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There are two main versions of DONATION available - the full-featured, paid versions (Standard or Network), and the free, feature-limited Lite version. If you are not sure which version you have, go to Help ⇒ About DONATION in the program. If it says "Free Lite Version", "Free Lite Local Database Version", "Free Lite Standalone Version" or "Free Lite Standard Version" on the line underneath the version number, then it's the Lite version. If it says anything else there, it isn't.
Paid Version
The full, paid version has all of the features documented in this manual, and also allows for the option of using a multi-user Local Network Version of DONATION on a local area network within one workplace. It starts out as a 60-day evaluation version (which has all features except for creating real charitable receipts), and is changed to the full version when you pay the Initial Purchase price (or Annual Fee, on or after January 1, 2022) and get a license key for the program. You can go to the PRICING/PAYMENT page on the web site to see how to pay, and how much that will cost.
Lite Version
The free, Lite version of DONATION has all of the core features that are needed to track donors and donations and issue receipts. It can be used by smaller charities and churches with more limited needs.
The Lite version can always be upgraded to the paid full version if you wish, by installing the full version from the DOWNLOAD page on the web site, at https://www.software4nonprofits.com/download.htm, or via the Tools ⇒ Check for Updates menu option, which will give you the 60-day evaluation version. Then paying the Initial Purchase price or Annual Fee entitles you to a license key, which converts the evaluation version to the full version. (If you have paid for Lite Support, there may be a discount, depending on how recently you paid. Details are at https://www.software4nonprofits.com/pricing.htm#upgradingLite.) You can also optionally switch back to the free Lite version, if you prefer.
Limitations
The following are the limitations of the free Lite version:
•It can only have up to 100 donors with donations in each year.
•The One Date Batch Entry window, which helps churches enter the Sunday collection more quickly, is not supported.
•Memorizing recurring donations is not supported.
•Several Donor Details fields are eliminated: the Email Address field, the Groups / Committees field, the six renameable Other Info fields, and the Comments field. Since the email address field is removed, emailing donors and emailing receipts are both also removed, as is the Email Sending Configuration option.
•Email Backups, Internet backups and the Cloud Storage Service are not supported.
•Only simple annual pledging is supported.
•The Limited User password (used in churches for counters or tellers to record donations, seeing only envelope numbers but not names) cannot be used. The Read Only and Donors Only passwords also cannot be used.
•Configuring and creating bank deposits is not supported - you can instead just use various reports to help understand what is in your bank deposit.
•The Letters menu options for mail-merge letters and receipts are not available. Of course, the standard built-in receipts are still available.
•Custom Reports, Memorized Reports and automated Reports Scripts are not available, though all of the built-in reports are still available.
•From the Receipt menu, the All Donors and Filtered Donors options are not available, so receipts must be created one donor at a time.
•From the Database menu, the following options are not available: all Importing options, Reassign Envelope Numbers, Merge Duplicate Donors, Change Date of Donations (mostly only needed if you could use One Date Batch Entry), Switch Databases, and SQL Select.
•Because you cannot use Switch Databases, you can only have one database for one organization on a computer running the Lite version. (The Standard and Local Network Versions can use that menu option to have as many databases for different organizations as you need, on one computer.)
•The only available and recommended way of sharing your database between users on multiple computers with this version is Transfer your Data between Computers, the least safe way of doing so. See Multiple User Options for the other ways available to other versions of the program.
•The Abundant online donation system integration is not supported.
The Lite version does not need and cannot use the license keys that are required by the full version. Thus, the Tools ⇒ Request or Install License Key menu option is not needed by the Lite version.
Support
Users of the Lite version are entitled to free support for installation and startup issues for one month from the date on which they register the program, via the REGISTER page on the web site or the Register Online form in the program. After that, however, a small annual Lite Support fee will be required if you need support - see the PRICING/PAYMENT page on the web for details. Fortunately, most standard questions can easily be answered by reading this Help file.