Welcome to Give Protocol! Now that you’ve created your account and connected your wallet, let’s walk through your first steps to start making an impact.

Getting Oriented

Your Dashboard

Your dashboard is your home base on Give Protocol. Here you’ll find:

• Account overview and balance
• Recent activity and transaction history
• Recommended organizations based on your interests
• Quick actions for common tasks

Navigation Menu

Familiarize yourself with the main sections:

• Discover: Browse organizations and campaigns
• My Activity: Track your donations and volunteering
• Wallet: Manage your connected wallets and assets
• Settings: Customize your account and preferences

Making Your First Donation

Step 1: Find an Organization

1. Click “Discover” in the main navigation
2. Browse by category (Education, Health, Environment, etc.)
3. Use the search bar to find specific causes
4. Filter by location if you prefer local organizations
5. Check verification badges for trusted organizations

Step 2: Review Organization Profile

Before donating, review:

• Mission statement and goals
• Impact metrics and achievements
• Financial transparency and fund usage
• Recent updates and news
• Verification status and credentials

Step 3: Choose Donation Amount

1. Click “Donate” on the organization’s page
2. Select cryptocurrency (ETH, USDC, MATIC, etc.)
3. Enter donation amount
4. Choose network (Polygon for lower fees)
5. Review transaction details

Step 4: Complete Transaction

1. Click “Donate Now”
2. Confirm in your wallet (MetaMask, etc.)
3. Wait for confirmation (usually 1-3 minutes)
4. Receive confirmation email and receipt

Setting Up Recurring Donations

Make consistent impact with automated giving:

Benefits of Recurring Giving

• Consistent support for organizations
• Automatic donations without manual effort
• Better tax planning with predictable giving
• Increased impact through sustained funding

How to Set Up

1. Visit your chosen organization’s page
2. Click “Set Up Recurring Donation”
3. Choose frequency: Weekly, Monthly, or Quarterly
4. Set amount for each donation
5. Select start date and duration
6. Authorize smart contract in your wallet

Managing Recurring Donations

• View all subscriptions in your dashboard
• Pause or cancel anytime
• Modify amounts or frequency
• Track total giving over time

Exploring Volunteer Opportunities

If you have time to offer, not just money:

Finding Opportunities

1. Go to “Volunteer” section
2. Filter by skills (Marketing, Development, Design, etc.)
3. Choose remote or local opportunities
4. Select time commitment (One-time, Ongoing, Project-based)

Applying to Volunteer

1. Read opportunity details carefully
2. Check requirements and qualifications
3. Submit application with relevant experience
4. Wait for organization response
5. Complete background check if required

Time Tracking

• Log hours through the platform
• Get verification from organizations
• Build volunteer resume with verified experience
• Earn recognition badges for milestones

Understanding Transaction Fees

Network Fees

• Polygon: Usually $0.01-0.10 per transaction
• Ethereum: $5-50 depending on network congestion
• Platform Fee: 2.5% of donation amount

Fee Optimization Tips

• Use Polygon network for smaller donations
• Time transactions during low congestion periods
• Batch multiple donations when possible
• Monitor gas prices with tracking tools

Tax Receipt Management

Automatic Receipts

• Generated automatically for all donations
• Sent to registered email address
• Available in dashboard for download
• Compliant with tax regulations in your jurisdiction

Tax Planning

• Track annual giving in your dashboard
• Set giving goals for tax optimization
• Download year-end summaries
• Consult tax advisor for complex situations

Security Best Practices

Account Security

• Enable two-factor authentication immediately
• Use strong, unique passwords
• Review account activity regularly
• Update contact information when needed

Wallet Security

• Never share private keys or seed phrases
• Verify transaction details before confirming
• Use hardware wallets for large amounts
• Keep wallet software updated

Donation Safety

• Verify organization credentials before donating
• Start with small amounts to test
• Double-check wallet addresses
• Be cautious of urgent requests

Building Your Profile

Public Profile

• Add profile picture and bio
• Share your giving interests
• Connect social media accounts (optional)
• Set privacy preferences

Privacy Settings

• Control profile visibility
• Manage donation history sharing
• Set communication preferences
• Configure notification settings

Tracking Your Impact

Dashboard Metrics

• Total donations made
• Number of organizations supported
• Volunteer hours contributed
• Impact stories from recipients

Sharing Your Impact

• Generate impact reports
• Share on social media
• Invite friends to join
• Create giving challenges

Common First-Time Mistakes to Avoid

Donation Mistakes

• Not checking verification status of organizations
• Sending to wrong network (ETH vs Polygon)
• Insufficient gas fees causing failed transactions
• Not saving tax receipts

Security Mistakes

• Not enabling 2FA immediately
• Sharing wallet information with others
• Not backing up seed phrases properly
• Ignoring security warnings

Planning Mistakes

• Not setting giving budgets
• Impulse donations without research
• Not tracking donations for taxes
• Forgetting to update contact info

Getting Help and Support

Self-Service Resources

• Help Center - Comprehensive guides
• FAQ - Common questions
• Community Forums - Peer support
• Video Tutorials - Step-by-step guides

Contact Support

• Email: support@giveprotocol.org
• Response time: Within 24 hours
• Live chat: Available during business hours
• Urgent issues: Priority support for security concerns

Joining the Community

Connect with Others

• Community Forums - Discussions and Q&A
• Social Media - Follow for updates
• Local meetups - In-person events (where available)
• Online events - Webinars and virtual meetups

Contributing to the Platform

• Provide feedback on features
• Report bugs or issues
• Suggest improvements
• Help other users in forums

Setting Long-Term Goals

Giving Goals

• Annual giving targets
• Cause-specific allocations
• Impact measurement objectives
• Tax optimization planning

Volunteer Goals

• Skill development targets
• Time commitment goals
• Cause area focus
• Leadership opportunities

Next Steps

Now that you’ve completed your first steps:

1. Explore Organizations - Find more causes
2. Learn About Verification - Understand trust signals
3. Join User Guides - Role-specific information
4. Understand Fees - Optimize your donations

Congratulations on taking your first steps with Give Protocol! You’re now part of a global community working to make charitable giving more transparent, efficient, and impactful.

Quick Reference

Essential Actions

• ✓ Create account and verify email
• ✓ Connect cryptocurrency wallet
• ✓ Enable two-factor authentication
• ✓ Make first donation
• ✓ Set up recurring giving (optional)
• ✓ Complete profile
• ✓ Join community

Important Links

• Dashboard: Your home base
• Discover: Find organizations
• Wallet: Manage funds
• Settings: Customize account
• Help: Get support

Welcome to the future of charitable giving!