Funds and Campaigns serve different purposes in organizing your fundraising.
Funds
A Fund is an accounting designation for how money is classified and used:
- Represents where money goes (purpose or restriction)
- Permanent or long-term classifications
- Ties to your chart of accounts
- Used for financial reporting and compliance
Examples:
- General Operating Fund
- Building Fund
- Scholarship Fund
- Endowment Fund
- Program-Specific Funds
Campaigns
A Campaign is a fundraising initiative with a specific goal and timeframe:
- Represents a fundraising effort
- Has start/end dates and a goal
- Tracks progress toward target
- Used for donor communication and recognition
Examples:
- Annual Fund 2024
- Capital Campaign
- Year-End Appeal
- Emergency Relief Drive
- Event-Specific Campaigns
How They Work Together
A donation can be assigned to both:
- Fund: General Operating (accounting purpose)
- Campaign: Annual Fund 2024 (fundraising initiative)
This allows you to track the same gift from both financial and development perspectives.
When to Use Each
- Use Funds when the donor specifies a restriction or purpose
- Use Campaigns to track fundraising progress and set goals
- Use both for complete reporting capabilities