Donor Levels are an automatic classification system in Argenta that segments donors based on their lifetime giving totals. This helps organizations identify, prioritize, and cultivate relationships with donors at different giving capacities.
Understanding the Donor Level Tiers
Argenta uses eight donor level tiers based on cumulative donation amounts:
- Level A: Less than $100
- Level B: $100 to $299
- Level C: $300 to $499
- Level D: $500 to $999
- Level E: $1,000 to $4,999
- Level F: $5,000 to $9,999
- Level G: $10,000 to $15,000
- Level H: Over $15,000
How Donor Levels Are Calculated
Donor levels are calculated automatically by summing all fiscal donations associated with a donor record. The system:
- Totals all donation amounts from the TbDonations table for that donor
- Compares the lifetime total against the level thresholds
- Assigns the appropriate donor level (1-8, corresponding to A-H)
- Updates the donor record with the new level
When Donor Levels Update
Donor levels recalculate automatically when:
- A new donation is recorded for the donor
- An existing donation is modified (amount changed)
- A donation is deleted or moved to a different donor
- A donation is copied
- An administrator runs the Set All Donor Levels automated process
Where to View Donor Levels
- Donor List: Fundraising > Donors displays each donors current level in the grid
- Donor Details: Open any donor record and view the Donor Metrics section at the top, which shows Donor Level alongside Total Lifetime Contributions, Most Recent Contribution (MRC), and Highest Previous Contribution (HPC)
- Filter by Level: On the Donor List, use the Donor Level filter dropdown to find all donors at a specific giving tier
Using Donor Levels Strategically
Organizations commonly use donor levels to:
- Prioritize Outreach: Focus major donor cultivation efforts on Level E and above donors
- Segment Communications: Tailor messaging based on giving capacity
- Plan Upgrade Strategies: Identify donors near the next threshold for upgrade asks
- Track Donor Movement: Monitor how donors progress through levels over time
- Generate Reports: Run the Donors by Donor Level report to analyze your donor pyramid
Running the Manual Recalculation
If donor levels need to be recalculated for all donors (for example, after a data import), administrators can use the automated process:
- Navigate to Admin > Automated Processes
- Find Set All Donor Levels
- Enter the Team ID
- Click Run This Process
This will recalculate levels for every donor in the specified organization.
Important Notes
- Donor levels are based on lifetime totals, not annual giving
- Third-party platform donations are included in the calculation if properly recorded
- In-kind donations (non-monetary gifts) are tracked separately and do not affect donor level calculations
- Pledges do not count toward donor levels only completed donations