Flexifields

Flexifields are custom form fields that can be added to giving forms to collect additional information from donors. These dynamic fields appear based on configurable rules, allowing you to gather specific data for certain paths, time periods, or gift characteristics.

Overview

Flexifields extend the standard giving form with:

• Custom questions - Text fields, dropdowns, or other input types
• Conditional display - Fields appear based on path, date ranges, or gift details
• Choice lists - Pre-defined options for dropdown selections
• Required/optional - Each field can be marked as required or optional

Field Types

Display Rules

Flexifields use rule groups to control when they appear. Each rule group can specify:

Path Rules

Restrict a flexifield to specific giving paths:

• No path rule - Field appears on all paths
• Specific path - Field only appears on designated paths

Time-Based Rules

Limit when a field is active:

• Start date - Field becomes visible on this date
• End date - Field stops appearing after this date
• No dates - Field is always active (when other rules match)

Rule groups can combine multiple conditions. For example, a field could be configured to appear only on the “athletics” path during a specific campaign period.

Choices

For dropdown and multi-select flexifields, you create your own list of choices manually. Each choice has a label (what donors see) and a code (for reporting).

You can optionally add a “Please Select” placeholder prompt for single-select dropdowns.

Choices appear in the order you specify.

Configuration

Flexifields are configured in Giving > Flexifields in the admin interface.

Creating a Flexifield

1. Navigate to Giving > Flexifields
2. Click Create New Flexifield
3. Enter the question text
4. Select the field type
5. Add help text (optional)
6. Mark as required if needed
7. For dropdown or multi-select fields, add your choices
8. Configure display rules
9. Save

Managing Rules

After creating a flexifield, add rule groups to control visibility:

1. Edit the flexifield
2. Navigate to the Rules section
3. Add a rule group
4. Specify conditions (path, dates)
5. Save the rule group

Data Collection

Responses to flexifields are:

• Stored with the pledge record
• Available in gift reports
• Included in API responses
• Visible in the pledge detail view in admin

Best Practices

Keep Questions Clear

• Use concise, unambiguous question text
• Provide help text for complex questions
• Test how questions appear on mobile devices

Use Rules Strategically

• Avoid showing irrelevant fields to donors
• Time-limit campaign-specific questions
• Remove outdated fields when campaigns end

Consider Required vs Optional

• Only mark fields required when truly necessary
• Required fields can increase form abandonment
• Use optional fields for “nice to have” data

New Form Behavior

On the Single-page Giving (SPG) form, flexifields:

• Update dynamically as donors configure their gift
• Appear in the appropriate form section
• Validate in real-time
• Persist across page refreshes (session storage)

The form requests visible flexifields from the server whenever gift configuration changes, ensuring the correct fields appear based on current pledge details.