Editing Gift Designations: What You Can and Cannot Change

Administrators can update the fund (designation) a processed gift is credited to, but some limitations apply. This article explains how you can change a gift’s designation, the available options, and situations where a change isn’t possible.

Quick answer

• You can update designations on completed gifts using the gift management interface.
• Click the donation ID to open the gift record.
• You may only change to designations that were available on the original giving form or campaign.

Where to edit a gift's designation

1. Click the donation ID for the gift record.
2. Use the designation/fund selector on the gift record to choose a new designation, then save your change.

(If you don't see a designation selector, review the troubleshooting checklist below.)

What you can change

You may reassign a completed gift to a different designation available on the original form or campaign.

What you cannot change

You cannot assign a gift to a designation that was not offered on the giving form or campaign when the gift was made. Only eligible designations appear when editing a processed gift.

Common scenarios and how to handle them

• Scenario: The donor selected Fund A at checkout, but you want the gift to count toward Fund B.
  • If Fund B was available on the original form or campaign, open the gift record, select Fund B, and save.
  • If Fund B was not an option at checkout, it will not appear in the gift record.

If the designation you need isn’t available on the gift record

1. Create or enable the desired designation at the school level if it doesn’t exist.
2. Add the designation to the giving form or campaign configuration to make it available.
3. Return to the processed gift’s record and select the new option once it’s added.

Tip: For new funds, update your school-level designations and include them on forms or campaigns before soliciting gifts, so donors can select the correct option at checkout.

Troubleshooting checklist

• Verify you opened the correct gift record by clicking the donation ID.
• Confirm the target designation existed and was included on the original form or campaign. If it wasn’t, add it to your school-level designations and update the form or campaign.

Notes and best practices

• Plan designation options ahead of your fundraiser to ensure donors pick the correct fund at checkout.
• When adding new school-level designations, update the relevant forms or campaigns so only valid choices appear during editing.

Example workflow (summary)

1. Click the donation ID to open the gift record.
2. Use the designation selector to choose a new designation (only options from the original form/campaign will appear).
3. Click Update Designations to save your change.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Can I change a designation for a gift made through a different form or campaign?

A: You can move a gift to any designation that was offered on the original form or campaign, but you cannot select a designation that wasn’t available at the time of the gift.

Q: The designation exists at the school level but doesn’t appear when I edit the gift. Why?

A: The designation must also be assigned to the specific form or campaign that processed the original gift. Having it at the school level alone isn’t enough.