<img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/nonprofit/1/3/H/G/-/-/donateonchalkboardistockphoto.jpg" alt="The word "donate" on a chalkboard." />
<p>The last time I did a donating experiment was after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. At that time I donated a small amount to several charities working on disaster relief. I was particularly interested in how they thanked me after my donation.

<p>But, to my surprise, I often ran into difficulties just making a donation. One donation page did not load so I left; another required a registration process before I could donate so I left; and one organization did not have a donation page dedicated to Japan relief specifically, even though it had promoted that very thing.

<p> Big abandonment issues for me on these sites. I wrote about my experience in <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://nonprofit.about.com/od/donorrelations/a/How-Not-To-Thank-A-Donor-During-A-Disaster.htm">How Not to Thank a Donor During a Disaster</a>.

<p>Fundraising experts continue to test donation pages and more best practices have emerged.

<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.donationpay.org/site/">DonationPay</a>, a crowd sourcing donation site attended the recent <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.nten.org/ntc/news">NTC conference</a> and presented the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.donationpay.org/site/2013/04/20-most-important-components-of-your-donation-page-and-2013-ntc-wrap-up/">20 Most Important Components of Your Donation Page</a>, using examples of what works on their site.
<p><!--more-->
<p>The <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.slideshare.net/fullscreen/DonationPay/20-most-important-components-of-your-donation-page-ntc-2013/2">slide deck</a> from that presentation is well worth a look, both for the stats - the average donation page bounce rate is 57% (!) - and for the examples of numerous donation pages from all types of charities.

<p>DonationPay also heard about a few other tested practices and included them in another post, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.donationpay.org/site/2013/05/the-new-best-donation-page-practices-2013-edition/">The New Best Donation Page Practices, 2013 Edition</a>.

<p>Here are some things that have been found (through testing) to work particularly well:

<ul>
<li><b>Preselect desired average gift amount.</b> DonationPay suggests that the average gift be preselected in your group of suggested amounts. Apparently doing so increases the average gift. Certainly a preselected amount is unlikely to deter anyone from donating even if they end up selecting a different amount. Having it preselected does take advantage of the tendency we all have to go with the easiest action. That's why having to "opt out" works so well when getting employees to sign up for retirement programs. If one has to choose an option, it just slows us all down.

<p><li><b>Include fewer fields to fill out.</b> Offer short forms that require a minimum of information. You do want more detailed information about donors, but you can get it in other ways. For instance, redirect the donor to another page after they click the submit button where they can get more information and divulge more about themselves. A long, tedious donation form just encourages abandonment.

<p><li><b>Include large graphic buttons rather than written suggested amounts.</b> This is because many people may be looking at your donation page on their mobile phones. More icons, less text seems to work best in that environment.


<p><li><b>Check your own data and perform your one AB tests.</b> Even minor tweaks can sometimes make a big difference. You won't know unless you test and have good analytics. Don't assume anything, even what other people say at conferences.

<p><li><b>Make donating a one-click process.</b> As the writer of the DonationPay blog post writes, don't keep asking "Do you like us? Are you Sure? Are you really sure?" Donors should only have to click twice, once on your donate button and then once when they submit their donation.

</ul>

<p> An earlier study found the elements detailed here were important, plus discovered that one or two columns worked best, trust seals on donation pages added a sense of confidence for donors, and suggested that donation pages should answer three crucial questions for donors and do so quickly.

<p>That information plus examples of a couple of donation pages that converted well can be found in <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://nonprofit.about.com/od/onlinefundraising/ss/The-Final-Test-Donor-Pages-That-Convert.htm">The Final Test: Donor Pages that Convert</a>.

<p>Have you tested your donation page lately? Abandonment really should not be such a big issue given what we do know about what works and what doesn't.

<p><i>Photo: IStockphoto</i>

<img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/nonprofit/1/3/A/F/-/-/bestlinks4.jpg" alt="Paper links." />
<p><b>Nonprofit Blog Carnival</b>
<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://donordreams.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/nonprofit-blog-carnival-dear-board-volunteers/">Write a Letter to a Nonprofit Board</a>. The Nonprofit Blog Carnival is accepting submissions until May 27th. Erik Anderson, at Donor Dreams, is asking for "Dear Board" letters. What would you like to say to a nonprofit board if you could? Of course, if you have a blog post about best practices for boards, but it isn't a letter, you can send that in too.

