Querying on total gifts

Amy Disch:

I'm new to Raiser's Edge, so forgive me if the answer to my question is obvious. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

I am attempting to do a pull of donors who have given to a specific fund within the last ten years. The development director would like to see who the funds' top donors are.

I created a constituent query with the following parameters: Gift date between 1/1/2004 and today (3/26/2014), fund ID equals x or fund ID equals y (to account for donors to both a campaign fund and program fund), and gift type is one of cash, etc. (I won't list all criteria here.)

I also created a parameter of total amount of gifts (summary information, summary for gift, total amount of gifts). When I review my output, I have a list that includes multiple gifts from the same constituent rather than the constituent listed once with his/her total giving to the particular fund.

What am I doing wrong? Many thanks.

 

You have a one-to-many field.  Query is a grouping tool and that is what it has successfully done.  Created a group for you of all gifts from donors that meet your various criteria.  It will list each gift.  You could try using summary info alone (bottom of query options) - that might help. You can set all needed criteria within summary gift filters.

Here's link to post from earlier this month that explains why dups in more detail: http://forums.blackbaud.com/forums/p/23475/785055.aspx#785055

Amy Disch:

I'm new to Raiser's Edge, so forgive me if the answer to my question is obvious. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

I am attempting to do a pull of donors who have given to a specific fund within the last ten years. The development director would like to see who the funds' top donors are.

I created a constituent query with the following parameters: Gift date between 1/1/2004 and today (3/26/2014), fund ID equals x or fund ID equals y (to account for donors to both a campaign fund and program fund), and gift type is one of cash, etc. (I won't list all criteria here.)

I also created a parameter of total amount of gifts (summary information, summary for gift, total amount of gifts). When I review my output, I have a list that includes multiple gifts from the same constituent rather than the constituent listed once with his/her total giving to the particular fund.

What am I doing wrong? Many thanks.

 

 Amy -

JoAnn's response about your query results is fabulous.  I have considered posting a sign near my desk that says  "Query is a grouping tool" for exactly the reasons she describes.

However - your initial question was about finding the Top Donors to a Fund.  I would recommend using the Top Donors Report which is available in the Analytical Reports section.  It works very well with just a few parameters.  I would skip the query and go straight to the report. You can restrict by Fund on the Filters tab and select the number you want to see on the Format\\Detail tab. 

Good luck!