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How to Add Custom Fields to your Checkout

This article explains how to collect additional information from your purchasers by adding custom fields to the checkout experience.

The Custom Field feature on Trellis allows you to add various types of custom fields to appear during checkout, or when assigning event tickets. This is handy for when you want to ask questions such as meal choice, or ask about specific activities or considerations related to your event.

How to Add a Custom Field

  1. From your Fundraiser Builder, navigate to Custom Fields in the sidebar.
  2. Click Custom Field List, then select Add Custom Field.
  3. Enter your Field Title and choose a Field Response Type:
    • Text — single-line free text
    • Paragraph — multi-line free text
    • Radio Buttons — select one option
    • Checkboxes — select multiple options
    • Attachment with Checkbox — downloadable file with a checkbox (commonly used for waivers or acknowledgments)
    • Drop-Down Selector — select one option from a dropdown
    • File Upload — donors can upload a file or image
  4. Choose which fundraising driver the field applies to: Event Tickets, Donations, or Items for Sale.
  5. Choose if the custom field is required.
  6. For Event Tickets, choose whether the field applies to the Ticket Purchaser or each Ticket Holder:
    • Ticket Purchaser — Only the purchaser is asked to complete this field once. It appears under Step 1: Contact Info at checkout.
    • Ticket Holder — the field appears for each ticket holder during Step 2: Assign Tickets. Purchasers and ticket holders can update responses after purchase from My Tickets in their account. Answers can also be edited by your organization from the Check-In Tool.
  7. Choose whether the custom field shows in your Check-In Tool. We recommend selecting this if your team will be editing responses via the Check-In Tool.
  8. Click Save, then Publish Changes.

Screenshot 2026-06-22 at 10.19.34 AM

Not sure if you should be asking for consent to send out Commercial Electronic Message(CEM)? Check this link out to learn more about Canada's Anti-Spam Law (CASL).

Please Note: Custom fields cannot be applied to Raffle Tickets, Auction Items, or Specific Donation Options.

Heads Up! If you allow donors to skip assigning tickets during checkout, required fields for ticket holders will also be skipped at that time. The field will be required once they complete their ticket assignment later.

How to Retroactively Add Custom Fields to Event Tickets

If tickets have already been purchased and you forgot to set up custom fields, you can still add them after the fact.

  1. Create the custom field and connect it to the desired event tickets.
  2. Check Show for attendees in check-in tool.
  3. Click Save, then Publish Changes.

Once published, the field will appear:

  • In the Check-In Tool when you click Edit Attendee
  • For attendees in their account under My Tickets
  • In Dashboard > All Transactions > Checkout Details > Ticket Holders

If you know the answers, you can enter them directly in the Check-In Tool. Otherwise, you can email attendees and ask them to log in and complete the field themselves by going to My Tickets > Purchased or Assigned Tickets and clicking the pencil icon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply a field to both a Ticket Purchaser and a Ticket Holder?

Not with the same field. You'll need to create two separate custom fields — one for the purchaser and one for the ticket holder.

Can I include a hyperlink in a custom field?

No. Hyperlinks cannot be added to custom field titles or descriptions.

How can I collect t-shirt sizes for Items for Sale?

Create a custom field connected to your t-shirt item. For example: "What is your t-shirt size? (If purchasing multiple, list all sizes.)"

How can I collect donor prefixes?

Use a custom Drop-Down field with options like Mr., Ms., Dr., etc. If applied to the Ticket Purchaser, it will appear below their contact information at checkout.

Where do uploaded files from the File Upload field appear?

Go to Dashboard > Results > All Transactions, open a checkout's details, and you'll find a link to download the uploaded file. Bulk downloading is not currently supported.

Do custom field responses sync into RE NXT?

Only custom fields connected to Event Tickets sync into RE NXT. Responses appear on the participant record, so you'll need to be using the Events module in RE NXT. Custom fields for donations or items do not sync.

Do I need to ask for consent to send Commercial Electronic Messages (CEM) in Canada?

Review Canada's Anti-Spam Law (CASL) for guidance on when consent is required. 

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Need Help?

Did this answer your question? If not, feel free to reach out to our Product Engagement Team via the blue chat icon or email support@trellis.org.