---
schema_version: "1"
id: 3a2fb0f6ca303615aa14e96550a05539ba2642f8a577ba58ba3ff251006cecb2
title: Terminology
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/sfdo/264-0-0/gem_terminology.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sfdo.gem_terminology.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: efb35ae46de65d69d5908a6acc6fab686a985e2ae6cb51ca92ad0469cdeecda2
description: Review some fundraising terminology and concepts used in GEM.
products:
  - Nonprofit
release: "264"
---
# Terminology

Review some fundraising terminology and concepts used in GEM.

GEM introduces a lot of new concepts to the Salesforce world. While they’re long-established in the fundraising world, a terminology review might be helpful to folks in the Salesforce ecosystem who aren’t as well-versed in this area. We also define a handful of GEM concepts that might be helpful to advancement personnel.

Allocation (or designation or fund)

A specific destination for received revenue, such as a particular building fund or academic department. Often chosen by the donor, but anything not defined is automatically allocated by GEM to a default fund (General Accounting Unit).

General Accounting Unit (GAU)

A Salesforce object used to indicate individual allocations (designations or funds).

Payment

A Salesforce object used to record a pledged or received payment from a donor. GEM doesn't recognize Payment records as paid until the Paid field is selected.

Revenue

Any kind of gift. Can be a monetary value, gift in-kind, stock, or any other gift your institution accepts.

Soft Credit

An individual who is given credit for making or influencing a donation, even if they're not the actual donor. Examples include members of the household, the owner of a donating organization, or the original donor on a matched gift.

State

A value that is applied to Opportunity Stages. Allows Stages to retain their original names and still be designated as Committed or Finalized.