--- title: How Donor Messages Work description: "Learn how to leave an optional donor message on a DashPledge main campaign or student mini-fundraiser, what information to avoid, and how donor comments work with anonymous giving." url: "https://dashpledge.com/docs/how-donor-messages-work/" updated: "2026-08-18" category: "Donations & Donors" --- # How Donor Messages Work ## Leaving a message with your donation Some DashPledge fundraisers allow donors to leave a message of support when making a donation. When enabled, the donation form includes a **Donor Comments** field where you can write a short message for the fundraiser. Donor messages are optional. You can complete a donation without leaving a comment. ## Where do I leave a donor message? Open the DashPledge fundraiser you want to support and begin the donation process. When donor comments are enabled, look for the **Donor Comments** field on the donation form. Enter your message before completing your donation. ## What should I write? A donor message can be a simple note of encouragement or support. For example: > Great job! We're cheering you on! or: > Keep up the great work! We're happy to support your school. Keep messages appropriate for a school and community fundraising environment. ## Can I leave a message on the main campaign? Yes, when donor comments are enabled for the fundraiser. If you donate through the **main campaign page**, your message is associated with that donation to the overall school or organization fundraiser. ## Can I leave a message on a student mini-fundraiser? Yes, when donor comments are enabled. If you're supporting a particular student through their **student mini-fundraiser page**, you can leave an appropriate message of encouragement with your donation. Remember that student fundraising pages are part of a school or organization campaign, so messages should always be appropriate for students, families, and the school community. ## Are donor messages public? Whether and where a donor message appears depends on the fundraiser's settings and the DashPledge experience displaying supporter information. Because a donor comment may be visible to others, **do not include private or sensitive information in your message**. ## What information should I avoid putting in a donor message? Do not include information such as: - Home addresses - Personal phone numbers - Passwords - Payment card information - Account credentials - Private student information - Sensitive personal information - Anything you would not want displayed to other fundraiser participants or supporters A donor comment should be treated as a message of support, not as a private communication channel. ## Can I donate without leaving a message? Yes. Donor Comments are optional. You can leave the field blank and continue with your donation. ## Can I leave a message if I donate anonymously? When both features are available, you may be able to select **Anonymous Donation** and also enter a donor message. However, be careful not to identify yourself inside the comment if you want your donation to remain publicly anonymous. For example, avoid signing the message with your full name. ## Does my donor message affect the donation amount? No. A donor message does not change: - Your fundraiser donation - Student fundraising credit - Overall campaign fundraising progress - Optional DashPledge tip - Payment amount It is simply an optional message associated with the donation. ## Does a donor message count toward a student's fundraiser? The **donation itself** can count toward the student's fundraising progress when made through that student's mini-fundraiser. The donor message does not affect fundraising totals. ## Can I edit my donor message after donating? The donation form is the best time to review your message before submitting the payment. If a completed donation contains a message that you believe needs to be removed or reviewed, contact DashPledge Support. Do not submit another donation simply to replace the original message. ## What if I accidentally include private information? If you've already submitted a donor message containing private or sensitive information, contact DashPledge Support as soon as possible and identify the affected donation. Do not post additional sensitive information when explaining the issue. ## Why don't I see the Donor Comments field? The fundraiser may not have donor comments enabled. Available donation options can depend on the campaign's settings. If the field isn't displayed, you can still complete your donation without a message. ## How do organizers control donor comments? Available donor-facing options are managed through the campaign configuration. Authorized organizers can review applicable options from: **Fundraiser Admin → Campaign Settings → Donation Settings** The controls available depend on the fundraiser configuration. ## Can inappropriate donor messages be removed? Messages associated with a school fundraising platform should remain appropriate for the community. If you see a donor message that appears inappropriate, contains sensitive information, or should otherwise be reviewed, contact DashPledge Support or the appropriate fundraiser administrator. ## Donor messages and student privacy Avoid using donor comments to publish information about a student that isn't already intended to be public. Even a well-intended message can reveal personal information. Keep comments focused on encouragement and support. ## What's next? For more donor help, see: - **How to Make a Donation on DashPledge** - **How Anonymous Donations Work** - **Understanding DashPledge Tips and the 0% Platform Fee** - **How to Find Your Donation Receipt** - **What to Do If You Have a Donation Problem**