Storage and File Management
Local storage, Google Drive, and R2.
DonorDesk stores evidence in one of two places, chosen in Settings → Setup.
Google Drive (link-first, recommended)
- You connect your organisation's Google account.
- DonorDesk creates a folder tree for each project (including an Evidence folder).
- Uploads go straight into your Drive. You can also link a file that is already in Drive by pasting its share link or ID.
- DonorDesk keeps a reference and reads what it needs (for example text for AI drafting). It does not keep a copy of the file.
- Files in Drive do not count against your DonorDesk storage quota.
Set up: How to connect Google Drive.
DonorDesk storage (optional)
- Files are stored by DonorDesk in managed object storage.
- They count toward your plan's storage: Starter 1 GB, Team 25 GB, Growth 100 GB, Enterprise contracted.
File types and size
Evidence accepts common documents, spreadsheets, images and text, up to 100 MB per file. Donor templates accept Word, PDF, text, Markdown, Excel or CSV up to 20 MB. See File formats.
Generated files
Exports (Word, PDF, Excel, ZIP evidence packs) are stored with the reporting period and can be downloaded from the Export Center. Original donor template files are kept with the template.
Deleting
Admins can delete evidence. If a file lives in your Google Drive, check the Drive copy separately: deleting the DonorDesk record does not replace your own retention decisions.
Tips
- Keep original files in Drive under your own retention rules.
- Name files clearly and set the reporting period on upload.
- Mark sensitive material correctly.