| Quick answer: Embedding your giving list puts your needs directly on your own website, usually on a ‘Ways to Give’ page, so donors never have to leave your site to give. This matters because every extra click and every unfamiliar destination loses donors. Place it prominently, link it from your main navigation and email footer, and keep it above the fold. A free MyRegistry giving list can be embedded on your site and branded as your organization. |
You built a good giving list, and then linked it from a subpage nobody visits. It’s the most common way a strong list quietly fails. Where your list lives, and how many clicks it takes to reach, matters as much as what’s on it. Here’s how to put it where donors will actually find it.
A MyRegistry giving list can be embedded directly on your site and branded as your organization, free.
Why Placement Decides Performance
Every click between a motivated donor and the act of giving costs you donors. Someone who has just read your impact story is ready — but if giving requires hunting through a menu, leaving your site, and landing somewhere unfamiliar, a meaningful share simply drift away. Embedding removes the leaving-your-site step entirely, at the exact moment intent is highest.
Every click between intent and giving costs you donors.
Where to Put It
| Placement | Effect |
|---|---|
| ‘Ways to Give’ page (embedded) | The natural home — high intent |
| Main navigation link | Findable from anywhere |
| Email footer link | Every email becomes a soft ask |
| Campaign / story pages | Catches readers at peak emotion |
| Buried subpage | May as well not exist |
How to Embed It
1. Create and Build Your List
Items, quantities, impact descriptions, and a cash fund.
2. Brand It
Add your logo and mission line so it reads as your organization, not a third party.
3. Embed on Your ‘Ways to Give’ Page
Place it above the fold, with a one-line explanation of how it works.
4. Link It Everywhere Else
Main nav, email footer, campaign pages, and your social bios.
| Put your needs on your own site — embed a MyRegistry giving list . |
What to Write Around It
A bare embed leaves donors unsure. Add one short line above it explaining what it is and how it works: ‘Choose an item below — it ships directly to us, and you’ll see exactly what your gift provides.’ That single sentence removes the hesitation that stops first-time donors from clicking.
| Feature | MyRegistry Giving List | Single-store list |
|---|---|---|
| Add items from any store | Yes | No — one retailer |
| Cash gift funds | Yes | Rarely |
| Your logo & branding | Yes | Minimal |
| Embed on your website | Yes | Limited |
| Real-time tracking | Yes | Within that store |
| Cost | Free | Free |
A Real-World Scenario
A nonprofit’s giving list lived behind a ‘More ways to help’ link on a subpage, three clicks from anywhere. It trickled. They embedded it on their ‘Ways to Give’ page above the fold, added a one-line explanation, put it in the main navigation, and dropped a link in their email footer. Nothing about the list itself changed, same items, same prices, same descriptions — but donors could finally find it at the moment they felt like giving.
| ✔ Pros — Embedding Your Giving List | ✘ Cons — Embedding Your Giving List |
|---|---|
| • Donors never leave your site | • Requires access to edit your website |
| • Catches intent at its peak | • Needs a short explanatory line to work well |
| • Branded as your organization | |
| • Every email footer becomes a soft ask | |
| • Free on MyRegistry |
| ★ Expert recommendation: Embed the list on your ‘Ways to Give’ page above the fold, brand it as your organization, add one line explaining how it works, and link it from your navigation and email footer. Placement is worth as much as the list itself. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why embed instead of just linking?
Every click and every unfamiliar destination loses donors. Embedding keeps them on your site at the moment their intent is highest.
Where should the list live?
On your ‘Ways to Give’ page, above the fold, plus links from your main navigation, email footer, and campaign pages.
What should we write around it?
One short line explaining how it works, that items ship directly to you and donors can see exactly what their gift provides.
The Bottom Line
A giving list only works where donors can find it, embed it on your own site, prominently. Do it free at MyRegistry for Nonprofits.
