Set up Canva (design)
Personal setupTools · about 10 min · Designers and anyone making the charity’s marketing materials
Canva is where charity brand kits, social templates, and print materials are made. Like everything else, you sign up as you, then join the charity’s team.
Your account is you; the brand lives in the team
You sign up as a person, secure it with MFA, then join the charity’s Canva team — the same person-not-entity pattern as GitHub and LinkedIn. The charity’s logos, colors, and templates live in the shared Brand Kit, so always design from there to stay on-brand.
- 1
Create your account
Go to canva.com and sign up with the email on your phone (Continue with Google works well on Android). Use your real name.
- 2
Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Go to Settings → Login & security → Two-factor authentication and turn it on with an authenticator app.
Open one of your authenticator apps — FFC has you install both Google Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator (see the Multi-Factor Authentication guide). Use the one that matches the account where you can; for sites that aren’t Google or Microsoft, either app works.
When the site shows a QR code, open your authenticator app, tap + / Add, and scan the QR code. The app starts showing a 6-digit code that changes every 30 seconds. Type the current code back into the website to confirm.
Always save the backup / recovery codes the site gives you right after setup — store them in your password manager. They are how you get back in if you lose your phone.
- 3
Join the charity’s Canva team
Ask your FFC contact to invite your email to the charity’s Canva team (Canva Pro for nonprofits is free). Accept the invite from your email.
Once in, you’ll see the charity’s Brand Kit (logos, colors, fonts) and shared templates — always design from these so everything stays on-brand.
Common questions
Is Canva free for our charity?
Yes — Canva offers Canva Pro free to verified nonprofits, which includes the Brand Kit and team features. Your FFC contact handles the nonprofit verification and invites you to the team.
Should I make a separate Canva account for the charity?
No. Make one personal account as yourself and join the charity’s team. The brand assets live in the shared team, not in a separate charity login.
Next setup guides
Where you’ll use this
This account is a starting point for these volunteer training tracks:
Stuck on any step? Text Clarke Moyer at (520) 222-8104 — every step is meant to be simple, so if something doesn't match what you see, ask.