is anyone using the Donor Constituent Code?

@Brenda Goo
Not using “Donor” code, not useful.

@Brenda Goo I completely agree with Alex. I don't like to use constituent codes to identify information that changes with some frequency (like Donor, Major Donor, SYBUNT, etc.) especially if that can be queried in some other way.

I have accessed quite a few databases through consulting work, and codes like these are never correct. Donors have no gifts, Prospects do have gifts, Major Donors have not given at a Major Donor Level, there are people giving at a Major Donor level who do not have the code, and so on,

I never recommend that it be used, and typically recommend removing it if it is in use.

Karen

@Brenda Goo Using any term for a constituent code that deals with giving like Donor, Major Donor, Major Donor Prospect, etc, is completely wrong since that information can be determined by their giving. Plus the fact that someone becomes a “major donor”, who then makes that change in coding. Your constituent coding should be more generalized and something that goes in conjunction with your reporting. Good constituent codes are such terms as Foundation, Corporation, Non-Profit, Alumni, Staff, Board, Former Board, Religious Organization, Parent, School, Government, elected officials,, etc. Depending on your organization and how you like to report on groups of constituents will determine the codes. You also do not want a ton of constituent codes since if you want to break a code down further, attributes are the way to go. My opinion of useless codes are Major Donor Prospect, Major Donor, Individual, Organization, Lawyers, etc. Common codes for all types of organizations would be Board, Former Board, Staff, Former Staff, Foundation, Corporations. An education organization would have those plus Alumni, Parents, Think of what your organization does, who it reaches out to and how you want to report on donations in a general term. An education school would definitely want to know how much money is raised by Alumni and Parents,

@Joe Moretti
This is a great explanation of why codes such as “Donor”, etc. should not be used and your examples of good constituent codes is spot on! However, I still struggle with what code to use for an individual constituent who does not fall into those ...what would you call those constituents? I think that's why so many orgs use “Individual” as a code.

@JoAnn Strommen That one has always been a tough one and I think that would be an exception. Many organizations tend to call that one either Individuals or Friends.

@Lena Payne Parent/Child relationship would have to be connected in the Individual Relationship in the Relationship Tab by linking them.

@Brenda Goo To each their own… While “Donor” may not seem vey useful to your org or mine, it doesn't mean it's not or cannot be useful to other orgs. I see one or two constituent codes mentioned in this thread that don't seem particularly useful to me initially. This, of course, does not or should not mean they actually are not or could not be useful to me after more thought.