Getting Started with CauseHub

1. Welcome to CauseHub

CauseHub is a comprehensive nonprofit management platform designed specifically for Canadian charitable organizations. Whether you're managing donations, coordinating volunteers, running programs, or accessing your portal as a donor or volunteer, CauseHub provides the tools you need while maintaining CRA compliance and PIPEDA privacy standards.

What Makes CauseHub Different

• Built for Canadian Nonprofits: CRA donation receipting, T4A generation, IRCC iCare reporting built-in
• All-in-One Platform: Donations, volunteers, programs, memberships, finance in one system
• Portal-First Design: Donors, volunteers, members, and guardians have self-service portals
• Staff & Admin Tools: Powerful backend for daily operations and reporting
• Compliance Ready: PIPEDA, CASL, AODA, CRA, ASNPO standards built-in

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2. Your First Login

How You Got Your Account

You received your CauseHub account in one of these ways:

Method	Who Gets This	What You Receive
Email Invitation	Admins, Staff, Board Members	Email with login link and password setup instructions
Self-Registration	Donors, Volunteers, Members	You created an account during online donation or registration
Staff Created	Portal Users	Staff member created your account and sent you an invitation

First Login Steps

1. Find Your Welcome Email
   • Check your inbox for an email from your organization
   • Check spam/junk folder if not in inbox
   • The email contains a login link
2. Click the Login Link
   • Links are typically valid for 7 days
   • If expired, request a new invitation from your organization admin
3. Set Your Password
   • Minimum 8 characters required
   • Use a mix of uppercase, lowercase, and numbers
   • Avoid common passwords
4. Log In
   • Enter your email and password
   • You can check "Remember Me" on trusted devices

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3. Understanding Your Role

CauseHub has different interfaces depending on your role. Here's what each role can access:

Backend Roles (Staff & Admin Access)

Role	Who Has This	What You Can Do
Organization Admin	Executive Director, IT Lead	Full system access: settings, user management, all modules
Staff - Operations	Program Coordinators, Admin Assistants	Contacts, donations, volunteers, programs, CRM
Staff - Finance	Bookkeeper, Treasurer	Donations, expenses, budgets, T4As, financial reports

Portal Roles (Self-Service Access)

Portal	What You Can Access
Donor Portal	Dashboard, Donation History, Tax Receipts, Recurring Donations, Profile
Volunteer Portal	Dashboard, Hours Log, Assignments, Documents, Availability, Profile
Member Portal	Dashboard, Renew, Upgrade, Billing, Payments, Membership Card, Profile
Family Portal	Dashboard, Children, Consent Forms, Programs, Documents, Profile
Board Portal	Dashboard, Documents, Programs, Financial Reports (read-only)
Vendor Portal	Dashboard, Submit Invoice, Invoices, Payments, T4A Slips, Profile

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4. Navigating the Platform

For Admins and Staff

When you log in as admin or staff, you'll see the backend interface with these elements:

Element	What It Does
App Switcher Menu	Opens the main menu to switch between modules (Contacts, Donations, Volunteers, etc.)
Search Bar	Global search across all records
User Menu	Your profile, preferences, and logout
Help Button	Access documentation and submit support requests

Main Apps You'll Use

• Contacts: All people and organizations (donors, volunteers, vendors)
• Donations: Record donations, generate receipts, manage funds
• Volunteers: Shifts, hours tracking, skills, screening
• Programs: Youth programs, activities, enrollments, attendance
• CRM: Pipeline for outreach campaigns and grant applications
• Finance: Budgets, expenses, T4As, financial reporting
• Memberships: Membership tiers, renewals, benefits

For Portal Users

Portal users see a simplified interface with:

• Portal Home: Shows cards for each portal you can access
• Left Sidebar: Navigate between sections within your portal
• Top Bar: Organization logo, Help button, User menu
• Main Content: Forms, lists, and dashboards

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5. Your First Tasks

If You're an Organization Admin

First Week Tasks:

1. Verify organization settings (legal name, CRA number, address, logo)
2. Set up at least one donation fund (start with "General Fund")
3. Invite your team members (Settings → Users → Invite)
4. Configure portal access settings for your organization

First Month Tasks:

• Import existing contacts if migrating from another system
• Set up volunteer positions and shifts
• Create program templates for recurring activities
• Review and customize email templates
• Set up approval workflows for expenses

If You're a Staff Member

First Task: Record a Donation

1. Go to the Donations app
2. Click "Record Donation"
3. Select or create the donor contact
4. Enter amount, date, fund, and payment method
5. Save — tax receipt generates automatically for donations $20 or more

First Task: Create a Contact

1. Go to the Contacts app
2. Click "New"
3. Choose Individual or Organization
4. Fill in name, email, phone, and address
5. Add tags for categorization
6. Save

If You're a Portal User

First Steps:

1. From Portal Home, click your portal card (Donor, Volunteer, Member, etc.)
2. Review the Dashboard to see your summary statistics
3. Click through each tab to explore what's available
4. Update your Profile with current contact information
5. Review privacy settings and communication preferences

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6. Getting Help

Documentation

• Role-Specific Guides: Available in this e-Learning hub for every role
• Interactive Courses: Guided walkthroughs with examples
• CRA Compliance Docs: Information about donation receipting and T4A requirements

Support Channels

Channel	Best For	Response Time
Help Button	Feature questions, how-to guides	Immediate (self-service)
Organization Admin	Role/access questions, organization-specific setup	Varies
Support Request	Technical issues, bugs, feature requests	1-2 business days

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7. Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Q: Can I use CauseHub on my phone?
A: Yes! CauseHub is fully responsive. Portal interfaces work well on mobile devices. The admin/staff interface is optimized for desktop but accessible on tablets.

Q: Is my data secure?
A: Yes. CauseHub uses industry-standard encryption, is hosted in Canadian data centers, and is PIPEDA compliant.

Q: Can I export my data?
A: Yes. Admins can export contacts, donations, volunteer hours, and all other data to CSV/Excel at any time.

For Admins and Staff

Q: How do I add more users?
A: Go to Settings → Users → Invite. Enter their email, assign a role, and send the invitation.

Q: Can I customize email templates?
A: Yes. Go to Settings → Email → Templates. All transactional emails can be customized with your branding.

Q: How are tax receipts generated?
A: Tax receipts are automatically generated for eligible donations ($20 or more) when you record them. Donors can download receipts from their portal.

For Portal Users

Q: How do I reset my password?
A: Click "Forgot Password" on the login page. You'll receive a reset link via email.

Q: Can I change my email address?
A: Yes, update it in your Portal Profile or contact your organization admin.

Q: Why can't I see all my past donations/hours?
A: You may only see records created after your portal account was activated. Contact your organization to request historical data be linked to your account.

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