You’ve launched your campaign. The email went out. Donors are clicking the link. But something’s off—people land on your giving page… and bounce.

It’s not just frustrating. It’s expensive. Every missed donation is lost mission impact.

That’s why auditing your donation flow is one of the highest-leverage things you can do this week. It doesn’t take a developer. It doesn’t require a new platform. Just clear eyes, fresh perspective, and a willingness to tweak what’s not working.

This post gives you a step-by-step checklist to spot friction, fix what’s broken, and make your giving page convert like it should.

Step 1: Open Your Page on Mobile First

More than half of donors will see your giving page on their phone. So if your audit starts on desktop, you’re already behind.

Pull up your donation page on a mobile device. Ask yourself:

• Is the call-to-action above the fold?
• Do the buttons and fields fit the screen without zooming?
• Is the text large enough to read easily?
• Does the keyboard cover up input fields?

Bonus: try it on a friend’s phone that doesn’t have your browser cookies or saved data. You might be shocked at how many fields auto-fill for you—but not your donors.

Step 2: Count the Clicks

How many clicks does it take to go from landing to gift confirmation? Fewer is better.

Here’s what an ideal flow looks like:

1. Click from email or social post to donation page
2. Choose amount + frequency on a single screen
3. Enter name + payment info
4. Click donate
5. See confirmation

Every extra click or screen is a chance to lose someone. If your flow has detours—pop-ups, modal windows, logins—it’s time to clean house.

Step 3: Look for Trust Builders (or the Lack Thereof)

Most visitors don’t land on your giving page ready to donate. They land ready to decide. That means your page needs to do two things: remove doubt and build confidence.

Ask yourself:

• Is your logo visible?
• Is the design consistent with your brand or campaign?
• Do you show where the money goes—or just ask for it?
• Is there a testimonial, quote, or stat reinforcing the impact?

Trust isn’t just about fraud prevention. It’s about clarity. A donor who isn’t sure you’ll spend it wisely is a donor who doesn’t click “Give.”

Step 4: Kill the Clutter

Your donation page is not your homepage. It’s not the place for menus, event calendars, or blog feeds. Every pixel should focus on one goal: completing the gift.

Eliminate:

• Header navigation that distracts or leads people away
• Too many giving options (stick to 3–4 tiers max)
• Lengthy paragraphs explaining your mission

Replace with:

• Simple, scannable copy (think one short sentence above the form)
• A progress bar or goal if it’s campaign-based
• A single, prominent donate button

When in doubt, strip it down. You can always follow up with storytelling after the gift.

Step 5: Check Your Default Settings

Little things make a big difference. Audit the defaults that shape how donors behave:

• Default amount: Does it match the most common gift size?
• Frequency: Are you defaulting to one-time or monthly? (Hint: monthly can work if framed well.)
• Cover the fees toggle: Does it sound like an optional partnership or a guilt trip?

Don’t set these randomly. Use your past donation data to shape what people see first.

If you’re new to this or haven’t optimized for repeat giving yet, start with this post on how to build a recurring giving strategy that actually sticks.

Step 6: Submit a Test Donation

You can’t audit what you haven’t experienced. Run through your entire donation flow—on both desktop and mobile—and donate a small amount to yourself.

Watch for:

• Slow load times (anything over 3 seconds is a drop risk)
• Confusing field labels or error messages
• Surprise fees or unexpected language at checkout
• Post-donation redirects that feel generic or cold

Your confirmation screen and email receipt should reinforce the impact and leave the donor feeling glad they gave. If the vibe is “transaction complete,” you’re missing a massive moment for connection.

Step 7: Ask Someone Outside Your Org

It’s nearly impossible to see your own site clearly. You know your campaign. You’ve read the words a hundred times. But your donor hasn’t.

Ask a friend, volunteer, or board member to test the flow and record their screen. Don’t coach them. Just watch.

Where do they hesitate? What do they misread? What questions do they ask?

These raw moments are gold. They reveal what’s unclear or clunky—and they often lead to quick wins that boost your conversion rate overnight.

Step 8: Get Your Tech Working for You

The best donation flows don’t just collect money—they build momentum. That means your tech stack should:

• Track donor activity in one place
• Automatically tag or segment based on gift amount or campaign
• Trigger smart follow-ups (thank-yous, updates, upsells)

If you’re still duct-taping together forms and spreadsheets, you’re spending time chasing your tail. Tools like Solafund streamline the whole process with integrated donor tracking and form logic built in.

You can explore more of those advantages in our post on why flat pricing wins over upgrade traps—because when your platform is simple and honest, so is your workflow.

Small Fixes, Big Difference

You don’t need to overhaul your entire site to see a lift in donations. Most of the time, a handful of small, strategic fixes will dramatically improve conversion.

Start with the mobile experience. Then cut the clutter. Then fix the defaults.

Give people a clear, fast, emotionally satisfying path to say yes—and watch your results compound.

Because when your donation flow is frictionless, every gift comes easier.