What are Payment Links?
Payment Links let you create shareable giving URLs with built-in tracking — so you know which appeals, campaigns, and channels drive your gifts. Each link includes a QR code for print materials.
Common uses:
Phonathon follow-ups — send a personalized link right after a pledge call
Reunion giving — pre-fill suggested amounts for each reunion class
Major gift asks — create a personal link for a specific donor with a tailored ask
Event follow-ups — remind attendees to complete their gift with a direct link
You can use a Payment Link in two ways:
Share it broadly — post it on social media, include it in newsletters, or print the QR code
Personalize it for specific donors — generate unique links that pre-fill each donor's information
Creating a Payment Link
Go to Tools > Giving > Payment Links
Click + Create payment link
Select the giving page the link should direct donors to
Set attribution (for tracking and reporting):
Source/Appeal — the solicitation effort (e.g., "Spring Appeal 2026")
Medium/Package — the channel or mailing (e.g., "Email Series 3")
Campaign — the broader initiative (e.g., "Annual Fund")
Set designation and amount:
Choose a fund
Enter a suggested amount (you can lock it or let donors change it)
Click + Add a gift/gift designation to split across multiple funds
Add tags (optional) — for organizing and filtering your links later
Click Create Attributed Payment Link
Your link is created! You'll see:
The full URL
A large QR code
An editable link name (for your internal reference)
Sharing Your Payment Link
After creating a link, you have three options:
Option | Use it when... |
Copy Link | You want to share the link in marketing emails, social posts, or with volunteers |
Download QR Code | You're creating print materials — flyers, table tents, mailed appeals |
Generate and send unique links for donors | You want to send personalized links to specific donors with their info pre-filled |
Sending Personalized Links to Donors
If you want donors to land on checkout with their information already filled in, generate unique personalized links:
After creating a Payment Link, click Generate and send unique links for donors
Add recipients:
Add Group — select an existing communication group
Add Members — search and select individuals
Note: Donors must have a record in Almabase. If someone isn't in the system, add them first.
Once you've selected your donors, choose how to send:
Text — send via SMS
Email — send via bulk email
Export — download a file with each donor's unique link and QR code, so you can send it your own way
What Donors See
When donors click a payment link, they land directly on the checkout page with their details already filled in. All they need to do is review the information, enter their payment method, and complete the gift.
No searching for the right page, no retyping their name and email — just a few clicks and they're done.
Tracking Payment Links
Payment Links Tab
This shows your generic links — the base links you created with attribution settings.
From here you can:
Copy link — get the URL to share
Download QR — save the QR code image
Generate unique link — create personalized versions for donors
Duplicate link — create a copy with the same settings
Edit link name — update the internal name
Publish/Unpublish — toggle whether the link is active
Personalized Links Tab
This shows donor-specific links — the unique links you sent to individual donors.
You can see:
Donor name and email
Tags
Payment status: Pending, Paid, or Failed
Giving page and ask amount
Use the status filters (Published, Paid, Pending, Failed, Unpublished, All) to find specific links.
To stop a link from working, toggle off the Publish switch or filter to find and unpublish it.
QR Codes
Every Payment Link includes a QR code. Donors scan it with their phone to go directly to checkout.
Where to use QR codes:
Printed appeal letters
Event table tents and signage
Reunion materials
Posters and flyers
To download: Click Download QR Code after creating a link, or use the Download QR action from the Payment Links list.
Attribution and Reporting
The attribution fields you set when creating a link — Source/Appeal, Medium/Package, and Campaign — are attached to every gift made through that link.
This lets you report on:
Which appeals drove the most gifts
Which channels (email vs. print vs. text) performed best
Campaign-level totals
Attribution data can also sync to your CRM for deeper analysis.
FAQs
What's the difference between Payment Links and Personalized Links?
Payment Links are generic — they have attribution and a suggested amount but aren't tied to a specific donor. Personalized Links are created from a Payment Link and include a specific donor's information.
Can I send a personalized link to someone who isn't in Almabase?
No. Donors must have a record in Almabase before you can generate a personalized link for them. Add them first, then create the link.
Can donors change the pre-filled amount?
It depends on how you set it up. If you locked the amount, they can't change it. If you left it editable, they can adjust it.
How do I stop a link from working?
Toggle off the Publish switch for that link. Anyone clicking it afterward will see an error.
Can I edit a Payment Link after creating it?
You can edit the link name. To change attribution, amount, or fund, create a new link.
What happens if a donor clicks a link after they've already paid?
If the personalized link is still published, they can make another gift. If you want to prevent this, unpublish the link after payment.
Once your donors click on the link they received via email or text, they'll be taken to checkout directly.