Building & Utilizing Custom Assignment Filters

Help your volunteers hone in on the most important audiences with custom assignment filters!

Assignment Filters in GiveCampus

Assignment filters help volunteers efficiently manage their outreach by drilling down on specific data points based on your goals. These filters are accessible in the volunteer’s Assignments section and within the Email tab for easy mass emailing.

Filters vs. Volunteer Tags

• Volunteer Tags:
  • Require manual updates
  • Display as colorful bubbles on an individual's assignment snapshot and constituent record
  • Useful for personal groupings like “Senior Year Roommates” or “Friends from Volunteer Organization.”
• Filters:
  • Ideal for institutional priorities (e.g., LYBUNTs, past Giving Day donors, reunion registrants)
  • Dynamically updated based on refreshed data files

Creating a Custom Filter

1. Navigate to Settings:
   • Go to the Settings tab in your VMS.
   • Click on the Assignments section.
   • Select Custom Assignment Filters.
2. Create a New Filter:
   • On the Custom Filters page, click Create a New Filter in the top right corner.
   • Example: Create a filter for “Never Donor” to target first-time gifts.
3. Choose Data Points:
   • Select from standard data points (assuming they are included in your files or existing cohort):
     • Cohort
     • Donor Status
     • Dorm
     • Giving Society
     • Reunion/Event Attendance
     • Affiliation/Class Year
     • Ask Amount
     • Home Address
4. Assign Filter to Roles:
   • Go to each Role where the filter should be available.
   • Under What this role can do, select the new filter from the Available Filters list.

Usage

• Assignments: Volunteers will see the new filter in their list of assignment filters.
• Email Tab: The filter will also be available in the Email tab for roles where it has been enabled.

Additional Resources

• Video Tutorial: Watch a walkthrough of creating custom assignment filters and tips on using this feature here.

Custom Data Options

• Adding Existing Data: If you want to include data already sent in your files but it’s not showing up as a custom datapoint, email vms@givecampus.com to request this data as an option for your filters.
• Adding New Data: For data not yet sent, email vms@givecampus.com with details to discuss a configuration change.

For more information on the configuration change process, please refer to this article.

Adding New Data Fields as Filters

Process for New Registration Status Fields

To add new data fields (like "Registered for Alumni Weekend 2026") as both filters and searchable fields:

1. If the data field doesn't exist in your current files, email vms@givecampus.com to discuss adding it to your data configuration

2. If the field exists but isn't available as a filter, email vms@givecampus.com to request it be enabled for filtering

3. Coordinate the timing of when the new column will be added to your constituent file

1. Once the field is available, navigate to Settings > Assignments > Custom Assignment Filters

2. Create a new custom filter for your registration status field

3. Configure the filter conditions (e.g., "Yes" for registered, "No" for not registered)

4. Assign the filter to relevant volunteer roles

• The filter will appear in volunteers' Assignments section for organizing their work
• It will be available in the Email tab for targeted outreach
• It will appear as a searchable field on the "Search Constituents" page
• Volunteers can combine this filter with other filters for more targeted lists

Timeline Considerations

• Configuration changes typically require advance notice
• Plan to submit requests before your registration opens
• Allow time for testing the new filter before volunteers need to use it
• Consider creating email templates that reference the new registration status

Common variations of this question

• How to add registration status as a filter
• Making new data fields searchable for volunteers
• Adding event registration filters
• Custom filters for reunion registration