A charity finder directory can help connect volunteers and donors with the right organizations. Here’s how to create this helpful resource, in three easy steps.
There are over 1.5 million nonprofits in the United States alone. With so many charitable organizations looking for support, it isn’t always easy to find information about a specific nonprofit.
Fortunately, you can help out potential volunteers and donors by creating a charity finder directory. This resource can connect the right people with the right organization, while also helping nonprofits build their online presence.
In this post, we’ll explore what charity directories are, and why they’re so important. We’ll then show you how to promote these good causes by creating your own charity directory. Let’s get started!
An introduction to charity finder directories
A charity directory is a website where visitors can discover new charities. If you create your directory, visitors will be able to explore these organizations based on custom categories and category tags. This can help them discover organizations that operate within a particular area, such as mental health or human rights.
Open source directory software also enables you to create a submissions page, where charities can enter all of their information. As soon as you approve their submission, their listing will appear on your website.
A charity directory can help volunteers find organizations that may be looking for assistance or donations. In this way, your directory can connect organizations with people who want to contribute towards a good cause. Alternatively, people in need may use your charity directory to access support.
How to create a charity finder directory
A directory can be an invaluable resource for people in need, and the charities themselves. With that in mind, let’s see how you can create your own charity finder directory. After installing the Business Directory Plugin, we’re ready to get started.
Step 1: Create your directory page and categories
The first step is creating a directory page. This is the primary webpage used to display your directory content. When you first activate Business Directory, it will offer to create this page for you:
Alternatively, you can embed the directory content in any webpage. Simply open the page in question, create a new shortcode block, and then add the following: [businessdirectory].
Next, you may want to create some categories to help visitors filter your listings. To add a category, navigate to Directory → Directory Categories. You can now enter a name and a description.
You can create a parent-child relationship for these categories. For example, you might create a Housing parent category, with Children, Disabled, and Aged as sub-categories.
This hierarchy can help visitors find the exact charity they had in mind. You can create these relationships using the Parent Category dropdown:
When you’re happy with the information you’ve entered, click on Add New Category. You can now rise and repeat to create all of your categories.
Step 2: Build a submissions form
You may want to give charities the option to submit their own information. This can be a great way to populate your directory, without having to create each listing manually.
The default submission template contains various fields. It’s a good idea to review these options to ensure that they meet your needs.
To start, navigate to Directory → Form Fields. Here, you’ll see all of the fields that are included in the default form:
To remove a field, hover over it and then select the Delete link when it appears. Alternatively, you can modify the field by clicking on the Edit link. This opens an editor where you can make your changes:
To add an entirely new field, click on the Add New Form field button. Once you’re happy with your submission form, you’re ready to add it to your website.
Step 3: Create a charity finder submissions page
To create your submissions page, navigate to the page or post where you want to feature this form. Then, create a new shortcode block and add the following: [businessdirectory-submit-listing]:
You can now publish this page, as normal. This adds a publicly-accessible form where visitors can submit their charity to your directory:
As part of this process, visitors can choose the category that best represents their charity. They can then enter information about their organization, including their charity’s URL and their contact information:
Charities can also upload two images, which will be displayed as part of their listing. You can review all of these incoming submissions by navigating to Directory → Directory Listings → Pending:
Assuming that you’re happy with the information submitted, click on Publish. This listing will now appear in your charity directory.
Conclusion
By creating a charity directory, you can help individuals find causes that they want to support. You’ll also be giving nonprofits an easy way to raise their online profile. It’s a win-win situation that can also earn you a significant amount of traffic.
Let’s quickly recap how to create a charity finder directory using Business Directory Plugin:
- Create your directory page and categories.
- Build a submission form.
- Create a charity finder submissions page.
This is just one example of the listing sites you can build with Business Directory. Find out what other resources you can create by upgrading to our premium directory plugin.
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