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This article will show you how to set it up and use FrontStream's BiddingForGood "Cover the Fee" feature for your online auctions effectively.
Follow the steps and tips to simplify auction payments and boost fundraising.
Learn how to incorporate the "Cover the Fee" feature to help you maximize your success and streamline your online auctions.
How to Enable Bidders and Donors Cover the Processing Fee Using FGF
If your funds are processed by Frontstream Global Fund (FGF), the Cover the Fee feature is enabled by default. When enabled, donors and bidders will have the option to cover 100% of both the processing and credit card transaction fees combined, helping raise more for your mission and satisfying donors by enabling them to allocate 100% of their donation to go toward the cause.
You can configure your auction settings so that the Cover the Fee option is automatically selected for all bidders by default. Follow these steps:
Step 1. Navigate to Close Out > Get Ready > Cover the Fee.
Step 2. Select "Ask Bidders to cover the fee. If you would like to make sure that the cover the fee box is checked by default, check the box labeled “Opt bidders in to cover the fee by default."
Step 3. Click Update Cover The Fee to save your changes.
If you prefer to Turn Off this feature, please follow the instructions below:
Step 1. Go to Close Out > Get Ready > Cover the Fee
Step 2. Select "Do not ask bidders to cover the fee" and then click Update Cover the Fee.
The option to cover the fees for auction items, quick sales, ticket sales, and donations can be viewed by donors or bidders when they are on the full-screen web view (standard version/desktop URL) in addition to the mobile version (mobile URL).
With this feature, there is no option to charge partial fees to bidders or donors. Also, if an offline donation is entered into the system, the performance fee associated with the sale will automatically be removed from the total funds calculated. Also, when enabled, the option to cover processing fees is available and visible to bidders and donors on all tickets, donations, items, and quick sale pages.
When Bidder Covers the Fee is enabled, your donors will have the following experiences:
Auction Items
Bidders have the option to cover the processing fees when placing a bid on an auction item. If the organization has selected “Opt bidders in to cover the fee by default,” the checkbox will be automatically selected during bidding. However, bidders can still uncheck this option if they prefer not to cover the fee.
When the box is checked, the calculated fee amount will be added to the bidder’s total.
Web View:
Mobile View:
New BFG UI View:
Important Information!
The fee amount is based on the Next Minimum Bid.
The Leading Bid amount could be different from the Next Minimum Bid amount if the previous leading bidder had a Maximum Proxy Bid higher than their leading bid. That means the estimated Cover the Fee could also change.
The Cover the Fee selection is tied to a particular bid. If the bidder bids again on the item and does not select Cover the Fee, the Fees will not be covered if that bid wins. The bidder doesn’t always have the option to cover the fee or always cover it for a particular item.
Buy Now
Bidders purchasing a Buy Now item will now see the option of covering the fees when purchasing a Buy Now item on the confirmation page. The checkbox is unchecked by default. When the bidder checks the box, the calculated fee will be added.
Web View:
Mobile View:
Above the Buy Now button, a checkbox shows to allow bidders to Cover the Fee when bidding.
Once a Quantity is selected and the checkbox for Cover the Fee is enabled, the fee will be added to the purchase.
After selecting Buy Now, the purchase is complete. The total purchase amount plus the Cover the Fee is shown in the confirmation message.
New BFG UI View
For auctions using the new BiddingForGood (BFG) interface, the “Cover the Fee” option for ticket purchases now appears directly on the embedded payment form.
In addition to credit card payments, alternative payment options are now accepted, including Apple Pay or Google Pay for a faster and more convenient checkout experience.
When the purchaser clicks the information icon (ℹ️) next to the “Cover the Fee” option, a tooltip will appear showing the exact amount that will be added to cover the processing fee.
Ticket Purchases
Web View:
When a supporter purchases tickets, a checkbox asks the bidder if they would like to cover the fee. The checkbox is unchecked by default.
If the bidder checks the box indicating they would like to cover the processing fee, the Confirm Ticket Order page will display the fee they opted to cover.
The Ticket Confirmation Email will include a Fees Covered subtotal line as well.
Mobile View:
Below the Comment section, a checkbox shows that bidders can cover the fee when ordering a ticket.
Once the checkbox for Cover the Fee is enabled, the fee amount will be added to the ticket order. If the number of tickets changes, the estimate will be updated.
After selecting Buy Tickets, the order is complete. The ticket order amount plus the Cover the Fee amount is shown as the total order amount in the confirmation message.
New BFG UI View
For auctions using the new BiddingForGood (BFG) interface, the “Cover the Fee” option for Buy Now purchases also appears directly on the embedded payment form.
In addition to credit card payments, alternative payment options are now accepted, including Apple Pay or Google Pay for a faster and more convenient checkout experience.
