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Using Family Roles

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Moriah Elliott
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Summary: This guide explains how to use the Family Roles feature to simplify reporting and communication by assigning specific roles (Head of Household, Spouse, Adult, Child) to individuals within family units, detailing the process for adding/removing members and how these roles impact giving statements and exports.

Before You Begin

  • Family Roles (Head of Household, Spouse, Adult, Child, Unassigned) are primarily tools for sorting and organizing outputs (like giving statements and mailing labels), not descriptive positions.
  • Best Practice: Ask family members if they want separate end-of-year tax statements. If yes (e.g., adult children), they should be moved to their own family unit.
  • Note: When editing a Family Role, the change is saved automatically.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Adding Someone to a Family

People Add to Family.gif

1.  Navigate to the desired family member's profile.

2.  Click the gray header over the family section.     

3.  Choose Add Family Member and Select the individual or family to connect. * Add a new person: Select "Create Person." * Link an existing one: Select "Existing Person."

4.  Click the blue Add to Family button.

5.  Assign the appropriate Family Role (Head of Household, Spouse, Adult, Child, or Unassigned) and hit Save in the Family Section.

 

Removing Someone from a Family

People Remove from Family.gif

1.  Go to the profile of the person to be removed.

2.  Access the family section via the gray header.     

3.  Click the remove icon beside the person's name. [This removes the individual from the family unit, allowing for a stand-alone profile or connection to a different family; it does not delete their profile.]

Family Roles and Impact on Exports

RoleDescription & Export Impact
Head of HouseholdThe first person listed on directories, mailing labels, and other exports.
SpouseThe second person listed on directories, mailing labels, and other exports.
AdultUsed for adults to be included in the family statement/export. If two adults are in one family, they will be listed alphabetically by first name on exports.
ChildMinor children of the head of household/spouse/adults. (Should be their own family if they are not minors and need separate statements.)
UnassignedStill appear in the directory (sorted alphabetically by first name). Contributions are recorded and included, but their name will not appear on giving statements.
 

Troubleshooting & FAQs

  • How does the system handle giving statements for a family with multiple last names? The system prioritizes the Head of Household and Spouse roles. If everyone is Unassigned, the statement will use the last name of the individual who's first alphabetically by their first name.
  • Why are my Adult children not on their own contribution statement? To receive their own end-of-the-year tax statement, individuals (like adult children) must be moved to their own family unit.
  • I have two people listed as "Adult" in one family, how will they appear on the mailing label? They will appear alphabetically by their first name.

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