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Installation Guide

This guide will help you install and activate the Growfund plugin on your WordPress site. Follow these steps to get started with your fundraising platform.

Prerequisites​

Before installing Growfund, ensure your WordPress site meets the following requirements:

System Requirements​

  • WordPress: Version 5.9 or higher
  • PHP: Version 7.4 or higher (PHP 8.0+ recommended)
  • MySQL: Version 5.7 or higher, or MariaDB 10.3 or higher
  • Memory Limit: 256MB minimum (512MB recommended)
  • Upload Limit: 64MB minimum for file uploads

Server Requirements​

  • HTTPS: Required for payment gateway integration (Stripe, PayPal)
  • SSL Certificate: Recommended for secure transactions
  • cURL: Required for API communication with payment gateways
  • OpenSSL: Required for secure payment processing

Installation Methods​

Growfund can be installed using one of the following methods:

This is the easiest method for most users:

  1. Log in to WordPress Admin

    • Navigate to your WordPress admin dashboard
    • Use administrator credentials to log in

  2. Navigate to Plugins

    • In the left sidebar, click on Plugins
    • Click Add New

  3. Upload the Plugin

    • Click Upload Plugin button at the top of the page
    • Click Choose File and select the growfund.zip file
    • Click Install Now

  4. Activate the Plugin

    • After installation, click Activate Plugin
    • The plugin is now active on your site

Method 2: FTP Upload​

If you prefer to upload the plugin manually via FTP:

  1. Extract the Plugin

    • Extract the growfund.zip file on your computer
    • You should see a folder named growfund

  2. Connect via FTP

    • Connect to your WordPress site using an FTP client (FileZilla, Cyberduck, etc.)
    • Navigate to /wp-content/plugins/ directory

  3. Upload the Plugin

    • Upload the entire growfund folder to /wp-content/plugins/
    • Ensure folder permissions are set correctly (typically 755)

  4. Activate the Plugin

    • Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard
    • Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins
    • Find Growfund in the list
    • Click Activate

Method 3: WordPress CLI​

For advanced users with WordPress CLI access:

wp plugin install growfund.zip --activate

Post-Installation Steps​

After successfully installing and activating Growfund, follow these steps:

1. Verify Installation​

  • Check that the Growfund menu appears in your WordPress admin sidebar
  • Verify that no error messages appear in the WordPress admin dashboard
  • Check the plugin status on the Plugins page

2. Run Initial Setup​

  • Navigate to Growfund > Settings in the admin menu
  • Complete the initial setup wizard (if available)
  • Configure basic settings as described in the Getting Started Guide

3. Check System Status​

  • Visit Growfund > Settings > System Status (if available)
  • Verify that all system requirements are met
  • Check for any warnings or recommendations

4. Database Setup​

Growfund automatically creates necessary database tables upon activation. The plugin will:

  • Create custom database tables for campaigns, donations, pledges, and transactions
  • Set up default settings and configurations
  • Initialize user roles and capabilities

Note: No manual database setup is required. The plugin handles this automatically.

Installing Growfund Pro​

If you have purchased Growfund Pro, follow these steps to install it:

  1. Install the Core Plugin First

    • Ensure the free Growfund plugin is installed and activated
    • Do not deactivate the core plugin

  2. Install Growfund Pro

    • Follow the same installation methods described above
    • Upload and activate the growfund-pro.zip file

  3. Activate License

    • Navigate to Growfund > Settings > License
    • Enter your license key
    • Click Activate License

  4. Verify Pro Features

    • Check that Pro features are now available
    • Look for Pro-specific menu items and options

Important: Growfund Pro requires the core Growfund plugin to be active. Do not deactivate the core plugin while using Pro features.

Troubleshooting Installation​

Common Issues​

Issue: Plugin won't activate

  • Solution: Check PHP version compatibility (requires PHP 7.4+)
  • Solution: Verify WordPress version (requires 5.9+)
  • Solution: Check file permissions (ensure plugin directory is writable)

Issue: "Fatal error" during activation

  • Solution: Check PHP error logs for specific error messages
  • Solution: Verify all server requirements are met
  • Solution: Contact your hosting provider if issues persist

Issue: Database tables not created

  • Solution: Ensure database user has CREATE TABLE permissions
  • Solution: Check database connection settings in wp-config.php
  • Solution: Manually refresh by deactivating and reactivating the plugin

Issue: Payment gateways not working

  • Solution: Verify HTTPS is enabled on your site
  • Solution: Check that cURL is enabled on your server
  • Solution: Verify SSL certificate is valid

Getting Help​

If you encounter issues during installation:

  1. Check the Troubleshooting Guide for common solutions
  2. Verify all system requirements are met
  3. Check WordPress error logs and PHP error logs
  4. Contact your hosting provider for server-related issues
  5. Reach out to Growfund support for plugin-specific issues

Next Steps​

After successful installation:

  1. Read the Getting Started Guide for initial configuration
  2. Learn about Core Platform Modes to choose your operational mode
  3. Configure Payment System to accept donations
  4. Set up User Management for your team

Uninstallation​

If you need to uninstall Growfund:

  1. Deactivate the Plugin

    • Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins
    • Click Deactivate under Growfund

  2. Delete Plugin Data (Optional)

    • Navigate to Growfund > Settings > Advanced
    • Check the option to delete all data on uninstall (if available)
    • This will remove all campaigns, donations, and settings

  3. Delete the Plugin

    • Click Delete under the deactivated plugin
    • Confirm deletion

Warning: Deleting plugin data is permanent and cannot be undone. Ensure you have backups before proceeding.

Note: Always backup your WordPress site before installing or updating plugins.