501(c)3 Onboarding Guide

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Free For Charity 501c3 Supported Charity Products and Services

Free For Charity is a US based 501c3 charity for charities that provides other US based 501(c)(3) organizations with free .org domain name registration, professional website design tools and templates, as well as ongoing website management and digital infrastructure services.

Our mission is to empower charities with a strong digital presence, enabling them to effectively communicate their cause and engage supporters online.

By offering these essential services always at no cost, we ensure that even small non-profits can present themselves professionally in the digital world, enhancing their visibility and impact.

Before You Begin Onboarding

Obtain the following information and materials ready to ensure you can complete the onboarding steps

  1. 501(c)(3) determination letter from the IRS
  2. EIN (Employer Identification Number)
  3. Board member information:
    • Names
    • Titles
    • Contact information (Including a LinkedIn Profile link)
    • Brief bios
  4. Mission statement
  5. Most recent Form 990
  6. Annual report (if available)
  7. List of programs and services
  8. Financial statements for the past two years
  9. Current operating budget
  10. Strategic plan (if available)
  11. Existing website URL (if applicable)
  12. Social media account links
  13. Logo files (high-resolution)
  14. Any existing brand guidelines

Before proceeding, ensure your charity agrees to use and sets up:

  1. A [email protected] Email Address
    1. Used to sign up for all other accounts until you have your professional email address
  2. An up-to-date GuideStar profile
    1. (Please read our GuideStar Guide, we require charities to have at least Gold Seal of Transparency to receive our services.)
  3. A Verified Nonprofit Facebook Page
    1. Used as an initial validation for your charity mission and used by other validators as proof of existence.
  4. A Verified Nonprofit LinkedIn Page
    1. Used as an initial validation for your charity Team Members and used by other validators as proof of existence.
  5. A VolunteerMatch profile
    1. Used to gain board members and volunteers with a widget from your website
  6. A TechSoup account and validation
    1. Used to gain many charity discounts including QuickBooks
  7. A PayPal account for nonprofits
    1. Used to accept donations on your website and on Facebook
NOTE: If any item is not yet completed we recommend you complete them in the order listed above. If you run into issues reach out to us by text or call for help.

Step 1: 501C3 Status Verification via GuideStar (Only approves US Based 501c organizations)

What is GuideStar?

Our Benefit: By using the GuideStar profile page for 501C3 status verification, our organization aligns itself with a respected authority in non-profit transparency. This association strengthens our reputation as a diligent and responsible entity in the philanthropic sector. It also ensures that we can check the NTEE codes to match mission alignment.

Your Benefit: For your charity, achieving validation through GuideStar enhances your charity’s credibility and visibility. It reassures donors and stakeholders of its legal compliance and ethical standing, potentially increasing funding opportunities.

We require two links from your GuideStar page, the public profile link, and the ‘full profile’ link. For instructions on how to find them in GuideStar, click here.

Step 2: Board Contact Information

We require full contact information for the three key roles on your charity’s board: President / Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. You may optionally provide information for a Vice President / Vice Chair and/or an additional Member-At-Large, but the three key roles are non-optional.

Step 3: Primary and Technical Contact Information

We require full contact information for your charity’s primary and technical contacts. Additionally please provide the time-zone and best contact hours for the primary contact. The primary and technical contacts should match those listed in GuideStar.

Ready to Get Started Now?

Free For Charity Provides free .org domain names to US 501c3 organizations. Once your onboarding forms are accepted you will receive an email from the system with the discount code to request a new domain name or to transfer your current domain name to us so we can start managing it and paying the annual fees.

Visit https://freeforcharity.org/domains and follow all steps

Once we have the domain name under management we can then set up your professional email addresses e.g. [email protected]

As always if you run into problems contact us at anytime [email protected] 520-222-8104

A very small number of hosting providers provide free hosting for nonprofits. We recommend InterServer, and use them for our own site to host the core WordPress files for your website. Below are instructions for how to get free hosting from InterServer and set it up so that we can help manage your site. Once we have access to your hosting and website we can then add in the extra WPMUDEV and DIVI capabilities to either create a totally new site or update your current site.

  1. Visit [email protected] to create a free account with your organizational email address [email protected]
  2. Send an email to https://my.interserver.net with:
    • A copy of your IRS 501(c)(3) tax identification letter
    • The domain name you want hosted with InterServer (from the Free For Charity Domain Service)
  3. Wait for InterServer to set up your account (they will do this promptly)
  4. Once your account is set up, log in to your DirectAdmin panel

Setting Up WordPress

  1. In DirectAdmin, locate and open Softaculous
  2. Find WordPress in the list of available applications
  3. Click “Install” next to WordPress
  4. Fill out the installation form:
    • Choose your domain
    • Leave the directory field blank for installation in the root directory
    • Set up an admin username and strong password
    • Choose a site name and description of your charity
  5. Click “Install” to complete the WordPress setup

Adding Free For Charity Admin

  1. Log in to your new WordPress dashboard
  2. Go to Users → Add New
  3. Fill out the form:
  4. Click “Add New User”

Adding InterServer Link to Footer

  1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance → Customize
  2. Navigate to the footer section
  3. Add the following text: “Powered by InterServer”
  4. Make the text “InterServer” a hyperlink to https://www.interserver.net
  5. Save and publish your changes

Important Notes:

  • You must add the “Powered by InterServer” link within 30 days, or you’ll need to pay for the hosting package
  • InterServer is a for-profit US company that provides free hosting. Free For Charity is a 501(c)(3) technology adoption charity; they are separate entities

As always, if you run into problems, contact us anytime [email protected] 520-222-8104

Have questions about consultation or hosting? Want to know more about nonprofits? Looking to chat? Give a real person a call:

Clarke Moyer (520) 222-8104