DonorView uses some unique terminology and may be different that what you are used to. Please review the list below so that you are clear on how these terms are used when recording different transactions in the software.


Gift - When entering a new contribution, DonorView uses the term “Add Gift." You will also see the term used in the Fundraising Module for the Gifts grid. However, the Gifts grid shows a list of all types of the transactions in the software, including general, pledges, pledge payments, event and auction purchases, in-kind and stock donations, and memberships. So, you can think of the term “gift” very broadly to cover a wide range of transaction types.


Transaction - Any purchase, donation, pledge, registration, membership, or contribution recorded in the database.


Soft Credit - A soft credit allows you to recognize another constituent's participation in a donation. For example:

  • If you maintain separate records for spouses, when one spouse makes a donation you can soft credit the other spouse.
  • You can soft credit a business owner when their business makes a donation.
  • You can soft credit a donor when their Donor Advised Fund or Family Foundation makes a grant to your organization.

Type - Refers to the kind of transaction. When entering a new Gift there are 8 types of transactions available to select including:

  • General - A single, one-time donation
  • Pledge - A commitment to contribute at a future date, either in a lump sum or by making payments over time.
  • Pledge Payment - A record of a payment made towards a pledge, when you actually receive the cash in hand.
  • Pledge Write Off - Used if your organization recognizes pledges are revenue when they pledge is committed and only in the circumstance when a constituent is not able to complete their pledge commitment.
  • In-Kind - Donations of materials, goods or services. Things like clothing, food, computer equipment, accounting services, advertising, or rental space are all considered in-kind contributions.
  • Stock  - Contributions of actual stock (not the proceeds of a stock sale.)
  • In-Kind Pledge – A commitment to deliver goods, materials, or services in the future.
  • In-Kind Pledge Payment – The fulfillment of the in-kind pledge when the goods, materials, or services are actually received.

There are also three other types of transactions that are only associated with transactions processed through their DonorView pages including:

  • Membership – The purchase of a membership level or a membership add-on.
  • Event – The purchase of an event level, event fee, or event add-on item. Donations made through an event page are categorized as a general gift type.
  • Auction – The purchase of an auction item or auction add-on item. Note that paddle raises are entered as a general donation.



Payment Type - How that payment was actually made for the transaction. For example cash, check, online credit card, PayPal, ACH, etc.


Acknowledgement - The thank you letter for the transaction. This can be an automated thank you email, a printed letter, receipt, or an emailed copy of a letter.


Split Gift - The software has the ability to allow you to split the revenue categories for a single entry, for example splitting a $1000 donation with $600 applied to a capital campaign and $400 applied to an annual fund campaign.


Tribute - When a contribution is made in honor of or in memory of another person or organization.


Matching Gift - The donor's employer provides a match to a donation made by the donor. If the donor makes a $100 donation, the employer might match their contribution and make a $100 donation as well.