Activate the Fundraising feature in the Apps tab!
You can create a fundraising campaign to support your organization or any other cause. This campaign will be displayed in your online store and can even be embedded into your organization's website for more visibility.
In this article, you will learn how to:
1. Create a campaign
You can create your campaign(s) in the Store>Fundraising subtab. Click on the + New campaign button to access the campaign creation screen and complete the fields.
📄 Details section
Write the name and description of your campaign. The Description appears in the quick view of your campaign and the Full description is visible in the detailed view of your campaign (when clicking on it in the store), which are both visible to clients.
Select the appropriate Ledger code for your campaign.
The beginning date is the date the campaign takes effect and can receive donations. It's only visible in the store when it is active (see below).
The expiration date is the date the campaign ends (at midnight) and is no longer accessible to clients. You don't have to put an end date if there isn't one.
Active campaign: Check this box to activate the campaign and make it visible to clients in the store. A fundraiser can still be in effect and receive donations without being displayed publicly in your store.
Feature it in checkout: Check this box if you want the campaign to be displayed automatically during the checkout process. This way, any client who purchases an activity, membership or a merchandise product will be able to donate, even if they have not visited the Fundraising tab.
Display raised amount: Check this box if you want your clients to see the amount raised for the campaign.
🥅 Goal section
Set a campaign goal by checking the box and writing the goal amount to reach.
Display your goal amount in the store by checking the box.
Show progress as percentage of goal amount: Check the box if you want to publish the progress as a percentage to encourage your clients to donate more.
💸 Methods of payment section
Decide which methods of payment you wish to make available for this campaign. You may select multiple options.
🖼️ Image section
Select an image to upload to the campaign, which will be visible to clients in the store. The image must already be on your computer.
You can Crop the image in the Thumbnail to showcase the part you’d like to draw attention to.
Once all the sections above are completed, Save your campaign.
2. View your Campaign Progress
Once a campaign has been created, you can view its progress in the State of the campaign section.
You can see how many donations have been made and the amount raised.
Click to See the donors list and have access to the name of the clients who donated, the amount donated, the status of the donation, as well as the corresponding invoice.
Click on the invoice number to see the detailed invoice or click on the name of the donor to be redirected to the client's account, where you will be able to cancel the donation (if needed).
A fundraising report is available in the Operations section of the Reports tab.
3. Embed your Campaign
The State of the campaign section also allows you to embed your fundraising campaign. You can either Embed this campaign or insert an Embeddable button into your website.
Click on Embed this campaign. You will have access to the HTML code you need to be able to embed the campaign wherever you want in your own website. You can quickly customize your embedding by choosing a color. See the preview of your embedded campaign on the left of the screen.
Click on the Embeddable button. You will have access to the HTML code you need to be able to embed this button wherever you want in your own website. You can quickly customize your embedding by choosing a color and the text that will appear on the button. See the preview of your embedded button at the top right of the screen.
If you want to embed other tabs from your store directly into your website, click here.
4. Frequently Asked Questions
1. What fees are involved in collecting donations through SmartRec?
1. What fees are involved in collecting donations through SmartRec?
A 1% fee is charged on all invoices generated in Amilia, including fundraisers.
2. Can I rearrange the order of fundraisers as they appear in the store?
2. Can I rearrange the order of fundraisers as they appear in the store?
Fundraisers appear in the order they're created and can't be rearranged.
3. Can I automate fundraisers to allow recurring monthly donations or to manage pledges?
3. Can I automate fundraisers to allow recurring monthly donations or to manage pledges?
Fundraisers can't be automated to collect donations in a recurring fashion. We recommend referring to the fundraiser's donor list to reach out to existing donors to see if they wish to donate again.
If your donors agree to donating the same amount on a monthly basis, you might be interested in subscriptions, which automatically charges clients every month.
Another option is to create an invoice with a custom installment plan for your client, where you may specify an initial payment and adjust the frequency and amounts for any subsequent payments according to the client's needs.
Here are the steps to follow if you'd like to go this route:
Go to Discounts and fees > Custom items.
Click +Create custom item. Then configure an extra fee and call it pledges. Assign a ledger code to the extra fee. Click Save when you're done.
Next, go to the Clients tab and select the client who made the pledge to donate.
In the client's billing, click the Operations menu and select Create invoice.
Fill in the necessary information, ensuring you choose the pledges extra fee type that you created. Uncheck the taxes and add any relevant descriptions or admin comments. Then click Create invoice.
Next, locate the invoice you just created in the client's billing. Click the + icon and click Make payment.
Ensure the invoice is checked off under Outstanding invoices and select the Configure installments for this payment option. You'll be prompted to specify an initial installment amount and determine the number of future installments and when they should go through. Select the payment type and click Make Payment.
You'll see the initial payment and that the invoice is partially reconciled with planned payments. The balance will be visible under Current balance. In this example, the client pledged $500 and paid $250 as an initial installment.
4. Can clients donate to a fundraiser without registering for an activity?
4. Can clients donate to a fundraiser without registering for an activity?
Yes, clients can donate to a fundraiser without registering for an activity. You can host fundraisers on a designated space in your store! Simply check the 'Active campaign' in the fundraiser's configuration and make sure the Fundraising tab is set to visible in the Store>Store settings>Customize subtab.
👉 You can also feature it in checkout when clients purchase any item in your store.
5. Will more tag colours become available?
5. Will more tag colours become available?
There are currently 9 tag colors available, in accordance with WCAG standards. We don't foresee adding more in the near future.
6. Can I host multiple fundraisers at once?
6. Can I host multiple fundraisers at once?
Yes, you can host multiple fundraisers at once!
7. Does SmartRec generate charity receipts for taxes?
7. Does SmartRec generate charity receipts for taxes?
You cannot generate charity receipts or donor pledge receipts with SmartRec. However, you can still use a copy of the invoice for tax purposes.
8. Can I track pledges in SmartRec?
8. Can I track pledges in SmartRec?
We do not currently have a report to track pledges in SmartRec. If this is something you'd like us to work on, please submit a feature request!
*Last updated in August 2024