Add a high-quality photo to your online donation form<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\nOne of the simplest changes you can make to your online donation form is\u00a0to add\u00a0a great photo to the top of your page. A good photo will\u00a0help your donors visualize their impact<\/a>, create an emotional connection between your supporters and the people you help, and reinforce a donor\u2019s impulse to give to your mission.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nBut how do you know which photo will work? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most effective photos<\/a> to add to your online donation form will generally feature an individual person or a small group people (three to four people, tops!). Ideally, the person in the picture\u00a0is\u00a0making eye contact\u00a0with\u00a0the camera: that makes donors feel more connected with the subject! Keep the overall tone of your picture happy or positive\u2014uplifting photos generally outperform sad ones. If you want to use a before-and-after photo, make the happy \u201cafter\u201d photo more prominent than the sad \u201cbefore\u201d photo.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/www.qgiv.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-8.jpeg\")
<\/a>Pet Resource Center of Kansas City chose a photo of a child and their cat to reiterate their case for support. Notice how both of the subjects are making eye contact with the camera!<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThere are always exceptions!<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
There are some exceptions, of course. Photos that give donors an \u201coutside looking in\u201d perspective can be effective. And not all subjects need to be people! Animals and other subjects can work very well, but donors must be able to personify the subject of the photo. If your mission doesn\u2019t directly relate to serving people or animals, try showing photos of people enjoying your services. Environmental conservancies can show people enjoying the outdoors. Medical research nonprofits can show recovered patients, smiling doctors, or researchers. Art museums can show a small family enjoying an exhibit. The possibilities are endless! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.qgiv.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-3.png\")
<\/a>This is a great example of an \u201coutside looking in\u201d photo that was included in an appeal for a horse therapy program. Neither subject is making eye contact with the camera, but it gives donors a glimpse at the potential impact their gift will make.<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRevamp your call to action<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\nWhen a donor lands on your online donation form, the call to action they see should ask them to give. Reinforce that call to action by spending some time on the wording you use. Add one or two sentences at the top of your donation form making a case for support to your donors. Those sentences should answer the questions: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Why should a donor give? <\/li>
- Why should a donor give now<\/em> instead of later? <\/li>
- What impact will a donor have on the world if they give? <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Here are some examples: <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Weak: Lakeland Food Pantry serves Lakeland and the surrounding Polk County area by offering free or subsidized food items to qualifying families. Your donation to Lakeland Food Pantry is tax deductible.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stronger: Thousands of families depend on Lakeland Food Pantry for access to affordable, healthy food. Your donation will help feed a family from the Lakeland community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Strongest: When you donate to Lakeland Food Pantry, you help Margaret and other Lakeland parents feed their kids healthy, delicious food. When you give today, your money will go directly to ensuring our community is happy, healthy, and strong! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.qgiv.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-10-1024x211.jpeg\")
<\/a>Take a look at this call to action from our friends at Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine. In one sentence, they made a compelling case for support and helped donors understand the impact their gift can make.<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nUpdate the text on your donate button<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\nWant to make an even bigger impression on your donors<\/a>? Update the text on your donation button at the bottom of the form! <\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019ve added a great image, case for support, and solid call to action at the top of your form, your donor will start the donation process with tons of enthusiasm and excitement. But, by the time they\u2019ve entered their payment information, dug through their wallet for their debit card, typed in their info, and completed the rest of your form, they may have disconnected a little from the emotional connection that inspired them to give in the first place. Updating the final button with text that mimics the content at the top of your form can reinforce those good feelings.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Before](\"https:\/\/www.qgiv.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-4.png\")
<\/a>Our friends at Mercy Ships added a great photo, case for support, and call to action to the top of their form. Then, they updated their \u201cDonate\u201d button to be more pointed. Their button is accompanied by a statement about the gift being multiplied in impact, which is a callback to the copy at the top of the page.<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWant to learn how to customize your donation button and other elements? Request a demo of Qgiv\u2019s fundraising tools<\/a>! <\/p>\n\n\n\nGet more donations by removing extra fields<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\nDid you know that having unneeded fields on your forms\u2014even if they\u2019re not required\u2014can negatively impact conversion rates<\/a>? Donating needs to be quick and easy or donors won\u2019t complete their gift. You can boost the number of gifts made on a donation form by eliminating any extra fields. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAny field that isn\u2019t totally necessary for the transaction should be removed. If you need to collect additional information, make sure your donors know why you\u2019re asking for their information and what you\u2019re going to do with it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A good example of this is a donor\u2019s phone number. Asking for a donor\u2019s phone number, even if that field isn\u2019t required, can discourage a donor from giving. If you MUST ask for a phone number, tell them why you need that information and what you\u2019re going to do with it. Even a short line of text that says, \u201cWe\u2019ll never sell your number or contact you without your permission\u201d can help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Portion](\"https:\/\/www.qgiv.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-7.jpeg\")
