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

Add ?recurring=true to automatically check the recurring gift box.

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.

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

• Including multiple designation_id parameters in an autofill URL (for example, designation_id, designation_id_1, designation_id_2, etc.) does not set their display order on the giving form.
• 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.

Branded (vanity) URLs and autofill links

• Branded URLs (vanity URLs) like give.school.edu are available as a GiveCampus feature
• Schools can use branded URLs to create shorter, school-branded links instead of long givecampus.com URLs
• Unique Tracking Links automatically use the school's branded URL when configured
• Branded URLs work with all autofill parameters and tracking links
• URL shortening through branded URLs provides professional appearance for print and email materials
• Branded URL setup is done by GiveCampus support team
• All campaign and form URLs automatically use the branded domain once configured

What this means for autofill links

• Once a branded (vanity) domain is active for your school, your autofill URLs use that domain instead of the default givecampus.com domain. The same autofill parameters you already use (for example, designation, amount, recurring) continue to work exactly the same way.

• Example URL pattern with a branded domain:

  https://give.school.edu/campaigns/[ID]/donations/new?designation=Scholarship+Fund&amount=50&recurring=true

  This is the same parameter structure you use today — only the domain is shorter and school‑branded.

Best practices when using branded URLs in mail and email

1. Use URL encoding for special characters in parameters (spaces become + or %20). This prevents broken links in email clients and printed material.
2. Test every branded autofill link in an incognito/private window before publishing or printing it. This confirms the parameters populate as intended and the link resolves.
3. Track which branded links you distribute (for example, maintain a spreadsheet of the link name, destination, and where it was used). Branded domains are ideal for print and email because they look professional and are easier to read and remember.
4. Include the full query string when creating Unique Tracking Links or autofill links; the branded domain does not strip or alter parameters.

Notes and gotchas

• Because all campaign and form URLs automatically use the branded domain once configured, expect your future generated links (including Unique Tracking Links) to use the branded domain by default.
• Branded URLs provide branded public links (domain level). The path and query string still carry the campaign and parameter information needed for autofill and tracking.

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