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Your Onboarding Journey

Here’s exactly what happens after your charity applies — the five stages, who does what at each one, and honest durations. The order matters: Your website is built and validated first, live on its free GitHub Pages address — your domain is purchased only after your site is proven, and charity email comes after that. Volunteers do this work, so timelines are typical rather than guaranteed. Your application includes your website content, so a complete application is the biggest factor in how fast a site launches. Curious about the reasoning behind this order? Read why we build your website before buying your domain.

The five-stage Free For Charity onboarding journeyFlow diagram of five stages: 1 Apply (validation and approval), 2 Website (built and validated on GitHub Pages), 3 Domain (free .org bought and pointed at your site), 4 Email (Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace), 5 Ongoing (renewals, DNS and support). An orange funding gate sits between the Website and Domain stages: no money is spent until your website is validated live.

How it works, step by step

  1. Step 1: You apply You

    Complete every required field on your application, copying each answer from the document where you saved it.

    Typical time: About an hour, once your answers are ready

  2. Step 2: We review and approve Free For Charity

    We validate your organization (IRS status or formation documents, Candid profile and officers) and confirm program fit.

    Typical time: Typically a few days

  3. Step 3: We build your site Free For Charity

    A volunteer builds your website from the FFC template using the content on your application. There is nothing else to send.

    Typical time: Typically 2–6 weeks, mostly depending on how complete your application is

  4. Step 4: You get a preview link Free For Charity

    We email you a link to your site, live on its free GitHub Pages address.

    Typical time: As soon as the build is ready

  5. Step 5: You approve your site You

    Review the preview and approve it, or tell us what to change.

    Typical time: Up to you

  6. Step 6: You order your domain You

    Order your free .org (or a transfer) with the coupon from your acceptance email. Checkout shows a $1 verification charge, and the coupon brings it to $0. We register the domain, handle all DNS and point it at your site.

    Typical time: Typically the same week

  7. Step 7: Charity email Free For Charity

    For 501(c)(3) charities: free Microsoft 365 (Business Basic) or Google Workspace through the nonprofit programs; we add the DNS records. Pre-501(c)(3) groups get charity email only after their 501(c)(3) is approved; until then, use a free yourcharityname@gmail.com or @outlook.com address.

    Typical time: Typically a few days, depending on Microsoft or Google

Times are typical, not promises: we’re all volunteers.

The five stages in detail

  1. 1. Application & validation

    Approval here is the gate for every later stage.

    You:
    Complete every required field on the onboarding application: your legal name, EIN, Candid profile, charity Facebook and LinkedIn Pages, your Chair, Secretary and Treasurer (each with a working LinkedIn profile, and all three agreeing to appear on your website), your website maintainer’s GitHub username, your domain, and your website content (template, tagline, descriptions and first program). Demand for this free service is high, so we need every required field completed to review applications fairly. Have your IRS determination letter handy (pre-501c3 orgs: your formation documents).
    FFC:
    We validate your organization (IRS status, Candid profile) and confirm program fit. Every later stage requires this approval first.
    Typical duration:
    Typically a few days

    Which application is yours? →

    The 501(c)(3) application, field by field →

    The pre-501(c)(3) application, field by field →

  2. 2. Website — built and proven first

    Your validated live site is the funding gate: it unlocks the domain purchase in stage 3.

    You:
    Nothing extra to submit: your application already included your website content. Review the preview link we email you and approve it (or tell us what to change). Your maintainer accepts the GitHub invitation and, if you didn’t include a logo link, uploads your logo through the first “Add your logo” issue.
    FFC:
    Right after approval, a volunteer builds your site from the FFC template (fast, secure static hosting) using the content in your application, with the full FFC footer generated from your validated application data. Your site goes live on its free GitHub Pages address — no custom domain yet — and we email you a preview link.
    Typical duration:
    Typically 2–6 weeks, mostly depending on how complete your application is

    How FFC delivers services →

  3. 3. Domain — only after your site is proven

    Unlocked only after your website is validated live on GitHub Pages.

    You:
    Once you approve your preview, order your free .org domain (the one you named on your application) using the coupon in your onboarding acceptance email — or, if you already own a domain, request a transfer instead. Checkout shows a $1 verification charge, and the coupon brings it to $0. You can check name availability any time; we buy once your site is validated.
    FFC:
    Once your website is validated, we spend the funds: we register (and pay for) the best available name, or take over management of your existing domain, set up DNS and security, and point it at your live site. We handle all DNS; you never need to edit it.
    Typical duration:
    Typically the same week your site is approved

    Guide: choosing your .org domain →

  4. 4. Email

    Comes after the domain — the nonprofit email programs require a live website before they approve your 501(c)(3).

    You:
    Choose Microsoft 365 (Business Basic) or Google Workspace, then register with Microsoft for Nonprofits or Google for Nonprofits and tell us when the DNS verification codes appear. Both nonprofit email programs require a live website before they approve your 501(c)(3) — which is exactly why your website comes first. Pre-501(c)(3) groups get charity email only after their 501(c)(3) is approved; until then, use a free yourcharityname@gmail.com or @outlook.com address.
    FFC:
    We add the DNS records so your free Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace mailboxes go live, and confirm MFA is on.
    Typical duration:
    Typically a few days, depending on Microsoft or Google’s validation

    Guide: free Microsoft 365 email →

    Guide: free Google Workspace email →

  5. 5. Handoff & ongoing support

    No gate — ongoing once you are live.

    You:
    Learn where to send changes and questions; add the trust-builders (Candid seal, donation form) when ready.
    FFC:
    We keep the domain renewed, DNS secure, and hosting healthy — and help with changes and fixes as volunteers are available.
    Typical duration:
    Ongoing

    All guides →

Deep dives for every prerequisite

Stuck on a specific application item — mission statement, board requirements, public contact info, getting to 501(c)(3), or fiscal sponsorship? Every field on each application has a step-by-step entry, with in-depth help pages, on its application page: the 501(c)(3) application or the pre-501(c)(3) application. Demand for our free services is high, so we need every required field completed to review applications fairly and quickly.

How we communicate

Support happens over email and text with real volunteers. We’re all volunteers, so there is no guaranteed response time; if a message seems to have fallen through, please nudge us rather than wait. Everything you can prepare is on the getting-started checklist.