<\/a>Something as simple as an added sentence can increase the likelihood of your donor giving you the information you need. If you don\u2019t need the phone number, though, you should consider taking it off!<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat if I need extra info from my donors?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Removing extra fields from your form doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t ask your donors for extra information. Instead of asking donors about their demographics, motivations, or preferences on your form, try sending first-time donors a survey asking them for extra information. Asking donors to tell you about themselves after they\u2019ve made their first gift is a great way to learn more about them and start building a relationship with them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also periodically send donors a survey asking them about their relationship with your nonprofit, their perception of your work, their experiences with you, and more. It\u2019s a great donor retention tool, and it\u2019s a wonderful way to make sure you\u2019re meeting your growing donor base\u2019s needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also use conditional fields to gather needed information from supporters. Conditional fields are custom fields that will only appear if certain criteria on the form are met. For example, you may be hosting a fundraising event that also needs volunteers. To keep your form simple, you may ask an easy question such as \u201cWould you be interested in volunteering at this event?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the answer is no, then your guest is free to move on. If they select yes, you can have a dropdown that lists the various volunteer options that supporters can choose from. You get the answer you need \u2026 and your supporters get an easier form to fill out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Add recurring options to your form<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\nA simple method for raising more money online is enabling recurring donations. There are a ton of reasons to seek out recurring gifts: they provide steady, reliable income; recurring donors tend to give more<\/a> overall than one-time donors; and it\u2019s much easier to retain recurring donors than it is to retain one-time supporters. Simply giving donors the option to make a gift on a recurring basis is a great first step in building this base of loyal donors! <\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you really want to attract recurring donors, reinforce your call to action with a note about the importance of ongoing gifts. Check out this example from our friends at\u00a0the Special Olympics:\u00a0
\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.qgiv.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Special-Olympics-1024x331.jpg\")
<\/a>This organization\u00a0put their recurring donation prompt front and center without it being obtrusive. This is a\u00a0great\u00a0way to encourage recurring gifts!<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nQgiv\u00a0users can make an even bigger impact by using the recurring nudges<\/a> and modals in our online donation forms.\u00a0Add a \u201cnudge\u201d to your donation form that invites\u00a0donors\u00a0to make a bigger impact by giving on a regular basis. Or, add a recurring modal that pops up as a donor makes their gift asking them to upgrade their donation by making it\u00a0recurring.\u00a0Both tools give you an extra opportunity to ask for recurring support and communicate how a donor can make an even bigger difference by making a regular gift.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.qgiv.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-11-1024x523.jpeg\")
<\/a>You don\u2019t have to have a\u00a0specially\u00a0designed\u00a0donation form to encourage recurring gifts! Check out that button asking donors to make a monthly gift\u2014you can reinforce that ask with a modal that will pop up near the end of the donation process.\u00a0You can use one or the other, or you can use them both together! Those settings are available with every single\u00a0Qgiv\u00a0account.<\/em>\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nConclusion<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\nYou don\u2019t have to spend hours tweaking your online donation form to make it more effective. Add some compelling content to the top of your form: a high-quality photo and a short case for support will make your form more compelling. Reiterating your call to action at the top and bottom of your form will make it more effective. Including recurring options on your form\u2014especially if you back it up with a recurring nudge or pop-up asking for long-term support\u2014can help you build a base of recurring supporters. Then, remove any extraneous fields from your form to increase conversion rates. You can make all these changes in just a few minutes! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like what you see?<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\nQgiv\u2019s donation forms are designed with your donors in mind! They\u2019re easy to customize, which means you can make beautiful, effective forms in minutes. Learn how to get more donations with Qgiv\u2019s donation forms by checking out our interactive donation form templates<\/a>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But how do you know which photo will work? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most effective photos<\/a> to add to your online donation form will generally feature an individual person or a small group people (three to four people, tops!). Ideally, the person in the picture\u00a0is\u00a0making eye contact\u00a0with\u00a0the camera: that makes donors feel more connected with the subject! Keep the overall tone of your picture happy or positive\u2014uplifting photos generally outperform sad ones. If you want to use a before-and-after photo, make the happy \u201cafter\u201d photo more prominent than the sad \u201cbefore\u201d photo.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are some exceptions, of course. Photos that give donors an \u201coutside looking in\u201d perspective can be effective. And not all subjects need to be people! Animals and other subjects can work very well, but donors must be able to personify the subject of the photo. If your mission doesn\u2019t directly relate to serving people or animals, try showing photos of people enjoying your services. Environmental conservancies can show people enjoying the outdoors. Medical research nonprofits can show recovered patients, smiling doctors, or researchers. Art museums can show a small family enjoying an exhibit. The possibilities are endless! <\/p>\n\n\n\n When a donor lands on your online donation form, the call to action they see should ask them to give. Reinforce that call to action by spending some time on the wording you use. Add one or two sentences at the top of your donation form making a case for support to your donors. Those sentences should answer the questions: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Weak: Lakeland Food Pantry serves Lakeland and the surrounding Polk County area by offering free or subsidized food items to qualifying families. Your donation to Lakeland Food Pantry is tax deductible.