> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.virtuous.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Giving Flow

> How a gift originates, what it is committed as, where it is directed, and how it is receipted.

This page traces the full lifecycle of a gift including how it starts, what commitments precede it, where the money goes, and how it is acknowledged.

## Gift origination

A gift can be created directly by a contact giving, or fulfilled through a prior commitment (pledge or recurring gift). It can also originate from a form submission, event, or import.

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart TB
  CONTACTS(["CONTACTS"])
  GIFTS(["GIFTS"])

  subgraph Origin["How a Gift Originates"]
    direction LR
    FORMS["Forms"]
    EVENTS_O["Events"]
    MEDIA_OUTLETS["Media Outlets"]
    GIFT_TRANSACTIONS["Gift Transactions"]
  end

  subgraph Commitments["What Was Committed"]
    direction LR
    GIFT_ASKS["Gift Asks"]
    PLEDGES["Pledges"]
    PLEDGE_PAYMENTS["Pledge Payments"]
    RECURRING_GIFTS["Recurring Gifts"]
    RECURRING_PAYMENTS["Recurring Payments"]
    PLANNED_GIFTS["Planned Gifts"]
  end

  CONTACTS -->|"gives"| GIFTS
  CONTACTS --> Commitments
  Origin -->|"creates"| GIFTS
  Commitments -->|"fulfilled by"| GIFTS

  classDef hub fill:#00A3E0,color:#ffffff,stroke:#081F2C,font-weight:bold
  classDef entity fill:#CEE7F2,color:#243746,stroke:#41B6E6
  class CONTACTS,GIFTS hub
  class FORMS,EVENTS_O,MEDIA_OUTLETS,GIFT_TRANSACTIONS,GIFT_ASKS,PLEDGES,PLEDGE_PAYMENTS,RECURRING_GIFTS,RECURRING_PAYMENTS,PLANNED_GIFTS entity
  style Origin fill:#F0F8FF,stroke:#CEE7F2,color:#243746
  style Commitments fill:#F0F8FF,stroke:#CEE7F2,color:#243746
```

## Gift lifecycle

Once a gift is recorded, it is designated to one or more projects, may include fulfillment items (premiums, batches), and generates receipt records for acknowledgement.

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart TB
  GIFTS(["GIFTS"])

  subgraph Designation["Where It Goes"]
    direction LR
    GIFT_DESIGNATIONS["Gift Designations"]
    PROJECTS["Projects"]
    GRANTS["Grants"]
  end

  subgraph Fulfillment["What It Includes"]
    direction LR
    GIFT_PREMIUMS["Gift Premiums"]
    PREMIUMS["Premiums"]
    GIFT_BATCHES["Gift Batches"]
    NON_CASH_TYPES["Non-Cash Types"]
    TRIBUTES["Tributes"]
  end

  subgraph Receipting["How It's Receipted"]
    direction LR
    RECEIPTS["Receipts"]
    RECEIPTED_GIFTS["Receipted Gifts"]
    GROUP_RUNS["Receipting Group Runs"]
    STMT_RUNS["Statement Runs"]
  end

  GIFTS --> Designation
  GIFTS --> Fulfillment
  GIFTS --> Receipting

  classDef hub fill:#00A3E0,color:#ffffff,stroke:#081F2C,font-weight:bold
  classDef entity fill:#CEE7F2,color:#243746,stroke:#41B6E6
  class GIFTS hub
  class GIFT_DESIGNATIONS,PROJECTS,GRANTS,GIFT_PREMIUMS,PREMIUMS,GIFT_BATCHES,NON_CASH_TYPES,TRIBUTES,RECEIPTS,RECEIPTED_GIFTS,GROUP_RUNS,STMT_RUNS entity
  style Designation fill:#F0F8FF,stroke:#CEE7F2,color:#243746
  style Fulfillment fill:#F0F8FF,stroke:#CEE7F2,color:#243746
  style Receipting fill:#F0F8FF,stroke:#CEE7F2,color:#243746
```