Note: The ability to open a tab is specific to the In-Person Event campaign type.
When hosting an In-Person Event, you have the ability to manage a tab for registered participants. This allows you to keep an active cart of their planned purchases that you close out at the end of your event. Closing their tab will trigger a receipt to the supporter with a record of their order and payment method.
When closing a participant's tab, you will be able to take payment via credit card or check/cash. If a credit card was placed on file for participants, you will be able to charge their card on file.
The following items can be added to a tab:
Shop items
Raffle entries
Donations
Note: If you do not have the Shop feature or Raffle feature enabled on your campaign, you will not see those categories in the point-of-sale terminal.
Steps
Tabs can be opened and updated for registered participants from multiple places within your campaign. You can monitor and access tabs for all registered participants via Event Day Check Out, or you can open or update a tab via the Create button, accessed from the main Dashboard, Orders, Shop (if enabled), or Raffles (if enabled).
Via Event Day Check Out
Visit your campaign's Dashboard.
Select Event Day from the left side menu.
Select Check Out from the tabs at the top of the page.
In the table provided, search for the participant who you would like to open a tab for by inputting their name, email, or assigned event number.
Click directly on their name to jump straight into their tab, or select the three dot menu to view options to Manage Tab, Check Out, or Add Card (if a card is not already on file). The Check Out option will be grayed out if no tab is started.
You'll be taken to a point-of-sale terminal. Use the tabs at the top of the page to find and select the item(s) you would like to add to the supporter's order. If you mistakenly add something that is not needed, simply click the Trash Can icon next to the item to remove it from their cart.
To add a Miscellaneous item that does not fall into the available categories, select +Add Misc. Item in the top right. Enter a name for what they are purchasing and indicate the amount to be charged. Click Add.
After adding all the desired items to the supporter's cart, click Save and Exit to keep the tab open. You will be able to continue to modify their tab throughout the night or return to check them out at any time.
Via the Create button
Visit your campaign's Dashboard. You can also follow these same steps from the Order, Shop, or Raffles menu.
Select +Create in the top right corner, then select Order.
In the pop-up that appears, you will see an option to Manage Tab or create a Quick Order. Under Manage Tab, search for registered participant via their name or assigned event number, then select Continue.
You'll be taken to a point-of-sale terminal. Use the tabs at the top of the page to find and select the item(s) you would like to add to the supporter's order. If you mistakenly add something that is not needed, simply click the Trash Can icon next to the item to remove it from their cart.
To add a Miscellaneous item that does not fall into the available categories, select +Add Misc. Item in the top right. Enter a name for what they are purchasing and indicate the amount to be charged. Click Add.
After adding all the desired items to the supporter's cart, click Save and Exit to keep the tab open. You will be able to continue to modify their tab throughout the night or return to check them out at any time.
Closing Out Tabs
Anytime a tab is opened, you will see the option to select Checkout instead of Save and Exit. Proceeding to the checkout page in the point-of-sale terminal will allow you to choose the supporter's preferred payment method, submit their order, and issue them a receipt. This will close their tab. Learn more about how checking out attendees works.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies as a Miscellaneous Item?
A Miscellaneous Item can be anything you need to take payment for that falls outside of the categories of the Shop, Raffle, or Donations.
For example, if you are coordinating a live auction and need a way to take an online or offline payment for the live auction item, you can add that as a Misc. Item when generating managing someone's tab or creating a Quick Order. Or, if you have specific items available on event night that are not represented in your Shop, you can sell them as Misc. Items.
Note: Miscellaneous Items cannot be created in advance. They are unique one-time purchases that must be added during checkout via the admin point-of-sale terminal.
How do the donations and items added to a supporter's tab impact my campaign's fundraising goal?
Anything added to a participant's tab is logged as a contribution to your event and is reflected in your campaign total, even if payment has not been charged. If you are selling Shop items, for example, items held in open tabs count towards your Shop's inventory limits, ensuring you don't oversell. Raffle entries placed on someone's tab are active entries, eligible to be drawn.
If items are removed from someone's tab throughout the night, your campaign total will adjust accordingly.
What does the receipt that supporters receive look like?
Supporters receive your campaign's Order Receipt, which you can customize. This receipt is adaptive, meaning if someone has only purchased a Shop item or Raffle item, only the Shop section or Raffle section will display on the receipt. Other sections like the Registration section will not appear. Misc. Items will be represented on the receipt as well, with the name of the Misc. Item you provided when creating the order.