Raiser's Edge NXT web donation forms: Can we pass parameters?

Thom Boivin

In OLX and BBNC (to a lesser extent), you can pass parameters to a donation form. We have been doing this in BBNC for segmented appeals by adding a query string parameter to the donation form URL in emails to that identifies the appropriate Appeal ID. OLX has even more options.

Is this currently possible with RE NXT donation forms? I haven't found any documentation to suggest it is, but perhaps there are undocumented features available.

The only alternative I can think of for non-standalone forms (donation forms embedded on a web page) is writing client-side javascript to switch between different forms configured for each appeal segment, based on a query string parameter. Doing this would be a PITA, so I am hoping that passing a query string parameter might be possible.

Any insight would be welcome!

Dariel Dixon 2

@Thom Boivin I didn't even know this was possible in OLX or NC. I need to find more about this as well.

Bobby Steurer

@Dariel Dixon Same.

Samantha McGuin

@Thom Boivin Passing parameters into the RENXT donation form isn't possible today but we are planning an enhancement later this year to pass one fund, appeal or campaign into the form via URL.

If there are other things you're looking to pass, I'd love to hear more about them! We think this is a great way to allow you to build flexible “entryways” into your donation form and minimize form fields for your donors, as well as keep the number of donation forms you have to manage low.

Thanks,

Samantha McGuin
Principal Product Manager

Thom Boivin

@Samantha McGuin
Samantha, the only other thing that comes to mind is the suggested gift levels, for appeals where we would (ideally) like to tailor the suggested amounts the way that we have traditionally with mail appeals. I would suggest allowing 4 levels in a condensed format in the parameter, not dissimilar to the condensed CSS style for setting properties like margins.

Regardless, what you have described is a big step forward. Thank you for chiming in!

Kevin Hardy

@Samantha McGuin Oh for sure we would loooove to be able to pass in a gift attribute field. We were trying to figure out how to easily record referrals (give someone a link the donation form that had a “referral” gift attribute parameter in it) so that when submitted that referral code/value would be recorded along with the donation.

With some work I know this is possible in OLX but we really would like to take advantage of the NXT donation forms.

Dariel Dixon 2

Okay @Thom Boivin, I'm going to need you to give us some information on how you pass parameters through OLX or NC. Do the emails have to sent through those platforms, or can you use another email platform? I'm really curious about this, because that would really help for our appeal reporting as currently, when a gift comes in online, we don't tie it back to which appeal segment they received in regards to physical mail, and everything just comes in with a general online appeal code. I'm looking forward to this.

Thom Boivin

@Dariel Dixon

No, you can pass parameters from any email platform or other medium for a hyperlink. It could be a QR code, a link in twitter or other social media etc.

For BBNC, you would add the following to the URL for the donation form:

?source=AppealID

(you have to have the relevant appeal ID's in the “sources” section of the donation form, with no default chosen)

For Online Express (OLX), these URL query string parameters are referred to as “Magic Links”. I don't use the product, but it's relatively easy to find some information if you know that they are referred to in this way, such as:

• Donation Forms - Magic Links (blackbaud.com)
• Blackbaud Online Express magic links - Bing video