Getting Started Free Version

Currency & Location Settings

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Currency and Location settings panel]

These settings define how donation amounts are displayed and processed:

Base Country

• Select your organization primary country
• This helps ensure proper PayPal transaction handling
• Affects currency compatibility and regional settings

Currency

• Choose your preferred currency (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.)
• Important: Ensure your currency is compatible with your PayPal account
• PayPal has specific currency requirements for different countries
• Note that PayPal does not support the currency of some countries.

Number Formatting

• Decimal Separator: Character between whole numbers and decimals (e.g., . or ,)
• Thousands Separator: Character grouping thousands (e.g., , or .)
• Number of Decimals: How many decimal places to show (0-2 supported)
  • Note: PayPal supports maximum 2 decimal places
  • Common values: 2 for most currencies, 0 for JPY

Example Formatting:

• US format: 1,000.50 (comma thousands, period decimal, 2 decimals)
• EU format: 1.000,50 (period thousands, comma decimal, 2 decimals)

Pages Settings

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Pages settings panel]

During installation, FundCollector creates three web pages to simplify the administrator work. The pages created by the plugin will be set to draft status. These pages can be recreated using the dedicated button if needed. Of course, site administrators are free to create their own pages as they see fit:

Thank You Page

• Where donors land after successful payment
• Should include a gratitude message and next steps
• Displays donation confirmation with the donation ID

Failed Donation Page

• Shown when payment fails or is cancelled
• Should include support contact information
• Offer alternative payment methods

Privacy Page

• Linked in donation forms for GDPR compliance
• Explains how donor data is collected and used
• Required for privacy checkbox functionality

Auto-Generation: Click “Create Default Pages” to automatically generate all three pages with pre-written content. You can customize these pages later through WordPress Pages editor.

PayPal Settings

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of PayPal Settings panel (full view with all fields)]

PayPal integration uses the secure REST API for modern, reliable payment processing.

Step 1: Enable PayPal

Toggle the “Enable PayPal Payments” checkbox to activate PayPal as a payment option.

Step 2: Choose Environment Mode

Sandbox Mode (Testing)

• Use this for testing before going live
• Requires PayPal Sandbox credentials
• Donations will not process real money
• Perfect for testing your entire donation workflow

Live Mode (Production)

• Real payment processing
• Requires PayPal Live credentials
• Processes actual transactions

Best Practice: Always test in Sandbox mode first, then switch to Live mode when ready.

Step 3: Configure PayPal REST API Credentials

This is the most critical step. You will need credentials from your PayPal Developer account:
For Sandbox (Testing):

1. Go to PayPal Developer Dashboard
2. Log in with your PayPal account
3. Navigate to Apps & Credentials
4. Under Sandbox, click “Create App”
5. Name your app (e.g., “FundCollector Test”)
6. Enable “JavaScript SDK v6” – This is required for FundCollector to work correctly and ensures more secure transactions
7. Copy the Client ID and Secret from the Sandbox section
8. Paste them into:
   • Sandbox Client ID field
   • Sandbox Client Secret field

For Live (Production):

1. In PayPal Developer Dashboard, switch to Live tab
2. Create a new Live app or use existing one
3. Enable “JavaScript SDK v6” – This is required for FundCollector to work correctly and ensures more secure transactions
4. Copy the Live Client ID and Live Secret
5. Paste them into:
   • Live Client ID field
   • Live Client Secret field

Webhook Configuration

Webhooks ensure FundCollector receives real-time payment notifications.

1. In PayPal Developer Dashboard, go to your app
2. Scroll to Webhooks section
3. Click “Add Webhook”
4. Enter your Webhook URL (shown in FundCollector settings):
   • Format: https://yoursite.com/wp-admin/admin-post.php?action=fundcollector_paypal_webhook
5. Select these event types:
   • PAYMENT.CAPTURE.COMPLETED
   • PAYMENT.CAPTURE.DENIED
   • PAYMENT.CAPTURE.REFUNDED
6. Copy the Webhook ID shown
7. Paste into appropriate field:
   • Sandbox Webhook ID (for testing)
   • Live Webhook ID (for production)

Step 4: Transaction Type

Choose how PayPal presents the payment interface:
Standard Transaction

• Shows “Pay” button and standard commerce language
• Use if your organization is not a registered charity
• Standard PayPal merchant fees apply

