Blackbaud's New Donation Forms: A Game Changer for Australian and New Zealand Nonprofits

Blackbaud, the leading provider of software for powering social impact, has recently announced the rollout of its Optimized Donation Forms for Raiser's Edge NXT® users in Australia and New Zealand. This new feature is designed to help nonprofits raise more funds, streamline the donor experience, simplify administrative tasks, and reduce processing costs. By leveraging Blackbaud's payment processor and CRM solutions, these donation forms offer a completely connected experience for both organizations and their donors.

The Optimized Donation Forms are a significant upgrade from the standard donation forms, offering several key features that contribute to higher conversion rates and increased average donation amounts. Some of these features include:

1. Mobile-first and seamless integration: The forms are designed to display seamlessly on a website without the need to create a new webpage, enabling payment directly within the form. This convenience is particularly appealing to donors using mobile devices, leading to higher conversion rates.
2. Visually dynamic branding card: The forms draw the donor's attention to the organization's brand and messaging with a visually dynamic branding card. This helps to build trust and engage donors, increasing the likelihood of a successful donation.
3. Focus on payment first: The forms focus on collecting the payment first, then additional information afterwards. This streamlined approach reduces friction in the donation process, making it easier for donors to complete their transactions.
4. Reduced or eliminated processing fees: The Optimized Donation Forms reduce or eliminate processing fees, ensuring that more of the donated funds go directly to the organization's mission. This can be achieved through options like Complete Cover, where Blackbaud covers the processing fees, or Donor Cover, where donors have the option to cover the transaction fees themselves.
5. Intelligent forms: These forms automatically adjust to generate higher-than-average gift amounts based on donor data analysis. This helps to maximize donations and increase revenue for the organization.
6. Customizable with images and mission statement: The forms can be customized with images and a mission statement, allowing nonprofits to project consistent branding in a visually appealing, intuitive, and engaging way. This helps to build a stronger connection with donors and increases the likelihood of a successful donation.
7. Native integration: The Optimized Donation Forms natively integrate with Blackbaud's payment processor and CRM solutions, making it easy for organizations to manage transactions and streamline their donation processes.

Early success stories from US customers support the expectation that these new donation forms will have a positive impact on average donation amounts and conversion rates in Australia and New Zealand. For instance, Seed Savers Exchange saw a 10% increase in their conversion rate and a 61% jump in average donation amount from the year prior after using the Optimized Donation Forms.

The fee coverage option (Complete Cover or Donor Cover) can significantly influence the overall fundraising strategy for nonprofits. Complete Cover provides free processing, ensuring that 100% of donations go directly to the organization's mission. This option is ideal for nonprofits that want to maximize their revenue and minimize costs. On the other hand, Donor Cover allows supporters to cover their transaction fees, which can be appealing to donors who want to contribute more to the cause. However, it's important to note that this option may lead to lower donation amounts, as donors might be hesitant to cover additional fees. Nonprofits should consider their donors' preferences and the organization's financial goals when choosing the best fee coverage option.

In conclusion, Blackbaud's new Optimized Donation Forms offer a significant upgrade for nonprofits in Australia and New Zealand, with features designed to increase conversion rates and average donation amounts. By leveraging these forms, nonprofits can raise more funds, streamline the donor experience, simplify administrative tasks, and reduce processing costs, ultimately supporting them in sustaining and growing their missions.