When we're setting up registration forms for our clients, we are often asked to include a field for people to enter an additional donation to the organization putting on the event or for a charity the event is supporting.

It's great to see people supporting organizations working for a good cause, but here are a few simple changes that can be made to donation sections to increase the amount of money collected.

Our ideas:

1. Have a sentence or two telling people about the organization they are donating to and how the money will be used rather than just stating the organization's name.

2. Add the logo for the charitable organization to help the donation area stand out.

3. State a suggested donation amount. Sometimes people may not donate if they don't know what is appropriate. They could be willing to donate $10.00 but won't if they think the amount is too low and assume you are expecting donations of $100.00.

4. Use a radio button to allow people to select an amount such as $10.00, $25.00 or $50.00. This gives people an idea of what is expected and allows them to add a donation with a single click. It may not seem like much to type in a value, but it can make a difference when you are rushing through a form. If you use this option, also include a field where people can enter their own amount if they prefer to do that and don't include too many options to choose from.

5. Have a strong call to action such as "Please select a donation amount".

6. Consider allowing merchandise or services as a donation rather than cash. An organization may be able to provide something of this nature more easily than cash and you can use the item in a raffle or auction to generate cash for your charity.

7. Offer a gift for making a donation. Of course you want to donate as much as possible to your charity, but if you offer an incentive such as being entered into a draw or a simple gift you may increase the amount you collect. Always remember to thank and re-thank people who donate and consider giving some recognition at the event as well.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or comments about this article.


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