Rules for Contributions-Based Programs and Levels

When you set up contributions-based programs or levels, a Contributions tab appears on the Add a membership program screen. From the Contributions tab, you can set up basic rules for the contributions. After you create the program, they appear under the Rules tab of the membership program record.

Note: Programs that have some dues-based levels and some contributions-based levels have both the Dues and Contributions tabs on the Add a membership program screen. After you create the program, all rules appear under the Rules tab of the membership program record.

Rule Description
What types of giving activity are counted toward a membership?

Select what types of revenue transactions count toward a membership.

  • Payments for donations, pledges, recurring, and planned gifts: Select this to include activity for any designation, specific designations, or one specific designation.

  • Pledges: Select this if pledges (not pledge payments) count.

  • Recurring gifts: Select this if recurring gift payments count.

  • Event registration payments: Select this if paid event registrations count. You can include registration payments for any events or for events in a specified category.

  • Membership dues payments: Select this if membership dues payments count. You can include dues payments in any membership program or in a specified program.
Can multiple revenue transactions count toward a membership?

If a single transaction is the only way to qualify for a contributions-based level, select No, only a single revenue transaction counts. If you have a contributions-based level in a program for giving between $1000 and $5000, a donor with five $500 transactions (even within a single term of the program) does not qualify.

If the five $500 transactions given within the term of the program would qualify, select Yes, the combined amounts of multiple revenue transactions count.
What happens if they give more?

Money given during the renewal window automatically counts toward a renewal. If a gift large enough for an upgrade is given before the renewal window, you specify how to count it. You can count the money as additional revenue, toward an upgrade, or toward a renewal.

Gifts not large enough for an upgrade that are given before the renewal window are treated as additional revenue.
When does the membership expire?

For contributions-based memberships, define the date(s) used to determine when the memberships expire.

  • Select The transaction date of the gift to set the membership to expire after the gift date plus the length of the term. A one-year term membership awarded based on a gift date of the first of March would expire one year later.

  • Select The last day of the month the gift was received to set the membership to expire on the last day of the month after the gift date plus the length of the term. A one-year term membership awarded based on a gift date of the first of March would expire at the end of March one year later.