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stronger: Thousands of families depend on Lakeland Food Pantry for access to affordable, healthy food. Your donation will help feed a family from the Lakeland community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Strongest: When you donate to Lakeland Food Pantry, you help Margaret and other Lakeland parents feed their kids healthy, delicious food. When you give today, your money will go directly to ensuring our community is happy, healthy, and strong! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Want to make an even bigger impression on your donors<\/a>? Update the text on your donation button at the bottom of the form! <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve added a great image, case for support, and solid call to action at the top of your form, your donor will start the donation process with tons of enthusiasm and excitement. But, by the time they\u2019ve entered their payment information, dug through their wallet for their debit card, typed in their info, and completed the rest of your form, they may have disconnected a little from the emotional connection that inspired them to give in the first place. Updating the final button with text that mimics the content at the top of your form can reinforce those good feelings. Want to learn how to customize your donation button and other elements? Request a demo of Qgiv\u2019s fundraising tools<\/a>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you know that having unneeded fields on your forms\u2014even if they\u2019re not required\u2014can negatively impact conversion rates<\/a>? Donating needs to be quick and easy or donors won\u2019t complete their gift. You can boost the number of gifts made on a donation form by eliminating any extra fields. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Any field that isn\u2019t totally necessary for the transaction should be removed. If you need to collect additional information, make sure your donors know why you\u2019re asking for their information and what you\u2019re going to do with it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A good example of this is a donor\u2019s phone number. Asking for a donor\u2019s phone number, even if that field isn\u2019t required, can discourage a donor from giving. If you MUST ask for a phone number, tell them why you need that information and what you\u2019re going to do with it. Even a short line of text that says, \u201cWe\u2019ll never sell your number or contact you without your permission\u201d can help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Removing extra fields from your form doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t ask your donors for extra information. Instead of asking donors about their demographics, motivations, or preferences on your form, try sending first-time donors a survey asking them for extra information. Asking donors to tell you about themselves after they\u2019ve made their first gift is a great way to learn more about them and start building a relationship with them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also periodically send donors a survey asking them about their relationship with your nonprofit, their perception of your work, their experiences with you, and more. It\u2019s a great donor retention tool, and it\u2019s a wonderful way to make sure you\u2019re meeting your growing donor base\u2019s needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also use conditional fields to gather needed information from supporters. Conditional fields are custom fields that will only appear if certain criteria on the form are met. For example, you may be hosting a fundraising event that also needs volunteers. To keep your form simple, you may ask an easy question such as \u201cWould you be interested in volunteering at this event?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n If the answer is no, then your guest is free to move on. If they select yes, you can have a dropdown that lists the various volunteer options that supporters can choose from. You get the answer you need \u2026 and your supporters get an easier form to fill out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A simple method for raising more money online is enabling recurring donations. There are a ton of reasons to seek out recurring gifts: they provide steady, reliable income; recurring donors tend to give more<\/a> overall than one-time donors; and it\u2019s much easier to retain recurring donors than it is to retain one-time supporters. Simply giving donors the option to make a gift on a recurring basis is a great first step in building this base of loyal donors! <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you really want to attract recurring donors, reinforce your call to action with a note about the importance of ongoing gifts. Check out this example from our friends at\u00a0the Special Olympics:\u00a0 Qgiv\u00a0users can make an even bigger impact by using the recurring nudges<\/a> and modals in our online donation forms.\u00a0Add a \u201cnudge\u201d to your donation form that invites\u00a0donors\u00a0to make a bigger impact by giving on a regular basis. Or, add a recurring modal that pops up as a donor makes their gift asking them to upgrade their donation by making it\u00a0recurring.\u00a0Both tools give you an extra opportunity to ask for recurring support and communicate how a donor can make an even bigger difference by making a regular gift.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t have to spend hours tweaking your online donation form to make it more effective. Add some compelling content to the top of your form: a high-quality photo and a short case for support will make your form more compelling. Reiterating your call to action at the top and bottom of your form will make it more effective. Including recurring options on your form\u2014especially if you back it up with a recurring nudge or pop-up asking for long-term support\u2014can help you build a base of recurring supporters. Then, remove any extraneous fields from your form to increase conversion rates. You can make all these changes in just a few minutes! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Qgiv\u2019s donation forms are designed with your donors in mind! They\u2019re easy to customize, which means you can make beautiful, effective forms in minutes. Learn how to get more donations with Qgiv\u2019s donation forms by checking out our interactive donation form templates<\/a>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>There are always exceptions!<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Revamp your call to action<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Here are some examples: <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Update the text on your donate button<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Get more donations by removing extra fields<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>What if I need extra info from my donors?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Add recurring options to your form<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a>Conclusion<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Like what you see?<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n