Smart Ask Array is an advanced donation configuration feature that allows organizations to generate dynamic, personalized suggested amounts based on a donor’s assigned tag.
Instead of manually defining static donation tiers, Smart Ask Array uses:
A tag-based default amount
A set of percentage-based adjustments
Optional rounding rules
to automatically generate a tailored set of suggested donation options for each donor. This enables organizations to present different ask strategies to different audiences—all within a single campaign.
Key Features
1. Tag-Based Default Amount
Smart Ask Array builds on the existing Default Amount Based on Tag functionality.
Admins assign donors a tag within a selected Tag Group
Each tag contains a specific dollar amount
That amount becomes the default (pre-selected) donation for that donor
Example:
A donor with a tag value of $235 will see:
$235 as the default selected amount
Additional suggestions generated relative to that value
2. Dynamic Percentage-Based Suggestions
Once a tag-based default is set, Smart Ask Array automatically generates additional suggested amounts using percentages.
Admins can configure any range of values, including:
Positive increases (e.g., +5%, +10%, +20%, +30%)
Large increases (e.g., +100%, +200%, +300%)
Negative values (e.g., -20%) to suggest lower amounts
These percentages are applied directly to each donor’s individual default amount, making every donor’s experience unique.
3. Flexible Display Options
Smart Ask Array supports two display formats:
Dollar-Based Display
Shows calculated dollar amounts (e.g., $235, $245, $260, $280)
Default amount appears first and is pre-selected
Additional amounts reflect configured percentage increases
Percentage-Based Display
Shows percentage labels (e.g., +5%, +10%, +20%)
Default amount is still displayed as a dollar value
Selecting a percentage updates the donation amount dynamically
4. Rounding Controls
Admins can control how suggested amounts are rounded using:
Rounding type: Nearest, Up, or Down
Dollar multiple: (e.g., 1, 5, 10)
Example:
With a multiple of 5 → all amounts are divisible by 5
$237 becomes $235 or $240 depending on rounding rules
This ensures all suggested amounts feel intentional and clean.
5. Single Tag Group with Multiple Values
Smart Ask Array operates using one selected Tag Group, but that group can contain many tags.
Each donor should have one tag within that group
Each tag can represent a different default amount
The system reads the donor’s tag to determine their personalized array
If a donor does not have a tag in the selected group, the system falls back to the standard suggested donation amounts.
6. Payroll Giving Support
Smart Ask Array is fully supported within payroll giving campaigns.
Admins can configure:
Per-period suggestions (e.g., per paycheck)
Or full pledge suggestions
Behavior:
Donors see suggested amounts per pay period when configured
The total pledge is calculated automatically in the background
Rounding may cause slight variations in displayed values
7. Custom Amount Compatibility
Donors can always:
Select a suggested amount
Enter a custom amount
Even when entering a custom value:
The system can still align the selection with the closest percentage logic
Setting up Smart Ask Array
Smart Ask Array is configured within your Online Donations settings and works in combination with Tags and Default Amount Based on Tag.
Follow the steps below to set up a fully dynamic, personalized ask experience.
Step 1: Configure Your Tag Group and Default Amounts
Before enabling Smart Ask Array, you must first define tag-based default donation amounts.
Navigate to your Contacts and ensure:
You have a Tag Group created (e.g., “Suggested Amount”)
Each tag within that group represents a specific dollar amount (e.g., $50, $150, $235)
Assign each donor one tag from that group
This tag determines their default donation amount
Example:
A donor tagged with $235 will have $235 pre-selected in the donation experience.
Step 2: Open Online Donations Settings
Go to your campaign or form
Navigate to Online Donations
Locate the section:
Default Amount Based on Tag
Step 3: Enable Default Amount Based on Tag
Within the Default Amount Based on Tag section:
Select your Tag Group
This tells the system where to look for donor-specific amounts
Choose your Suggestion Type
Full Pledge (commonly used for standard giving)
Per Period (used for payroll giving)
Choose how to Display as:
$ (Dollar amounts)
% (Percentage-based UI)
At this point, the system will:
Pull each donor’s tagged amount
Display it as the default suggested amount
Step 4: Configure Smart Ask Array
In the Smart Ask Array field:
Enter the percentage increments you want to apply
Example: 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%
These values will:
Generate additional suggested amounts relative to the donor’s default
Apply uniquely to each donor’s tagged amount
Important Notes:
You can include large values (e.g., 100%, 200%)
You can include negative values (e.g., -20%) to suggest lower options
There is no strict limitation on range
Step 5: Configure Rounding Rules
Under Rounding:
Choose a rounding method:
Nearest
Up
Down
Set a Dollar Multiple (e.g., 5)
This ensures:
All suggested amounts are clean and consistent
Values align to expected increments (e.g., multiples of $5)
Example:
Default: $235
+10% = $258.50 → rounded to $260 (if using nearest $5)
Step 6: Review the Preview Panel
On the right-hand side, use the Preview to validate your setup.
You should see:
The default amount pre-selected
Additional suggested amounts generated from your Smart Ask Array
Clean rounding applied
If displaying as percentages:
You will see options like +5%, +10%, +20%
Selecting them updates the dollar amount dynamically
Step 7: Test the Donor Experience
Before publishing:
Test with a contact that has a valid tag
Test with a contact that does not have a tag
Expected behavior:
Tagged donor → sees personalized Smart Ask Array
Untagged donor → falls back to standard suggested amounts
Step 8 (Optional): Configure for Payroll Giving
If using Smart Ask Array for payroll campaigns:
Set Suggestion Type = Per Period
Confirm pay frequency settings
What to expect:
Suggested amounts display as per-pay-period values
Total pledge is calculated automatically
Note:
Due to pay period calculations, amounts may not round perfectly. This is expected behavior.
Workplace Giving Use Case
Smart Ask Array is primarily designed for workplace giving campaigns—not general donation forms.
Why this matters:
Organizations running workplace campaigns often already know:
Employee roles (e.g., executive vs. entry-level)
Salary ranges or giving capacity
Historical giving behavior
Using this information, they can:
Assign different default amounts via tags
Generate appropriate ask ranges for each donor group
Example:
A new employee earning $40,000/year → default ask: $50
A senior executive earning $250,000/year → default ask: $500
Each donor then sees:
A base amount appropriate to them
A set of scaled suggestions (e.g., +10%, +20%)
This ensures:
More relevant asks
Higher conversion and engagement
Increased average donation size
Important Considerations
Only one Tag Group can be used at a time
Each donor should have one tag within that group
If no tag is present → system falls back to standard suggestions
Percentages can exceed 100% and include negative values
Rounding may slightly affect exact percentage calculations
This feature is best suited for segmented campaigns, not general donation pages
Benefits
Eliminates manual configuration of donation tiers
Personalizes donation asks at scale
Increases average gift size through strategic anchoring
Aligns giving options with donor capacity
Enhances workplace giving performance
Creates a more intelligent and adaptive donor experience
Smart Ask Array transforms donation configuration from a static setup into a dynamic, personalized system.
By combining:
Tag-based segmentation
Percentage-driven scaling
Intelligent rounding
organizations can deliver donation experiences that are more relevant, more strategic, and more effective—without increasing administrative overhead.
If you have questions about Smart Ask Arrays, schedule a support call with our success team.