Setting Up a Donation Progress Bar

A donation progress bar shows customers how close you are to reaching your fundraising goal — it's a powerful motivator and makes your campaign feel more alive. Here's how to set one up in DonateMate.

What Is the Donation Progress Bar?

The donation progress bar is a visual display that shows:

Total amount raised so far
Your fundraising goal
A progress bar showing how close you are

It's great for campaigns with a specific target ("Help us raise $10,000 for new equipment!") or for showing ongoing impact ("We've raised $24,500 for our community so far!").

The Donation Display App Block

The progress bar in DonateMate uses the Donation Display App Block — a separate app block from the donation widget. You add it to your theme wherever you want the total to appear (product page, homepage, a dedicated fundraising page, etc.).

Adding the Donation Display Block

Go to Shopify Admin → Online Store → Themes → Customize
Navigate to the page where you want the progress bar to appear
Click Add section or Add block (depending on where you're placing it)
Find DonateMate - Donation Display in the app blocks list
Add it to the page and position it where you'd like
Click the block to open its settings

Configuring the Progress Bar

Inside the Donation Display block settings, you'll find:

Select product: Choose which donation product to track (the total is calculated from all orders for that product)
Goal amount: Enter your fundraising target (e.g. 10000 for a $10,000 goal)
Display style: Options may include progress bar, total amount only, or a combined view
Show goal: Toggle whether to display the goal amount alongside the total raised

Once configured, click Save and check your live store — the progress bar will update automatically as donations come in.

Tips for Running Donation Campaigns

Set a realistic but stretchy goal: Goals that are too easy look underwhelming when met instantly; goals that are impossible kill momentum. Aim for something achievable in 3–6 months.
Put the progress bar near the donation widget: Having the "X% to goal" bar right above or below the donation widget increases conversions — customers can see their immediate impact.
Update your goal: Once you hit your target, update the goal to the next milestone so the momentum continues. Nothing deflates a campaign like a "100% funded — but we stopped counting" bar.
Feature it prominently: Consider adding the progress bar to your homepage or a dedicated campaign page, not just buried in a product page.

Troubleshooting

The progress bar isn't updating:

The total is calculated from completed orders containing your donation product. Make sure you're looking at fulfilled orders, not abandoned carts. There may also be a short cache delay — try refreshing after a few minutes.

The total looks too low:

Check that you've selected the correct product in the Donation Display settings. If you've changed your donation product or have multiple products, make sure the right one is selected.

I can't find the Donation Display block:

Make sure you're on Online Store 2.0 — the app block requires a compatible theme. If you're on an older theme, contact support to discuss options.

Need help setting up a campaign? Drop Ben a line — he loves a good fundraising story. 🎯