Could one checkbox change how many donors cover fees?

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.

Key results

When GiftAssist is pre-selected, 73.71% of donors covered fees, compared with 48.77% when it started unchecked—a 51% increase. Conversion remained steady at 3.30% and 3.33%, while 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.

What this means for you

Put more of every donation toward your mission, without adding friction for supporters. Pre-selecting GiftAssist makes that easier by default.

51% more fee coverage

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