FAQ: How to Set a Custom Domain/Custom URL for NPE Pages

FAQ: How to Set a Custom Domain/Custom URL for NPE Pages

1. A Custom Domain is a unique branded name that identifies a website. For example, NationBuilder's custom domain is nationbuilder.com. Custom domains, also known as vanity URL's, appear in the address bar at the top of every browser. Its called DNS (Domain Name System). Custom domain can give you improved exposure on search engines and are easier to promote. 
2.  Generally, the URL for CRM website integrations that use our Pages feature are formatted as "crm.nonprofiteasy.com/[client ID #]/Pages/Fundraising/[fundraising page name/id]". If you would like to mask this URL and provide a custom URL that makes Pages appear as if they are part of your site (something like www.yourorg.org/fundraising, you can do this by purchasing the custom domain add-on through NPE.
3. The custom domain option involves you creating a sub-domain within your website domain settings; then, point that sub-domain's DNS to our server so that your NPE pages appear to load on your sub-domain's URL.
4. To begin, go to your account settings (click the drop down next to your user name in the upper right corner of the screen and select "Account." Then select "My Account").
5. Scroll down until you see the Custom Domain option and then click Activate next to it.
6. The credit card on file will instantly be charged the $199 Custom Domain annual fee.
7. A notification will be sent to NPE support that you have purchased the Custom Domain option. You can then either email support@fundly.com to follow up or wait for Fundly support staff to reach out to you for the next steps.
8. To configure the Custom Domain, you will have to provide us with the information below:
   • You will need to configure a sub-domain in your host provider and we will need your sub-domain URL; the sub-domain needs to have it's own SSL certificate. 
   • SSL Certificate (.PFX file) - An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates a website's identity and enables an encrypted connection. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, a security protocol that creates an encrypted link between a web server and a web browser. To know how to find the SSL certificate click here.
   •  (SSL) Thumbprint - A certificate thumbprint, also called a fingerprint, is a hash of a certificate, computed over all certificate data and its signature. Thumbprints are used as unique identifiers for certificates, in applications when making trust decisions, in configuration files, and displayed in interfaces. To know how to get the thumbprint click here.
   • SSL Password - the password used to access the SSL.
   • If you are renewing your Custom Domain with us, then we will need to have your Domain access and DNS hosting access.
9. Once you provide the information above, our technical team will install the SSL certificate on our server.
10. Once the SSL certificate is installed on our server, you will need to point your sub-domain's DNS to our IP address at: 20.49.104.42.
11. Then, when people go to your NPE pages, the URL will show as the custom URL/sub-domain URL you have provided, rather than the "true" page address ("crm.nonprofiteasy.com/#/etc.")