---
title: "Giving Dashboard for Advancement"
slug: "creating-a-custom-giving-dashboard"
tags: ["Advancement"]
status: "new"
updated: 2026-06-09T13:15:44Z
published: 2026-06-09T13:15:44Z
---
> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://knowledge.technolutions.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Giving Dashboard for Advancement
A giving dashboard appears in the top section of the **Giving** tab above the default giving information. In Advancement, this dashboard can help gift officers, advancement services staff, and other users scan a constituent's giving history without leaving the record.
Use this article to create a giving dashboard with the Dashboard tool in **Database**. For more information about dashboard concepts in Advancement, see [Dashboards for Advancement](/v1/docs/en/advancement-dashboard-overview).
## Before you begin
Before creating the dashboard, decide which giving details should appear at the top of the Giving tab. Keep the dashboard focused on the details that users need immediately when reviewing a constituent record.
For example, a giving dashboard might show:
- Lifetime giving.
- First gift, last gift, or greatest gift details.
- Giving in the past year.
- Pending payments or recurring payment details.
- Open opportunities, pledges, or planned gifts.
The exact exports and filters depend on the giving configuration, fields, joins, and related records in your database.
#### Try a Slate example 💼
Copy this [Suitcase](/v1/docs/en/suitcase-import) ID and paste it in **Database → Suitcase Import** to import a pre-made example giving dashboard:
```SuitcaseID
34e0e18a-09cc-4114-a3b7-2b72c09c6925:slate-advancement-showcase
```
## Creating the giving dashboard
1. Go to **Database** → **Dashboards**.
2. Select **New Dashboard**.
3. Configure the following settings:
- **Name:** Enter a short, descriptive name, such as `Giving Dashboard` or `Constituent Giving Summary`.
- **Type:** Select **Giving**.
- **Base:** Select **Person**.
- **AI Dashboard:** Leave the checkbox cleared unless you are creating an AI dashboard.
4. Select **Save**. The dashboard summary page appears.
## Building the dashboard query
The dashboard query controls which data is available to the dashboard editor. Exports from the query become merge fields that you can place in the dashboard content.
1. On the dashboard summary page, select the **Edit Query** tab.
2. Select **Export** for each data point that should appear on the giving dashboard.
3. If needed, select **Join** and join to gift, pledge, opportunity, payment, or related giving data.
4. If needed, select **Filter** to limit when the dashboard appears or which data the query returns.
5. Select **Rename Exports** and give each export a Liquid-friendly name. Use lowercase letters, numbers, underscores, or hyphens. Avoid spaces.
> [!WARNING]
> 📝 Note
>
> The merge field in the dashboard editor must match the query export name exactly. For example, an export named `lifetime_giving` appears in the editor as `{{lifetime_giving}}`.
## Designing the dashboard content
The **Edit Dashboard** tab controls how the dashboard appears on the Giving tab. You can use the WYSIWYG editor, drag exports into the editor, or use the source editor for HTML and CSS.
1. Select the **Edit Dashboard** tab.
2. Add text, tables, headings, or other layout elements that make the giving details easy to scan.
3. Add merge fields for the query exports. You can drag exports from the right side of the editor or type the merge field using double curly braces.
4. If needed, select the **Source** tool to edit the dashboard HTML.
5. Select **Save**.
### Example giving dashboard content
The following example uses export names that you might create in the dashboard query. Replace these names with the export names used in your dashboard.
```xml
Giving snapshot
Lifetime giving: {{lifetime_giving}}
Last gift: {{last_gift}}
Giving past year: {{giving_past_year}}
Open opportunities: {{open_opportunities}}
```
## Previewing and testing the dashboard
1. On the dashboard summary page, select **Preview Dashboard**.
2. In the **Record** field, search for and select a constituent record.
3. Review the preview for missing values, formatting issues, and merge fields that do not resolve.
4. If a merge field does not appear with data, confirm that the query export name and the merge field name match exactly.
5. Test more than one constituent record, especially if the dashboard uses filters or joins to related giving data.
## Using filters for targeted giving dashboards
Filters can limit the records or users for which a dashboard appears. You might create multiple giving dashboards if different constituent groups need different information.
For example, one dashboard might appear for major gift prospects and summarize giving, open opportunities, and proposal activity. Another dashboard might appear for constituents with recurring payments and focus on payment status and recent giving.
## Further reading
- [Dashboards](/v1/docs/en/records-dashboards)
- [Dashboards for Advancement](/v1/docs/en/advancement-dashboard-overview)
- [Dataset Dashboard for Advancement](/v1/docs/en/creating-a-custom-dataset-dashboard)