A household is a record that groups contacts who belong together. It sits in your contacts list alongside the individuals, and the individuals keep their own records — their own giving history, their own badges, their own activities.
People in a household can carry their own badges — volunteer, participant, board member, whatever you use — while staying attached to the household. So a report of volunteers pulls the right individuals, and a mailing list pulls the household.
The two failure modes households prevent are both expensive:
Each person can give under their own name while their gifts roll up to the household. The household record then carries combined giving statistics like Lifetime Giving, Year to Date Giving, and Largest Gift, so you can see what a family has given together without losing what each person gave on their own.
What is a household in DonorDock?
A record that groups related contacts — typically a married couple or a family — while each person keeps their own individual contact record and giving history.
Should I use a household or merge the two contacts?
Use a household when they are two different people who share an address. Merge only when you have two records for the same person.
Do individuals keep their own giving history in a household?
Yes. Each contact keeps their own record, gifts, activities, and badges.
Can I create households during an import?
Yes. Households can be created as part of the import process, which is usually easier than building them one at a time.
Can family members who do not donate be in a household?
Yes, and it is a recommended use — for example children who volunteer but do not give. They can carry a volunteer badge while remaining part of the household.
Will a household cause duplicate mailings?
No. That is what households are for — addressing one piece of mail to the household rather than one to each person at the same address.
Can I see combined giving totals for a household?
Yes. Gifts from individual members roll up to the household record, which then shows combined statistics such as Lifetime Giving, Year to Date Giving, and Largest Gift.
.webp){kind=avatar}
