Create Text Area Fields

Use Text area fields to capture open‑ended responses that are longer than a few words.

These fields can appear on applicant forms and grant manager forms.

Tip: Before creating a new field, review standard product fields to confirm the field does not already exist. You can find them in Standard Components in the Form Builder.

Create a new field

1. Sign in to the Grant Manager Portal at yourcausegrants.com or your organization's URL with your Blackbaud ID (BBID) or Single Sign-On (SSO) credentials.

2. Open Program Setup, then Custom Forms.

3. Select the Form Fields tab.

4. Select Manage form fields, then Add new.

5. In Add New Form Field:

   Add field information

   1. Enter a field name.

   2. Optional - Enter a default label if you want it to be used each time the field is added to a form.

      Tip: If you leave this blank, the field uses the field name as the label. You can update it later.

   3. Optional - Enter a description for your own reference if needed. Applicants do not see this text.

    

   Set field type

   1. Set the field type to Text area.

    

   Enable rich text formatting (Optional)

   1. Select Supports rich text formatting to display a rich text editor when users complete the field.

   When enabled:

   • The field supports only a single response.

   • Responses store as HTML and display as HTML in reporting.

   • The This is a table field option is not available.

   • The field cannot be used in automation.

    

   Allow multiple responses (Optional)

   1. Enter a minimum or maximum character count if you want to limit the amount users can enter.

    

   Add minimum or maximum values (Optional)

   1. Enter a minimum or maximum value if you want to limit the amount users can enter.

      Tip: You can update these values later. Updates apply only to new instances of the field. Existing forms require manual updates to the field settings.

    

   Update the key

   1. The system creates a unique key based on the field name. You can update it if needed.

      Tip: The key is used for API connections and to distinguish fields with similar names in reports, custom data tables, and bulk management.

    

   Set the audience

   1. Choose Applicant or Grant Manager as the audience.

      • Applicant: Appears on applicant and grant manager forms. It displays as read‑only for Grant Managers.

      • Grant Manager: Appears on grant manager forms only. Grant manager fields support multiple responses by default.

        Tip: To capture a single answer, enable Field will store one answer per application. Multiple users can complete the field, and responses can overwrite each other.

    

   Select a category (Optional)

   1. Choose a category to help you filter and organize fields in forms and reports. If you do not choose one, the field is saved in Other.

      Tip: To add a new category, select Add new category.

    

   Use in a Table field (Optional)

   1. If you want to include this field in a Table field, select This is a table field.

   When enabled:

   • The field does not appear as a standalone option in the Form Builder.

   • It appears only within Table fields, which support multiple entries.

   • This option is not available if Supports multiple values is enabled.

    

   Add additional field encryption (Optional)

   1. Enable Additional field encryption to add extra encryption for sensitive data.

      Tip: Encrypted fields cannot be searched or filtered. Only enable this for sensitive information.

    

   Mask field responses (Optional)

   1. Enable Field masking to hide responses from users without the Grant Applications – Can View Masked Data permission, Grant Applications – All permission, or who are not part of the workflow level.

      Tip: Masked responses do not appear in forms, reporting, email previews, or document templates.

    

   Control how responses copy (Optional)

   1. If you want to prevent responses from copying into a new application, enable Do not copy responses when copying applications.

      Tip: When enabled, the field displays without a response in the copied application.

    

6. Select Save to create the field.

Tip: For client accounts that support applicant response translation, you can select the Translate applicant responses field setting. When you enable this setting, grant managers can view applicant responses translated into the client’s default language in the Application View, ad hoc reports, and dashboards. For details, see Translate Application Form Responses.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)