Fund Best Practices

Use funds to define how gifts are allocated and to honor donor intent. A clear fund structure improves tracking, reporting, and transparency.

Structure Funds to Support Campaigns

Organize funds within campaigns to reflect meaningful categories of use.

For example, a capital campaign may include funds for:

• Design

• Construction

• Equipment or furnishings

• Landscaping

This structure helps you track how gifts support specific aspects of the campaign.

Align Funds with Donor Intent

Create funds that clearly represent how gifts are used.

• Define each fund with a specific purpose

• Ensure fund definitions are easy to understand

• Use funds consistently to maintain accurate reporting

Clear alignment supports transparency and donor trust.

Avoid Unnecessary Complexity

Create only the funds you need to manage and report effectively.

• Limit the number of funds to meaningful categories

• Avoid overlapping or redundant fund purposes

• Review fund structure regularly and consolidate when needed

A simplified structure improves usability and reduces reporting challenges.

Use Appeals to Support Funds

Connect appeals to specific funds to improve targeting and tracking.

• Link appeals to relevant funds

• Define goals for each appeal tied to fund performance

• Review appeal results and refine messaging as needed

This approach helps you understand which outreach efforts drive giving to specific purposes.

Monitor and Refine Fund Performance

Track how funds perform within campaigns to ensure effectiveness.

• Review giving trends by fund

• Identify underperforming areas

• Adjust structure or strategy based on insights

Regular review helps maintain alignment between fundraising efforts and donor intent.