Givebutter API Essential Guide

What type of API does Givebutter provide?

Givebutter uses a REST (Representational State Transfer) API. The key characteristics of the Givebutter API are:

• The API is organized around REST principles.
• It provides a stateless interface for interacting with your Givebutter account.
• The API supports JSON for data exchange.
• All requests return and require valid JSON objects.

The API structure follows typical REST conventions with endpoints for different resources like campaigns, contacts, transactions, etc. It uses standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PATCH, DELETE for different operations.

REST APIs are well-suited for web and mobile applications, as well as microservices architectures. They are particularly useful in situations where scalability and flexibility are important. REST APIs allow easy integration with existing systems and technologies.

Does the Givebutter API have webhooks?

Availability of Webhooks

Yes, the official Givebutter API does have webhooks available.

Types of Events You Can Subscribe To

Givebutter allows you to subscribe to multiple types of events through webhooks. Some of the available event triggers include:

1. campaign.created - Triggered when a campaign is created
2. campaign.updated - Triggered when campaign details are updated
3. ticket.created - Triggered when a ticket is purchased by a supporter

Setting Up Webhooks

To set up a webhook in Givebutter:

1. Navigate to Account > Integrations > Webhooks in your Givebutter dashboard
2. Click the "New webhook" button
3. Fill out the required fields:
   • Name (required)
   • Webhook URL (required) - The destination where notifications will be sent
   • Events - Select which events will trigger the webhook (at least one is required)
   • Enable or Disable the webhook

Authentication and Security

Givebutter uses a signing secret for webhook authentication:

• A randomly generated string is sent along with every webhook payload
• This signature validates that the request is coming directly from Givebutter
• While not required, using the signing secret is highly recommended for security

Webhook Payload

The webhook payload includes event-specific data. For example, for a campaign.created event, the payload would include details about the newly created campaign such as its ID, title, goal, and other relevant information.

Best Practices

1. Verify webhook signatures to ensure security
2. Use the provided signing secret to validate incoming webhook requests
3. Monitor the Activity feed in your Givebutter dashboard to track webhook events and their statuses

By utilizing webhooks, you can automate workflows and integrate Givebutter with other platforms and services, enhancing your fundraising capabilities and data management.

Rate Limits and other limitations

Unfortunately, I could not find any specific information about API rate limits for the Givebutter API in the provided search results. The search results contain general information about Givebutter's platform and integrations, but do not mention API rate limits. Without more specific documentation from Givebutter, I cannot provide details on their API rate limiting policies.

Here are some key points to consider regarding API rate limits in general:

1. API rate limits are typically put in place to prevent abuse and ensure fair usage of an API.

2. Common rate limiting approaches include:

   • Limits per time period (e.g. 1000 requests per hour)
   • Limits per endpoint
   • Tiered limits based on account type

3. Rate limits are often documented in an API's reference guide or developer documentation.

4. Exceeding rate limits usually results in API requests being rejected with an error response.

5. Some APIs provide headers to track remaining quota or time until limit reset.

If you need specific information about Givebutter's API rate limits, I would recommend:

• Checking Givebutter's API documentation directly on their developer portal
• Contacting Givebutter's developer support team
• Testing the API to observe any rate limiting behavior

Without official documentation, the actual rate limits may only be discoverable through practical usage and testing of the API. Always refer to the most up-to-date official documentation from Givebutter for accurate information on their API policies and limitations.

Latest API Version

Based on the search results provided, here is the most up-to-date information about the Givebutter API:

Current API Version

The most recent version of the Givebutter API appears to be v1. This can be seen in the API endpoint URL:

https://api.givebutter.com/v1/transactions

Key Points

• The Givebutter API is organized around REST principles and provides a stateless interface for interacting with Givebutter accounts.

• It supports JSON for both requests and responses.

• Authentication is required to access the API, though the specific authentication method is not detailed in the provided search results.

• The API provides endpoints for various resources including Campaigns, Contacts, Transactions, Funds, and more.

• Pagination is supported for endpoints that return multiple items, though details on how pagination works are not provided in the search results.

Recent Updates

While there is no explicit mention of recent API updates, the search results show that Givebutter has been regularly updating its platform with new features. Some recent updates include:

• Signup form widgets (March 2024)
• Auction packages (March 2024)
• Improvements to tables and data display (February 2024)
• Support for two-factor authentication (2FA) (February 2024)

Best Practices

1. Use the latest API version (v1) for all requests.
2. Ensure proper authentication is implemented.
3. Handle pagination for endpoints that return multiple items.
4. Use appropriate scopes when querying transactions, especially if dealing with beneficiary or chapter account campaigns.

While the search results don't provide extensive details about API best practices, these are general recommendations based on the information available.

How to get a Givebutter developer account and API Keys?

To get a developer account for Givebutter and create an API integration, you can follow these steps:

1. Sign up for a Givebutter account: If you don't already have one, create a Givebutter account at givebutter.com.

2. Gain admin access: You need to have admin status on your Givebutter account to access the API features. If you only have editor status, contact your account admin to upgrade your permissions.

3. Generate an API key:

   • Log in to your Givebutter dashboard
   • Click on "Account" in the left-hand menu bar
   • Click on the "Integrations" tab
   • Select "API" in the sub-menu
   • Click "New API key"
   • Give your API key a name and click "Create"
   • Copy the API key that appears in the popup window

Key points to consider:

• API keys are only shown once for security reasons, so make sure to copy and store it safely.
• You can generate multiple API keys for different integrations or purposes.
• You can edit or delete API keys by clicking the three dots [...] next to the relevant key.

Best practices:

• Use descriptive names for your API keys to easily identify their purpose.
• Regularly review and rotate your API keys for enhanced security.
• Only share API keys with trusted developers and systems.

What can you do with the Givebutter API?

Based on the information provided in the search results, here is a list of data models you can interact with using the Givebutter API, along with what is possible for each:

Campaigns

• Get a list of campaigns
• Retrieve details of a specific campaign
• Create a new campaign
• Update an existing campaign
• Delete a campaign

Campaign Members

• Get a list of members for a campaign
• Retrieve details of a specific member
• Delete a member from a campaign

Campaign Teams

• Get a list of teams for a campaign
• Retrieve details of a specific team

Contacts

• Get a list of contacts
• Retrieve details of a specific contact
• Create a new contact
• Update an existing contact
• Archive a contact
• Restore an archived contact

Transactions

• Get a list of transactions
• Retrieve details of a specific transaction
• Create a new transaction

Payouts

• Get a list of payouts
• Retrieve details of a specific payout

Plans

• Get a list of plans
• Retrieve details of a specific plan

Funds

• Get a list of funds
• Retrieve details of a specific fund
• Create a new fund
• Update an existing fund
• Delete a fund

Tickets

• Get a list of tickets
• Retrieve details of a specific ticket

Key Points to Consider:

• The Givebutter API follows REST principles and uses JSON for data exchange.
• Authentication is required to access the API, likely using API keys.
• The API supports pagination for listing endpoints.
• Some endpoints support filtering and sorting options, which may vary by data model.
• Error handling is implemented, so be prepared to handle various HTTP status codes and error messages.

Best Practices:

1. Always use HTTPS for secure communication with the API.
2. Handle rate limiting appropriately to avoid exceeding usage limits.
3. Implement proper error handling in your applications.
4. Use pagination when retrieving large datasets to optimize performance.
5. Keep your API credentials secure and never expose them in client-side code.

By leveraging these data models and endpoints, you can build various integrations and automations with Givebutter, such as syncing donor data with CRMs, creating real-time fundraising dashboards, and automating donation acknowledgements.