Quickstart
Go from sign-up to accepting your first donation in under 5 minutes.
This guide walks you through everything you need to start accepting donations with GiveLink. Most organizations are fully set up in under five minutes.
Get Started
Create your account
Head to givelink.ai/sign-up and create your account. You will need:
- Your name and email — used for your admin login (powered by Clerk)
- Organization name — your nonprofit's legal name
- EIN — your 501(c)(3) tax identification number for verification
Once registered, you will land in your dashboard where you can manage everything about your fundraising.
No credit card required. GiveLink has no monthly fees or setup costs. Your first $25,000 in donations are fee-free, so you can get fully operational before any platform fees apply.
Connect your bank account via Stripe
From your dashboard, navigate to Settings > Payments and click Connect with Stripe. This launches Stripe Connect Express onboarding, where you will:
- Verify your nonprofit's identity and legal status
- Link your bank account for direct deposits
- Choose your payout schedule (daily or weekly)
The entire process takes about two minutes. Once connected, you are ready to accept donations immediately.
Stripe handles all payment processing. GiveLink uses Stripe Connect Express so your funds flow directly to your bank account. We never hold your money. Processing fees are Stripe's standard rates: 2.2% + $0.30 for card payments and 0.8% (capped at $5) for ACH bank transfers.
Create your first campaign
Click Create Campaign from your dashboard and configure the details:
- Campaign title — a clear, compelling name (e.g., "Spring Gala 2026" or "Annual Fund")
- Description — tell your story. Use the AI writing assistant to generate polished copy in seconds.
- Fundraising goal — optionally set a target to display a progress thermometer on your donation page
- Suggested amounts — pre-set donation amounts for donors to choose from (e.g., $25, $50, $100, $250)
- Recurring giving — enable monthly, quarterly, or annual recurring donation options
- Cover image — upload a photo or banner to brand your campaign page
Let AI help. When writing your campaign description, click the AI assist button to generate compelling fundraising copy based on your campaign details. You can also use AI to suggest optimal donation amounts based on your donor base.
Share your campaign
Every campaign gets multiple ways to reach donors:
Each campaign has a beautiful, mobile-optimized donation page at a shareable URL:
https://givelink.ai/donate/your-campaign-slugShare this link via email, social media, newsletters, or anywhere your supporters are. The page is fully branded with your organization's logo and colors.
Drop a lightweight donation widget directly into your existing website with a single code snippet:
<!-- GiveLink Donation Widget -->
<script src="https://cdn.givelink.ai/widget.js" async></script>
<div
data-givelink-campaign="your-campaign-id"
data-givelink-theme="light"
></div>The widget inherits your campaign configuration — suggested amounts, recurring options, and branding — and handles the entire donation flow without leaving your site.
Every campaign automatically generates a downloadable QR code. Use it in:
- Printed event programs and table cards
- Direct mail and fundraising letters
- Posters, banners, and signage
- Business cards and brochures
Download the QR code from Campaign Settings > Share > QR Code in PNG or SVG format.
Receive your first donation
That is it — you are live. When a donor gives through any of your sharing channels, here is what happens:
- The donor completes the donation form (card or ACH bank transfer)
- Stripe processes the payment securely
- The donor receives an instant email receipt
- The donation appears in your dashboard in real time
- Funds are deposited to your bank on your chosen payout schedule
Fee transparency in action. Every donation in your dashboard shows a complete fee breakdown: Stripe processing fees, GiveLink platform fee (1%, waived on your first $25K), and the net amount deposited to your account. If the donor chose to cover fees, you will see that reflected as well.
Understanding Fees
We never use donor tip models. Unlike some platforms that prompt donors to leave a "tip" or "contribution to the platform" (often pre-selected at 15% or more), GiveLink never adds hidden charges to the donor's transaction. What donors see is what they pay.
Next Steps
Now that you are accepting donations, explore the full power of the platform:
Campaign Guides
Advanced campaign strategies, A/B testing, and optimization techniques.
Donor Management
Build your donor CRM — track relationships, segment audiences, and improve retention.
Recurring Giving
Set up and manage monthly, quarterly, and annual giving programs.
Event Ticketing
Sell tickets, manage RSVPs, and accept donations at your events.
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Empower supporters to create personal fundraising pages on your behalf.
Integrations
Connect GiveLink with Zapier, webhooks, and your existing tools.
Last updated on 4/5/2026