Frequently Asked Questions

Description: We receive a lot of emails from people asking us questions about Wish Foundations and this FAQ is an attempt to answer those questions.

If you are in charge of a Make-A-Wish Foundation or similar organization please add your site to out database here.

Date last updated: 2010 Jan 22nd

Q. Why is this service free?

It is free for 2 reasons.

First of all, we really want a large volume of people to use it, and this is possible only with a free service.

Another reason is that we also get our own “part of the pie” from this service, because in every posting, every blog / article published in our free website system it improves our SEO program and this improvement helps our online community , and that is our ultimate goal. You get GREAT EXPOSURE.

Using our information sharing system not only enables you to share your information, it permits you to get return traffic. By using Links Database to add your website, using our blogging platform to share your information or just posting articles you are permitted to have a link back to your website should you so desire. Please be aware of spam!

So, you see that we are also using this service to improve SEO value of our own sites which is both good for us, and in return good for you. “We both benefit”

Q. Do you plan on accepting new registrations?

Yes. New registrations system is up and running!.

Note: There are significant infrastructure changes that are currently being worked on in order to enhance your public exposure.

Q. How do I register for a new blog?

Register a new blog here! Note: We are comitted on making sure our current bloggers have good service.

Q. Do you host the domain names, or is that my responsibility to transfer that from somewhere?

Currently we only host subdomains “they are free”,  yourname.wishfoundation.com “yourname” meaning the name you choose to be seen before _________.wishfoundation.com! WishFoundation (.com) initial subdomain name and all the additional subdomains / blog names you register, for example: yourothername.wishfoundation.com are all free and will be generated automatically when a new registration is completed.

For other domain names, the individual puchases the domain name from whomever they want (godaddy, dotster, etc.) and then the individual updates the DNS settings for the domain to work with our service.

Likewise, we update the configuration files on our servers. Once everything is complete, the users own website is accessible via their own domain name that the individual owns. “Your own Cpanel, / webmail etc.” More on this service coming soon.

To use your own domain name with our service you do not have to transfer a domain to us, nor do you have to buy a domain name from us. You just have to point your domain to provided DNS entries.

This is fairly rare, very few free blog hosting services allow the use of domain names.

NOTE: By hosting your domain name with us, we will see that you get extra exposure from wishfoundation.com’s TLD “Top Level Domain Name’s” popularity.

Q. Do you have a basic framework for blogging (a skeleton-ish version of Blog templates I guess) or is that all programmed by individual users?

No, We use a free open source blogging  platform. The platform we are running is “WPMU” Word Press Multi User platform.

There are hundreds of “themes” available for use with WordPress, these themes give your site a unique look and feel (graphic design).
You can also create your own themes! Currently we offer in excess of 100 themes for you to choose from, ALL FREE to registered users!

I have the utmost respect for both the creators of MovableType (and now TypePad) and especially WPMU which is supported by a vibrant and productive community.

Likewise, there are many “plugins” available for use with WP & WPMU, these plugins perform a myriad of functions ranging from spam protectionn to search engine optimization. You can also create your own plugins

Although some of the plugins are free, some will only become available to you if you become a site supporter. Small fee for these pluging. “This helps to pay for our hosting costs.”

Q What is the difference between hosting a blog with wishfoundation.com or hosting it with any other free blogging site?

Although there are many others who also offer a free blogging service, we offer ongoing monitoring of these spaces so that the content is kept under control.

In addition to the above, by using WPMU, the subdomain that you create will be UNIQUE.

It is only fair to mention that wishfoundaion.com will benefit from the additional exposure created by your blogs / site content. Therefore world wide foundations will also get additional exposure in return. “We all thank you!”

Q Should I just go and get a blog from wishfoundation.com?

Probably, they are very good at what they do and they believe that WPMU is the best way to the world of blogging!. Get a blog here now!

Q Are you for real, can this really last?

Yes we are for real, we have no plans for stopping anytime soon.

Q What is up with those commercial links popping up in my weblog?

Those are adsense links to help pay our bandwidth and hosting costs. We pay for bandwith and our server, this cost all comes out of our own pockets.

Today, much of the cost is payed by commercial sponsors.

If you choose to support this by becoming a site supporter “see your cpanel for site supporter link” you will NOT have any banners displayed on your blog!

For a few pennies a day you can become a site supporter and display our site supporter image on your blog. NO BANNERS….

Please note, we are strongly anti-spam, so if you see ANY of our sponsors doing any type of spamming please let us know so we can take approraite action and terminate their sponsorship.

Q How do I get help?

The best place to get help is in your dashsboard. Once you sign up or register “all free” you will be able to login to your own dashboard. Within your dashboard you are provided with help videos & additional FAQ’s and a trouble ticket system that is already in place. In the event that this site does become success, then, there is a possibility of providing you with a dedicated email address for support for wishfoundation.com . (please do not email us asking for this at this time as this is a new platform in the works).

If you have a specific problem with a plugin itself, then it may be apropriate to ask for help from those respective plugin writers. HOWEVER, please do not inundate other places with requests for help that can only be, or should be, handled by wishfoundation.com We don’t want to add additional support burdens to other organizations. “If you do not know how to use a plugin, see the plugin information found on plugin webpage..

Q Is there some other part of your website that explains all of this that I am missing (I have just been to wishfoundation.com) I have so many questions! Thank you for any possible help.

Sorry that we are a bit sparse with frontpage information. This FAQ is an attempt to help answer some of your questions.

Note: Upon signing up, within your dashboard, you will be provided with full access to our blogging help videos to help you out should you need it!

We were rather unique position where we were able to support our current users fairly well but recently due to our growing pains, “as our hosting provider informed us” we will have to move up to a dedicated server due to the HIGH volume of traffic we are experencing. Although we tried to take baby steps to grow in size our sheer traffic volume is
starting to degrade service for our existing users. So basically soon an upgrade will be imminent!

We are not WordPress (.) com or Facebook (.) com, we are simply a volunteer website that offers free online services.

We offer blog hosting and domain exposure via Links Exchange “Your Web-Site Exposure” via our Web-Directory.. Help out our community by registering to use our site. IT’S FREE! Let’s grow together.

Q What about donations:

In the footer content of site wide wishfoundation.com pages you will see a donations link pointing to paypal, we don’t ask for much, but if you can, please donate a bit, even the price of a coffee would be great as bandwith is expensive and an upgrade is imminent due to HIGH volume traffic.

Q How can we help you out a bit to make a few cents for this site?

Banner Clicks click on banners displayed on Wish Foundation blogs, wishfoundation.com/blog most blogs generate \”google ads\”, follow through and visit a few sites generated from these banner clicks, this will give us a few pennies per visit to these advertisement pages. Or you could visit banner advertisements generated through our Article Archives found here – http://wishfoundation.com/archived-articles/ thank you for visiting

Need help with setting up a domain name for use with our service? Checkout the domain name / DNS section below.

Help with Using Domains Names with Wishfoundation.com

This feature Coming soon. domain name hosting on WishFoundation.com

Note: By hosting with us we will ensure you get additional site exposure.