Whether you're offering event tickets, merch, sponsorships, or memberships, Cart Items make it easy for donors to choose what matters to them, and check out in one smooth step.
🔍 What Are Cart Items?
Cart Items are customizable elements you can add to your Donately form that allow supporters to:
- Purchase tickets, products, sponsorships, or memberships
- Mix and match multiple items in one checkout
- See a clear form summary of everything they're selecting and giving
This means your donation form becomes more than just a place to give — it becomes a flexible fundraising tool.
💡 Why Use Cart Items?
- Diversify revenue by offering items beyond donations
- Boost average gift size by letting donors bundle items
- Streamline supporter experience with one checkout flow
- Eliminate tool overload — no need for a separate ticketing or eCommerce platform
🧭 Where to Find Cart Items in Donately
Cart Items live inside the Form Builder, under the Fields & Layout section.
- Click “Add a custom form field”
- Choose “Cart Items”
- Select the type of item you want to add:
- Tickets
- Products (e.g., merch)
- Sponsorships
- Registrations
- Table registrations
- Adoptions
- Gifts
- Memberships
- Meal types or add-ons
- Other items
- Other add-ons
- Fill in the item details (explained below)
✏️ How to Set Up Cart Items
Each Cart Item includes the following customizable fields:
- Name – What donors will see
- Description – Add context or benefits
- Price – Set in cents (e.g., “2500” = $25.00)
- Image (optional) – Upload a photo or graphic
- Quantity limits – Control how many of each item a donor can purchase
- Multiple Items – Add multiple options per item type (e.g., VIP ticket, General Admission)
You can add multiple types of Cart Items to the same form (e.g., event tickets and sponsorships).
📦 Variant Handling (Sizes, Colors, etc.)
If you're selling products with variations (like t-shirt sizes), each variant should be set up as a separate item.
Example:
- “T-Shirt – Small”
- “T-Shirt – Medium”
- “T-Shirt – Large”
Each will show as its own selectable item in the form.
🧾 Use the Form Summary Field (Highly Recommended)
We recommend adding the Form Summary field to the bottom of your form. This is a new custom field which can also be found in the Fields & Layout – Custom Field section. This shows donors a clean breakdown of:
- Each item they’ve selected
- Total cost
- Any additional donation they choose to give
It helps donors visualize their impact — and often encourages them to give a little more.
🛠️ Tips for Using Cart Items Effectively
- Use clear, compelling item names (e.g. “VIP Gala Ticket with Dinner”)
- Add images to make items more visual and engaging
- Set limits if you’re selling limited seating or quantities
- Preview before publishing — your items will display in the form preview
📊 Reporting & Fulfillment
After a donor completes their purchase:
- They receive a line-item receipt showing exactly what they selected
- Your team can export Cart Item data from reporting to:
- Fulfill product orders
- Manage event check-ins
- Track sponsorship purchases or member signups
⚠️ Note: Cart Item reporting is currently available via export. In-dashboard reporting is coming soon.
🔁 Common Questions
Where do I add Cart Items?
Inside the Form Builder → Fields & Layout → “Add a custom form field” → Choose “Cart Items.”
Can donors select more than one item?
Yes! They can mix tickets, products, memberships, and more — all in one cart.
Can I use Cart Items for free registrations or RSVPs?
Not currently at this time, however, we are working to add free registrations and RSVP options that do not require a payment before the end of 2025.
Do I need separate tools for merch or ticketing?
Nope. Cart Items are fully built into your Donately donation form.
How are prices set?
Prices are entered in cents. For example, “2500” = $25.00.
What if I want to offer variants like sizes or colors?
Create each version as its own Cart Item (e.g., “Shirt – Medium”).
Can I use conditional logic?
Not yet — but our support team can help build custom logic forms at no cost until this feature is added.
Can I track who bought what?
Yes — each item is assigned a Cart Item ID. You can filter/export this data for tracking and fulfillment.
💬 Need Help?
If you need assistance setting up Cart Items or customizing your form, our support team is here to help.
Contact Donately support email or start a live chat with the Donately team.
We're always here to help!