In fundraising, it is essential to distinguish between the person who physically wrote the check (the "Hard Credit") and the person who influenced the gift (the "Soft Credit"). In Nonprofit Cloud for Fundraising, this influence is tracked using the Gift Soft Credit object.

How a Consultant Configures Influence Tracking:

The Transaction: A Gift Transaction is created for the donor who made the payment.

The Influence: If a board member or a volunteer solicitor was responsible for bringing in that gift, a Gift Soft Credit record is created and linked to that Gift Transaction.

Soft Credit Roles: The consultant can define different types of soft credits using the Role field. Common roles include "Solicitor," "Peer-to-Peer Fundraiser," or "Household Member."

Reporting: By using this object, the organization can run reports on "Total Influence" per volunteer. This is vital for donor recognition programs where "Solicitors" are honored for the total funds they helped raise, even if they didn't donate the money personally.

Why other options are incorrect:

Gift Tribute (Option A): This is used to track gifts made "In Honor Of" or "In Memory Of" someone. While it involves a third party, it is specifically for the sentiment of the gift rather than the professional or volunteer solicitation influence.

Gift Designation (Option C): This object is used to allocate the funds to specific internal accounts or programs (e.g., "General Fund" or "Building Campaign"). It tracks where the money goes, not who helped get it.

The Gift Soft Credit object ensures that the organization has a 360-degree view of constituent engagement, acknowledging both financial contributors and the champions who drive the fundraising engine.