Hello, all! I've just started a new role at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, where we're entering the final, public phase of a large capital campaign. I’ve inherited an awkward method of gift entry and am seeking best practices on how to manage/correct it.
Our team sought and received permission from campaign donors to allocate 10% of the gift and pledges toward campaign expenses. My predecessor was told to split these gifts into two distinct entries:
For example, a $1,000 gift could be in the system as a $900 gift to a Community Engagement fund and a $100 gift to a Campaign Expense fund.
Our Development Director and I agree that this method confuses and obscures the donor's giving history, and there are obvious concerns about our ability to pull based on gift size. Reconciliation between Tess, out-of-Tess trackers, and Finance is an ongoing struggle!
Has anyone else been in a similar situation? How do you enter gifts where portions of a gift are being allocated to campaign expenses?