Home → Campaign Manager → Joint Fundraising Committee Tools → FAQ for the JFC Tool
18.2. FAQ for the JFC Tool
1. What is the purpose for deactivating an allocation setup?
One of the features of the JFC tool is the ability for support to deactivate the current JFC tool allocation. This completely removes the setup and puts it into a previous allocations link that can be accessed from the tool.
Clients should distribute all pending items before emailing support that they need to setup a new allocation for the next cycle. Make sure to email the client and confirm with them that they have distributed everything for the current cycle and all pending items are transferred before setting up a new allocation. The JFC tool can only contain one allocation setup at a time.
You can always deactivate an allocation by hovering over compliance > click Joint fundraising management tool. Then click allocation setup > click deactivate.
2. Saving a level as $0. How to do this and why it is needed.
Sometimes a client may get a notice that a certain level does not need to be distributed to anymore. For example, maybe a party committee confirms with the client that they are not needing anymore donations and would like to be removed from the distribution chain.
In this case, the client will request support to disable a certain level that does not need distributions anymore. To do this, open up the JFC tool itself > click allocation setup, and then go to the level that the client wants removed and then replace the ind and org numbers with 0. Once that is entered in, click the downward carrot icon to move the level down and put it at the end of the chain. Then click save.
The next time a distribution takes place, the client should not see any contributions being split among the levels that had a 0 saved to them.
3. Adding debt repayment levels and why they might be needed.
If a candidate has many bills to pay or outstanding debts that still need to be cleared. The FEC allows for that candidate to receive additional contributions in the form of "debt repayment".
These are additional election periods that are created solely for the purpose of raising money to pay off debts. The JFC tool can handle this by listing a second election period in the allocation setup.
Very important note - The special debt election periods should ALWAYS be the first election period when adding them to the allocations. This is so that the contributions can be correctly attributed to the period for that donor if that donor has not contributed yet. Misaligned election periods may cause donors to appear over the contribution limits if debt levels are setup wrong and/or splits may look wrong when trying to complete a distribution.
You will also want to reach out to the client and confirm how long they anticipate to be paying off the debt. The sunset date will need to be changed to accommodate the debt period. Confirm with the client these details and then adjust the sunset date as needed. If unsure, just add 1 more year to the current sunset date.
In this case, hover over the compliance tab > click on joint fundraising management tool.
When the allocation loads, click the "allocations setup" button.
Find the level that needs a debt period added, and then click the + icon next to the election period.
Click on the top drop down and change the regular election period to the debt election period. For example, primary may go to primary debt. And general may go to general debt.
In the second drop down that just appeared, set the new drop down to the regular period like primary. So the primary election drop down should be below the primary debt drop down. Repeat for the general election as well.
Once confirmed, click save.
4. Removing a contribution from the transfer tool.
Contributions can be excluded that are in the JFC tool. Open up the contribution itself, click the JFC splits tab, and then check the box to exclude the contribution from the JFC tool.
This will remove the contribution and amount from the tool itself so it won't appear in the summary amounts.
An example scenario is if the client decided to distribute the funds for a transaction outside of Campaign Manager's JFC tool. Then that client can actually just exclude the contribution from appearing in the transfer screen so they do not accidentally redistribute the funds again in CM.
5. Reattributions in the JFC tool.
Reattributions will appear in the JFC tool. When you complete the reattribution data entry, the reattribution itself will show up as its own transaction. And the transaction type will show up as "reattribution". With the splits showing up accordingly for the contribution.
Review data entry here on how to reattribute a contribution: https://aristotle.helpspot.com/portals/cm/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=940
6. Why is a certain level not appearing within the JFC Tool?
This is uncommon, but if a client is trying to complete a transfer and they notice that money is not being allocated to a certain level - there are a few reasons for why allocation amounts are not appearing properly for that specific level.
1. Is the sunset date for the level within the master date range? If the sunset date for a level is dated outside of the master date range in the JFC tool. Then that specific level will NOT show up in the splits tab and thus it won't calculate any amounts to that level.
The resolution depends on the client's specific issue, but you can fix this by changing the sunset date of the level to a date within the master date range.
7. What if a client wants a spreadsheet download from a previous transfer that is in a previous allocation setup?
JFC setups get disabled on a per cycle basis as the next election cycle gets started. After we disable the current allocation, it will appear in the Allocation Setup tab > Allocation History option in the allocation setup screen.
Sometimes a client may ask if there is a way to get the spreadsheet from that previous allocation setup from a previous transfer. In this case, there is no immediate way and the solution requires disabling the current setup, re-enabling the older allocation setup, and then the client can download all spreadsheets. Then we disable the older allocation to put the new allocation back up.
1. To acquire a spreadsheet from a previous allocation, the client would need to contact support.
Make note of the specific allocation history like if the client is trying to get a transfer from the 11/9/2022 to 2024 cycle.
2. Disable the current allocation by clicking Allocation Setup > click Deactivate.
3. Send a request to TS or ask Drew to enable that previous allocation setup from that cycle.
4. Once setup, let the client know to download the spreadsheets and any data.
5. Once the client confirms they're done, disable that current cycle and let Drew or TS know to re-enable the current cycle allocation.
8. How do move money from one level to the next level. For example, a client may reach out and say a certain committee requests to have money moved from one level to the next. Like the NRCC requested a contribution in the bldg fund to be moved to the legal fund for a specific donor. If the contribution was already reported in a previous reporting period,
then this data entry can be used to "redesignate" money from a previous level to the next level.
Enter a new $0 memo CONTRIBUTION (can be same date of the original contribution) Reporting description can say something like Adjusted transfer based on NRCC guidance or something like that… whatever they prefer.
FORCE UNITEMIZE IT (so it won’t be a random $0 transaction on the JFC’s FEC report.)
Then basically do Admin Splits in the Splits Tab
-1000 from the previous level
+1000 to the new level that is getting the money redesignated to it.
Note: they will need to remember next transfer they will need to adjust the default filter dates to include the current pending transfer they’ll be working on.
9. How to handle refunds in the JFC tool?
Typically, clients will just import in negative contributions for the JFC tool to account for a refund. If the client already created expense refunds, then there are a few methods to deal with it.
1. In the case there is a pending contribution left - a client can just go into the pending contribution, and account for the refund via the admin override splits.
So if there is a $0.35 refund from a previous distribution. And then the client has a $0.15 pending contribution, then can go into the JFC splits tab > click admin splits, and then change the amount in the level to the splits. In this case, -0.20 since 35 - 15 is 20.
10. How are Partnerships handled in the JFC tool?
The JFC tool can handle partnership contributions. A client does the normal data entry by connecting the partners in the linking > JFC/Partnership tab of the contribution and then save the contribution in the JFC account.
When they go to distribute the contribution, it will actually just show the individual partners that are connected to the partnership contribution, but it will display text in the type of transaction notifying the client that it is part of a partnership contribution. The JFC tool also accounts for any contribution limits which are known as "dual partnership limits". This is where a LLC/partnership cannot contribute more than what the FEC requires as well as the individual's limits too.
11. How Do I Undo a Distribution?
If you need to undo a distribution for any reason, please reach out to Support via email at support@aristotle.com. Requests like this need to be received by Support in writing, hence why email is the best way to make a request like this.
When you reach out, please be sure to include the name of the database that the distribution was completed in, as well as the name and date of the distribution itself. Once Support receives the necessary information, the distribution will be undone on the Aristotle side, and Support will reach back out once the request has been completed.