Donations
When a supporter is making a donation, a checkbox will display asking the donor if they would like to cover the fee. The checkbox is unchecked by default.
Web View:
If the donor checks the box indicating they would like to cover the processing fee, the Confirm Donation page will display the fee they opted to cover.
The Donation Confirmation Email will include a Fees Covered subtotal line as well.
Mobile View:
Below the Comment section, a checkbox shows that bidders can cover the fee when donating.
The fee will show once a Donation Amount is selected and the checkbox for Cover the Fee is enabled.
After selecting Donate Now, the donation is complete. The donation amount plus the Cover the Fee amount is shown as the total donation in the confirmation message.
New BFG UI View
For auctions using the new BiddingForGood (BFG) interface, the “Cover the Fee” option for Donations also appears directly on the embedded payment form.
In addition to credit card payments, alternative payment options are now accepted, including Apple Pay or Google Pay for a faster and more convenient donation process.
Offline Ticket Orders
The fee can also be covered when creating an offline ticket order. This is enabled under Close Out > Ticket Orders. Once on the page, then click on Create Ticket Order. When the fees checkbox is checked, the fee amount will populate in the Fees field and be added to the purchase.
Quick Sales
The fee can also be covered when creating a Quick Sale. This is enabled under Close Out > Quick Sales. Once on the page, click on Create Quick Sale. When creating a Quick Sale, a checkbox will display asking if the bidder would like to cover the fee. The checkbox is unchecked by default. By checking the box, the calculated fee will be added.
When creating Multiple Quick Sales, please note that the checkbox will apply to all Quick Sales and Bidders. Therefore, if you have some bidders who will pay the fee and others who won't, you will need to do this process twice: once with the checkbox on and once with it off.
Bidder Receipts
The Fee column will indicate whether or not the bidder chose to cover the fee. All the fees are totaled together into a Fee Subtotal at the bottom of the receipt.
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Reports
The Awarded Items, Winning Bidders, Export Item Details, Tickets, Quick Sales, and Donations reports have a Cover the Fee column, which shows the amount the bidder paid the fees.
Helpful Tips
If a bidder or donor opts to cover the fee and no longer wishes to, please request a refund from our Customer Support Team here. Be sure to include your bidder or donor's name, email address, and transaction amount. This process is similar to any other Panorama project processed through FGF.
Adding a message about how covering the credit card processing fees will specifically help your organization encourage more donors to opt into covering the fees.
To add a message, click on Items at the top of your admin homepage and then click on Draft Items or Published Items, depending on what stage you are at when creating your items listing.
Then click on Edit next to the item you want to work with.
Scroll down to the section labeled Special Note.
Here, you can add text to describe how opting to pay the processing fees will help your organization.
For Admins with auctions that have Bidder Pay the Fee turned on, an audit log is available under Reports > Activity Log. It will show when someone changes the Pay the Fee checkbox.
How to Enable Cover the Processing Fee using FrontStream Payments or iATS
You can enable the Cover the Processing Fee feature to automatically apply a processing fee for all auction items, quick sales, direct donations, and tickets.
Important Note!
To ensure a bidder is aware of the charge, we suggest mentioning you will be applying this extra percentage fee on your homepage, in the item description (in the Special Notes section), and in your email communications.
To enable this feature, please follow the instructions below:
Step 1. Click on Close Out > Get Ready > Cover Processing Fee.
Step 2. Choose what you want to be covered and enter the percentage, then click Update CC Fee Settings. By default, the checkboxes are checked, and the processing fee percentage is 0%.
Step 3. Depending on which checkboxes are enabled, the fee will be automatically applied to items, tickets, direct donations, and/or quick sales. The fee is displayed on the Process Payments page. Note that the fee is not displayed to the bidder or donor when they make a bid or a donation.
Bidder Receipts
Step 1. To view your bidder receipts, select Bidder Receipts on the left-hand side.
Step 2. From here, you can edit your receipt settings, generate one PDF for all bidder receipts, email receipts to all bidders, or work with an individual bidder to generate a PDF or email their receipt.
Reports
The Credit Card Transaction report shows the fees broken out per credit card charge. Note: This is the only report that shows the fee charge is broken out.
Helpful Tips
If you wish to change your fee for a single person or order, follow the steps above. Then, when the order is in process payments, click on View Purchases and choose Recalculate Fee. Then, process as normal. Remember to set your old percentage back for other orders.
Ready to Use FrontStream’s BiddingForGood “Cover the Fee” Feature?
We hope that you're ready to unleash the true power of the "Cover the Fee" feature. By giving your bidders and donors the option to cover the processing fee, you will amplify the impact of their contributions. It's time to take action and unlock the full potential of this feature to supercharge your fundraising efforts.
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