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Forms Transition Guide

Introduction to Forms 2.0

Forms 2.0 introduces a modern and flexible way to build high-converting donation experiences within CharityEngine. The updated experience is designed to help organizations create more engaging constituent journeys, improve donor conversion rates, and simplify the process of building and managing online forms.

Forms 2.0 includes enhanced layout options, personalized giving experiences, improved checkout functionality, and updated performance improvements intended to support modern fundraising strategies.

This article provides a high-level overview of Forms 2.0 functionality, available features, important considerations, and guidance for organizations beginning adoption of the updated experience.

Table of Contents



Prerequisites

What is Forms 2.0?

Forms 2.0 is an updated form framework within CharityEngine focused on improving both the administrative setup experience and the donor-facing giving journey.

This forms upgrade is intended to help organizations:

Key Features & Enhancements

New Available Templates

Current Forms 2.0 templates include:

Basic Templates

These templates offer a design similar to Legacy Forms.

Advanced Templates

Each template provides a starting point that you can customize to match your organization’s branding and fundraising goals.


Accessing Forms 2.0

Instruction: Access Forms 2.0

Step 1: Navigate to Online > Web Forms > Search & Manage

Step 3: Create a new record by selecting the + on the top right.

Step 4: Configure layouts, branding, donation settings, and donor experience components as needed.

Step 5: Test the full donor experience prior to deploying publicly.

Forms 2.0 is available to clients and is enabled by default. Organizations also retain the ability to toggle back to legacy forms where applicable.

Important Considerations

Custom Code Compatibility

Organizations using custom scripts, styling, or legacy modifications should fully test all functionality prior to deployment in Forms 2.0 environments.

Custom code compatibility is not guaranteed and may require updates or rewrites depending on the implementation.

Styling Differences

Out-of-the-box styling may differ from product demonstrations or template examples. Organizations may need to manually configure colors, buttons, layouts, and branding settings to achieve the desired experience.

Incremental Adoption Recommended

Organizations may choose to gradually adopt Forms 2.0 by testing specific donation experiences before replacing all existing production forms.

Switching Legacy Forms to Forms 2.0

The recommended best practice is to recreate forms directly in Forms 2.0. Recreating the form allows the organization to fully take advantage of the updated layouts, design tools, donor experience improvements, and performance enhancements available in Forms 2.0.

Please Note: You do not need to redesign your forms to make the switch. In addition to new design templates, Forms 2.0 offers basic layouts that look similar to legacy forms while delivering the benefits noted above. 


How to Convert a Basic Legacy Form to Forms 2.0

Follow the steps below or watch this short video tutorial to move your legacy form to Forms 2.0.

Step 1: Click the blue plus sign, select Create Online Form, and choose the appropriate form type.

Step 2: Select Standard, Left Aligned, or Right Aligned as the layout.

Step 3: Click Create.

Step 4: Copy the settings and selections from your original form to the new form.

Step 5: Test the new form to make sure it looks and works as expected.

Step 6: Deactivate the legacy form and redirect its URL to the new form.

 

     

    How to Tell Whether Your Form Is Legacy or Forms 2.0

    You can often recognize Forms 2.0 by design details such as the rounded gift buttons shown above. To confirm which version you’re using, open your form editor, go to Advanced > Developer, and check the Version field.



    Best Practices for Adoption

    Test Before Deployment

    Organizations should fully test:

    before publishing publicly.

    Begin with Lower-Risk Use Cases

    Many organizations begin adoption by testing donation forms first before migrating more complex workflows or event experiences.

    Align Forms with Organizational Branding

    Customize layouts, colors, typography, and design elements to ensure forms align with organizational branding standards and donor expectations.

    Review the Donor Journey

    Organizations should evaluate the complete donor experience from landing page through confirmation page to ensure a smooth and intuitive giving process.

    Outcome

    After reviewing this article, users should have a foundational understanding of Forms 2.0 functionality, available enhancements, and important considerations for adoption within CharityEngine.

    Organizations can leverage Forms 2.0 to create more modern, personalized, and conversion-focused online giving experiences while maintaining flexibility during adoption and testing phases.

    FAQ & Further Reading

    Q. Is Forms 2.0 available now?

    A. Yes. Forms 2.0 has been released and is available to organizations.

    Q. Can organizations still use legacy forms?

    A. Yes. For a period of time, organizations can continue using legacy forms and may have the ability to toggle between Forms 2.0 and legacy experiences where applicable.

    Q. Will existing custom code automatically work in Forms 2.0?

    A. Not necessarily. Organizations using custom scripts or legacy modifications should fully test all functionality before deployment. Some implementations may require updates or rewrites.

    Q. Why might forms look different than demo examples?

    A. Demo environments may include additional styling and branding customization. Organizations may need to manually configure layouts, colors, buttons, and branding settings.

    Q. Should organizations immediately migrate all forms to Forms 2.0?

    A. Organizations may choose to adopt Forms 2.0 incrementally by testing donation forms or select workflows prior to replacing all production forms.

       


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