Examples of Configuring Fundraising App for Inventory

[Frances1]

I want to customize Fundraising for a nonprofit that keeps inventory for donated items (not just money) like toothbrushes, socks, etc. These items should roll up to Transactions, or Transactions should be the parent table. How could I add 2 custom child tables to the Microsoft for Nonprofit Fundraising app that references when Items are given (that will record when and how I give items and eventually who they are given to). Has this been done? Any links to examples would be appreciated. I am really new to the Microsoft space. It would essentially look like this: 

Transaction ---> Items Catalogue ----> Record of Giving (How much and of what item) --> Recipient

[AngelaH · Accepted solution]

Hi Frances1, 

• To add tables to a Dataverse environment (including with Fundraising and Engagement) start here for an overview: Tables in Dataverse
• To work with relationships: Table relationships in Dataverse
• To work with app forms: Create and design model-driven app forms - Power Apps | Microsoft Docs
• To package customizations for deployment in another environment:  Solutions in Power Apps - Power Apps | Microsoft Docs

Other notes and comments:

• The Common Data Model for Nonprofits (deployed in any environment that has F&E) has a table called “Item” defined as “Defines an individual article or unit that may be part of a group of articles or units required for a program activity or donated by a donor.”
• Using this table and the related tables could save you some work.
• A few documents worth looking at in Github: Release Microsoft Dynamics 365 Nonprofit Accelerator v3.0.3.0 · microsoft/Industry-Accelerator-Nonprofit · GitHub
• “NFP.Accelerator.3.0.-.Core.Metadata.Reference.xlsx” – data dictionary for all CDM for NP tables (note: does not include F&E tables)
• “NFP.Accelerator.3.0.-.Nonprofit.ERD.and.How-to.Guide.docx” – provides guidance on how some scenarios can be modeled using the existing tables (note: in-kind item tracking is not modeled, but still useful)
• When making customizations in a customer environment it is advisable to have a minimum of two environments: one for Pre-Production and one for Production (their live system). Final customizations are deployed to Production using a Solution.
• The Power Apps Community has a wealth of guidance as you are learning more about the capabilities of the platform that F&E is built on.

[Frances1]

Thanks @AngelaH, this is helpful. For anyone else looking to configure an inventory solution who comes across this post, the Item table is a core piece of that modeling per the Microsoft ERD. Our solution is likely going to connect Item to Transactions or Payment Assets so we can use rollups or similar fields to account for certain item donations per the business logic. I appreciate this detailed response!