Forms: Customize Gift String via URL Parameters

Introduction

CharityEngine now supports customizing donation gift strings through URL parameters, allowing organizations to display campaign-specific giving amounts without creating multiple versions of the same donation form. This enhancement helps streamline form management while creating more tailored donation experiences for different donor audiences, fundraising campaigns, appeals, or marketing channels.

For example, organizations can direct donors to a single donation form while dynamically changing the suggested giving amounts based on the campaign link shared in emails, social media, direct mail QR codes, or digital advertisements.

Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. Benefits of URL-Based Gift Strings
3. Prerequisites
4. How URL Parameter Gift Strings Work
5. Example Use Cases
6. Best Practices
7. Outcome
8. FAQ & Further Reading

Overview

Gift string URL parameters allow organizations to dynamically override the default suggested donation amounts displayed on a donation form. Instead of maintaining multiple campaign-specific forms, users can append parameters to a form URL that automatically display a customized set of giving amounts to donors.

This functionality helps organizations:

• Reduce the number of duplicate donation forms
• Personalize fundraising campaigns
• Test different suggested donation amounts
• Simplify reporting and form maintenance
• Improve donor experience with audience-specific asks

Benefits of URL-Based Gift Strings

Organizations may use this functionality to:

• Create campaign-specific giving arrays
• Customize donation asks by donor segment
• Support direct mail, email, social, or event campaigns
• Test higher or lower giving suggestions
• Maintain centralized form administration
• Improve campaign flexibility without rebuilding forms

Example scenarios include:

• Major donor campaigns with higher giving amounts
• First-time donor acquisition campaigns
• Peer-to-peer fundraising appeals
• Event sponsorship donation requests
• Giving Day campaigns
• Year-end fundraising appeals

Prerequisites

Before configuring customized gift strings via URL parameters:

• A CharityEngine donation form must already be created and published.
• Users should have access to manage or distribute campaign URLs.
• Organizations should determine the desired giving amounts for each campaign or audience segment.

No additional form creation is required.

Instructions

Instruction: Configure a Donation Form for Reusable Campaign Use

Step 1:

Navigate to the appropriate donation form within the CharityEngine platform.

Step 2:

Configure the standard donation form settings, branding, payment methods, and default gift string values.

Step 3:

Publish and test the donation form to confirm the default donation experience is functioning correctly.

Instruction: Create a Campaign-Specific URL

Step 1:

Copy the public donation form URL.

Step 2:

Append the appropriate URL parameter structure to define the campaign-specific gift amounts.

Step 3:

Distribute the customized URL through campaign channels such as:

• Email campaigns
• Social media
• QR codes
• Direct mail
• Digital advertising
• Peer-to-peer fundraising pages

Instruction: Donor Experience

Step 1:

The donor clicks the customized campaign URL.

Step 2:

The donation form loads using the same centralized form configuration.

Step 3:

The donor is presented with the campaign-specific gift string values defined within the URL parameters.

This allows organizations to present donation asks that align with the intended campaign audience while maintaining a consistent donation experience.

Example Use Cases

Annual Fund Campaign

An organization may send donors to:

• Standard donation form with default giving amounts
• Higher-impact version for major donor audiences
• Lower-entry giving amounts for acquisition campaigns

All while using the same underlying form.

Giving Day Campaign

A Giving Day email campaign may feature suggested amounts such as:

• $25
• $50
• $100
• $250

while a matching gift campaign could promote:

• $50
• $100
• $250
• $500

using separate URLs tied to the same donation form.

Direct Mail QR Codes

Organizations can include QR codes on printed appeals that route donors to a donation form displaying gift amounts aligned to that specific mailing campaign.

Best Practices

• Standardize form usage whenever possible to simplify reporting and maintenance.
• Test all customized URLs before distributing campaigns publicly.
• Align gift strings with donor audience expectations and campaign goals.
• Use campaign tracking parameters alongside gift string customization for reporting and attribution analysis.
• Maintain consistent branding and messaging across campaigns even when suggested amounts differ.

Outcome

After following the above steps, organizations can create flexible, campaign-specific donation experiences while continuing to manage a single centralized donation form. This reduces administrative overhead while improving fundraising personalization and campaign agility.

FAQ & Further Reading

Q. Do organizations need to create a separate form for each campaign?

A. No. URL parameter gift strings allow organizations to reuse a single donation form while dynamically displaying campaign-specific donation amounts.

Q. Can different campaigns display different suggested donation amounts?

A. Yes. Each campaign URL can define its own set of suggested giving amounts.

Q. Does this impact donation processing or reporting?

A. No. Donations continue processing through the same donation form configuration unless additional campaign tracking parameters are applied.

Q. Can URL parameters be combined with other campaign tracking parameters?

A. Yes. Organizations may combine customized gift string parameters with additional campaign attribution or analytics parameters where applicable.