<p><b>Issues</b>
<ul>
<p><li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/management/22239-new-study-low-nonprofit-overhead-does-not-greater-efficiency">New Study: Low Nonprofit Overhead Does Not = Greater Efficiency</a> - Nonprofit Quarterly. Welcome new light shed on the eternal battle over overhead. Maybe this new info will help free nonprofits from the tyranny of efficiency.
<p><li>What a week in Washington! And the biggest issue is all about the IRS and nonprofit organizations. For some insight and background on the 503(c)(4) conundrum, check out these posts:
<ul>
<p><li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.propublica.org/article/how-irs-nonprofit-division-got-so-dysfunctional">How the IRS's Nonprofit Division Got So Dysfunctional</a> - ProPublica.
<li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://pndblog.typepad.com/pndblog/2013/05/trouble-at-the-irs-what-were-they-thinking.html">Trouble at the IRS: What Were They Thinking?</a> - Philantopic, Foundation Center.
</ul>
</ul>
<p><!--more-->
<p><b>Fundraising</b>
<ul>
<p><li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://pkscribe.com/nonprofit_news/15-elements-to-test-in-nonprofit-fundraising-campaigns-15-may-2013/">What have you tested lately?</a> - Karen Zapp's Nonprofit Blog. Do you have a fundraising lab for testing all of your communications? That's what Karen suggests in this most helpful post. Karen explains just what you should be testing too. A great guide no matter the size of your organization. Testing is within everyone's budget.


<p><li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.domoremission.com/anonymous-giving-how-do-you-thank-them/">Anonymous Giving - How do you thank them?</a> - DoMore Mission. There are always those donors who wish to remain unknown. So how do you make sure that they are thanked anyway? Here are some ideas.

<p><li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.npengage.com/fundraising/memorial-giving-overlooked-golden-opportunity/">Memorial Giving: Overlooked or a Golden Opportunity?</a> - npEngage. Is your memorial program just sitting there on remote control? Energize it with these suggestions that are easy to implement.

</ul>

<p><b>Social Media</b>
<ul>
<p><li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://fundraisingcoach.com/2013/05/06/21-social-media-tips-for-nonprofits-from-top-experts/">21 Social Media Tips for Nonprofits from Top Experts</a> - The Fundraising Coach. Marc Pitman seeks out great advice from the experts. My favorite tip here is "Create a Volunteer Social Media Corp."

<p><li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://socialmediatoday.com/douglaskarr/1458786/infographic-social-media-and-myers-briggs">Social Media and Myers Briggs [INFOGRAPHIC]</a> - Social Media Today. Are you into Myers-Briggs? If so you'll love social media through that lens. Intuitives like to use LinkedIn and Twitter. Who knew?

<p><li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.searchenginejournal.com/simple-steps-to-creating-an-effective-social-media-strategy/62934/">Simple Steps to Creating an Effective Social Media Strategy</a> - Search Engine Journal. This article is for businesses, but the steps outlined here can be adapted very easily to nonprofits. The main thing is to understand that we're not just doing social media for fun and games. It is fundamental to our Search Engine Optimization (SEO). If you don't know what SEO is, then start by reading up on it. Here's a good basic article: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://webdesign.about.com/od/seo/a/seo_basics.htm">What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?</a>


</ul>
<p><b>Communications</b>
<ul>
<p><li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.theinsgroup.com/nonprofits-and-the-news-getting-the-media-coverage-you-need/#more-1427">Nonprofits and the News: Getting the Media Coverage You Need</a> - The INS Group. Most people still hear about your nonprofit through the traditional media. Make sure that you are there.

<p><li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.futurefundraisingnow.com/future-fundraising/2013/05/how-to-make-your-landing-page-a-place-that-welcomes-people.html">How to make your landing page a place that welcomes people</a> - Future Fundraising Now. Have you really looked at your website's front door? The place where people first enter is where first impressions are made. Make it simple, obvious, and easy.

<p><li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.thefundraisingauthority.com/internet-fundraising/better-fundraising-emails/?utm_source=feedly">How to Write Better Fundraising E-Mails for Your Non-Profit</a> - The Fundraising Authority. Email is still your best friend. Joe Garecht explains how email fundraising and direct mail are both alike and different, plus offers priceless tips for success.

</ul>
<p><b>Upcoming Webinars</b>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.nten.org/events/webinar/2013/07/09/webinar-the-care-and-feeding-of-the-small-dollar-donor?utm_source=feedly">The Care and Feeding of the Small-Dollar Donor</a> - NTEN - July 9. This looks very interesting. The presenter is Megan Kashner, the creator of a new crowdfunding site called <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://nonprofit.about.com/b/2013/05/07/grants-expand-crowdfunding-site-for-people-down-on-their-luck.htm">Benevolent</a>, that features small scale needs from ordinary people who need temporary help. Kashner will discuss how to involve donors who give small amounts, and how to bring them back again and again.

<p><li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.guidestar.org/rxg/news/webinars/6-26-2013-webinar-fundraising-with-social-media.aspx">Fundraising with Social Media</a> - GuideStar, June 26. What campaigns work well online and how to set them up.


</ul>

<p><i>Photo: Getty Images</i>

<p>Please join me on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.facebook.com/AboutNonprofit">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/joannefritz">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.linkedin.com/in/joannef">LinkedIn</a> and <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://plus.google.com/103089805226950587884/posts">Google+</a>.