three to give donors more flexibility.<\/p>\n Next, you can choose exactly which tabs and information appear for your supporters. <\/p>\n Here are the main options:<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what it might look like with everything enabled:<\/p>\n Once you\u2019re happy with your customizations, don\u2019t forget to hit \u2018Save Changes\u2019 to lock in your donor dashboard settings.<\/p>\n At this point, your donor dashboard page should be ready. This is because Charitable sets it up for you automatically.<\/p>\n But<\/strong> if you\u2019d like to have a bit more control over how things look, it\u2019s easy to set up your own custom page<\/a>.<\/p>\n This optional step is great if you want to add a personalized welcome message, an image slider<\/a> from your recent campaigns, or a special thank you video.<\/p>\n To do this, you can go to\u00a0Pages <\/strong>\u00bb<\/strong> Add New from your WordPress admin area<\/a>.<\/p>\n On the next screen, you can write the page title. Something like \u201cDonor Dashboard,\u201d \u201cGiving Portal,\u201d or \u201cMy Giving\u201d works well.<\/p>\n Then, you can click the \u2018+\u2019 button to add the shortcode<\/a> block. Simply use the search feature to quickly find it.<\/p>\n After that, simply add this shortcode to the page:\u00a0 \ud83e\uddd1\u200d\ud83d\udcbb<\/strong> Pro Tip:<\/strong> Don\u2019t worry if the shortcode doesn\u2019t show up in the content editor<\/a> \u2013 it will still work. Just use the \u2018Preview\u2019 feature to see how the page will look to your website visitors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Once you\u2019ve pasted in the shortcode, you can customize the page as you like.<\/p>\n For example, you could add a brief description to provide context. You might also want to add images, galleries<\/a>, or carousels to showcase your nonprofit\u2019s campaigns.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re happy with how it looks, hit\u00a0\u2018Save\u2019 or \u2018Publish\u2019\u00a0to make your new page live.<\/p>\n After publishing, there\u2019s just one more quick step.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s head back to\u00a0Charitable <\/strong>\u00bb<\/strong> Settings \u00bb<\/strong> General \u00bb<\/strong> Pages to set your custom page to replace Charitable\u2019s automatically generated donor page.<\/p>\n Here, you\u2019ll want to scroll down the panel to the \u2018Donor Dashboard Page\u2019 section.<\/p>\n Simply use the dropdown menu to select the custom page you just created.<\/p>\n That\u2019s it!<\/p>\n Now you have a dedicated donor portal on your nonprofit WordPress site<\/a>. Your supporters can visit it any time to manage their giving.<\/p>\n Before you share your new donor dashboard with supporters, it\u2019s always smart to test the portal yourself.<\/p>\n By logging in as a test donor, you can see exactly what your supporters will experience and make sure everything works smoothly.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what to check in your donor portal:<\/p>\n You can just move through each menu using the navigation tabs under the \u2018Overview\u2019 section.<\/p>\n \u270b<\/strong> Disclaimer:<\/strong> The display might be different depending on your active WordPress theme. I used the Sydney<\/a> theme on my test site, and the navigation uses the tab format, which I found very intuitive. But some themes use a dropdown instead.<\/p>\n For more picks, see our roundup of the best WordPress themes for nonprofits<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n This process gives you a chance to spot anything confusing and make improvements. That way, everyone\u2019s experience is as smooth as possible from the very beginning.<\/p>\n Once your donor dashboard is set up, you\u2019re already a step ahead in building trust<\/a> with your supporters.<\/p>\n But if you\u2019re hoping to boost your donations even more, it\u2019s worth taking a closer look at your donation form<\/a> itself. Here are some proven donation form best practices to help you grow your nonprofit:<\/p>\n If you\u2019d like a full walkthrough (with examples) on optimizing your donation form, check out our full guide on the top donation form best practices to boost donations<\/a> in WordPress.<\/p>\n Setting up a donor portal might seem overwhelming at first, but once you know the basics, it\u2019s pretty straightforward. <\/p>\n Here are answers to some common questions:<\/p>\n How do I create a donation page in WordPress?<\/strong><\/p>\n You can easily create a donation page by installing a WordPress donation plugin<\/a> like Charitable. Once it\u2019s set up, you can add a donation form to any page in just a few clicks.<\/p>\n Does Charitable include a donor portal?<\/strong><\/p>\n Yes! Charitable comes with a built-in Donor Dashboard, making it easy to build your donor portal. When you enable this feature, donors get access to their own secure area where they can view their giving history, manage their information, and more.<\/p>\n Can donors manage their recurring donations?<\/strong><\/p>\n Yes, they can! The Charitable Pro plans include a Recurring Donations addon. Once you enable it, supporters can easily manage, update, or cancel their recurring donations<\/a> right from their personal dashboard.