Not all donation forms serve the same purpose. A form used to collect online donations is different from one used by nonprofits to apply for funding or track in kind contributions. Understanding these differences is an integral component to building an effective nonprofit fundraising strategy.
This guide covers the most common types of donation forms, when to use each, and how to create them efficiently.
What Are Donation Forms?
They are used in different ways depending on the situation:
- Donors use donation forms to give money
- Nonprofits use forms to apply for funding or sponsorships
- Organizations use forms to collect goods, services, or pledges
While the format may vary, the goal is the same: to create a consistent, organized way to manage fundraising interactions.
Types of Donation Forms for Nonprofits
Standard Donation Form
A standard online donation form is used to collect monetary contributions from supporters.
This is typically the primary form on a nonprofit’s website or campaign page. It allows donors to select an amount, enter their information, and complete a payment in one flow.
When designed well, it is simple, mobile-friendly, and requires minimal effort to complete, making it effective for everyday fundraising.
Explore this nonprofit donation form template to see it in action.
Donation Request Form
These forms standardize how requests are submitted, making it easier for organizations to review and evaluate them consistently. Instead of managing emails or attachments, companies collect structured information in one place.
Common fields include organization details, nonprofit status, the purpose of the request, and how the donation will be used. Many companies now use online forms, like this donation request form template, instead of static documents to simplify submission and tracking.
In Kind Donation Form
An in kind donation form is used to collect non-monetary contributions such as goods or services.
This type of form is commonly used for auctions, events, or school supply drives, where donors contribute items instead of money. It helps capture important details like item descriptions, estimated value, and donor information, ensuring contributions are properly tracked, acknowledged, and, when needed, documented for reporting purposes.
Get a closer look at how it can be structured with this in kind donation form template.
Are in kind donations tax deductible?
Including detailed item descriptions in an in-kind donation form helps ensure accurate acknowledgment and record keeping.
Event Donation Form
Event donation forms are commonly used for galas, school fundraisers, golf tournaments, and community events where attendees may need to register, purchase tickets, or contribute at different levels. For example, a gala form might include ticket tiers, table sponsorships, and an optional donation, while a school fundraiser might combine event registration with add-on contributions.
By consolidating these elements into one place, event donation forms make it easier to manage registrations, track contributions, and reduce manual coordination.
Recurring Donation Form
A recurring donation form allows donors to set up automatic, ongoing contributions.
Instead of making a one-time donation, supporters can choose to give on a monthly or scheduled basis. This helps nonprofits build more predictable revenue over time and creates a more stable foundation for planning and growth.
Recurring giving programs are especially effective for organizations looking to increase donor lifetime value and reduce the need for constant new donor acquisition. With the right set up, like in this recurring donation form template, they can turn one-time supporters into long-term contributors.
Pledge Donation Form
A pledge donation form is used to capture a commitment to donate at a future date.
It allows donors to promise a contribution now and fulfill it later, often based on an event or outcome. This is commonly used for campaigns, large donations, or performance-based fundraisers.
For example, in athon fundraisers, donors often pledge an amount based on performance, like a dollar amount per lap or per activity completed, and fulfill the donation after the event. This walkathon template helps illustrate how pledge-based fundraising works in practice.
Pledge vs. Donate. What’s the difference?
Pledges are often used for large campaigns, events, or peer-to-peer fundraising efforts, while standard donations are processed at the time of giving. Both play important roles in nonprofit fundraising strategies.
When to Use Each Donation Form
The Easiest Way to Create Donation Forms
Cheddar Up allows organizations to create customizable online donation pages that collect both payments and information in a single flow. Donors can complete transactions without creating an account, reducing friction and improving completion rates.
With Cheddar Up, you can:
- Create donation forms for payments, requests, pledges, and in kind contributions
- Accept credit cards, eChecks, and digital wallet payments
- Enable recurring donations for ongoing fundraising
- Track all donations and form responses automatically in one place
- Share forms via link, email, or QR code
This allows nonprofits to streamline fundraising, reduce manual work, and provide a frictionless donor experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a donation form?
What is an online donation form?
How do I create a donation form online?
What should a donation form include?
What is the difference between a donation form and a donation request form?
How do nonprofits ask companies for donations?
Booked Authors streamlines school book sales with Cheddar Up
As Executive Director of Booked Authors, Allyson Hickey oversees school book sales tied to author visits across the country. Many of those sales happen at the same time, often with tight timelines and high expectations from schools, PTAs, and families.
For years, the process relied on paper order forms sent home in backpacks, checks returned on uneven schedules, and handwritten personalization details that were not always easy to read. Tracking orders required follow-up, and even small errors created extra work during already busy seasons.
As school book sales grew in volume, the cracks became harder to ignore. Managing multiple author visits and book orders at once left little room for inefficiency. Allyson knew the process needed to support growth without adding more manual work.
How to run a PTA holiday shop (plus a free volunteer template)
The PTA holiday shop is one of those feel-good school traditions that brings smiles and a little seasonal sparkle. Kids pick out gifts for their families on their own, and your school raises money and builds community spirit. As the PTA member running it, you’ll have to make a lot of decisions, like who supplies the inventory, what to price at $1 versus $5, how many volunteers each shift needs, and how kids pay at the register.
This guide walks you through everything you’ll need to host a successful PTA holiday shop, from eight weeks out to cleanup day. You’ll also find a free online volunteer sign up template you can customize and share with your school community. A PTA holiday shop is a pop-up store your parent group runs at school, where students buy small, low-priced gifts for family and friends. Volunteers help kids shop and wrap, and the PTA keeps the proceeds for school programs.
The Best Giving Tuesday Campaigns: A Guide to Success
Giving Tuesday has quickly grown into the world’s largest day of giving. Since its start in 2012, it has spread to over 100 countries, inspiring billions in donations every year. For nonprofits, schools, and community groups, it’s a powerful chance to rally supporters and meet ambitious goals. But not all campaigns achieve the same results. Some stand out, raising impressive amounts and energizing their communities. So, what separates the best Giving Tuesday campaigns from the rest? Let’s break down the traits of successful campaigns and how you can apply them to your own efforts.
Holiday Wreath Fundraiser Tips for Merry Success
A holiday wreath fundraiser is a festive, low-risk way for schools, PTAs, sports teams, and nonprofits to raise money during the winter season. With a little planning and the right online fundraising platform, you can turn a wreath sale into a joyful, community-powered fundraising success.
This guide covers the full Christmas wreath sale, from picking products and a supplier to running pickup day, plus how to add Christmas trees to the same sale without setting up a tree lot.
Ready to set things up now? Start with the holiday wreath fundraiser template and add your own products and prices.
The best Christmas wreath fundraising ideas give supporters a few clear choices at different price points. A classic wreath covers most buyers, and one or two upgraded options bring in larger orders from those who want a more elaborate wreath.
