Question on Optimized Forms

Kellie DeMers

My school is just starting to use optimized forms and I have a question. When the ask amount box appears, you have two choices. You can select from four pre-filled amounts, or you can use the amount box. Is there any way to change the number that pre-fills the amount box, or even take it down to $0.00? It is a bit difficult when the tabs read $1,000, $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 and the prefilled box says $2,525, which is an odd amount to being with.

Faith Murray

@Kellie DeMers
Not all of us have optimized forms rolled out to us yet, so you may not get very many responses. However, in all other BB forms, you can include an “other” box that should read $0 as its default. I would suggest opening a ticket with Support to see if the prefilled amount is supposed to be $0, or if it is meant to be used alone (without a gift array) and is pulling from the NXT “next ask amount” automated rating for that donor. Not having seen the way the new forms work, I couldn't guess how it is intended to work.

Kellie DeMers

@Faith Murray Thanks. We just received the drop down optimized form menu choice this weekend so I'm still trying to figure it out myself.

Samantha McGuin

@Kellie DeMers
The default amount is part of what Blackbaud calculates and is currently not editable. We do have this pretty high on our optimized form roadmap and hope to release a configuration for you to set the default amount in spring.

If you haven't already, I would recommend adding an Idea for this so we can track votes and progress.

Kellie DeMers

@Samantha McGuin I have tried to do this but it is asking for a password. I am already logged into Blackbaud so I shouldn't need one.

Kelly Hogan

@Kellie DeMers
I am pretty sure this is a function of the optimization. I like that we set a range and the form “decides” how to direct the donor. It is definitely hard to tell, at least the last time I looked, that you could actually click the number and change it yourself as a donor.

Kellie DeMers

@Kelly Hogan Yes, the donor can change it themselves, but it is very hard to tell when you first look at it. I designed a form, sent it to my advancement chair so he could test it, and his first reaction was ‘why is the $2,525 listed as the amount?', not realizing you could change it. Allowing the default amount to be independently set by the organization, or having it be one of the ‘giving tabs’ would prevent that donor confusion.

Karen Diener

@Kellie DeMers:

@Samantha McGuin I have tried to do this but it is asking for a password. I am already logged into Blackbaud so I shouldn't need one.

The idea bank is a different product than the Blackbaud Community, so requires a different username and password. I find it incredibly frustrating and often an obstacle to voting for and adding ideas, because it doesn't seem to play nicely with password vaults either. But there are days I get very determined - and have the time - so I get logged in and scour the ideas.

Karen