Creating Accounts via the Portal
- Anyone can visit the login page of the Portal to create an account. (If needed, this functionality can be disabled.)
- The first time an individual visits the login page:
- They are asked to provide their first and last names, email address and phone number. If all of the information provided matches an existing Contact record, the User record automatically matches with the existing Contact record. If the information provided does not match an existing Contact record, the User record matches with a newly-created Contact record. The matching criteria looks at both the Home Phone and Mobile Phone fields in the Platform, as well as the First Name and Nickname fields.
- When they click Create Account, they receive an email with a link and temporary password to complete the account creation process.
- If an individual attempts to create a new account but they already have one, they are directed to the Reset Password process.
- The account creation process will create (if no record exists) a Contact, Household and User record.
Alternate Account Creation Options
Aside from the account creation process on the Portal, users with access to the Platform can facilitate user accounts in two other ways.
Via Snippets in the New Message Tool
- Bypass the login step if it's configured as such. (For example, someone could click a link and view their giving statement without having to create a Portal account.)
- Promote account creation.
- Facilitate getting updated contact information.
There are two options for the access level of the auto-login snippets: The snippet can take the individual directly to their personal Portal and completely bypass the login page, OR the snippet can require the individual to stop, pick a username, and retrieve a temporary password and link from their email. A SPoC can indicate which option to use by going to , then editing the AllowURLAuthentication record to set the Value. A Value of "True" allows the individual to bypass the login, and "False" requires the individual to log in. If a change is made, use the Portal Admin page for the Configuration Setting to take effect immediately.
For more on using snippets, see Snippets.
On the Users Page
A SPoC can create a User account by going to and creating new record with the individual's information, including a temporary username and password. Then, give the login information and URL for your Portal's login page to the individual.
See Who Created/Accessed Portal Accounts
Anyone with access to any part of MinistryPlatform (including the Portal) has a User record in . SPoCs are not automatically emailed when someone creates or accesses their Portal account, but the Platform does provide some information on if/when someone created or accessed their Portal account.
- On the Users page, the View: User Activity lists last login date, first login date, number of distinct logins and number of security roles (this shows any MinistryPlatform activity, including access to the Portal, Platform, Check-in, etc.).
- On the Contacts page, the view "Portal: New Donor Account" lists user accounts created in the past 90 days through the Portal that have a donor account.
- When looking at the Audit Log of a Contact Record created via the Portal, the Audit Log indicates the date/time it was created and that it was created by API User.