We would like to be able to have the gift appeal default to the last assigned appeal on the consituent's record. It doesn't look like this is possible, so we have to look at the Assigned Appeal Tab prior to entry of a gift. Please note - we do not do Batch Gift Entry because we don't have two entries the same in a day. Does anyone else have a problem with matching up the gift appeal with the assigned appeal?

Kathy - I'm not sure I can answer your question about gift appeal, since I longer do gift entry on a daily basis. Most of our gifts (annual/direct mail) come to us with the gift code, which makes it nice. Otherwise, the gift processors have to look up the appeal info prior to gift entry, I believe? But I'm curious about your reasons for not using Batch. You do not have to have "like" entries to use the batch process. Nor do they have to be entered in one day. When I used to process membership gifts, I'd start the batch on Monday, with that days gifts and continue adding to it throughout the week. I'd commit the entire week's batch every Friday. Each gift having it's respective "gift date". Tracie Cassidy Database Coordinator Seattle Children's Hospital Foundation (206) 987-6833 [Email Removed] Check out the "other" forum! http://reusers.server-planet.com

Tracie, We are a small shop and only one person does the gift entry and I was told the batch entry takes longer to do than individual entry because each gift has a different campaign, fund and appeal. In your experience, do you find it to be otherwise?

Kathy - Unless something has changed recently, I'm pretty sure you can use an unlimited combination of campaigns, funds and appeals (CFAs) in Batch entry. Otherwise, it would defeat the purpose! You can set up Batches that default to certain CFAs, but you always have the option to change the default. It may take a little more time to set up a Batch template initially, but in the long run I've found it to be tremendously efficient. Like I mentioned, I don't do alot of gift entry now, but have experience setting up & using Batch in the past. If you'd like to contact me directly, I'd be glad to chat with you about it. Tracie Cassidy Database Coordinator Seattle Children's Hospital Foundation (206) 987-6833 [Email Removed] Check out the "other" forum! http://reusers.server-planet.com

Kathy, I'm about ready to jump out of my seat reading that you were told that individual entry is quicker than batch. I know Tracie has extended the offer for you to call her - also feel free to call me. I'm not the main gift/data entry person but i do my share when things are busy and i can walk you through it all step by step. Sandy Hart Lowell General Hospital Development Database Administrator 978-937-6696 [Email Removed]

We use batch gift entry also. Wouldn't do it any other way. We separate our daily gifts into different batches: events, tributes, gifts under $50 (they get postcards for acknowledgements), Fast tracks (Gifts over a certain amount). We set up default templates and fill in as much as possible as default data. We also have an appeal for every ask. Each appeal is associated with a campaign and fund. We enter the appeal in the batch, the campaign and fund automatically are filled in. We enter a letter code that is configured in Config/Letters and set up in Mail/Acknowledgements (multiple merge file). Our acknowledgements are done by using the batch query that is produced. We are integrated with Financial Edge. We are required to turn around a gift to the acknowledgement in 3 days or less. We commit and post all batches daily. Batch gift entry is always faster, I think. I hope this helps. Nora Nora Isaac Manager, Information Technology The ALS Association, Greater Phila. Chapter [Email Removed]

Not sure who recommended individual gift entry being quicker but no consultants (BB or otherwise) has ever said that to me) We only allow gifts to be entered via batch. We have multiple types of gifts going into the batch - the only thing we separate into separate batches is credit cards vs. cash/check. If you use defaults on your appeals and print appeal IDs on your reply devices than gift batch is even quicker by putting in the appeal first then checking the defaults that pop up for your fund and campaign. I too wish that the list of appeals was somehow related to the assigned appeals on someone's record (showing most recently sent first) and I believe I have suggested this a long time ago but it does not work that way. Be sure to file it as a suggestion and if they still have my suggestion in KB then you can link yourself to it. *** my spelling is fine, it's my typing that stinks. Where is spell check? Melissa S. Graves Manager, Development Database & Direct Mail Planned Parenthood of Connecticut [Email Removed] 203-752-2804

I just wanted to play devil's advocate for a moment and weigh in on the batch entry versus gift entry via constituent record discussion. In my previous position, the only gifts we kept in RE were our major gifts (all of our membership transactions were kept in a separate database). At that organization, I always felt that entering major gifts was easier to do directly from the constituent record rather than through batch as these gifts required a lot more careful handling and frequently, some investigation of the existing record. Moreover, many of the gifts we received arrived without back-up and, due to the complexity of our programs (and therefore our CFA structure) we regularly depended on past giving history to determine gift allocation. We also received quite a few checks that were not contributed revenue such as Facility Rental payments and therefore required special handling to be recognized as earned income and easily separated from donations. By the way, as a result of working there, I personally can enter a gift faster via the constituent record than I can through batch. I'm not necessarily recommending this. However, depending on the nature of an organization, I do believe that in some cases for some organizations, performing gift entry directly from the gift record can be the best method. Just my humble opinion! Heather D. Rodriguez Assistant Director of Development Information Systems San Francisco Museum of Modern Art [Email Removed]

I agree that there must be some special occasions out ther where this is the case. In fact I lied when I said all gifts are entered in batch here because I enter stock gifts directly on records due to the complexity and the fact that we rarely get more than 3 a month. (except in december/january) I will say that with batch you can view some great constituent fields in the window to the right (you an add almost anything you regularly need to see) and you have a quick link (constituent - giving history) to their giving history without opening the record but if you really, really, really find you have to open the record for nearly all gifts then you may convince me otherwise. I do think, however that most normal use of RE would include quicker gift entry using batch. With the number of tabs in a constituent and gift record there is no way basic gift entry with the number of times you must change from mouse to keyboard will ever be quicker. Nearly all functions in batch keep your hands on the keyboard - much quicker. Always remember that your first (or first month) of something new may not be quicker but eventally the speed will increase. You may be at your top speed by doing this from the gift but your top speed in batch my beat your top speed in batch after time. It is change and I love change - others do not enjoy the challenge. *** my spelling is fine, it's my typing that stinks. Where is spell check? Melissa S. Graves Manager, Development Database & Direct Mail Planned Parenthood of Connecticut [Email Removed] 203-752-2804