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Let people give without attending

Turn on one switch and checkout first asks whether a guest is coming. Those who can't attend go straight to the donation screen and pay for a gift alone.

GalaOwner · Admin · Manager
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Many people who can't come to a gala still want to give. With Show the donation screen to guests who can't attend on, checkout asks first whether the guest is attending. A guest who can't goes straight to your donation screen, gives, and pays for the gift alone, with no ticket.

Before you start

  • This switch comes with Gala. Without it, the switch is off and says Comes with Gala.
  • Set up your donation screen's amounts first: they're the same amounts both kinds of guest see.

Turn it on

  1. 1
    In the event, open Fundraising → Donations.
  2. 2
    Under Donation screen, turn on Show the donation screen to guests who can't attend.
  3. 3
    Optional: change Answer for guests attending and Answer for guests who can't attend. These are the two choices guests pick from. Leave them blank to use the defaults.
  4. 4
    Optional: write a Thank-you message. It shows under "Thank you for your gift" on the last screen.
  5. 5
    Optional: click Customize beside Donor thank-you email to edit the email these donors get.
  6. 6
    Click Save changes. Your event page now shows the two answers above your tickets.

What a guest who can't attend does

  1. 1
    On your event page, they pick the answer for guests who can't attend. The tickets give way to your donation line and a Make a gift button.
  2. 2
    Checkout opens on the donation screen with your amounts.
  3. 3
    They fill in their details and pay.
  4. 4
    They see "Thank you for your gift" with your message, and get the donor thank-you email instead of an order confirmation.

What Ovante records

  • One order with a gift and no tickets. It shows on Transactions, on the Orders page, and in Gifts on the Donations page, marked as given without attending.
  • The gift counts in Raised on the Overview, and reaches your CRM like any donation.
  • Nobody is registered, so the gift takes no seat.

Good to know

  • Because no seat is taken, a gift still goes through when the event is sold out, its ticket sales have ended, or it's members-only or invite-only.
  • Pausing ticket sales doesn't stop gifts from guests who can't attend.
  • Once Gala closes, the switch stays as it was and can't be changed.
When
Show the donation screen to guests who can't attend is on
Then
Checkout first asks whether the guest is attending, and one who can't gives through the donation screen with no ticket. A gift alone takes no seat, so capacity, sold out, sales dates and a pause don't stop it.
Every rule in How Ovante decides
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Updated Oct 25, 2026

Related

Ask for a donation at checkoutTurn on the donation screen on the Donations page and checkout offers guests an optional gift, with suggested amounts you set and a custom amount.Customize event emailsChange the subject, headline and message of the emails an event sends its guests. Tickets, amounts, the event details and the footer stay fixed.Where money shows upRevenue counts ticket money after refunds and fees, with gifts taken out. Donations count every gift. Each screen's figure, and what it counts, in one table.What Gala isGala is an upgrade for one event, paid once, that adds sponsors, journal ads, seating and a live appeal. Get it with Talk to us on Settings → Gala.
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