When Should I Create A New Donation Form?
Published: August 28, 2023
by Janet Bargewell, GiveDirect Support
When you launch a new campaign or appeal, you need to determine whether it is better to add the campaign to the program selection list on your existing donation form or to create a new form for just this one campaign. To help you determine which option is best, start by asking a couple of questions:
- Is my appeal focused on only one thing? (such as disaster relief, or funding a single item like a new transport van)
- Is the appeal short term? This might be a limited-time matching gift campaign, a memorial donation drive, a short-term monthly donation push, or an event such as GivingTuesday.
If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then creating a new form is the better way to go.
Why Should I Use a New Form?
Just because a supporter clicks your Donate button doesn't mean you've secured their donation just yet. If you have too many options on your donation form or if it is too long and confusing, you risk pushing away potential donors.
When it comes to donation page design and form fields, always take a "less is more" approach. Although it might be tempting to ask donors about how they found your organization and why they chose to give, you could inadvertently turn donors away if you ask too many questions.
To capitalize on supporter engagement, keep your form simple.
- Only ask for necessary details.
- Minimize the number of images.
- Minimize clutter by putting lengthy campaign details on your web site rather than the donation form.
How to Start a New Campaign Form
To add a campaign form through your GiveDirect control panel, go to Fundraising Forms.
Add a New Campaign using the drop-down field at the top of the page.
Use any of the features found in the Form Builder to customize and brand your form.
If you are unclear about which form type is best for your campaign, here is a quick description of each form type.
Donation Form: Best for general donations. The template can be customized with your logo and header text, suggested amount buttons, a gift dedication section and employer match section, and several custom fields such as fill-in fields, drop-down menus, and opt-in/out check boxes.
Dedication Form: This form is very similar to the Donation Form but has the Gift Dedication section at the top so it is the first thing the donor sees.
Employer Match: This form is similar to the Donation Form but has the Employer Match section at the top so it is the first thing the donor sees.
Event Form: This form is a unique custom design created for you by our staff. An Event form can be customized for activities such as your annual gala, a golf tournament, or a training seminar: anywhere you sell tickets, offer sponsorship opportunities, or need to collect registration information.
Membership Form: This form is ideal for new and renewing membership opportunities. This form type is created by our staff for you according to your membership specifications.
Related: Fundraising Form Types
Best Practice for a Win/Win Scenario
Create a win/win scenario by also adding the new campaign to your existing general donation form in a drop-down program menu field. This way, if a donor inadvertently finds their way to your general donation form, they can still participate in your new campaign.
Pro Tip
If you do have a donor that makes an appeal-specific donation on your general donation form, you may consolidate transactions by reassigning the donation to your campaign appeal form.
Related: Reassign A Transaction
Examples
Let's look at three examples of how nonprofits used a new form for their focused campaign.
Matrix Parents used a new campaign form for their Mighty Milers two-day event. They used the header text area to describe the event and to ask for sponsors along with an opt-in checkbox below the amount buttons for donors to indicate their sponsorship desire.
The Marine Corps - Law Enforcement Foundation used a donation form embedded on their web site for a Memorial Campaign. This type of campaign is also suitable for a Gift Dedication form template.
Life House Atlanta created a new donation form to solicit donations for a Matching Gift Campaign.
Wrapping It Up
Although we offer several form templates, the general donation form is very versatile and can be used for many different types of campaigns. If your campaign is appeal-focused or short-term, we recommend using a new form. And the best part is you may create as many forms as you need to facilitate your fundraising.