> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.advocora.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Record a gift

> Log a one-time contribution against any contact, with the right designation, account, and an optional emailed receipt.

Use **Record Gift** to log a contribution you received—cash, a check, a stock transfer, an in-kind gift, or a card payment taken elsewhere.

<Note>
  The **Record Gift** button appears if your role allows creating gifts. Online donations made through a [donation form](/forms/donation-forms) are recorded automatically—you don't need to enter those by hand.
</Note>

## Step by step

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Record Gift">
    On the **Gifts** page, choose **Record Gift**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find the contact">
    Type at least two characters of the contact's name and pick them from the results. Choose **Change** later if you need a different contact.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in the gift">
    Complete the form (required fields are marked):

    * **Amount** (required)
    * **Gift Date** (required)
    * **Payment Method** (required) — Credit Card, Cash, Check, ACH, In-Kind, or Stock
    * **Check Number** — appears only when the method is Check
    * **Designation** (required) — what the gift is for
    * **Account** (required) — where it's recorded
  </Step>

  <Step title="Optionally send a receipt">
    Tick **Send Email Receipt** to email the donor a receipt on save.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Record Gift">
    Choose **Record Gift** to save.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Payment methods

| Method          | Use it for                                      |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| **Credit Card** | Card payments taken outside an online form      |
| **Cash**        | Cash received                                   |
| **Check**       | Checks—enter the **Check Number** when prompted |
| **ACH**         | Bank transfers                                  |
| **In-Kind**     | Donated goods or services                       |
| **Stock**       | Securities transfers                            |

## Foundation gifts and passthrough givers

When the contact is a **Foundation**, an optional **Passthrough Giver** field appears. Use it when a gift was directed by a specific person—such as from a donor-advised fund. If you set one and send a receipt, the receipt goes to that person's email instead of the foundation's.

<Tip>
  A new **Designation** you type is saved to your list automatically, so you can reuse it next time. Manage the full list under [Lookup tables](/data-management/lookup-tables).
</Tip>

<Warning>
  Receipts are best-effort: if your organization hasn't set up a receipt template for that account, no email is sent—but the gift is still recorded. Set up receipt templates under [Email templates](/email/templates).
</Warning>