Donation Transaction

• Shows “Donate” button and donation-specific language
• Appropriate for charitable organizations (for more information, visit: PayPal Charity Rate)
• May have lower PayPal fees in some regions

PayPal Configuration Summary

Checklist before going live:

• PayPal account is verified and in good standing
• Tested in Sandbox mode successfully
• Live credentials configured correctly
• Webhook ID configured for both environments
• Transaction type matches your organization type
• Currency matches your PayPal account settings

Troubleshooting Tips:

• If webhooks are not working, verify the URL is accessible (not behind firewall)
• Ensure SSL certificate is valid and up-to-date
• Check PayPal logs in Developer Dashboard for errors
• Verify your PayPal account can receive payments in your selected currency

Bank Transfer Settings

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Bank Transfer Settings panel]

Bank transfer provides an alternative payment method for donors who prefer traditional banking.

Enable Bank Transfer

Toggle the checkbox to activate this payment option.

Bank Transfer Instructions

Customize the message donors receive with your banking details. This appears:

• On the website after selecting bank transfer
• In the confirmation email sent to donors

Template Placeholders: Use these dynamic tags in your instructions:

• {donor_name} – Donor full name
• {donor_email} – Donor email address
• {donation_amount} – Amount to transfer
• {donation_id} – Unique reference number
• {form_name} – Name of the donation form used

Important Notes:

• Bank transfer donations are marked as “Manual check” status
• You must manually verify payments in your bank account
• Consider sending a final confirmation email after verifying payment

Donor: PayPal Donation Receipt

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Donor – PayPal Donation Receipt email settings]

Automatically sent to donors after successful PayPal payment.

Configuration Options:

Enable/Disable

• Toggle to control whether this email is sent
• Useful if you want PayPal default receipts only

Email Subject

• Customize the subject line
• Default: “Thank you for your donation!”
• Use placeholders for personalization

Email Content

• Full HTML editor for rich formatting
• Include your branding and custom message
• Add donation details and next steps

Email Type

• HTML: Rich formatting, images, colors (recommended)
• Plain Text: Simple text-only format

Available Placeholders:

• {donor_name} – Donor first name
• {donor_last_name} – Donor last name
• {donor_email} – Donor email address
• {donation_amount} – Formatted amount donated
• {donation_id} – Unique donation reference
• {donation_date} – Date and time of donation
• {payment_method} – “PayPal” or “Bank Transfer”
• {form_name} – Name of the form used

Donor: Bank Transfer Donation Receipt

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Donor – Bank Transfer Donation Receipt email settings]

Sent immediately when a donor selects bank transfer payment method.
Configuration: Same structure as PayPal receipt email
Key Difference: This email should include banking instructions since the donor needs to complete the manual transfer. Consider including:

• Clear bank account details
• Payment reference (donation ID)
• Expected processing time
• Contact information for questions

Admin: PayPal Donation Notifications

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Admin – PayPal Donation Notifications email settings]

Alerts administrators when new PayPal donations are received.

Configuration Options:

Admin Email Recipients

• Enter one or multiple email addresses (comma-separated)
• Example: admin@yourorg.com, finance@yourorg.com
• All listed addresses receive notification

Best Practices:

• Keep subject line clear (e.g., “New PayPal Donation: {donation_amount}”)
• Include all relevant details in content
• Add direct link to view donation in admin panel

Admin: Bank Transfer Donation Notifications

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Admin – Bank Transfer Donation Notifications email settings]

Alerts administrators when a donor requests bank transfer payment.
Important: Since bank transfers require manual verification, this email is critical for:

• Tracking pending donations
• Monitoring bank account for incoming transfers
• Following up with donors if needed
• Updating donation status after verification

SMTP Configuration (Optional Advanced)

For reliable email delivery, configure SMTP settings:

Why Use SMTP?

• More reliable than WordPress default mail function
• Better deliverability (emails less likely to go to spam)
• Professional appearance with custom from address
• Better tracking and error handling

Common SMTP Providers:

• Gmail/Google Workspace
• SendGrid
• Mailgun
• Amazon SES
• Your hosting provider SMTP

Settings Required:

• SMTP Host: Server address (e.g., smtp.gmail.com)
• SMTP Port: Usually 587 (TLS) or 465 (SSL)
• Encryption: TLS or SSL
• SMTP Username: Your email or account username
• SMTP Password: Email password or app-specific password
• From Name: Organization name shown to recipients
• From Email: Email address shown as sender

Testing: After configuration, use the built-in “Send Test Email” feature to verify settings before going live.

