Community Event Gift Entry

@Kylee Hamilton LOL Your list is similar to my experience as well. And there may not be a one fits all answer.
If gift is $250 or more and you know who donor is, record should be created and gift recorded as coming from the constituent, IMO.
If it's a collection of $ from various unknown folks, we use our ‘anonymous’/'unknown donor' record. We look at whose $ was it - who controls?
If someone collects the funds through their own event and then gives it to us, they control where the $ goes. They may or may not give it to our org. They become the donor.
If someone is working with us to organize an event where they do not have control of the $, we would not enter the $ on their record.
Many years ago, I had an instance of adding the event where we had a donation jar. I don't think I would do again, as record is useless. I can note event in reference or note field. I would use ‘anonymous donor’ if I did it again.

My 2 cents.

@Kylee Hamilton

I use a “Third Party Event/Fundraiser” appeal with detail of the specific events as the packages. If we receive donations directly from individuals, the gifts are recorded on their constituent records. They could donate again, and we will want the history of their first gift. If a lump sum is received from the organizer, it can be recorded under that record if it is a check/online gift. We will record the donation under an “Anonymous” record depending on the situation. And of course, we put detail in the reference field for the gift.