In 2020, FrontStream launched a series of new fundraising projects within the Panorama digital fundraising platform, to enable our nonprofit customers to quickly and easily create Peer-to-Peer Events, Campaigns and Direct Donation Pages. 

These features represent new, enhanced versions of the functionality available in our legacy FirstGiving platform, yet with so much more—including easy-to-configure page templates with intuitive drag-and-drop content editor, in-line page editing, participant fundraising hub with coaching tips and powerful engagement tools to rally supporters!  To further streamline, simplify and innovate the platform experience, FrontStream is gradually closing the remaining aspects of FirstGiving, and transitioning users to utilize the Panorama Platform.  We will continue to provide updates on this process and key milestone dates over the next few months.  For now, let’s start fundraising with Panorama!   View Demo

How is your organization affected? 

If your organization has already fully moved your fundraising efforts from FirstGiving to Panorama, you may not be affected by this change. Here are some questions to ensure your organization has completed this migration:

  • Do you currently utilize the FirstGiving "Donate Now" button on your website? Do you direct donors to a FirstGiving page for processing general donations?"
  • Do you promote the option for your supporters to create “grassroots” (non-event) fundraising pages for DIY fundraising on firstgiving.com? 
  • Do you or your supporters have any active FirstGiving fundraising pages (aka Peer to Peer Event or Campaign event pages set up prior to July 2020?)

 

If the answer is yes to any of the above, you will need to create new event and donation pages on Panorama to provide your supporters the ability to easily create branded, mobile-responsive fundraising pages, set fundraising goals, recruit donors—all to keep up their momentum and support your cause

What Are Your Next Steps? 

Your next steps are to start replacing your existing FirstGiving events, campaigns and donation pages to Panorama where you can create beautifully branded, mobile responsive Panorama donation pages including incremental features to help you raise even more: one-time, monthly, and recurring donations, corporate matching, donor covers the fee, tribute gifts and secure, integrated payment processing. We’ve listed specific changes below, along with recommendations for how to pivot your fundraising strategy to create fundraising links and projects all within Panorama. 

Please Note:  FrontStream will continue to provide updates on the features retirement schedule.  
Next Steps and FAQs
FirstGiving “Donate Now” Button

To prepare for this change and have a seamless experience for your donors, we encourage you to log in to your Panorama account by December 13, 2021, and create Panorama donation pages.  

You may have donors with automatic recurring donation plans via the FirstGiving button. FrontStream will not be migrating recurring donations within the FirstGiving platform and recurring donation plans will no longer be accepted. In order to create a seamless experience for your donors, Donors will no longer be able to donate to your organization through your FirstGiving donate button and form starting December 31, 2021. 

Panorama donation pages include incremental features to help you raise even more: one-time, monthly, and recurring donations, corporate matching, donor covers the fee, tribute gifts and secure, integrated payment processing.

Once your new donation page is set up, simply update your Donate Now button with the new Panorama page URL link. (Note: your new URL will now say www.mygiving.net/donate/Donation-Form) 

Resources 

"Grassroots” Individual Fundraising Pages

New and existing grassroots fundraising pages will no longer be available.  Instead, supporters looking to donate on these grassroots pages will see a message directing them to reach out to the nonprofit organization they wish to donate to.  

To prepare for this change and have a seamless experience for your donors, we encourage you to log in to your Panorama account and create Peer-to-Peer Events in Panorama by December 13, 2021. 

You can use the peer-to-peer functionality to provide your supporters the ability to easily create their own fundraising pages, set fundraising goals, and recruit donors—all to keep up their momentum and support your cause.

Once you create your new peer to peer fundraising homepage, share with your supporters via Panorama engagement tools, social media channels, and update any FirstGiving grassroots links on your website.

Resources 

Create Peer-to-Peer Events and Fundraising Campaigns

If you have an ongoing event or campaign hosted on FirstGiving, you will need to migrate to the updated Panorama event experience.  

The option to register or create new fundraising pages will no longer be visible.  Donors will be unable to contribute donations to existing events, team or individual fundraising pages on FirstGiving, and will instead see a message explaining the change.  As a final step, event pages, associated team and personal pages will also be retired. 

To prepare for this change and have a seamless experience for your donors, we encourage you to log in to your Panorama account by December 13, 2021, and create new peer-to-peer and campaign pages.   

Resources 

Knowledge Base Article: Panorama Pro Project Types

Knowledge Base Article: Registration Page Setup 

Knowledge Base Article: How Participants and Teams Register for Events 

Knowledge Base Article: Panorama Peer-to-Peer Overview

GiftWorks: Processing Donations

If you are a GiftWorks customer, as part of the FirstGiving retirement process, you will no longer be able to process and accept single donations, via the FirstGiving platform,  starting December 31, 2021. This includes recurring donations.

The automatic import reporting feature will also be turned off. Data will not be lost. Be sure to conduct an import when you have received your final FirstGiving donation.

If you are using the FirstGiving popup form generated within GiftWorks, check out the "FirstGiving Donate Now Button" FAQ tab, and follow the instructions provided. If you choose to migrate to the Panorama donation form, it is worth noting that there will be no integration to push the donation data back into your desktop donor database.

If you are using GiftWorks Cloud, there is no change within GiftWorks due to the FirstGiving retirement. 

Resources:

 

 

Reporting FirstGiving Activity within Panorama

Once your organization has moved its fundraising pages, campaigns, and events over to the Panorama, your previous FirstGiving data will not disappear. You will still be able to access your FirstGiving event data through the Panorama platform.,

To manage your peer-to-peer fundraising event reporting, you can navigate to the "past projects" section within Panorama to find your previous event data.

You can also use the "SmartLists" section within Panorama to access all previous FirstGiving data.

For more information, visit the resource links below.

Resources:

Knowledge Base Article: How to View and Manage Panorama Peer to Peer Event Reporting

Knowledge Base Article: How to Set up Engagement Tools

Knowledge Base Article: Panorama Account Settings

 

 

Copyright 2024 FrontStream Holdings, LLC.

 

FrontStream Payments is a registered ISO/MSP of Elavon, Inc, Georgia, First National Bank of Omaha, Omaha, NE, Citizen Bank N.A.,

Providence, RI, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, CA., Peoples Trust Company, Vancouver, Canada