Set an end date for a recurring gift in Online Express

Wilma Norton

Is it possible? We want to be able to let people choose whether their recurring gift is in perpetuity or for a specific period of time (3 to 5 years).

Kathleen Eastman

Wilma Norton:

Is it possible? We want to be able to let people choose whether their recurring gift is in perpetuity or for a specific period of time (3 to 5 years).

This would be very helpful, although we would love for them to continue forever, some folks do like to set an end date. As a work around, you could create a gift attribute to be used on your giving page asking for an end date and that would download with the other gift information. To ensure the attribute appears just below the Recurring gift section, make it the first attribute you set up so it's at the top of that section, and then within the Donation Form Setup, on the Look and Feel tab, move the attributes section so it is just below the Recurring gift section.


OF COURSE, THIS IS A WORK AROUND, and that functionality is necessary on the form and within the gift record so the system remembers the end date for you. We used to use authorize.net, and you could very easily set up a time frame in days, months, quarterly, etc. with an end date , or you could tell the system to process it for a number of times. But of course, this was also an auto processing of recurring gifts situation. I believe in one of the road map webinars, BB mentioned they are planning on adding this functionality to Online Express, just don't know when. I hope much sooner than later!   Anyone know about that?

Amanda Napolitano

I am actively working on this issue. Are you aware of any updates on this topic vs. the workaround you suggested? Thank you!

Chris Martin

Hi Amanda Napolitano‍. In Online Express, we aren't currently planning to add an option for recurring gift donors to be able to specify an end date for their recurring gift. You do of course have the option to enable pledge giving which represents a timebound commitment with a recurring series of installment payments. 


Here's a link to the idea that's been submitted for this feature for donation forms in RENXT: https://renxt.ideas.aha.io/ideas/RENXT-I-1814. As the RENXT donation form will eventually become the replacement for Online Express donation forms, if we do implement that feature it would most likely be implemented in the RENXT form.


Thanks Amanda.

Chris Martin

Blackbaud Product Management