Honeypot Protection Settings

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Security Settings – Honeypot section]

Honeypot is an invisible spam trap that catches bots without bothering real users.

How It Works:

• Adds a hidden field to your donation form
• Real users cannot see or interact with this field
• Bots typically fill in all fields, including hidden ones
• Submissions with filled honeypot fields are rejected

Configuration:

Enable Honeypot

• Toggle to activate this protection
• Recommended for all forms

Honeypot Field Name

• Customize the hidden field name
• Click “Generate Random Name” for a unique identifier
• Security Tip: Change this periodically to stay ahead of sophisticated bots
• Default format: Random alphanumeric string

Benefits:

• No CAPTCHA for users (better UX)
• Invisible to legitimate donors
• Highly effective against basic bots
• No external service required
• No performance impact

Best Practice: Enable honeypot by default. It provides good protection with zero user friction.

Google reCAPTCHA Settings

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Security Settings – Google reCAPTCHA section]

reCAPTCHA v3 provides advanced bot protection with invisible verification.

Why reCAPTCHA v3?

• Completely invisible to users (no “I am not a robot” checkbox)
• Analyzes user behavior to detect bots
• Assigns risk scores to each submission
• Free for most websites

Setup Process:

Step 1: Get reCAPTCHA Keys

1. Go to Google reCAPTCHA Admin
2. Sign in with your Google account
3. Click “+ Create” to register a new site
4. Fill in the form:
   • Label: Your site name (e.g., “My Organization Donations”)
   • reCAPTCHA type: Select reCAPTCHA v3
   • Domains: Add your domain (e.g., yoursite.com)
   • Accept terms and submit
5. Copy the Site Key and Secret Key provided

Step 2: Configure in FundCollector

• Enable reCAPTCHA: Toggle to activate protection
• reCAPTCHA Site Key: Paste the site key from Google (public key, included in form HTML)
• reCAPTCHA Secret Key: Paste the secret key from Google (private, used for server-side verification – never share this)

reCAPTCHA Threshold

• Set the minimum score required (0.0 to 1.0)
• 0.0 = Most likely a bot
• 1.0 = Most likely a human
• Recommended: 0.5 (balanced protection)
• Stricter: 0.7 (may block some legitimate users)
• Lenient: 0.3 (less protection, fewer false positives)

Finding the Right Threshold:

Start with 0.5 and adjust based on your experience:

• Too many spam donations? Increase threshold
• Legitimate donors being blocked? Decrease threshold
• Monitor the balance between security and user experience

Best Practices:

• Use both honeypot AND reCAPTCHA for maximum protection
• Test forms after enabling to ensure proper functionality
• Monitor donation submissions for false positives
• Keep your domain updated in Google reCAPTCHA console

Logging Settings

Disable FundCollector Logs

• By default, FundCollector writes PHP and JavaScript logs when WP_DEBUG is enabled
• In production (WP_DEBUG off), only ERROR and WARNING level messages are logged
• In development (WP_DEBUG on), all log levels are recorded
• Disable Logs: Check this option to completely suppress all FundCollector logs, even when WP_DEBUG is true

When to Disable Logs:

• Your production site has WP_DEBUG accidentally enabled
• You want to reduce log file size
• You are using a third-party logging solution

Uninstallation Settings

Delete All Data on Uninstall

• Controls what happens when you uninstall FundCollector
• Disabled (Default): Plugin data is preserved in database
  • Useful if you plan to reinstall later
  • Keeps all donations, forms, and settings
  • Good for temporary deactivation
• Enabled: Complete data removal on uninstall
  • Deletes all donations, forms, and settings
  • Leaves no trace in database
  • Cannot be undone – use with caution

When to Enable:

• You are permanently removing FundCollector
• You want a clean database without orphaned data
• You are switching to a different solution
• Privacy regulations require complete data removal

When to Keep Disabled:

• You might reinstall the plugin later
• You need to keep donation records
• You are just temporarily deactivating
• You are troubleshooting issues

Warning: If enabled, uninstalling the plugin will permanently delete ALL donation data.
Best Practice: Keep this disabled unless you are absolutely certain you want permanent deletion.

