Documentation
Guides, references, and tutorials for setting up and running SocietyPress for your society.
Getting Started
Everything you need for a clean install and a first usable site.
- Install the plugin and theme — via one-click installer or manual upload
- Run the 3-step setup wizard: society info, membership tiers, appearance
- Pick a child theme and tune your colors
- Publish your homepage and add your first event
Member Management
The core of every society website — rosters, dues, directories.
- Add members individually from Members > Add New
- Bulk-import from CSV; duplicates detected by email
- Configure membership tiers with different dues, terms, and benefits
- Support both individual and organizational (corporate) members
- Control per-field privacy in the public member directory
Events & Calendar
From monthly meetings to ticketed workshops and cemetery walks.
- Create events under Events > Add New
- Organize with color-coded categories
- Accept online registrations, with capacity limits and waitlists
- Take payments via Stripe or PayPal for ticketed events
- Publish on a browsable calendar or upcoming-events list widget
- Export to iCal for members' personal calendars
Page Builder
21 drag-and-drop widgets for every public page.
- Edit any page and click Add Widget to insert content blocks
- Widgets include text, image, gallery, hero slider, events list, calendar, member directory, newsletter archive, library catalog, donation form, volunteer opportunities, resource links, and more
- Reorder widgets by drag and drop; each widget has its own settings panel
- Works with every child theme and the design system
Design System
Colors, fonts, and layout — controlled from one panel.
- Seven color pickers for full palette control (primary, accent, text, background, headings, nav, footer)
- Font family and size for body copy, headings, and nav separately
- Live preview iframe — see every change before publishing
- Use the color extractor to pull a palette from your current site
- Export and import designs between sites as single files
Genealogy Tools
Surname databases, record collections, GEDCOM and GENRECORD.
- Create record collections — cemetery indexes, census extractions, marriage registers
- Import from CSV or from GENRECORD-formatted files
- Export anything as GENRECORD for interchange with other societies and software
- Import and export family trees as GEDCOM 5.5 or 7.0
- Members register the surnames they're researching; visiting researchers find connections
- Per-field privacy controls for living individuals
Library & Newsletters
Your society's collection and back issues, always available.
- OPAC-style catalog with call numbers, shelf locations, and circulation
- Cover images pulled automatically from Open Library
- Newsletter archive with automatic cover thumbnails from uploaded PDFs
- Download access restricted to current members
- Both surfaces have public search widgets for the homepage
Donations & Store
Accept support from members and sell society merchandise.
- Donation forms with preset amounts, recurring options, and campaign tracking
- Stripe and PayPal both supported — connect your own accounts, no middleman
- Donation ledger with exports for your treasurer
- Store catalog for polo shirts, lapel pins, printed publications, and other merchandise
- Checkout with Stripe coming in the next release; catalog display works today
Governance & Volunteers
Committees, officers, volunteer hours, and online balloting.
- Create committees and assign officers with title, term, and bio
- Post volunteer opportunities with shift signups and capacity limits
- Log volunteer hours and run annual reports for recognition or grants
- Run board elections with secure, authenticated online ballots and audit trails
Can't find what you need?
Long-form documentation is still being written. In the meantime: try the demo, check the FAQ, or reach out through the community.