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Steps to Register with CSR Platforms

Published: April 2022
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the authorby Janet Bargewell, GiveDirect Support
Return to Part 1: Don't Miss Out On Employer Matching Gifts

Steps to Register with CSR Platforms

Benevity, CyberGrants, and YourCause are some of the largest CSR software platforms and manage the process for many major companies. There are many other platforms working with medium and smaller sized companies, however. Look into platforms like Bright Funds, Millie, POINT, and Selflessly. These are other effective platforms who will open your organization up to the possibility of matching pledges from many companies. Most of these CSR platforms allow for very easy nonprofit registration, so investigate registering with as many as possible!

Below are some general steps you may need to take to register with some of these platforms.

  1. Find the registration page for each CSR platform
    This is generally quite easy. Try an online search for the name of the platform, "Benevity" "POINT," etc. or "registering my nonprofit with CSR." To make this even easier for you we have included links to some common nonprofit portal registrations here:

  2. Provide required information about your nonprofit
    Each portal may ask for different information for registration These platforms are designed for ease of use and will often include a step-by-step registration, walking you through the process. Knowing what documents may be requested can help save you time during the registration process.

    Common required documents will include your EIN #, a copy of your IRS 501c3 Determination Letter, and your current company address. Some platforms may also offer a Self-Certification document which many companies require for inclusion on their platform. This certification generally requires a representative of your organization to certify to certain items such as anti-discrimination practices and use of funds.

    Some platforms may also require additional financial documentation such as ACH Banking information or a letter from your bank. Optional information may also be requested to further the visibility of your organization on the platform. These items may include Charity Description, Logo, Keywords, and EFT information.

  3. Wait for Approval and Portal Access
    After you have provided the requested information to the platform, they will vet the submitted documentation. Once approved, your organization will be granted access to the CSR online portal where you can manage your nonprofit account.

  4. Set Your Organization Up for Success
    Each CSR Portal is managed differently than the other. This may, obviously, create some headaches and confusion for you as you continue registering with various platforms. We recommend setting the passwords and credentials into these portals with intention. You may wish to set up a common set of login credentials for each platform. You may wish to set up individual users within each platform. Whatever you choose, it's important for you to be able to grant easy access to anyone on your team who many need to utilize the data or information on these portals.

Portal-Specific Tips and Checklist Items for Top CSR Platforms

Each CSR platform is designed differently, which means each solution offers its own unique set of pain points for nonprofits looking to utilize the portal to manage their corporate fundraising.

Here, we've compiled a list of tips and best practices for nonprofit team members looking to get set up with each of the top three corporate giving vendors and overcome common roadblocks.

CyberGrants Portal Management Tips
  • Register your organization with CyberGrants' Front Door (PFD).
  • Designate a universal notification email for ALL correspondences (this should be something like matchinggifts@xyz.org rather than a personal email address).
  • Utilize Gift IDs and Access Codes when trying to locate an account.
  • Leverage the "Donation" tab in Project Front Door for a streamlined verification process.
  • Use the "Need Support?" link at the bottom of every company page for a more timely response.
YourCause Portal Management Tips
  • Register your organization with YourCause's NPOconnect.
  • When checking for notifications, ensure you are under the Head Quarters account rather than a chapter or affiliate account.
  • Utilize the "MY WORKSPACE" tab, as all match requests and notifications will populate here.
  • Employ the "GIVING" and "ALL TRANSACTIONS" tabs to locate any gifts, grants, or donations.
Benevity Portal Management Tips
  • Register your organization with the Benevity Causes Portal.
  • Utilize monthly reports to track your donations and matches effectively.
  • Download the monthly report as a Google Sheet or Excel file for increased accessibility.
  • Designate a single staff member to log in and add or edit your organization's available volunteer opportunities.
  • Create an email template that the staff member can use to request the required information about the volunteer opportunity.
Millie Portal Management Tips
  • Claim your organization with Millie using their online nonprofit application.
  • Using the live profile builder, personalize your nonprofit's page with images, videos, and testimonials.
  • Navigate to your "Dashboard" from the drop-down menu to see a breakdown of your donors.
  • Visit the Millie Knowledge Base for support needs.
POINT Portal Management Tips
  • Create your free account for POINT's online nonprofit portal.
  • Create your own "admin" account first, then add your organization account.
  • Don't forget your EIN (or tax-exempt number. Hint: You can find this on the IRS website here).
  • Choose a few causes your organization supports and add a few sentences about your mission.
  • Use automatically generated reports on POINT to tell a story about your organization to potential donors and supporters.
Remember, as more and more companies utilize online giving portals, the crucial part comes when the afore mentioned Chloe seeks her charity of choice. Will she find your organization? Will your organization be included on the list of groups already approved by the workplace for matching gifts? Will the potential match attract Chloe and encourage her to give even more generously?

Register with the CSR platforms and allow your organization to receive as many matching gifts as possible while also streamlining the processes for Chloe, your team, and those companies looking to make a difference!