The Big Give: should I use soft credits to log donation?

Hello there,

My organisation (Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum) has just completed its first Big Give campaign. We do not have a database manager and I am new in post, and learning to use Raiser's Edge.

We are wondering how other orgs reconcile the large lump sum from the Big Give with the individual donations on Raiser's edge? It seems there are a few ways to do it: soft credits, campaigns, gift sub-types etc. What methods do you use to log donations from the Big Give (or other giving platforms) and why?

Thank you SO MUCH for your help!

[Photo is a Katsura Cercidiphyllum japonicum from Westonbirt's tree collection]