It is often presumed that a fill-in-the-blank question grants individuals a sense of freedom and flexibility in their responses. However, this assumption does not necessarily apply to donations to non-profits. Incorporating predefined giving levels on your Donate page or within your donation form can be useful, as these tiers have the potential to influence and potentially boost a supporter’s intention to contribute.
Setting the default donation amount to $1,000 and relying solely on that would not be advisable. Instead, it is crucial to concentrate on establishing parameters that provide donors with insights into the various possibilities and the potential impact of their contribution.
Giving Levels for donations to non-profits
Giving levels present donors with predefined amounts, offering them a selection of choices. Instead of leaving a blank space for donors to enter their own amount, these benchmarks can have an influence on the actual donation made.
For many users, having a set of giving levels to choose from eliminates the uncertainty of determining an “appropriate” donation amount. A new donor may seek to make an entry-level gift that is not too small to seem insignificant, while a returning donor might be inclined to increase their commitment but unsure about the magnitude of the leap needed to make a substantial impact.
Set up your levels
Always be realistic. The best way to do this is to consider the donations you’ve already received and try to get an average or common ground. Doing this can give you a feel for what users are comfortable giving you for your cause.
Always be ambitious. This means, always aim higher. Even when you’re basing your levels on realistic amounts, you should always try to improve those figures.
Improve your results
Your giving levels can effectively communicate the immediate needs of your organization in real-time. By offering predefined giving levels, you can highlight the areas where your nonprofit requires the most support and inform donors about how their contributions can make a difference. It is crucial to be specific by incorporating numbers, personal stories, and relevant details in your ask. For instance, you can specify whether the donation will provide medical supplies for a family, a meal for a family of four, or a set of textbooks for a classroom with 20 students.
Similar to other calls to action on your website, providing detailed information allows individuals to rally behind your specific request. By making the need tangible, it becomes actionable. Donors will be able to envision, in a concrete manner, the positive impact their financial support will enable.
Conclusions
A donation page without giving levels is comparable to website links that simply say “click here.” Visitors often appreciate additional guidance regarding their destination and the purpose behind it. Instead of being concerned about coming across as pushy with your fundraising message, consider offering giving levels as guideposts that show individuals how they can actively collaborate with you to drive meaningful change. By providing these levels, you are offering a clear path for supporters to engage and contribute towards your shared goals.
