Contribution based Memberships: Donor gifting membership to another Constituent

Cassidy Eaton

We use contribution based membership programs. We have a scenario that comes up a number of times each year and do not know how to handle it properly. Constituent A wants to gift a membership to Constituent B. Constituent A makes a donation and when the contribution process runs, Constituent A is either granted a membership themselves or their existing membership is upgraded. What is the best way to link Constituent A's gift to start Constituent B's membership? What would need to be done so future gifts from Constituent A can renew Constituent B's membership?

We tried making a membership a "gift" membership but that just seems to be an indicator and has no impact on the process itself to join/renew memberships. Our current workaround is to just add a complimentary membership for the intended recipient, but then there is no connection between the membership and the constituent who is actually making the contributions for the membership.