Non-profit launch checklist #

Work through this before the site, or a relaunch, goes live. Each line links to the page that explains it. For the technical details of going live, the website creator also uses the Launch checklist.

Contents #

1. Ownership and access
2. Hosting and technology
3. Donations
4. Forms and volunteers
5. Newsletter and communications
6. Accessibility
7. Transparency and privacy
8. People and routine
9. Sign-off

Ownership and access #

• To do: Domain registered in the organization's name; two people can manage it.
• To do: Hosting contract in the organization's name.
• To do: At least two administrator accounts, with two-factor login (Two-factor login).
• To do: Default administrator password changed (Default administrator password).
• To do: Every editor has a personal account in the right group (Roles and permissions worksheet).

Hosting and technology #

• To do: Requirements confirmed with the host (Low-budget hosting).
• To do: HTTPS on every page; HTTP redirects (Going live: hosts and HTTPS).
• To do: Cron runs, including the frequent group (Cronjobs).
• To do: With SQLite: the database file is not downloadable (SQLite and Velocity).
• To do: Backups of database, storage and settings run; one restore tested (Backups and updates routine).
• To do: Own [HTMLForms] Secret set (Spam protection for volunteer forms).
• To do: Mail sending tested.

Donations #

• To do: Route chosen and written down (Donation options at a glance).
• To do: Giving page complete (The giving page).
• To do: External platform: link and return page tested; or shop: sandbox and a small live gift tested.
• To do: Receipts agreed with the accountant.
• To do: Donate page editable only by named staff.

Forms and volunteers #

• To do: Volunteer form built from the approved worksheet (Volunteer form field worksheet).
• To do: CAPTCHA on public forms; tested logged out, including its accessible alternative.
• To do: Receivers are shared mailboxes; redirect to thank-you pages.
• To do: infocollector/read only for coordinators.

Newsletter and communications #

• To do: cjw_newsletter lists created; rehearsal with file transport done; real sending tested (Supporter newsletter).
• To do: Subscribe link in the footer and on thank-you pages.
• To do: Event calendar set up, if used (Events and calendars).
• To do: Feeds for news and publications (Open data, RSS and REST).
• To do: Social sharing metadata checked.

Accessibility #

• To do: Templates checked (Accessibility basics).
• To do: Key pages tested with the keyboard and an automated checker.
• To do: Accessibility statement published (Accessibility statement).

Transparency and privacy #

• To do: Who we are, legal name and registration details shown.
• To do: Latest annual publication and financial statements online (Annual publications as downloads).
• To do: Privacy notice names every processor (Donor and volunteer data protection).
• To do: Cookie and analytics decisions taken (Measuring outcomes).
• To do: Data protection checklist completed.

People and routine #

• To do: Editors trained (Training volunteer editors).
• To do: Approval workflow for new authors, with two approvers.
• To do: Monthly checklist has a name and a date in the calendar (Monthly checklist).
• To do: Starting figures recorded for measures you will report.
• To do: Who to call when the site is down, written down (When to call whom).

Sign-off #

Project owner ............................ date ________
Technical lead ........................... date ________
Data protection contact .................. date ________

Related pages #

• Non-profit checklists
• Non-profit checklist (Businesses)
• Go-live checklist
• Free documentation: this page is free to copy, translate and improve under the GNU FDL 1.3.