Need Info for Website

[RobDog888]

I think this is the best place to post this since its not a programming
issue, yet.

I need to create a website for a fund raiser for a trust account
for a clients child that has Leukemia. This is going to be charatable
time designing the site. So sorry no benefits other than helping
someone in need.

I need the site to be able to either take donations or refer to a
link where they can be made. Also, What would be some good
design concepts for this type of site? Anyone got any good links
to any sites of this type would be greatly appreciated.

I am not website fluent so please be descriptive in your posts.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[dglienna]

PayPal may be a good option. If anyone is familar with Ebay, they will either have, or else know of PayPal.

[RobDog888]

How do I go about setting up a link to paypal/account?
Guess I could contact them.

What are some good elements to have on a site like this?

Make donation $, Definition of what Leukemia is, about the patient, ???

Thanks.

[dglienna]

Info can be found on Ebay's site. My buddy has had an account for a while, but I'm not sure how he set it up. You may also want to set up an bank account that has electronic bill pay. Most can be set up to receive funds. (I just found out that mine does!)
Then, they'd just need the routing number and account number.
This may only work if they have E.B.P., though. Haven't actually tried it. My bank says that funds can be emailed. ???

[RobDog888]

Ok, will research PayPal tonight, but I still need ideas for the
desging layout and content.

Thanks.

[alex_read]

Paypal is probably your best option - just go onto paypal.com & read up on it, they have a section on how this works - you create a webpage that links to them & they take care of all the money handling - the secure webpages where users enter their card numbers, as well as transferring the money to your accounts. They take a little from each transaction this way though, it is minimal, but this is how they make their money.

As well as site design, I'd say you should probably have 2 main links or brief labels on the front screen keeping it nice & simple - submenu's can be added from here, but keeping the main page down to this kind of level: 1 to find out more about the disease & 1 for making donations.

Some example sites:
http://www.makeitclearnow.org/donations.html
http://www.easydonations.net/contacts.htm
http://www.justgive.org/html/ways/ways2.html
http://www.lifebanc.org/

[RobDog888]

Thanks Alex. I also heard about ISP's that can also provide e-commerce
with their webhosting for a minimal charge. Would this be more
professional looking and make the visitor feel better about
donating? I hear that some people wont take the time to set up
a paypal account in order to make a donation.

Thanks for the links. I'm thinking of adding a page to describe the
illness. Also, a page with "directories" of various cancer
organizations, support groups, etc. What do you think?

Thanks.

[alex_read]

When I looked at doing a site like this before I had 2 options I was considering, 1 was paypal & the other was a kit provided by my bank (for business customers though), which alllowed you to add a script to the page & let them handle the credit card checking & taking the money. With the bank way, I had to pay x amount for credit card facilities (i.e. a card machine as well as the kit to take payments online)...

Also, a page with "directories" of various cancer
organizations, support groups, etc. What do you think?

This one made me think reading this - origionally I was going to put that if you gave a link to another cancer organization, that people might donate there instead, but, thinking about it, whether it's from your site or the other organization's, the donation would be going to the same cause, so...

you could kill 2 birds with 1 stone & put up these 3 links (an possibly more) for your users to goto to make the donation, saving you the effort & money of paypal etc.

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/donate/

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/DON/DON_0.asp

http://www.breastcancercampaign.org/...s/donation.asp

[alex_read]

I also heard about ISP's that can also provide e-commerce
with their webhosting for a minimal charge.

That sounds pretty neat - I've never heard of this so can't give any advice/suggestions here but I'd like to read up more on it, do you have any of the companies sites or names which do this?

[RobDog888]

Earthlink e-commerce web hosting
Pricing starting at $34.95 a month.

Thanks for the links.

It turns out that they finally got permission and approval to be a
part of a pre-existing group that will take donations for them.
I think it was Officer Needs Help organization under the LA Sheriffs
Assistance Organization or something like that.

So this will simplify the site considerably.

Another question is that if we are linking to some bone marrow
organizations we do need to get permission to use their logo to
link to their site?

Thanks.

[Ideas Man]

I suggest you also look at some big name websites and see how they design their layout to get some ideas. Microsoft's website IMO looks very nice and is easy to use.

Don't use millions of different colours, keep it simple and not too 'busy' i.e. lots of things happening at once.

[alex_read]

Think you probably know the answer to that! 9 times out of 10 yes! I think if it's trademarked somehow then you need permission, I think that's the rules generally but I'd always ask first....

[dglienna]

Always get their permission in writing, in case they come looking for their share. They may request a portion for the logo, but it will still be worth it. You could reciprocate, and ask for a portion of theirs, too.

[RobDog888]

Thanks guys. I think this is enough to get me started.

I'll be back if I have questions on anything else.