How to Make a Donation Website

1. Sign up for a web host and domain service. Choose a domain name that is directly associated with your purpose for requesting donations so that it will be more easily located and your visitors will understand what the site is about immediately. For instance, if you are collecting money for your little league team, littleleaguedonations.com would be an ideal choice. Expect to pay anywhere between $5 to $20 per month on your hosting service.
2. Sign up for a PayPal account. This service will allow you to accept donations online without paying an upfront or monthly fee. You will pay a per transaction fee for each donation that you accept. You will also be able to generate PayPal 'Donate Now' buttons automatically using your account.
3. Create three main HTML web pages for the site: 'Homepage,' 'About the Cause,' and 'Donate Now.'
4. Start by creating your donation homepage, which will contain all of the links to your other pages. The homepage should have about 350 words about your company or yourself, and the reason why you are asking for donations.
5. Include a few photos related to the cause on the homepage. Create a side or top menu bar with links to all of the main pages of your site. In addition to the item on the menu, include a large, prominently displayed brightly colored button on the front page that says 'Donate Now.'
6. Write about your cause or purpose for asking for donations on the 'About the Cause' page. Provide a detailed background on your organization or yourself to assure the potential contributor that your cause is legitimate and worthy.
7. Create your 'Donate Now' page. Tell the reader again why you need this donation and where the money will go. You will place another 'Donate Now' link on this page --- this time one that is generated by PayPal to take the visitor to the PayPal site to complete the donation.