Some giving forms let you make a gift in someone’s honor or memory. Others offer a thank-you gift when your amount reaches a certain level. This article explains both options, whether you give through the Portal or process a donor’s gift or pledge in the Console.
Give in Honor or in Memory of Someone
- On the giving form, select the box that reads something like "This gift is a tribute; I'm making it in honor or in memory of someone."
- Choose In Honor Of or In Memory Of, then enter the person’s name in Honoree Name. After you select the tribute box, this field is required.
- If your organization offers honoree notifications, select "Inform this individual of my contribution on their behalf."
- If your organization allows both notification methods, choose By Email or By Postcard/Mail, then enter the honoree’s email address or mailing address.
- Add any other information in Details/Additional Info.
Result
The gift is recorded as a tribute. If you asked for the honoree to be notified, your organization sends them a notice.
Warning
When a form includes the tribute box and you select it, Honoree Name is required. The inform option and contact fields depend on how your association set up that giving process, so not every form offers every option. If your organization notifies honorees by mail only, the form may still ask for the honoree’s email address instead of a mailing address. Enter the contact information the form requests.
Choose or Decline a Thank-You Gift
If your gift amount qualifies for a thank-you item, sometimes called a premium, the form shows a card headed "Choose Your Thank You Gift". Examples include items like a tote bag or sweatshirt.
- Select the thank-you gift you want, or select "No thank you gift" if you want the entire amount to benefit the organization.
- If you choose a thank-you gift, enter its shipping address.
Result
Your choice is recorded with the gift or pledge. If you choose a thank-you gift, it is mailed to the shipping address you entered.
Warning
When your amount qualifies for a thank-you gift, the form selects one automatically instead of leaving the choice blank. If you want the entire amount to go to the organization, select "No thank you gift" before you submit. Don’t assume nothing was selected just because you didn’t change this section.
Tip
Taking a thank-you gift reduces the tax-deductible portion of your gift because the item’s value is subtracted from the deductible amount. If keeping your full deduction matters to you, select "No thank you gift."
Tip
As your amount changes on the form, the thank-you gifts offered can change too. A higher amount may earn a better item, so check this section again if you adjust your gift amount after choosing one.
For Staff: Choosing on a Donor's Behalf
The same tribute and thank-you gift sections appear when you process a gift or pledge for a donor in the Console. You’ll see them on the Gift Details or Pledge Details page of the processing wizard. The options work the same way there, so enter the tribute and thank-you gift information exactly as the donor gives it to you.
Tip
The honoree email notification option appears during gift processing only when the giving process you’re using has tribute email notification turned on. If you expect that option and don’t see it, check the giving process. Testing with a different process than the one configured for tribute email notification can make the option look missing.