Donation Form List

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of the Donation Forms list page]

Navigate to FundCollector → Forms to access the form management interface.

Default Form:

• FundCollector includes a pre-configured default form
• Ready to use immediately after installation
• Can be customized to match your branding
• Cannot be deleted (but can be modified)

Creating Multiple Forms:

Create different forms for:

• Different campaigns or projects
• Specific fundraising events
• Various donation tiers
• Different languages or regions
• A/B testing different designs

Form List Features:

• View all forms with shortcodes
• Quick copy shortcode to clipboard
• Edit, duplicate, or delete forms
• See form status (active/inactive)
• View donation count per form

Create New Donation Form

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of the Create New Donation Form dialog]

Creating a New Form:

1. Click “Add New Form” button
2. Enter a descriptive Form Name
   • Examples: “General Donations”, “Holiday Campaign 2025”, “Building Fund”
3. Click “Create Form”
4. You will be redirected to the form builder

Form ID & Shortcode:

• Each form gets a unique ID automatically
• Shortcode format: [fundcollector id="1"]
• Use this shortcode to embed the form anywhere on your site

Donation Form Builder

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of the Donation Form Builder interface]

The form builder lets you customize which fields appear on your donation form.

Form Builder Interface:

Main Call-to-Action (CTA)

• Primary headline shown at top of form
• Default: “Make a Donation”
• Make it compelling and action-oriented
• Examples: “Support Our Mission”, “Give Hope Today”, “Fund Our Future”

Secondary CTA

• Supporting text under main headline
• Default: “Your support helps us continue our mission.”
• Explain the impact of donations
• Keep it concise but meaningful

Available Form Fields:

Each field can be independently:

• Enabled/Disabled: Show or hide the field
• Required/Optional: Make mandatory or optional for donors

Personal Information Fields:

• Name: Donor first name
• Last Name: Donor last name
• Email: Donor email (always required – cannot be disabled)
• Phone: Contact phone number
• Nation: Donor country
• State/Province: State or province
• City: City name
• Billing Address: Street address
• Postal/Zip Code: ZIP or postal code
• Tax ID/Business Tax ID: Tax identification number for receipt purposes (individual or corporate type depending on the country)

Privacy Checkbox:

• Privacy Policy Text: Customizable agreement text (HTML allowed)
• Default: “I agree to the privacy policy”
• Links automatically to the privacy page created by FundCollector at installation
• Always enabled for GDPR compliance
• Can customize wording to match your policy

Field Strategy:

• Fewer fields = Higher conversion rates
• Only collect information you actually need
• Make optional what is not essential
• Balance compliance needs with user experience

Recommended Minimal Setup:

• First Name (optional)
• Last Name (optional)
• Email (required – always)
• Privacy checkbox (required)

Donation Form Design

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of the Donation Form Design settings panel]

Customize the visual appearance of your form to match your brand.

Design Settings:

Form Width

• Set maximum width in pixels
• Default: 600px
• Responsive: Form adapts to smaller screens automatically
• Recommended: 500-800px for optimal readability

Primary Color

• Main brand color for buttons and highlights
• Used for: Submit button, selected amounts, PayPal button
• Choose a color that stands out and ensure good contrast with text

Secondary Color

• Background color for form container
• Default: Light gray (#f9f9f9)
• Keep it subtle for readability

Border Radius

• Roundness of corners in pixels
• Default: 8px
• 0px = Sharp corners (modern) | 15-20px = Very rounded (friendly)
• Affects buttons, inputs, and form container

Button Text Color

• Color of text on buttons
• Default: White (#ffffff)
• Ensure high contrast with button background

Hover Effect

• How buttons respond to mouse hover
• Default: Darken
• Provides visual feedback to users

Font Family

• System: Uses visitor default system fonts (fastest)
• Arial: Classic, widely supported
• Helvetica: Clean, professional
• Verdana: Highly readable
• Roboto: Modern, Google font
• Recommended: System for performance, Roboto for style

Font Size

• Options: Small (14px), Medium (16px), Large (18px)
• Default: Medium
• Consider your audience (larger for older demographics)

Title Style

• Main CTA heading style: Normal or Bold
• Default: Bold (recommended for better visibility)

Design Tips:

• Use your organization brand colors
• Ensure accessibility (check color contrast)
• Test on mobile devices
• Keep it simple and clean
• Match your website design language

