Glossary
This glossary explains the key terms used in DonorDesk.
A
Activity A specific task or event carried out as part of a project. Examples: training sessions, distribution events, field visits.
AI Draft A report section or full report generated automatically by DonorDesk's AI, based on your project data.
API (Application Programming Interface) A way for software systems to talk to each other. DonorDesk does not currently offer a public API.
Approval Workflow The process of submitting, reviewing, and approving a report before it goes to the donor.
B
Baseline The starting value of an indicator at the beginning of a project, before any activities have been carried out.
C
Compliance Checklist A list of items that DonorDesk automatically generates to identify missing evidence or documentation in your project.
Cumulative Achievement The total value of an indicator from the project start date to the current date (not just the reporting period).
D
Dashboard The main page you see after logging in, showing an overview of your projects, upcoming deadlines, and key metrics.
E
Evidence Documents, photos, or files that prove your project activities happened and achieved results. Examples: attendance sheets, photos, training reports.
Evidence Library The centralised storage for all evidence files in a project.
Export Downloading your report in a specific format (PDF, Word, Excel, or ZIP) for submission to your donor.
F
Field Officer A user role for staff who work in the field and log activities and upload evidence.
G
Goal The overall aim of a project — the big-picture change the project aims to achieve.
I
Indicator A measurement that tracks progress toward a logframe objective. Each indicator has a name, target, and unit.
Indicator Update Recording the value of an indicator for a specific reporting period.
L
Logframe (Logical Framework) A hierarchical planning tool showing a project's Goal, Outcomes, Outputs, Activities, and Indicators.
M
M&E (Monitoring and Evaluation) The process of tracking progress and measuring results. M&E Officers in DonorDesk manage this process.
O
Outcome A change that happens as a result of your project's outputs. Written in past tense (e.g., "400 women accessed antenatal care").
Output A concrete product or service produced by your project (e.g., "20 health workers trained").
P
Period Achievement The value of an indicator achieved within a specific reporting period (not cumulative).
Project A single donor-funded initiative within your organisation. Each project has its own logframe, evidence, activities, and reports.
Project Manager A user role for the person responsible for managing a specific project.
R
Readiness Score A percentage (0-100%) showing how complete a reporting period is. Based on sections, indicators, evidence, compliance, and approvals.
Report Draft The draft narrative document that will be submitted to the donor. Consists of sections that can be written manually or generated with AI.
Reporting Period A defined time window (monthly, quarterly, etc.) for which you prepare a donor report.
RLS (Row-Level Security) A database security technique that ensures each organisation's data is completely isolated from others.
S
Source Reference A citation in an AI-generated report that links a statement back to the original evidence, activity, or indicator data it came from.
T
Target The value an indicator aims to achieve by the end of the project.
U
Upload Transferring a file from your device to DonorDesk's evidence library.
V
Verification The process of a reviewer confirming that evidence or indicator data is accurate and valid.
W
Workspace Your organisation's private space in DonorDesk. Contains all your projects, team members, and settings. Completely isolated from other organisations' workspaces.
DonorDesk-specific terms
Academy The guided product tour and sample demo project. See How to use the Academy tour.
AI Reporter The report writer that drafts each section from verified findings, following the donor template.
AI Writing Style Optional wording preferences learned from your team's edits. Style only, never numbers or facts.
Flagged statement A statement in a report that the evidence does not fully support. Someone decides: use the evidence value, edit, keep with a note, or leave out.
Reporting profile A project's language, tone, formatting rules and special requirements for its reports.
Report gate The check run before approval, submission and export.
Snapshot A sealed copy of the approved report used for donor submission exports.
Stale verification A verification that no longer holds because the data or evidence changed afterwards.
Top-up pack Extra AI report drafts bought on Team or Growth.