Attach a material to a gift when the document supports one specific giving transaction. This keeps transaction-specific documentation with the gift record instead of treating the document as general information about the person record.
Examples of gift-specific materials include:
Check images
Donor instructions tied to one gift
Receipt support
Gift agreements or backup documentation
Acknowledgement or stewardship materials related to one gift
If the material is not tied to a specific transaction, attach it to the record instead. For example, a general biography, correspondence item, or research document usually belongs on the person record.
For a broader description of record materials, see Donor / Alum Record.
Choosing the gift of record
Every gift has a primary donor record. This record receives the hard credit and is the gift of record. A gift can also have one or more soft credit recipients. Soft credits recognize additional records, but they do not replace the primary donor connection on the gift.
When a material documents the transaction itself, attach the material to the gift on the hard credit donor's record. This keeps the supporting document with the gift of record and helps staff review the transaction from the primary donor context.
📝 Note
The gift selection list for a material can include gifts that are visible through hard credit and soft credit contexts. The list does not necessarily identify which option is the hard credit gift.
Selecting the correct gift
Confirm the gift before saving the material. Use the information that distinguishes the transaction from other gifts on the record.
Useful checks include:
Gift date
Gift amount
Fund or designation
Campaign or appeal, when available
Gift external ID, identity, or Slate GUID
The donor record where the gift appears as the hard credit gift
If two gifts look similar in the material assignment field, open the donor's Giving tab or the gift detail in another browser tab before selecting the gift.
For more information about hard credit and soft credit gift relationships, see Understanding Gift Connections and Soft Credits.
Attaching a material to the gift of record
Open the hard credit donor's record.
Use the Giving tab to identify the correct gift.
Confirm the gift date, amount, fund, and any available unique identifier.
Add or edit the material from the record's Materials area.
Select the appropriate gift in the material assignment field.
Save the material.
Review the material or gift to confirm that the material is attached to the expected transaction.
Working with soft credit recipients
Soft credit recipients can receive recognition for a gift, but the hard credit donor remains the primary donor connection. A material that supports the transaction should usually stay attached to the gift of record.
Soft credit relationship settings control how related records are suggested or defaulted as soft credit recipients during gift entry. They do not identify the credit type in the material gift selection list.
Resolving common attachment questions
Finding the hard credit gift in the material gift selection list
Review the gift from the hard credit donor's Giving tab. Confirm the gift by date, amount, fund, and available identifiers before selecting it for the material.
Seeing the material from the hard credit donor record
A material attached to the gift of record is easiest to review from the hard credit donor context. The soft credit recipient receives recognition for the gift, but the hard credit donor remains the primary donor connection.
Attaching documents that are not gift specific
Attach the material to the person record when the document is general record documentation rather than support for one gift.
📖 Gifts