Access Types: Public, Approval Required, Invite-Only

Last updated: February 25, 2026

The Access Type setting on an event controls who can see and register for it.

The Three Access Types

Public

Anyone with the event link can view it and register. No approval needed. Registration completes immediately upon payment (or form submission for free events).

Approval Required

Anyone with the link can submit a registration request, but it is not confirmed until a staff member approves it. Payment is not collected at registration time — it is collected after approval.

Use this when you need to vet registrants before confirming their spot.

Invite-Only

Only donors who have been explicitly invited can register. The event link does not allow self-registration — donors must receive an invitation first.

Use this for staff-only events, VIP gatherings, or situations where you want full control over the guest list.

Changing Access Type After Publishing

You can change the access type on a live event. The change takes effect immediately. Registrations already submitted are not retroactively affected.

⚠ Things to Watch For

  • On Approval Required events, donors are not charged until their registration is approved. Make sure your team has a process to approve registrations in a timely manner.

  • On Invite-Only events, the event URL still exists but shows an access-denied message to uninvited visitors.

  • Invite-Only requires that invitations are sent through WeGive. External invitation links do not grant access automatically.

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