<\/p>\n Do donors automatically get an account?<\/strong><\/p>\n It depends on the donation plugin you use. Charitable, for example, gives donors the option to create one either while making a donation or afterward. You can encourage them to sign up by including a link in your donation confirmation email or thank-you page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Does Charitable allow donors to download receipts for taxes?<\/strong><\/p>\n The Charitable plugin automatically generates PDF receipts for each donation. Donors can log in, view their donation history, and download receipts for their records or for tax purposes at any time.<\/p>\n Do I still need to email receipts manually?<\/strong><\/p>\n Nope, if you use Charitable, as it handles this for you. Receipts are automatically sent to donors by email and are always available for download in their dashboard.<\/p>\n What if I want a member portal instead of a donor portal?<\/strong><\/p>\n If you need a member portal with things like membership levels, exclusive content<\/a>, or new member registrations, you might need a dedicated membership plugin<\/a> instead. Some organizations decide to use both a donor portal for giving and a separate member portal for managing memberships<\/a>.<\/p>\n I hope this guide has helped you build a donor portal for your nonprofit WordPress website. <\/p>\n If you found this helpful, then you might want to check out our other guides on:<\/p>\n If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our\u00a0YouTube Channel<\/a>\u00a0for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n The post I Created a Donor Portal in WordPress in Just 15 Minutes (No Coding)<\/a> first appeared on WPBeginner<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you\u2019ve ever spent time resending donation receipts, updating donor information, or fixing issues with recurring gifts, then you know how quickly these tasks can pile up for a nonprofit. Plus, it can be frustrating for your supporters who have to wait for updates or paperwork. A donor portal can change all that. With just […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1078,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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Step 1: Install and Activate the Charitable Plugin<\/h4>\n
![\"Charitable's](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/charitable-homepage.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/wp-plugins-addnew.png\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Installing](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/admin-plugins-addnew-charitable.png\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Uploading](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/admin-plugins-addnew-charitable-uploadplugin.png\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Adding](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/wpadmin-charitable-settings.png\")
<\/figure>\nStep 2: Enable the Donor Dashboard in Charitable<\/h4>\n
![\"Enabling](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/admin-charitable-setting-donor-enabledonordashboard.png\")
<\/figure>\nStep 3: Customize Your Charitable Donor Dashboard<\/h4>\n
\n
![\"Overview](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/admin-charitable-setting-donordashboard-overview.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n
![\"Address,](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/admin-charitable-setting-donordashboard-addressandsocials.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n
![\"Profile,](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/admin-charitable-setting-donordashboard-more.png\")
<\/figure>\nStep 4: Create a Donor Portal Page (Optional)<\/h4>\n
![\"Add](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/admin-pages-addnew.png\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Adding](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/editor-addblock-shortcode.png\")
<\/figure>\n[charitable_donor_dashboard]<\/code>.<\/p>\n![\"Adding](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/editor-addblock-shortcode-charitabledonordashboard.png\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Customizing](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/editor-addblock-customizing-donordashboard-page.png\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Page](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/admin-charitable-setting-page.png\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Choose](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/admin-charitable-setting-page-donorportalpage.png\")
<\/figure>\nStep 5: Preview the Dashboard as a Donor<\/h4>\n
![\"Live](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/live-charitable-givingportal.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n
![\"Donor](\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/live-charitable-givingportal-navigation.png\")
<\/figure>\nBonus Donation Form Best Practices to Boost Donations<\/h4>\n
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FAQs About Creating a Donor Portal in WordPress<\/h4>\n
Keep Exploring: How to Grow Your Nonprofit WordPress Website<\/h4>\n
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