Online fundraising is growing fast. It has become a key way for charities to connect with supporters and gather donations. However, turning website visitors into donors isn’t always easy.
Many organisations may struggle with high donation drop-off rates. Often because of complex checkout processes, slow-loading pages, or disruptive redirects within their donation forms. When faced with friction, potential donors may abandon their gift before completing it.
As donor expectations evolve, supporters increasingly respond to fast, intuitive giving experiences that keep them engaged and eliminate unnecessary steps. Charities must ask themselves: How can we go beyond the simple “Donate” button? How can we reassure donors with an integrated donation environment, fully aligned with our brand identity?
To meet these challenges, charities must focus on building a donor journey that is engaging yet seamless. A donor’s journey likely begins long before they land on a donation page—through storytelling, campaigns, or personal connections—but it is in that final step where the experience must be smooth and compelling. Charities must provide donation forms that integrate naturally into their fundraising websites, offering a frictionless experience that keeps donors focused on their generosity.
That’s where embedded donation forms come in. These forms make giving easier by reducing extra clicks and removing barriers. They create a better experience for donors. Ensuring a smooth and intuitive donation process builds trust, encourages repeat giving, and maximises the impact of every interaction.
In this article, we’ll explore iRaiser’s two types of embedded forms: native donation forms and pop-in forms. We'll detail when to use them and how they can help organisations improve their charity fundraising.
What are Embedded Donation Forms?
Native Donation Forms: A Fully Integrated Giving Experience
Why Choose Native Donation Forms?
When to Use Native Donation Forms?
Pop-In Donation Forms: Capture Attention & Drive Action
Why Choose Pop-In Donation Forms?
When to Use Pop-In Donation Forms?
What are Embedded Donation Forms?
Embedded forms are online donation forms that are integrated directly into your website. They eliminate the need for redirects and ensure a seamless giving experience. Charities no longer have to choose between conversion and flexibility—these forms offer both.
With iRaiser’s embedded donation forms, charities are still able to personalise their forms to fit their brand image. To create a reassuring and cohesive giving environment. Two types of embedded donation forms exist:
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Native forms, which are fully integrated into your webpage, and
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Pop-in forms, which appear as an overlay window without redirecting users from the page they’re browsing.
Both provide a smooth, branded experience that optimises trust with the donor base and maximises contributions.
Native Donation Forms: A Fully Integrated Giving Experience
Native donation forms blend smoothly into your website. They look like a natural part of the page, not a separate element.
Which of these waiting rooms do you think sells more drinks? On the left, a poster politely suggests you ask the receptionist if you would like a drink. On the right, a vending machine invites you to choose your drink immediately.
The answer is obvious, right? The vending machine wins because it eliminates unnecessary steps and makes the decision effortless.
Now, let’s apply the same principle to online fundraising.
Most fundraising websites feature a "Donate" button. Logical and essential. After all, fundraising fuels your mission. But this button actually poses a hidden, passive question: "Do I want to make a donation?"
What if we took a different approach? Instead of asking if someone wants to give, ask them directly: "How much would you like to give?"
By removing friction and presenting the action clearly, you make it easier for donors to say yes to generosity. This is crucial for visitors who come from direct traffic. They land on your homepage already interested in your cause. If they see a donation form right away, they are more likely to act and give on the spot.
Why Choose Native Donation Forms?
Native Donation forms provide many benefits, some of which are:
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Increased donor engagement – Keep donors immersed in your content without redirects, leading to higher conversion rates.
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Enriched storytelling – Strengthen emotional connections by integrating impact explanations, donor experiences, and fund allocation breakdowns directly on the donation page.
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A cohesive brand experience. Keep your brand consistent by using a donation form that matches your website's design and message.
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Flexible customisation. Native forms can be adapted for various campaigns. From year-end appeals and regular giving programmes to sponsorship initiatives and emergency relief efforts.
When to Use Native Donation Forms?
Native donation forms are highly versatile, making them ideal for a variety of fundraising initiatives. With iRaiser’s solutions, charities can create an unlimited number of donation forms. Each tailored to different donor segments, donation amounts, and campaign needs. Here are some key scenarios where donation forms can make a significant impact:
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Converting New Donors – Native forms are ideal to make first-time giving intuitive and seamless. By eliminating extra steps and avoiding redirects, these forms keep donors fully engaged within your website. Allowing donors to give with minimal effort.
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Large-Scale Campaigns – Drive engagement and maximise donations without disrupting the donor journey. Perfect for year-end appeals or emergency fundraising, where maintaining momentum and ease of giving are crucial for success.
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Enhancing User Experience – Create a donor journey that is streamlined and user-friendly. Encourage donors to complete their gifts with confidence.
By embedding donation forms on the website, the donation journey can start as soon as visitors arrive. The idea is to eliminate unnecessary clicks and barriers, increasing the chances of conversion.
See how the Bleuet de France Foundation is using Native Donation Forms to improve their donor journey.
Pop-In Donation Forms: Capture Attention & Drive Action
Pop-in donation forms appear as an overlay on your website. They instantly catch visitors’ attention without taking them away from the page. Designed to work alongside native forms, they offer a focused and distraction-free giving experience. And ensure donors can complete their gifts quickly and effortlessly.
Why Choose Pop-In Donation Forms?
Pop-in forms offer a range of advantages, including:
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High Visibility – When a visitor clicks "Donate," the pop-in form instantly appears front and centre. Making it impossible to miss.
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A Focused Experience – They temporarily mask other content to keep donors concentrated on completing their single or monthly donation.
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A Seamless Integration – They are customisable to your brand’s image, ensuring a smooth and cohesive donation journey.
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No Redirects – Pop-in forms keep donors on your website, eliminating friction and increasing conversion rates.
When to Use Pop-In Donation Forms?
A complement to native forms, pop-in forms are perfect for capturing donor attention at key moments. Here are some of the best times to use them:
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Time-Sensitive Campaigns – Maximise urgency-driven giving for appeals and emergency response efforts.
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Quick, One-Time Donations – Provide an easy and intuitive way for first-time donors to contribute.
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Multiple Calls to Action on the Same Page – Keep donation options visible and accessible without disrupting other key messaging.
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Keep Donors Engaged – Allow supporters to give without leaving the page or your site.
With pop-in donation forms, charities can ensure every visitor has an easy and immediate way to give. They help boost engagement while maintaining a seamless user experience. Test the pop-in donation forms for yourself. Just click the "Donate" button in the top right corner to see them in action!
Easy Integration
Embedded donation forms seamlessly integrate into your website, ensuring a smooth and unbroken giving experience for your donors. Created with ease-of-use and flexibility in mind to make your life as a fundraiser easier.
Which is why they are compatible with numerous CMS platforms, making implementation simple and hassle-free.
A seamless and donor-centric experience
Embedded donation forms offer a smooth, donor-centric experience. They help charities reduce drop-off rates, increase engagement, and optimise conversion. Whether using native forms for seamless integration or pop-in forms for high visibility, these solutions create a smooth giving experience that are sure to match your charity's brand and goals.
However, not all donation forms are a one-size-fits-all solution. The key to success is testing and applying different types of forms based on your types of donors and specific fundraising needs. While embedded forms are excellent for boosting conversions and simplifying first-time donations, dedicated donation forms remain essential for more personal approaches. Tailored appeals for regular donors, high-traffic or live streaming events, even corporate sponsorships.
Learn more about our fundraising platform and dedicated donation forms. Check out our article: Dedicated donation pages: when should you use them to optimise your fundraising?