Charitable Documentation

Learn how to make the most of Charitable with clear, step-by-step instructions.

How to Add a Donate Link to Your Menu

If you would like to add a Donate link or button in your menu, there are a couple ways of achieving this.

Option 1: Link to a separate donation page

You can add a link to your donation page while editing your menu at Appearance Menus.

In the left hand column, look for the “Custom Links” option. In the “URL” field, add the link to your donation page; in the “Link text” field, add your menu item text:

Option 2: Open the donation form in a modal

It is also possible to have your donation form open automatically in a modal window, but it requires a little bit of custom code and another plugin.

Step 1: Install “Shortcode in Menus”

To do this, you will need to install and activate a plugin called Shortcode in Menus. Download it from WordPress.org or search for it via PluginsAdd New.

Step 2: Add a custom shortcode

Next, you will need to add a custom shortcode to your site. This shortcode can be used on any page of your site and will display a donate button that, when clicked, will open a modal with the donation form.

You will need to add the following code to your site:

/**
 * To add a shortcode to display a campaign's donate button, include this function below.
 *
 * @param  array $atts User-defined shortcode attributes.
 * @return string
 */
function ed_charitable_campaign_donate_button_shortcode( $atts ) {
	if ( ! array_key_exists( 'campaign_id', $atts ) ) {
		return '';
	}

	// Get the campaign.
	$campaign = charitable_get_campaign( $atts['campaign_id'] );

	// Add the donate modal window to the footer. This is invisible until the button is clicked.
	add_action( 'wp_footer', function() use ( $campaign ) {
		charitable_template( 'campaign/donate-modal-window.php', array( 'campaign' => $campaign ) );
	} );

	ob_start();

	// Render the donate button.
	charitable_template_donate_button( $campaign );

	// Load scripts that are required for the modal to work.
	Charitable_Public::get_instance()->enqueue_donation_form_scripts();

	return ob_get_clean();
}

add_shortcode( 'charitable_donate_button', 'ed_charitable_campaign_donate_button_shortcode' );

View the guide below to see how to add customizations like this to your site.

Now that you have added this, you can display a donate button anywhere using the following shortcode:

[charitable_donate_button campaign_id=123]

Just replace 123 with the ID of your campaign.

Step 3: Add it to your menu

Under Appearance Menus, look for the “Shortcode” box. If you don’t see it, click on “Screen Options” and make sure that “Shortcode” is checked.

In the Shortcode field’s main text area (not the “Title” field), add your shortcode, just like shown above.

Still have questions? We’re here to help!

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Campaigns New

🧡 Modal Donate Button: Turn Any Click into a Contribution

Instead of redirecting users to a new URL, the lightweight Modal Donation Button allows donors to complete their gift in a sleek, focused popup, keeping them engaged with your content while they support your cause.

What’s New:

  • Zero-Friction Giving: Open your donation form in a responsive modal overlay. Donors stay on the same page, reducing drop-off.

  • 🖱️ Place it Anywhere: Use the dedicated WordPress block or a simple shortcode to drop a donate button into sidebars, footers, or even mid-sentence in your storytelling.

  • 🎨 Full Design Control: Match your brand perfectly with customizable background colors, hover effects, border radius, and font sizes—all without touching a single line of CSS.

Whether you need a simple “Donate Now” link or a high-converting popup button, the Modal Donate Button gives you the flexibility to raise more with less effort.

donation form Donations New

💵 Mini Donation Widget: Show The Impact Of Every Dollar!

Not every donor who wants to give will navigate to your campaign page. Meet them exactly where they are by placing a fully functional giving experience directly on any page or post.

💬 Show the impact of every dollar: Attach custom messages to each preset amount so donors understand exactly what their gift provides.
🔄 Monthly and one-time giving: Supports a tabbed interface with independent amounts and impact statements for recurring giving programs.
🎨 Match your brand: Easily set accent colors and control size or alignment to fit the widget naturally into your layout without CSS.
⚡ Reduce donor friction: Open the donation form in a modal overlay to keep donors on the page and reduce drop-off.

Donations Live New

👉🏻 Showcase Real Momentum with the Donations Feed

Give your donors a reason to trust. Our new feed lets you display a living, breathing record of people showing up for your cause.

🤝 Build instant trust: Overcome donor hesitation by showing a proven track record of community support.
💬 Highlight donor stories: Display real donor comments and locations to show the human side of your fundraising.
🛠️ Drop it anywhere: Easily add the block to your homepage, campaign pages, or confirmation screens in seconds.
📈 Curate your feed: Group multiple donations from the same person or sort by highest amounts to encourage larger gifts.

Campaigns New

🎨 Campaign Showcase: Pro Level Display, No Coding Needed.

Display your causes with style and make it easier than ever for donors to find the right campaign. We are excited to announce the brand-new Campaign Showcase, a powerful, no-code tool designed to help you create beautiful, high-converting campaign grids and carousels.

The Ultimate Discovery Experience

Your mission deserves to be seen. With the Campaign Showcase, you can move beyond simple lists and create dynamic displays that highlight your most urgent needs, helping donors connect with the causes they care about most.

⚡ No-Code Customization: Effortlessly change layouts, columns, and styles with a single click. Whether you want a clean grid or an interactive carousel, you can match your organization’s look without any CSS or JavaScript.

🎯 Advanced Search & Filter: Empower your supporters with real-time filtering. Donors can quickly sort through campaigns by tags, popularity, or “ending soon,” making it easy to find exactly where their help is needed.

💰 Quick Donate Integration: Boost your conversions with instant giving. The Showcase allows donors to contribute via a modal popup directly from the display, featuring pre-selected amounts for a faster, friction-free experience.

Addon New

🤯 New Addon: Campaign Updates

Keep your supporters informed and engaged with every step of your progress! Share the ongoing impact of your mission and build lasting trust with your donor community!

The Ultimate Engagement Tool

Fundraising is a journey, not a one-time event. Now, you can easily provide real-time updates directly on your campaign pages, ensuring your donors stay connected to the causes they care about most.

📣 Easy Storytelling: Quickly post text updates, milestones, or field reports to show exactly how donations are being put to work, keeping the momentum alive throughout your fundraiser.

🏗️ Visual Builder Integration: Seamlessly add the Updates block anywhere on your page using our drag-and-drop builder, or use a simple shortcode to display news in widgets and sidebars.

📩 Build Donor Trust: By consistently sharing progress and success stories, you create a transparent giving experience that encourages recurring support and deeper community involvement.