Use Cases
How to Build a Donation Form in WordPress
A donation form makes it easy for supporters to express intent to give — donor details, pledge amount and optional consent in one trusted flow. Auto Form Builder collects that information for free; you connect your payment provider via webhook to process the actual gift. This guide explains how to build a donation form without claiming built-in checkout — because payment happens in the tool you already trust.
What makes a good donation form
- Capture donor name and email so thank-you messages and tax receipts reach the right person — keep the first screen focused on identity before amount selection.
- Offer suggested amounts with Radio buttons for common tiers plus a Number field for custom gifts so most donors tap once instead of typing.
- Add a consent or newsletter opt-in Checkbox linked to your privacy policy — separate from the gift itself and clearly labeled for compliance.
- Send donation details to your payment platform via webhook after submit — Auto Form Builder records the pledge; Zapier, Make or GoHighLevel triggers checkout in Stripe, PayPal or your processor.
- Thank donors with a custom success message or redirect page immediately after submit so they know the form worked even before payment completes in your external tool.
Recommended fields
- Name Field — Donor name personalizes thank-you emails and appears on internal reports — structured fields help when you sync to a CRM via webhook.
- Email Field — Email sends receipts and campaign updates — require and validate it so every pledge includes an address for acknowledgment.
- Number Field — A Number field captures custom pledge amounts when preset tiers do not fit — set minimums if your payment tool requires a floor.
- Radio Button Field — Radio buttons present suggested giving levels clearly — $25, $50, $100 — reducing decision fatigue and standardizing export data.
- Checkbox Field — A Checkbox captures newsletter or annual report opt-in separately from the donation itself — link helper text to your privacy policy.
Helpful features
- Conditional Logic — Show employer matching or dedication fields only when a donor selects an amount above a threshold — keeping small gifts quick to complete.
- Form Webhooks & Integrations — Push donor and pledge data to your payment processor or CRM on submit — the standard path to collect payment without built-in card fields.
- Form Submission Management — Store every pledge in WordPress with search and export — a backup record if webhook or email delivery fails during high-volume campaigns.
How to build a donation form
- Install Auto Form Builder free from WordPress.org.
- Create a new form — drag on the fields above, or describe it and let AI build it.
- Add the helpful features (logic, spam protection, notifications).
- Style it to match your brand — no CSS.
- Copy the shortcode or embed code and paste it on any page.
FAQ
Does it process donations?
It collects donor and pledge details; connect your payment provider via webhook to take payment.
Can I suggest amounts?
Yes — use radio buttons for preset amounts plus a number field for custom gifts.
Related form types
Nonprofits deserve tools that do not eat the budget. Auto Form Builder builds a professional donation form for free and connects to your payment and CRM tools via webhook, so more of every gift goes to your cause.