Configuring an Event Campaign on Zeffy
Create your event:
Log into your Zeffy dashboard
Click on "Campaigns" in the menu bar on the left
There, click on "+ New campaign" in the top right and select the event option.
Select "Event" from the form type options
Step-by-Step Setup Guide
As you build your form, you can preview how it will look to your supporters on both mobile and desktop using the preview panel on the right side of the screen
1) Event Title
Enter your event title (default is "Annual Gala" but you can customize it)
2) Set Event Dates and Times
Add your event date (optional) and set a start and end time
For multi-date events, click "Add another event date" or change the event recurrence if the event will occur daily, weekly, monthly, etc.
Set a "sales close date" if you wish to close sales before your event start date. If you do not set a sales close date, sales will be closed automatically at the set "start" time.
It is currently not possible to set an automatic start date. If you wish to prevent sales until you launch your form, you can close them manually (see how here).
If your event has multiple dates and you'd like to learn more about using our multi-date event feature, click here.
3) Add Event Location
Click "+ Add address" to enter and search for your venue location (optional)
4) Customize Form Description
Add a detailed description of your event
Include important event details and what attendees can expect
5) Form Design
Select your form color scheme using the paintbrush tool
Add a banner image or YouTube video (by pasting the URL) at the top of your form
Note: YouTube shorts are not supported at this time.
Upload your nonprofit's logo (it will appear in top left corner, next to your organization name)
6) Configure Tickets
Set the total number of available tickets for your event (Optional - To learn more about ticket limits, please click here)
Add different ticket types:
Indicate the ticket name in the Title section (e.g. General admission, day pass, family pass, etc.)
Set a price for each ticket type
Add descriptions for what each ticket includes
Multi-date events: If you added more than one date or time in Date and time, name ticket rates by tier only (for example General admission or Family pass)—not by a specific date or time. Do not create a ticket called something like "Friday Sept 3 10am" when that slot is already a selectable event date. Buyers should either pick a date in Date and time, or choose a ticket named with that date—never both on the same form. See Setting up an event with multiple dates and times.
⚠️ More options: Click "See more options" below each item for more options:
Set a total availability: if you have limited quantities of this ticket type, you can set an upper limit for that ticket type.
Generate Tax receipts: if part of the ticket price is eligible for a tax receipt, you can check the option to generate a tax receipt and set the desired amount.
Create a group ticket: this will generate multiple tickets in one purchase. This is a great option for selling tables or offering discounted rates when more than one ticket is purchased by a buyer.
Early bird purchases: if you want to sell some of your tickets at early bird pricing, you can set a date on which this rate will no longer be available for sale (learn more)
Pay What You Can: Allow buyers to enter an amount of their choice to attend your event (learn more)
Members Only: Allow only your members to select this ticket rate (learn more)
Add categories: group your ticket types into categories so buyers can filter what they see on the form. See Create categories so buyers can sort your tickets and items.
7) Collect Buyer and Guest Information
Add questions to collect information from each guest or to the buyer
Choose response formats (single select, multiple choice, checkbox, etc.)
💡To collect guest names, select the "Guest name" (guest question type) response format. The response entered in those fields will populate on e-tickets and on your guest list for easier reporting and attendance tracking.
Set whether questions apply to all ticket types or specific ones
Make questions required if needed
Set maximum choice limits. Setting a maximum choice limit will limit the number of times this answer can be selected. The option will be greyed out when the limit is reached.
Question limits for multiple-choice questions
For multiple-choice questions, you can set a limit on how many times each answer option can be selected. You can use this feature to indicate how many meal options, clothing sizes, or spots in activities are available, for example!
To do this, choose multi-select or single-select as the question type. Then, click on "maximum choice limit" below the question.
You can then enter the limit that corresponds to each multiple-choice answer in the field to the right. On the form, your buyers will be able to see how many of each selection are still available.
Questions only for specific tickets
You can click on "Ask for all ticket types" if you would like to ask the question for each ticket type. You can also specify which ticket rates you want this question to be asked for.
8) Collect Additional Donations
You can activate the option for buyers to add a donation to your organization and to generate a receipt for the additional donation if your account is configured to do so.
10) Add Discount Codes
Add discount codes with specific values and usage limits. Learn more about discount codes
"Uses limit per date": If you are hosting an event with multiple dates and times, the code can be used the number of times indicated for each event occurrence. If you are hosting a single date event, the "per date" specification does not apply.
11) Customize your E-ticket
Customize e-tickets by adding a ticket banner
12) Customize Your Thank You Email and Reminder Emails
Thank you emails
When a buyer completes their purchase, they are sent a confirmation email with their e-ticket(s), transaction receipt and a thank you message which you can customize in your form editor.
Configure thank you emails with:
Custom subject line and content
Variables for personalization
Buttons linking to other forms/campaigns
Image attachments
Reminder emails
Before your set event start date, you can program an automatic email reminder to be sent to all buyers to share important information about your upcoming event.
You can program two reminders that will be sent to all buyers and customize the number of days before the event start date you wish to send it out.
If you do not wish to send a reminder, you can toggle off these communications
To redirect buyers to a custom thank-you webpage instead of the default Zeffy page after they complete their purchase, see How to Redirect Donors to a Custom Thank You Page. This is set up by request through our support team.
12) Advanced Settings
Add a campaign target thermometer to share your progress of your sales
Enable check payments for amounts over $1,000
Set up notification emails for multiple team members
Enable form translation (Spanish for US, French for Canada)
13) Share your Event
Once your form configuration has been finalized and you're ready for it to be publicized, you'll be able to share it with your community. To learn how to share your form, consult the instructions here: Sharing your Zeffy form.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I format the ticket tiers descriptions or custom questions on my forms?
We currently do not offer the option to format ticket descriptions and custom questions in our software. However, we encourage you to submit this suggestion to our product request platform. This enables other organizations to vote for the feature and keeps you informed if our product team starts its development and release.
Can I set a fixed date for my sales to open automatically?
We currently do not offer the option for the sales to open automatically on our forms at this time. Although this feature is not available at this time, we encourage you to submit this suggestion to our product request platform. This enables other organizations to vote for the feature and keeps you informed if our product team starts its development and release.
As an alternative, you have the option to manually close your sales before the event and reopen them when you're ready to begin ticket sales. To do this, go to your dashboard, navigate to "Forms," click on the three dots located on the right side of your screen, select "Close sales," and follow the same steps to reopen them when needed.
Is it possible to allow donors to upload files while registering for an event?
We currently do not offer the option for donors to upload files when registering for an event. While this feature is not yet available, we continue to prioritize enhancing your experience, and our development team is consistently working to improve the platform. New features are released weekly to help address your needs. Upvote this request here to be informed if our product team starts its development and release.
Alternatively, you can include a file in the automated 'Thank You' email sent to your donors. This will enable them to properly complete the form and return it to you. Here is documentation to help :).