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How do I set up custom fields?

This article shows group managers how to create custom fields for recording group member data.

Custom fields are available only to Be Collective Pro subscribers. See Be Collective's product plans & pricing.

If you manage a Be Collective Pro & Full Platform group as an owner or administrator, you can create custom fields tailored to your group's needs.

Custom fields can be used to capture anything you need, including:

  • matching volunteers to opportunities

  • completing induction processes

  • managing vaccination details

You can create as many custom fields as you like across nine field types.

Create a custom field

  1. Open your group management page

  2. Open the Settings tab

  3. Open the Custom fields tab

  4. Click a field type under Select custom field

  5. Enter your question text

  6. For single choice, multiple choice, and dropdown types, add selectable responses

  7. Click Save updates

All custom fields are entry-optional — values can be left empty.

Once a field is created, its field type cannot be changed.

For entering data on member profiles, see How do I enter data in my group's custom fields?.

Edit a custom field

  1. Open Settings → Custom fields

  2. Click the question you want to edit (highlighted in a green box when open)

  3. Make your changes

  4. Click Save updates

Editing a field name does not affect existing data. Adding answer options is safe. Deleting an option clears it from any member data where it was selected.

Duplicate a custom field

  1. Open Settings → Custom fields

  2. Open the question for editing

  3. Click Duplicate

  4. Edit the duplicate as needed

  5. Click Save updates

Existing field data is not copied — only the name, type, and selectable options.

Re-order custom fields

  1. Open Settings → Custom fields

  2. Click and hold the field you want to move

  3. Drag it to the desired position

Remove a custom field

  1. Open Settings → Custom fields

  2. Open the question for editing

  3. Click Remove

  4. Click Remove in the confirmation pop-up

The field and all its data are permanently deleted. This cannot be reversed.

Custom field types

Short answer — up to 128 characters of free text.

Long answer — up to 4096 characters of free text.

Number — numerical characters and decimal points only (no currency symbols). Up to seven digits on each side of the decimal point. Use short or long text for longer numbers.

Date — full date value (DD/MM/YYYY).

Phone number — full number including international dialling code (e.g. +61399887766).

Yes/no questions — yes or no only (choices cannot be edited; use single or multiple choice for other values).

Single choice — one selection from radio buttons.

Multiple choice — multiple selections from check boxes.

Dropdown — single or multiple selection from a drop-down menu. Click Settings while editing to toggle Multiple Selections on or off (single choice by default).