Glossary

An I-Frame (also known as an inline frame) is an HTML element used to embed content from third-party websites. While the service itself (e.g., a form) operates on a third-party host, it is displayed on the embedding site. Typical donation forms, like Soulclick Smart, are integrated into nonprofit websites via I-Frames (or native plugins). I-Frames allow complex features, such as online payment, to be added to a website without programming. However, they raise questions about data privacy (e.g., where the data is hosted) and data ownership (e.g., what happens to your data). These factors should be carefully considered when choosing a provider.

An Image Alt Tag (also known as "alt text" or "alternative text") is a descriptive text embedded in the HTML code of an image on a website. Most CMS platforms allow users to add alt text to images and videos (called video alt tags). Alt tags are especially important for search engine optimization (SEO) and accessibility, as they help visually impaired users understand the content of the image. A well-written alt tag should therefore be concise, informative, and accurately describe the image content.

Impact Investing is an investment strategy aimed at generating both financial returns and positive social impact. Impact investors support organizations or projects that address issues such as renewable energy, education, or healthcare. For nonprofit organizations, impact investing can serve as a crucial funding source beyond traditional fundraising methods.

In countries like Germany and Switzerland, website owners are legally required to publish specific information about their identity — especially when collecting donations online.

A proper legal disclosure (commonly referred to as an Impressum) should include:

• Name and address of the organization
• Legal form and authorized representatives
• Contact information (email, phone)
• Register entry (if applicable)
• VAT ID number (if applicable)

Failing to provide this information can lead to legal warnings or fines. A transparent Impressum also builds trust with online donors. In addition, some payment providers require it to verify the organization’s identity.

Institutional Fundraising refers to the targeted acquisition of funds from institutional donors, such as foundations, corporations, governments, and other public institutions. This process involves identifying suitable funding sources, preparing grant applications, and building long-term relationships with potential donors.

The term Institutional Readiness refers to a charity's ability to innovate and evolve. In digital fundraising, new strategies, technologies, and working methods come into play that nonprofit organizations must learn to adopt. This includes:

• The willingness and ability of the leadership team to drive digital transformation, make necessary investments, and guide the organizational development process.

• A clear commitment from all staff to the importance of fundraising, along with the implementation of an integrated communication and fundraising approach focused on the market and customer needs.

• Willingness to build additional resources and skills within the organization and to adopt new agile working methods.

• Establishing a scalable architecture with a connected tool landscape and a powerful data management system.

• A culture of innovation that embraces experimentation, accepts mistakes, and focuses on continuous optimization rather than isolated projects.

iPaaS refers to a cloud-based service that connects various software applications and data sources through API integrations. It acts as a managed service with numerous prebuilt connectors, enabling seamless data exchange between systems without the need to build and maintain complex custom integrations.

Popular iPaaS solutions include Zapier, Make (formerly Integromat), MuleSoft, and Workato.

Interaction Design (IX) is a field within User Experience Design that focuses on how users interact with web elements, such as buttons and navigation. Well-executed interaction design ensures that an NPO’s website is intuitive, easy to use, and engaging. In digital fundraising, effective IX is crucial for creating a smooth, user-centered donation process, ultimately leading to higher donation revenues.

International Fundraising involves soliciting donations across national borders, often to finance global projects. For nonprofit organizations operating internationally, it's crucial that their online donation tools meet the different requirements of various markets. Key considerations include:​

• Support for Multiple Currencies: Enabling donors worldwide to contribute in their local currency.

• Multilingual Capabilities: Donation forms and the software interface should be available in the languages of the target audiences.

• Flexible Customization: The ability to tailor the donation tool to local contexts (e.g., design, linguistic differences, currency formats).

• Local Payment Options: Integrating region-specific payment methods, such as SEPA in Europe, TWINT in Switzerland, or iDEAL in the Netherlands.

• Compliance with Legal Regulations: Adhering to local data protection laws and tax regulations is essential to avoid legal complications and build trust with donors. ​

Soulclick offers a comprehensive platform that supports international fundraising efforts by providing features like multi-currency processing, multilingual interfaces, and customizable donation forms, ensuring that nonprofits can effectively engage donors across different regions. 

IP Tracking enables the identification, tracking, and monitoring of the IP (Internet Protocol) address of a device when it connects to a network, such as when visiting a website. An IP address is a unique identifier assigned to each device on a network, and IP tracking helps gather information about the location, behavior, and preferences of website visitors.

In digital fundraising, IP tracking offers valuable insights into where donors are located, what devices they use, and how they engage with online content or donation platforms. This data can be leveraged to optimize website content and more effectively target fundraising efforts.

However, due to privacy regulations like GDPR, IP tracking must be handled with caution, ensuring that personal data is anonymized and properly protected.

The Issuer is the entity that issues credit cards to consumers and charges credit card transactions to the accounts of the respective cardholders. In Switzerland, issuers include UBS, Credit Suisse, Viseca, and Swisscard. Obtaining a card from an issuer requires a credit check. The first universal credit card, which could be used independently of specific merchants, was issued by Diners Club. Umbrella brands like VISA and Mastercard operate under an association model. Issuing banks, or issuers, are members of these associations and participate in national and global committees, where common standards are defined and agreed upon.