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Creating Autofill Links with Custom Parameters and Tracking

Updated

Creating Autofill Links with Custom Parameters and Tracking

Autofill links let you pre-populate giving form fields so donors have a smoother checkout. They are also great for tracking the performance of specific campaigns, emails, or outreach efforts.

How Autofill Links Work

Add parameters to any GiveCampus giving form URL to pre-fill fields. Format: givecampus.com/campaigns/[ID]/donations/new?parameter=value. For multiple parameters, connect them with &.

Key terms

  • ADID (Autofill Datum ID): A unique identifier that GiveCampus assigns to each personalization record. Each record—for instance, one storing a greeting, ask amount, pre-selected designation, or a full set of personalized pre-fill values—is given an ADID so the system can reproduce the donor’s personalized experience when they use a link.

  • How ADID is used in URLs: Personalization links include the adid parameter so donors land on a form pre-filled with the corresponding data. For example: https://givecampus.com/campaigns/[ID]/donations/new?adid=[token].

  • Where admins find ADIDs: From the Online Giving > Personalization > Constituents page, click the Get Personalization Tokens button to export a CSV that contains an adid column. Match the token in the CSV with the personalization data used in your outreach.

  • Who creates ADIDs: GiveCampus generates the ADID automatically when personalization data is created or uploaded. Administrators use the exported token list or the Personalization UI to find the ADID, rather than creating it manually.

  • Why ADIDs matter: Since a single personalization record can include multiple pre-fill values (such as greeting, ask amount, and designation), the ADID ensures that GiveCampus delivers all the associated values consistently when a personalization link is used.

Available URL Parameters

set form to recurring — correct parameter name and combining with other parameters

Use ?recur=1 to pre-check the recurring gift checkbox when building autofill links. This is the supported parameter for recurring pre-selection.

Note on ?recurring=true: Although this value might check the recurring checkbox in some views, use recur=1 for consistent behavior.

When building autofill URLs that combine recurring with other parameters, follow these rules:

  • Only one question mark (?) is allowed in the URL. It must immediately follow the path (e.g., .../donations/new?). Append every additional parameter with an ampersand (&).
  • Use recur=1 for recurring pre-selection. When needed, add period (values: monthly, limited_months, or yearly) and recur_length (a numeric value) to set the frequency or duration.

Examples

  • Standalone recurring-only link: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/[ID]/donations/new?recur=1
  • Combined link (recurring + autofill token): https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/[ID]/donations/new?aft=YOUR_TOKEN&recur=1
  • Combined link (recurring + designation + amount): https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/[ID]/donations/new?recur=1&designation=Annual+Fund&value=100

Setting the recurring frequency and duration

  • To pre-select frequency, add period (for example, ?recur=1&period=monthly).
  • To pre-set duration, add recur_length with a numeric value (e.g., for yearly frequency, ?recur=1&period=yearly&recur_length=2).

Key points

  • Do not use a second ? in the URL. Append every additional parameter with &.
  • Test every combined autofill URL in an incognito or private browser window to ensure the recurring checkbox, frequency, and other pre-filled fields work as expected.

Building URLs with a single ? and using & to separate parameters prevents mistakes that may cause recurring options or other fields to be dropped.

Pre-Select a Designation

Add ?designation=Fund+Name to pre-select a specific fund. Replace spaces with +. If the designation doubles on the form, it is likely already set as the default. Remove either the URL parameter or the form default.

Pre-selecting multiple designations via URL

• Using numbered parameters: To pre-select multiple designations, append numbered parameters (e.g., designation_id_1, designation_id_2, etc.) to the URL. For example:

?designation_id_1=Fund+Name+One&designation_id_2=Fund+Name+Two&designation_id_3=Fund+Name+Three

• Avoid repeating the key: Do not repeat the unnumbered designation_id key (for example, ?designation_id=A&designation_id=B). Most browsers and servers will only recognize the last value.

• Exact matching: The value for each designation_id_N must exactly match the fund name on the form. Replace spaces with + or %20 and URL-encode any special characters.

