---
title: "Step 3: Build the Record and Process Architecture"
slug: "step-3-build-the-record-and-process-architecture"
description: "Customize your Slate record architecture by creating custom fields, prompts, and entities for advancement operations."
tags: ["Advancement"]
updated: 2026-03-23T23:18:18Z
published: 2026-03-23T23:18:18Z
---

> ## 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.

# Step 3: Build the Record and Process Architecture

With the initial import complete, the process to customize the look and feel of record pages can commence.

## Designing the Records

- [Custom tabs](/v1/docs/admiissionsenrollment-custom-tabs) can be created to house custom fields for persons, companies and foundations, and funds. These tabs are created using the form functionality within Slate. Tabs can be permissioned to display both based on the record for which they appear, as well as the permissions of the administrative user who is accessing the record.
- [Tags](/v1/docs/tags) can be created to quickly identify populations of records at a high-visibility level.
- [Entities](/v1/docs/entities-overview) can be [created and used](/v1/docs/creating-and-displaying-entities) to capture grouped information (such as wealth ratings, committees, etc.).
- [Dashboards](/v1/docs/advancement-dashboard-overview) can be created in order to display high level information about the record—calling attention to the most important information a user would need to know at just a quick glance. Dashboards can be customized on the [Dashboard tab](/v1/docs/creating-a-custom-constituent-dashboard), as well as on the [Giving tab](/v1/docs/giving-tab-overview-settings).
- Slate standard elements will appear within the [standard tabs](/v1/docs/records). This includes interaction information, contact/address information, education histories, job histories, and any materials associated with each record. Standard fields and prompts can be [customized](/v1/docs/customizing-standard-fields-prompts) to suit the unique needs of each institution.

## Designing the Process Objects

With the record architecture built out, objects that play key roles in the business functions of advancement offices can be constructed:

- [Online giving forms](/v1/docs/gifts-on-a-form) can be created—allowing for gifts to be made by external constituents. This form can be embedded on any website, as well as live as its own page (incorporating an institution's digital branding). Multiple gift designations can be accommodated by leveraging [replicate blocks](/v1/docs/replicate-blocks).
- [Contact reports](/v1/docs/contact-reports) can be constructed that contain custom [interactions](/v1/docs/capturing-donor-interactions)that store the details of a gift officer's contact with donors. These forms can leverage [registration blocks](/v1/docs/group-registrations) to allow for multiple individuals to be captured within the same form.
- [Event](/v1/docs/events) and [Scheduler](/v1/docs/scheduler) templates (and their [associated communications](/v1/docs/form-and-event-communications-triggers-groups)) can be created in advance of their individual use by staff, allowing for straight-forward building of individual events.