Previewing Your Form

PayPal Payment Preview:

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of form preview with PayPal payment tab selected]

Preview shows:

• Form layout and styling
• Payment method tabs (PayPal/Bank Transfer)
• Suggested donation amounts
• Custom amount input
• All enabled fields
• Submit button appearance

Bank Transfer Payment Preview:

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of form preview with Bank Transfer tab selected]

Preview shows:

• Bank transfer instructions
• All donor information fields
• Different submit button text
• Privacy policy checkbox

Adding Forms to Your Site

Method 1: Gutenberg Block (Recommended)

1. Edit any page or post
2. Click “+” to add new block
3. Search for “FundCollector”
4. Select “FundCollector Donation Form” block
5. Choose your form from dropdown
6. Publish page

Method 2: Shortcode

1. Copy shortcode from form list
2. Paste into any page, post, or widget
3. Format: [fundcollector id="1"]
4. Publish page

Method 3: PHP Code (Advanced)

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot showing PHP do_shortcode usage example]

Best Practices:

• Create dedicated donation pages for each campaign
• Add donation forms to high-traffic pages
• Use different forms to track different campaigns
• A/B test form designs to optimize conversions

Donations List

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of the Donations List page with search bar and filters visible]

Navigate to FundCollector → Donations List to view all donations.

Information Displayed:

• ID: Unique identifier for each donation
• Donor Name: Full name of the donor
• Donation Purpose: Name of the donation form used
• Amount: Donation amount (formatted in your currency)
• Date of Payment: Payment date and time
• Payment Method: PayPal or Bank Transfer
• Status: Current donation status

Search & Filter:

• Search: Find donations by donor name, email, amount, payment method, or status
• Smart amount search: Search “50” to find donations of that exact amount, regardless of currency formatting
• Payment method filter: Show only PayPal or only bank transfer donations
• Status filter: Filter by donation status
• Sorting: Sort by date, donor name, purpose, amount, or status

Donation Statuses:

Completed (Green)

• Payment successfully processed and money received
• Confirmation emails sent – no action needed

Pending (Orange)

• Payment initiated but not yet confirmed
• Common for PayPal pending payments – check again after a few hours/days

Cancelled (Orange)

• Donor cancelled or abandoned payment – no money received

Failed (Red)

• Payment attempt failed (insufficient funds, card decline, etc.) – no money received

Expired (Gray)

• Payment session timed out – donor did not complete payment

Refunded (Purple)

• Payment was completed but later refunded – money returned to donor

Manual Check (Blue)

• Bank transfer pending verification – requires manual confirmation

List Actions:

• View Details: Click any donation for complete information in a popup
• Delete: Move donations to trash (soft-delete); permanently remove from the trash view

Managing Bank Transfers:

1. View “Manual Check” donations
2. Check your bank account for matching transfer
3. Match donation ID with bank reference
4. Optional: Send manual confirmation email to donor

Donation Details

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of the Donation Details modal popup]

Click any donation to view complete details in a modal popup.

Detailed Information Includes:

• Donation ID: Unique identifier
• Donation Purpose: Name of the form used
• Donor Name & Last Name
• Donor Email
• Privacy Consent: Whether the donor accepted the privacy policy
• Currency: Currency type
• Amount: Formatted donation amount
• Date & Time: Payment date and time
• Payment Method: PayPal or Bank Transfer
• PayPal Transaction Type: Standard or Donation
• Payment ID: Unique payment identifier from PayPal
• Payment Status: Current status
• Payer Name, Last Name, Email: Account holder who made the payment

Donors List

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of the Donors List page]

Navigate to FundCollector → Donors to access the donors management interface.

Information Displayed:

• Name: Donor full name
• Email: Donor email address
• Type: Individual or organization
• Donations: Total number of donations made
• Total Donated: Cumulative amount donated
• Donor Since: Date of first donation

Sorting:

• Sort by Name, Email, Donations count, Total Donated, or Donor Since date
• Click any column header to toggle ascending/descending order

Donor Details

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of the Donor Detail page showing profile and donation history]

Click any donor to view their complete profile and full donation history.

Donor Profile Includes:

• Personal information (name, email, phone, address)
• Total number of donations and cumulative donated amount
• Complete list of all donations with dates, amounts, and statuses
• Date of first donation