• Example correct URL (three designations):

https://givecampus.com/campaigns/[ID]/donations/new?designation_id_1=Annual+Fund&designation_id_2=Scholarship+Fund&designation_id_3=Athletics

• Example incorrect URL:

?designation_id=Annual+Fund&designation_id=Scholarship+Fund&designation_id=Athletics

• URL encoding: Spaces can be encoded as + or %20; special characters must be URL-encoded.

Display order

  • The order donors see is determined by your form’s designation settings. If no specific position is set, the order in the URL is reflected on the form.
  • To adjust the display order, update the sequence in your form's designation settings and save the changes.

Testing checklist

  1. Ensure each designation name in the URL exactly matches the fund name on the form.
  2. Use numbered parameters (designation_id_1, designation_id_2, etc.) when pre-selecting multiple designations.
  3. URL-encode spaces and special characters appropriately.
  4. Test the complete link in an incognito or private browser window to verify it functions as expected.

Troubleshooting: autofill link not pre-selecting the intended designation

If your autofill link isn’t pre-selecting the expected designation, follow these steps:

  1. Confirm the link includes a designation parameter. Check for either designation= or designation_id= in the URL (for example: ?designation_id=your_designation_identifier&a=tracking_value).
  2. Open Form Settings & Display > Designation Configuration and verify the designation is active and correctly configured.
  3. Check that the parameter name in your URL matches the intended field (designation versus designation_id) and that the value is accurate.
  4. After making updates, test the link in an incognito or private browser window to ensure the designation pre-selects as expected.

Additional considerations:

  • Verify that URL encoding is applied for spaces and special characters to avoid broken links.
  • Ensure consistent use of the correct parameter across your configuration and link.

Multiple designations in autofill links — display order

  • The order shown to donors is determined by your form’s designation management settings.
  • To change the order:
    • Open Form Settings & Display > designation management.
    • Rearrange the designations as needed and save your changes.
    • Test the link in an incognito or private window to confirm the new order.
  • Note: URL parameter order cannot override the form-level configuration.

Pre-Set a Gift Amount

Add ?amount=50 to pre-fill a dollar amount.

Unique Tracking Links

Tracking links measure traffic and gifts from specific outreach efforts. Go to your campaign admin page, navigate to Unique Tracking Links, create a new link with a descriptive name, and GiveCampus generates a unique URL.

Troubleshooting Tracking Links

Large gap between email clicks and GiveCampus traffic? This can happen from bot clicks (email providers pre-scan links), browser caching, or redirects stripping parameters. Contact support with your campaign URL if discrepancies persist.

Tips

  • Test links in incognito before sending
  • Use URL encoding for special characters (spaces become + or %20)
  • Keep a spreadsheet tracking which links you have created and where

FAQ — Can I change the suggested giving‑amount buttons via an autofill URL parameter?

No. The suggested giving‑amount buttons (for example, the $25, $50, or $100 quick‑select buttons) are defined in your form or campaign settings and cannot be altered via URL parameters.

Details

  • Where suggested amounts live: They are configured in your form or campaign settings and apply to all donors until modified in those settings.
  • Why there's confusion: Suggested amounts are a global setting, not a URL parameter. The Generate Autofill Links tool shows only the supported fields for pre‑filling via links.
  • Supported URL parameters:
    • ?amount= pre‑fills the dollar amount input without changing the displayed quick‑select buttons.
    • ?designation= or ?designation_id= pre‑select a fund or designation.
    • ?recurring=true checks the recurring gift option.
    • ?adid= (used with Personalization/Smart Ask Amounts) delivers a complete set of personalized pre‑fill values.
  • Personalized suggested asks: To provide personalized quick‑select buttons per donor, use GiveCampus Personalization (Smart Ask Amounts). Generate personalization records with an ADID token; a link including ?adid=[token] will display the personalized suggested amounts.

Practical guidance

  • To pre‑fill a single amount on the donation input, append ?amount=50 (or your desired value) to the form URL. The quick‑select buttons remain as configured in the form.
  • To change the quick‑select buttons for all users, edit the suggested amounts in the Form Settings & Display section.
  • To offer per‑donor personalized amounts, create personalization records and include the adid parameter in your outreach links.

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