Each Donor is different, so making the same ask of everyone just doesn't work, especially for a Responsive nonprofit. In Raise Forms, you get to decide how donors are presented with Gift amount options including Gift Arrays, Custom Amount fields, or a preset Fixed Amount. Let’s walk through the experiences each option can give.
Table of Contents
- Overview
- Gift Arrays (and Custom Amount)
- Custom Amount
- Fixed Amount
- How Does Foreign Currency Affect The Donation Input Options?
- Need More Help?
Overview
The donation input is one of the first steps a donor makes in completing a Form.
When building your Form, a Donation Block is added by default. Use the Navigation Tree in the left menu to locate and select the Donation Block.
A menu will open on the right to configure the Settings. The Display allows for a few Gift Display options.
Gift Arrays (and Custom Amount)
A Gift Array is simply a set of multiple suggested amounts a Donor can choose from.
A Donor selects a value without having to type anything. This is particularly handy in cases where you make a specific ask amount to a wide audience through an appeal (e.g., “For $25, you can provide tasty treats to our dogs in need!”). Choose to only present the donor with preset options through the Gift Array or allow an additional Custom Amount for the donor to input the amount they choose.
There are a few additional configurations of Gift Arrays you can enable:
- Use Responsive Ask Arrays
- Include Gift Arrays descriptions
- Different Gift Array for Recurring Gifts
Responsive Ask Arrays
Responsive Ask Arrays automatically present each supporter with the optimal suggested Gift amounts. It uses real-time data to create dynamic arrays that adapt to donor behavior. Toggle on Use Responsive Ask Arrays, and a dropdown will ask you to base your Responsive Ask Array amounts on:
- Virtuous Suggested Amount: The recommended Gift Ask calculated by Virtuous for each Donor.
- Average Gift Amount: The average size (or, if you want to get technical, the statistical mean) of a Donor’s Gifts, based on their life-to-date giving history.
- Last Gift Amount: The size of the Donor’s most recent Gift.
Select + Add Responsive Ask Multiplier to add more values and use the grab handles to rearrange them. Additionally, if you want a specific value defaulted when the Donor views the Form, press the star next to the value.
Use the Preview Responsive Ask Array button to view how different values would be presented to a donor. For example: If a Donor has an average gift amount of $50 and you enter a 2X multiplier, the amount shown to them would be $100.
These options are tailored for known donors, but Responsive Ask Arrays work for both known and unknown donors. They customize the array based geographic data and organization-level giving intelligence for unknown donors. They also will dynamically update depending on whether the donor selects a one-time Gift or a Recurring Gift. To learn more about Responsive Ask Arrays, click here.
Standard Gift Arrays + Descriptions
If you enable Include Gift Array Descriptions for your Gift Array, Raise will only allow Standard Gift Array Values–not Responsive Ask Arrays. This is because a description is paired with a preset amount. When Include Gift Array Descriptions is toggled on, the Standard Gift Array Value boxes will expand to include text. This allows you to include appeals or descriptions of what the Gift may cover.
You can press + Add Gift Value to add more values and use the grab handles to rearrange them. Additionally, if you want a specific value selected when the donor views the form, press the star next to the value.
Gift Array values for Recurring Gifts
If you enable Different Gift Array for Recurring Gifts for your Gift Array, Raise will only allow Standard Gift Array Values–not Responsive Ask Arrays. Similar to a Standard Gift Array, set values for a donor when they opt-into a Recurring Gift.
Then, you’ll have the ability to configure new values specifically for Recurring Gifts. This is important to consider if your single Gift asks are large.
Custom Amount
In addition to the Smart Gift Arrays and default Gift Arrays, you can choose to include a Custom Amount field that allows Donors to fill in their own custom gift amount. Whether the Custom Amount is included with a Gift Array or a Custom Amount field on its own.
Fixed Amount
A fixed amount locks in a donation amount of your choice and does not allow the Donor to change it.
How Does Foreign Currency Affect The Donation Input Options?
Raise Giving Forms and Pages automatically detect when a page visitor is located somewhere outside the US (using the location and browser settings) and display their local currency for your giving form. Note: while donors will be presented with and charged in their local currency, their gift will still settle in your payment provider’s currency (US dollars).
In the instance the form displays the wrong currency, donors will see a currency selector dropdown within the gift amount field, allowing them to make a change. Note: US-based donors will not see this currency dropdown, only international donors.
Gift Arrays for International Donors
Once Raise identifies a donor’s location, it sets the corresponding currency and converts the gift array amounts into that currency. If necessary this currency conversion may involve rounding. Most currencies will round to the nearest 5, maintaining the expected gift array values that end in 0s and 5s. Note: the rounding logic depends on the currency. For example, currencies like Japanese Yen will round to the nearest 1000.
Now you can embrace responsive fundraising by making tailored suggestions!
Need More Help?
Need more help optimizing your Giving Pages? Virtuous Professional Services can customize, build, and optimize your Virtuous Raise Forms or Pages to boost donor engagement. Click here to learn more about our Professional Services offerings, or contact your Customer Success Manager to get started!