Hypothesis
This experiment tested whether pre-selecting GiftAssist encouraged more donors to cover processing fees without making them less likely to complete their donation or give as much.
Duration
7 days
Timing
June 9–16, 2026
Audience
Organizations using eligible Standard Donation Forms where GiftAssist was enabled but not already opted in by default.
Group split
Donors were split evenly: half saw GiftAssist unchecked, and half saw it pre-selected. The rest of the form stayed the same.
What this means for you
Make pre-selecting Gift Assist the default on your donation forms. It's a one-click change that lifts fee coverage by more than 50%, without hurting conversion, so more of every gift stays with your mission.
Key results
When GiftAssist was pre-selected, 73.71% of donors covered fees, compared with 48.77% when it started unchecked—indicating that 51% more donors chose to cover fees. Conversion rate and average gift size held steady.
Segment insights
The experiment included users across eligible Standard Donation Forms, including one-time, recurring, mobile, desktop, and text-to-donate experiences.
Conclusion
Pre-selecting GiftAssist leads to more donors covering fees without reducing conversion rate or gift size–making it the stronger default for forms.