Your donation form isn’t just a credit card form — it’s part of your donor experience.
Blackbaud’s Donation Forms in Raiser’s Edge NXT aren’t just prettier. They’re smart, fast, and designed to raise more money with less hassle (for you and your donors).
Whether you’re kicking off a fresh campaign or refreshing a tired form, here’s how to make Blackbaud’s donation forms your fundraising MVP.
1. Use the Optimized Forms — When they Make Sense
The goal is simple: remove distractions, focus on the gift, and save extra fields for after the donation. Why does that matter?
- Fewer steps = higher conversion rates.
- Mobile-friendly = less pinching and zooming frustration.
- Modern payment options (Venmo and Apple Pay) = more completed gifts.
In short: Use them when they make sense. Have an event where you already know most of the attendees? Optimized forms allow for quick giving and demographic updates afterwards. For general giving pages or friend-raising events, use standard forms that gather donor info when the gift is made.
2. Make Friends with Branding Cards
Think of branding cards as reusable donor trust-builders. These are visual banners that appear at the top of your optimized forms. They give donors a quick view of your logo, your mission, and why their gift is important.
Pro tips:
- Use real photos — not stock images of smiling strangers holding oversized checks.
- Keep your message short. Nobody reads paragraphs on a donation form.
3. Don’t Guess at Gift Amounts — Use Data
The beauty of these forms? They let you customize your gift ranges for both one-time and monthly donors. Don’t just throw in $25, $50, and $100 because it “feels right.” Look at your actual donor data and set your ranges accordingly. We recommend 4-5 options per form, so for some campaigns, you might use targeted forms that offer higher giving amounts to some donors and lower amounts to others.
4. Push Monthly Giving Like Your Budget Depends on It (Because It Does)
Standard forms offer donors the chance to make a one-time or a recurring gift, and recurring gifts made through NXT forms will process automatically, meaning cards are charged whether you’re on vacation or in the office, and you can import the gifts when you’ve got time to do so.
Recurring donors = steady revenue = happier finance team = less stress for you. It’s a win-win-win.
5. Keep Designations Short and Sweet
Organize funds so it’s easy to find the right fund – maybe that’s alphabetical, but maybe it’s not. Use clear, donor-friendly language, set a default fund (so they don’t have to choose), and only show options that are actually relevant.
6. Your Thank You Page and Email Matter More Than You Think
The thank you page isn’t just a polite formality; it’s your first chance to make your donor feel awesome about their gift. Same goes for the thank you email.
- Personalize it (use their name).
- Reinforce the impact of their gift.
- Invite them to stay involved: link to your social accounts or upcoming events.
7. Set Up Internal Gift Alerts (for Those Big Wins)
RENXT lets you notify team members when significant gifts come through. Set a threshold so you only get alerts for gifts that warrant a victory lap (or at least a personalized thank-you note). With AutomateGenius, you can automate email alerts so the right people are notified instantly and streamline gift processing—no manual effort required.
8. Test Like Your Campaign Depends On It (Because It Does)
Before you flip that donation form live, test it — on desktop, on mobile, and even on an iPad. At PSG, we’ve had a few cases where Apple devices worked fine, but the forms looked funny on Android (or vice versa.) Therefore, test, test, and test again! Ask yourself:
- Does it work smoothly?
- Does your branding look right?
- Are the gift amounts clear?
- Does the payment actually go through?
You can’t put the form back into test mode after you go live. So, double-check everything first.
Bottom Line: Better Forms = Better Fundraising
Blackbaud’s NXT Donation Forms are built to make giving easier for donors and life easier for you. Use them well, and you’ll raise more money with fewer headaches.
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