Now that your nonprofit is registered on the Benevity Causes Portal, follow these key steps to optimize your profile, attract corporate donors and volunteers, and maximize your fundraising potential.
Completing these actions will help your nonprofit stand out and increase opportunities for corporate partnerships.
1. Set up Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
To ensure your nonprofit receives donations quickly and securely, set up EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) as your preferred payment method. EFT allows funds to be deposited directly into your bank account, reducing administrative work and avoiding delays associated with paper checks.
Learn more about the benefits of Electronic Funds Transfer.
How to set up EFT:
- Log in to the Benevity Causes Portal
- Select Donation Method on the left-hand side.
- Select Update Donation Payment Method and choose your donation payment method.
- Fill out the required fields marked with a red asterisk (*).
- Upload the supporting document and make sure that the information provided on the form is included on and matches the information on the document.
- Review the information and Submit.
Learn in more detail about how to sign up for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and the banking information per country.
Please note that if your nonprofit is located outside Canada and the US, EFT is mandatory in order to receive donations.
2. Complete your Self-Certification Declaration
Many of Benevity’s corporate partners require nonprofits to annually self-certify to meet common eligibility criteria for inclusion in their workplace giving programs. Completing the Self-Certification Declaration allows your organization to confirm its internal policies on fund allocation and ensure compliance with specific corporate program requirements.
The information you provide will only be shared with companies that require the declaration and will be used to align your organization with their philanthropic programs. Ensuring your certification is up to date helps maintain eligibility and enhances your nonprofit’s visibility within Benevity’s network.
Click here to complete your Self-Certification Declaration. For clarification regarding each of the questions, click here.
3. Optimize your nonprofit profile
Your nonprofit profile is the first impression potential donors and corporate partners will have of your organization. A well-optimized profile enhances visibility, credibility, and engagement, making it easier for companies and employees to find and support your cause. Keeping your profile updated and compelling ensures you stand out and attract meaningful contributions.
Steps to enhance your profile:
- Include your mission statement – Clearly articulate your nonprofit’s purpose, impact, and why it matters.
- Upload a high-quality logo and images – Strong visuals build trust and make your organization instantly recognizable.
- Incorporate relevant tags and search aliases – Help donors and volunteers find your nonprofit more easily by adding keywords and alternate names.
- Share success stories and updates – Highlight real-world impact to inspire and engage potential donors.
Learn more about how to optimize your profile in our eBook: How to Connect with Donors & Volunteers Through the Benevity Causes Portal.
4. Create projects to drive donations
On Benevity, you can create detailed projects for fundraising opportunities. This feature allows donors to easily discover and direct their contributions towards specific chapters, programs, or initiatives within your organization through the platform. Adding fundraising projects boosts visibility and attracts donors who want to contribute to nonprofits that align with their values.
How to make your projects stand out:
- Clearly define your funding goal – Specify how much you need and how the funds will be used.
- Explain the impact – Show how donations will directly benefit your community.
- Use storytelling – Include stories, images, or videos to make the project more engaging. For example, an education nonprofit, you could create a project called “Sponsor 100 Backpacks for Underprivileged Students” and outline how corporate donations will provide essential school supplies.
Learn more about how to create projects on page 4 in our eBook: How to Connect with Donors
& Volunteers Through the Benevity Causes Portal.
5. Offer volunteer opportunities
Creating volunteer opportunities is a powerful way to connect with individuals who are eager to contribute their time and expertise to your nonprofit. On Benevity, both in-person and virtual volunteering allow users to support your organization in meaningful and impactful ways, helping to expand your reach and strengthen your mission.
With 94% of Benevity's corporate clients embracing volunteer programs, volunteering has become a key component of community engagement. Users can discover opportunities based on their location, skills, and interests, making it easier for them to get involved in nonprofits they care about
Here Types of Volunteer Opportunities You Can Offer:
In-person volunteering – Hands-on activities such as event support, mentoring, or community service.
Virtual volunteering – Remote opportunities like social media support, grant writing, or virtual mentoring.
Skills-based volunteering – Employees can contribute expertise in areas such as marketing, IT, legal services, or finance.
Learn more about how to create volunteer opportunities on page 6 in our eBook How to Connect with Donor & Volunteers Through the Benevity Causes Portal.
6. Align With Awareness Days & Giving Season
Boost your fundraising success by aligning campaigns with awareness days and the holiday giving season, when many companies offer matching donations and increased support.
Awareness days help attract donors and highlight your mission. Many companies use Benevity’s Annual Goodness Calendar to find key dates and support nonprofits through matching, fundraising, and volunteering. For example, an environmental nonprofit can leverage Earth Day (April 22) to promote conservation, while a food security nonprofit might use World Hunger Day (May 28) to raise funds. Please note that the Goodness Calendar is only available internally to clients.
Giving Season, especially Giving Tuesday, is Benevity’s busiest giving period. To maximize impact, start preparing early—by September, update your profile, create engaging content, and highlight key projects. Learn more about how to get ready for Giving Season here.
Overall, strategic alignment with awareness days and Giving Season increases visibility, engagement, and donor support.
7. Add sub-users to your Account
User accounts are intended for individual use, and sharing login credentials is strictly prohibited and a violation of Benevity's Causes Terms of Use. Adding sub-users ensures that each team member has their own secure access, promoting better collaboration, security, and compliance. If your nonprofit has multiple team members managing donations, fundraising projects, or volunteer programs, you can grant them access by adding sub-users to your Benevity account.
How to add sub-users:
- Sign in to the Causes Portal
- Select Cause Profile
- Select Manage Subusers > Create New Subuser
- Enter the subusers email, choose a username and password, and select the role(s) you wish to assign the subuser
- Select Create Subuser
Learn more about adding another user to your account.
8. Connect with donors & volunteers with our eBook
Maximize your nonprofit’s success on Benevity Causes Portal by leveraging our expert resources and best practices. Our eBook How to Connect with Donors & Volunteers Through the Benevity Causes Portal provides step-by-step instructions on optimizing your profile, engaging with corporate partners, and increasing donations. This guide is also available in the following languages:
- French: Comment etablir un lien avec les donateurs et les benevoles par le biais de la plateforme Benevity
- German: Wie Sie über das Benevity Causes Portal mit Spendern und freiwilligen Helfern in Kontakt treten
- Spanish: Cómo conectar con donantes y voluntarios a través del Benevity Causes Portal
By completing these post-registration steps, your nonprofit will be well-positioned to attract corporate donors, engage volunteers, and maximize fundraising efforts. The Benevity Causes Portal is a powerful tool for growing your impact, and with an optimized profile, you can connect with the world’s biggest companies and build meaningful partnerships that support your mission.