WordPress Developer Needed: Nonprofit Application Portal - March 1 Deadline
About Empower Her Village We are a newly established 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Charlotte, NC, dedicated to supporting single mothers with children. We bridge the gap between insufficient government assistance and the resources mothers need to thrive. Website: (currently live with basic homepage) Nonprofit in Charlotte, NC needs an experienced WordPress developer to build a secure multi-step application portal for beneficiaries to apply for support services. Website: (basic homepage live) HARD DEADLINE: Launch March 15, 2026 CRITICAL REQUIREMENTS ⭐ You MUST Have: ✅ Portfolio with 3+ nonprofit sites (provide live URLs) ✅ At least 1 site with a custom application/intake portal (not just contact forms) ✅ Demonstrable backend experience (admin dashboard, file management, status tracking) ✅ Gravity Forms OR WPForms expertise (multi-step, conditional logic, file uploads) ✅ Stripe integration experience (preferably nonprofit rates) ✅ Availability to start Feb 5 and launch Feb 28 ⚠️ DO NOT APPLY IF: ❌ You only have basic WordPress/theme customization experience ❌ You cannot show a live application portal you've built ❌ You cannot start immediately or meet the March 1 deadline ❌ You cannot provide a fixed-rate bid with milestone breakdown PHASE 1 SCOPE 1. Government Resources Hub Page Educational content page with federal/state program directory FAQ section, mobile-responsive, Google Analytics 2. Secure Application Portal ⭐ CORE DELIVERABLE 6-Step Multi-Step Form: Personal info → Household data → Government assistance history → Service needs → Documents → Consent Save & resume functionality Secure file uploads (PDF/JPG/PNG, 5MB max, encrypted storage) Auto-generated reference numbers (EHV-2026-00001) Conditional logic and field validation Email notifications (applicant + admin, branded templates) PDF summary of completed application Mobile-responsive with progress indicators 3. Application Status Tracking Portal ⭐ CORE DELIVERABLE Client Side: Public page where applicants check status by reference # + email Display status: Submitted → Under Review → Approved/Denied/On Hold Admin Backend: View all applications in WordPress dashboard Click into applications to view details and download files Change status via dropdown (triggers email to applicant) Search/filter by status, date, name Add internal notes 4. Donation Page Stripe integration (nonprofit account provided) One-time/recurring options, preset amounts Automated tax receipt emails 5. Legal Pages & Core Updates Format 4 legal pages (content provided) Contact form, cookie banner, Google Analytics 4 XML sitemap, basic SEO, social meta tags 6. Design & Branding Apply brand colors (teal #29A29D, coral #F05A28) Typography (Montserrat, Open Sans) Logo integration (6 variations provided) Consistent button/form styling 7. Security & Accessibility File security: encrypted storage, admin-only access, tokenized downloads SSL, input sanitization, login limits, security plugin setup WCAG 2.1 Level A: keyboard navigation, alt text, color contrast, ARIA labels 8. Testing & Launch Cross-browser/mobile testing Form submission testing (all paths) File upload testing, email notifications Page speed optimization (90+ target) 1-hour admin training + documentation 2 weeks post-launch bug fixes TECHNICAL ENVIRONMENT Hosting: Hostinger (cPanel provided) Form Plugin: Gravity Forms Elite OR WPForms Pro (specify which) Payment: Stripe nonprofit account CMS: WordPress (latest version) HOW TO APPLY Your Proposal MUST Include: 1. Fixed-Rate Bid Total price for complete Phase 1 scope Milestone breakdown (e.g., Week 1: $X, Week 2: $X) Specify what's delivered at each milestone Clarify if plugin licenses are included or billed separately 2. Portfolio ⭐ MANDATORY 3 live nonprofit site URLs Identify which site has an application portal and describe: What the admin backend can do (view submissions, change status, download files?) What applicants can do (submit forms, track status, upload documents?) Be prepared to demonstrate the backend during interview 3. Technical Approach Gravity Forms or WPForms? Why? How will you implement save & resume? How will you secure file uploads (storage location, encryption, access control)? How will you generate auto-reference numbers? How will you build the status tracking portal? 4. Timeline Week-by-week plan (Feb 5 → Feb 28) Any risks to March 1 deadline? 5. Experience Describe 1 project where you built a multi-step form with file uploads Describe 1 project where you integrated Stripe payments Describe 1 project where you built custom admin functionality (viewing submissions, changing statuses) 6. Availability Confirm start date (Feb 5) and launch date (Feb 28) Timezone and daily availability for 15-30 min check-ins References: 2 contacts from previous nonprofit/application projects SELECTION PROCESS Feb 3-4: Review proposals, shortlist 3-5 candidates Feb 4-5: Apply To This Job