FAQ – Embedding Your Custom Donation Form in Your Website
How do I embed my donation form in my website?
Simply sign into your charity account and click the ‘Donate Now’ tab. Click ‘Custom Donate Now Link’ and find the donation form you want to embed (or create a new one). Click ‘Get Embed Code’ under the ‘Actions’ column on the far right, and then copy and paste the code on the page of your website where you want your donation form to appear.
What do I need to know about security when embedding the form on my website?
Should I embed my form on a secure page?
Whether you decide to use a Donate Now button that directs to your custom donation page on CanadaHelps.org, or embed your donation form directly on your website, CanadaHelps protects your donors with the highest-level PCI-compliance, including ‘Transport Layer Security’ when using the donation form. From the perspective of your website visitors, and embedded donation form appears on your charity’s website, but in fact continues to reside on CanadaHelps.org. As a result, security level provided by CanadaHelps for the Donate Now button option and embedded form option is identical and never compromised.
Important note:
If you are embedding a CanadaHelp’s donation form on your website we recommend that you do so on a secure page. Secure pages are easily identifiable by Internet users as they include HTTPS in the address field. Increasingly, Canadians check the URL for HTTPS before paying online. As a result, embedding the donation page on a secure page will ensure your more security-savvy donors have full confidence when donating on your site. There are many instructional resources available that explain how to create a secure website. For example, this overview from Google may be of assistance.
To help ensure all donors feels comfortable donating to your organization, if you embed your CanadaHelps donation form on a page on your Website which is not secure, CanadaHelps will automatically include a lock on the top right hand corner of the embedded donation form. A donor that clicks the lock will receive information confirming that the page is secure and be provided a link to the custom donation form on CanadaHelps.org should they wish to see the HTTPS URL itself.
Again, for clarity, even if you are embedding CanadaHelps donation form on the page on your website which is not secure as per the above, the CanadaHelp’s form itself IS SECURE and complies with the highest level of PCI requirements. That said, whether you embed your donation form on a secure page or not, guidelines for general protection and internet security recommend that you have appropriate safeguards in place to ensure that only trusted IT professionals and programmers can access and manage your website. Without such assurances, it is possible that a malicious programmer can insert code on your page to capture or re-direct information entered in your embedded donation form.
Can I customize the branding of my donation form?
All branding and customization options are still available to you. Plus, we’ve added new features so that you can customize your logo and introductory copy for each individual customizable donation form you have.
Does CanadaHelps instantly issue charitable tax receipts?
Yes, charitable tax receipts are still automatically handled by CanadaHelps.
Are there any changes to my donation reports or how I receive donation proceeds from CanadaHelps?
No, everything is the same as before. Your donation page is exactly the same but now lives on your charity’s Website.
Can my donors donate using Visa, MasterCard and American Express?
Yes, your donors can use any of these payment methods to donate, all while staying on the same page of your site.
Is payment by PayPal supported?
Yes, but the process is slightly different. A new window will open and they will be prompted to fill out the required information and PayPal login credentials before donating. Please note, less than 10 percent of donors choose to pay using these methods.