This article explains how the fundraiser thermometer on Trellis works, what revenue is included, and how you can customize its display to reflect your fundraising goals.
The Fundraiser Thermometer is a dynamic display element in your fundraiser’s hero section that shows progress toward a fundraising goal. It’s flexible, visually engaging, and customizable to reflect the unique structure of your campaign.
You can configure the thermometer to show:
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All revenue raised (recommended)
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Specific fundraising drivers only (e.g., ticket sales, auction items, donation forms)
- Revenue already raised (e.g. revenue raised off Trellis)
If Thermometer Shows All Revenue:
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Includes all revenue to the organization, including:
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Fees paid by donors (treated as additional donations)
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Online and offline purchases (e.g. purchases entered through Trellis as cash, cheque, or other payment methods)
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Does not include:
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Any fees or support that is part of the 0% Fees feature.
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Why are fees paid by donors included?
Donor-covered fees are real contributions. Even though they’re eventually deducted during payout, donors are actively choosing to give more.
If Thermometer Shows Specific Drivers Only:
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The total will include revenue tied to selected drivers (e.g., tickets, auctions), including:
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Online and offline purchases for those selected drivers
- Fees paid by donors tied to selected revenue drivers
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Does not include:
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Flat transaction fees, since these apply at the checkout level, not the driver level.
- Any fees or support that is part of the 0% Fees feature.
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Customization Options
The thermometer is highly customizable:
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Include/exclude pledges (commitments to pay later).
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Include/exclude pre-seeded donations (display-only values, not processed through Trellis).
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Placement: Can appear in the hero section or be added to the fundraiser page using the Fundraiser Activity section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can fees covered by donors be removed from the thermometer?
Not at this time. We previously offered this but after consulting with fundraising organizations, we standardized this to improve clarity and consistency. Including donor-covered fees reflects the true generosity of supporters and aligns with how most orgs evaluate success (gross raised before expenses).
Can offline transactions from the thermometer?
Not at this time. Offline transactions are automatically included in the fundraiser thermometer once entered. This ensures the total raised reflects all contributions being tracked through Trellis. If you'd prefer not to include a specific offline gift in the total, we recommend not entering it as an offline transaction.
Why does fundraising page thermometer does not match our results in the dashboard?
The discrepancy is usually due to display customizations. Check if any of the following are enabled on your fundraising page:
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A custom starting amount
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Pre-seeded donations (display-only, not processed)
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Added offline revenue
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Pledges (which appear in the thermometer but not in the dashboard totals)
These elements can cause the public-facing total to differ from what’s shown in the dashboard, which reflects only actual processed transactions.
If you've checked all these options and still see a discrepancy, please reach out to our Product Engagement Team at support@trellis.org.
How are discounts reflected in the thermometer?
The thermometer shows the total after discounts are applied. If a discount code is used during checkout, only the discounted amount (the actual amount paid) is counted toward the total raised.
How are refunds reflected in the thermometer?
Refunded amounts are removed from the thermometer total. If a transaction is refunded—whether partially or in full—the thermometer automatically updates to reflect the new net total raised.
Need help?
Reach out to support@trellis.org and we would be happy to assist.