Master the Art of Recurring Donations: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Forms in WordPress

Are you looking to enhance your organization’s recurring donations? Many nonprofits express that increasing reliable support is a primary goal. Implementing a recurring donation form on your WordPress website is an excellent strategy to accomplish this.

By setting up a recurring donation form, you offer donors a simple way to continuously support your mission. This approach enables your organization to secure steady funding, which is essential for effective budget planning and executing long-term initiatives.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of creating a recurring donation form in WordPress.

What Are the Benefits of Creating a Recurring Donation Form in WordPress?

Recurring donations are regular contributions made by supporters to sustain a nonprofit organization or cause.

Rather than making a one-time donation, supporters can choose to set up automatic payments at designated intervals, such as weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually.

In the realm of nonprofit organizations, your donors are essential to your mission. While one-time donations are beneficial, they may not provide the reliable funding necessary for your operations.

Recurring donations offer a consistent revenue stream, allowing you to effectively budget and allocate your financial resources. This enables you to strategically plan your marketing initiatives or utilize funds to support those in need.

Additionally, recurring donations enhance convenience for donors. They can set up automatic payments without the need to manually initiate each transaction. Many donors might forget to make a contribution, so a recurring donation form allows them to opt-in, and the payment processor will automatically charge their card.

This approach also adds an element of gamification to donations. For instance, you could establish a membership site using a plugin like MemberPress. The more donors contribute, the greater the rewards they can earn. You might implement a leaderboard where top contributors are recognized as VIP guests at events and receive special perks.

In this guide, we will explore three different methods to create a recurring donation form in WordPress. Feel free to use the links below to navigate to each method.

How to Create a Recurring Donation Form in WordPress Using Charitable

The most effective way to begin accepting recurring donations is by using the Charitable plugin.

Charitable is one of the most reliable plugins for non-profit organizations to enhance their online fundraising efforts.

In addition to creating your donation form, Charitable provides a variety of features, including addons like Newsletter Connect, which allows you to keep your donors informed through your email marketing service.

You can also take advantage of peer-to-peer fundraising, which is ideal if you have several projects or causes to support. This feature enables users to select the specific opportunities they wish to contribute to.

Furthermore, Charitable charges $0 in transaction fees, ensuring that all of your donors’ generous contributions are fully utilized without any deductions by the software.

To get started, download the Charitable plugin. For detailed instructions, refer to our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

After activation, navigate to the Charitable » Addons page. Click on ‘Install Addon’ next to the ‘Charitable Recurring Donations Addon,’ and then select ‘Activate.’

Additionally, you will need to go to the Charitable Settingspage.

In the Payment Gateways section, enable the Stripe option by clicking on ‘Enable Gateway’.

Next, click the ‘Connect with Stripe’ button.

You will then be guided through a setup wizard. Follow the instructions by entering the email associated with your Stripe account.

If you do not have a Stripe account, you will need to create one to begin accepting donations.

After connecting your Stripe account to Charitable, you will be redirected back to the settings page.

Under Connection Status, it should indicate that your Stripe is ‘Connected in live mode.’ Click the ‘Save Changes’ button to apply your settings.

Now, let’s proceed to create your donation form. Navigate toCharitable Add New.

A pop-up will appear prompting you to name your campaign. Enter a name and click ‘Create Campaign.’

You will then see a window displaying all available templates, allowing you to choose one instead of starting from scratch.

Additionally, there are blank, simple 1- or 2-column layouts available if none of the templates suit your needs.

In this example, we will utilize the ‘Club / Organization’ template. Simply hover over the template and click on ‘Create Campaign.’

You are now prepared to customize the appearance of your form. You can add more fields, modify text, include buttons, images, and videos, or adjust the layout.

Everything is designed for easy drag-and-drop functionality, so to add a form field, just drag it from the left panel to the right editor in your desired position.

To edit an existing field, simply click on the element within the editor.

You can then modify what appears on the form, including text, colors, alignment, and more. All customizations can be accessed in the ‘Layout Options’ tab.

Next, navigate toSettings » Donation Options. This is where you can adjust all settings related to defining donation parameters.

Scroll down to ‘Recurring Donations.’ Enable the option ‘Allow Recurring Donations.’ Additionally, it’s advisable to activate ‘Allow Recurring Custom Donations’ so that donors can choose a custom amount they are comfortable with.

Consider selecting the ‘Recurring Donation Amounts’ option under the Default Tab to promote ongoing contributions. Alternatively, you can allow donors to choose their own donation frequency for greater flexibility.

As you continue scrolling down the page, you’ll find options to customize the default donation period and determine how frequently donors will be billed.

The ideal donation period will vary based on your cause, but it’s generally advisable to set it to at least one month or longer.

If you’re satisfied with the appearance of your recurring donations form, you’re ready to publish it. Just remember to click the ‘Save’ button first.

Next, use the dropdown menu under draft and select ‘Publish.’

After publishing your fundraising campaign, you can easily embed the form onto any page or post on your website.

Click the ‘Embed’ button located at the top.

Then, choose ‘Select Existing Page’ to add the form to a page on your site. If you haven’t created a page yet, click ‘Create New Page.’

From this point, simply select the page where you want to add the form.

Once you’re on the edit screen of your WordPress page, click the ‘+’ icon.

Next, locate and add the ‘Charitable Campaign’ block to your page.

Finally, select the campaign you just created.

Finally, click the ‘Publish’ or ‘Update’ button to add the recurring donations form to your webpage.

Be sure to preview the form in real-time to confirm that everything is functioning correctly.

Consider making a test payment to verify that all donations are successfully processed to your Stripe account.

That’s all there is to creating a recurring donation form using Charitable!

How to Create a Recurring Donation Form in WordPress with WP Simple Pay

WP Simple Pay is another excellent option for processing recurring payments in WordPress.

With over 13 payment methods and support for 135 currencies across 45 countries, they provide exceptional flexibility. You’re not limited to just credit card transactions.

For instance, you can accept mobile payments like Apple Pay, Google Pay, or even Venmo. Additionally, they support ACH Direct Debits, Afterpay, Klarna, and more.

Step 1: Install the WP Simple Pay Plugin and Connect Your Stripe Account

To get started, download the WP Simple Pay plugin. If you need assistance, check out our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

After activation, you’ll need to complete the WP Simple Pay Setup Wizard, which guides you through the setup process step by step.

The wizard will also assist you in connecting WP Simple Pay to Stripe. Simply enter the email associated with your Stripe account.

If you don’t already have a Stripe account, you can easily create one during this process.

Now you’re all set to create your donation form. Go to the WP Simple Pay» Add New page.

Step 2: Create Your Recurring Donations Form

You’ll be prompted to choose a template. Select one that meets your requirements. For this tutorial, we’ll use the Mission Trip Fundraising Form. Hover over the option and click ‘Use Template.’

After selecting the template, you’ll be taken to the form builder to customize the options.

Feel free to modify the title and description of the form. You can keep the ‘Type’ set as an on-site payment form.

Additionally, you may opt to add a CAPTCHA to the form to prevent spam submissions from bots.

Navigate to the ‘Payment’ tab to set up recurring donation charges.

In the ‘Price Options’ section, expand the dropdown menu for each donation amount. If you want to add a different payment option, click ‘Add Price.’

After expanding the dropdown, you can label the amount if needed or leave it blank. Then, select the ‘Subscription’ option instead of one-time to ensure all donors are charged regularly.

Make sure to check the box labeled “Allow amount to be determined by user” if you want to give donors the option to choose their own contribution amount.

Setting a minimum contribution amount is advisable to ensure you receive meaningful donations while still allowing donors to contribute what they feel comfortable with.

Next, scroll to the ‘Billing Period’ section and choose how often payments will be made. You can select daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly billing.

For the invoice limit, you can specify how many times donors will be charged. This is useful if you want to set an end date for recurring payments. For example, if a mission trip has a specific deadline, you can opt to charge donors monthly for up to 12 months. Alternatively, you can leave this option blank.

You can offer users a free trial option or include a setup fee.

At the bottom of the screen, you can choose the various payment methods you wish to accept.

Offering more payment options can enhance your conversion rates and provide contributors with their preferred payment choices.

Navigate to the Form Fields tab to customize the field options in your donation form. Simply expand each field to make your desired adjustments.

To add a new field to the existing form template, select the dropdown menu next to the ‘Add Field’ button.

For example, if you want to contact all donors by phone, you can request their phone number. Alternatively, if you plan to send gift packages to donors who contribute significantly, you can ask for their shipping address.

It’s beneficial to include a thank you message after donors make their contribution, as it reassures them that their funds have been successfully received.

Simply navigate to the Confirmation Page tab and enter the message you want to display after the donation is completed.

Step 3: Publish the Recurring Donation Form.

Once you’re satisfied with the recurring donation form, you’re ready to publish it.

On the right side of the screen, click ‘Publish.’

Next, navigate to your donations page or any post or page where you want to add this form.

Click the ‘+’ icon and select the WP Simple Pay block.

From there, choose the form you just created.

Then, click on ‘Publish’ or ‘Update.’

Be sure to preview the form to ensure everything appears correctly and that donation payments are being processed through your Stripe account.

That’s it for this method!

How to Create a Recurring Donation Form in WordPress Using WPForms

You can also utilize WPForms to accept recurring donations.

WPForms is the leading WordPress form builder, featuring over 2,000 templates, including various donation forms.

This is an excellent option if you also need to create other types of forms, such as contact forms, opt-in forms, multi-page forms, user registration forms, surveys, and polls.

Step 1: Connect WPForms to Stripe

To get started, download the WPForms plugin. After activation, proceed toWPForms » SettingsThen, go to the Payments tab.

The default currency is set to US dollars, but you can easily switch it to any currency of your choice. Next, scroll down and click the ‘Connect with Stripe’ button to link WPForms to your Stripe account for processing credit card payments.

At this stage, enter your email address or create a new Stripe account.

Be sure to follow the instructions provided in the Stripe Connect setup wizard to complete the setup.

Once you have completed the process, you will be redirected back to the WPForms settings page in your WordPress dashboard.

In the Payments tab, a green checkmark will confirm that Stripe is successfully connected to WPForms.

With the connection established, you are now ready to create your recurring donations form.

Step 2: Create Your Recurring Donations Form

Next, navigate toWPForms » Add New.This will take you to the drag-and-drop editor where you can design your new form.

Enter a name for your form to help you identify it for future edits.

Then, search for and select the Variable Donation Form template. There are additional donation form templates available, so feel free to explore them to find the one that best suits your needs.

Select ‘Use Template’ to get started.

You can now personalize the form and include any extra fields that are relevant to your donations page.

To modify any existing field, click on the element and make the necessary adjustments in the ‘Field Options’ tab.

Since you will be charging donors’ credit cards automatically, it’s important to clearly indicate that recurring payments will be processed.

You can include a disclaimer in the description tab to inform donors.

Additionally, navigate to the ‘Add Fields’ tab to incorporate any extra fields that are not included in the form template.

For instance, you might want to consider options such as adding a reCAPTCHA for security or a phone number if you intend to reach out to your donors personally.

Simply drag the buttons into the editor to add your chosen field options.

Step 3: Activate Recurring Payments

Next, go to thePayments » Stripetab and enable the option for ‘Recurring subscription payments.’

Once enabled, additional options will appear, allowing you to edit the Plan Name, which is the title displayed in your Stripe transactions.

You can customize the Recurring Period, which determines how frequently donations will be charged to the credit card. Choose from options in the dropdown menu, including daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.

Once you’ve completed the setup, simply add the form to any page on your WordPress site. Click ‘Save’ at the top to ensure all your changes are recorded.

Next, click the ‘Embed’ button.

If you already have a donations page, select ‘Select Existing Page’ and choose the page where you want to add the form.

If you don’t have a donations page yet, click the ‘Create New Page’ button.

Once you’re on the page, click the ‘+’ icon.

Then, insert the WPForms block into the page.

From the options available, select the recurring donations form you just created.

After that, click ‘Publish.’

Finally, preview the page to ensure everything appears as expected.

Also, verify that you can receive payments through your Stripe account.

On the WPForms Payments page, you can view all total payments, sales, and subscriptions you have received.

This allows you to monitor the effectiveness of your donation form.

We trust that this article has equipped you with the knowledge to create a recurring donation form in WordPress. For further insights, check out our comprehensive guide on WordPress forms or explore our recommendations for optimizing donation forms.

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