AEF TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE
Training & Support
Your source for trainings, checklists, links, and more.
Training & How-to Video Library
Videos to show you how to navigate the new platforms.
Advisor Platform Training Video
Donor Platform Training Video
Platform Hub Overview Video
Watch: How to Contribute to a Fund
Support Resources
Resources
Mark your progress and know what’s ahead.
How to Access Your Grant Documents in DonorCentral
Q. How do I view and download a grant letter in DonorCentral?
1. Visit DonorCentral and supply your credentials as usual.
2. From the DonorCentral home page, click on the Grants tab.
3. From the approved list of grants, click on the three dots next to the grant payee name and select View Detail.
4. The grant letter PDF link is shown in blue. Single-click on the grant letter PDF link or click on the three dots and select Download file.
5. The file will automatically be downloaded to the device’s download location
Q. How do I generate a list of grants paid within a specific date range?
1. Visit DonorCentral and login.
2. From the DonorCentral home page, click on the Funds tab.
3. Click in the field under the Fund Details header and select a range
4. Click on the Grants Paid amount (shown in blue) and scroll down.
5. You will receive an on-screen list of paid grants. Use the column button to adjust the level of report detail and click Apply Changes.
6. Click on the Export button, and the file will automatically be exported to the device’s Download location.
Q. How do I download a statement in DonorCentral?
1. Visit DonorCentral and login.
2. From the DonorCentral home page, click on the Funds tab.
3. Click on the View Statement button.
4. Select the statement period, then click on the Select button.
5. Click on the View button.
6. The file will automatically be downloaded to the device’s download location.
AEF Forms & Documents
Looking for AEF policies, change forms, or additional learning resources? Visit the AEF Forms & Docs page to download the documents you need.
New Platform FAQs
Welcome to our Q&A section. Questions will updated from now until the new platforms go-live. Be sure to check back regularly for the latest information.
Have a question? Send it to support@aefonline.org.
Q. What led AEF to make the platform switch?
A. We believed we had the opportunity to modernize and streamline your technology experience. It was time to provide enhanced advisor visibility, more seamless grant management, and an improved user-friendly design. This platform addresses those changes, and your feedback will ensure we improve upon it.
Q. What is the new platform?
A. The AEF Technology Platform, powered by Ren, is designed to significantly improve the donor and advisor experience, making charitable giving easier, faster, and more transparent.
The new technology platform is a secure, modern portal that simplifies every aspect of managing charitable giving from application and grant processing to investment oversight and client communication.
Whether you’re an advisor or a donor, the platform delivers a centralized and intuitive experience.
Q. Will I Go Back to Using the Previous Platform (DonorCentral) after this transition?
Q. Will All Granting History be Available to Review on this Platform?
A. Only granting history from the past two full years (2024-2025) and current 2026 history will be reviewable on this platform. Please contact support@aefonline.org if you require additional information.
Q. How Will The New Platform Differ from the Previous AEF Platform?
A. Featuring a fresh, modern design, users will have visibility into account activities such as when grants were paid and received, the ability to view various account roles, and deeper insights into their account performance and history.
Q. How will this new platform benefit advisors?
A. It will benefit advisors in several ways. The platform will offer advisors a unified view of all client accounts and giving activity, simplified workflows for managing grants and donor relationships, real-time visibility into donor impact, and more!
Q: How will this new platform benefit donors?
A. The platform benefits donors similarly to how it benefits advisors. It will provide donors with centralized access to all their charitable giving activity, real-time tracking of contributions and grants, digital onboarding tools, a secure grant disbursement option, and more.
Q. How much of a donor advisor’s account history will be visible?
A. Account history from 01/01/2024 to present will be visible.
Q. Will I still be able to make contributions to the fund during the two week black out period?
A. Yes, contributions made to your Donor Advised Fund will still be received and processed during this period without disruption.
Q. Will I still be able to submit new accounts through Partner Gateway during the two week blackout period?
A. Yes, Partner Gateway will remain open to submit new applications, however, they will remain as pending and be processed after April 6, 2026.
Tips & Highlights
Additional things that are good to know.
Charity Search
When you’re ready to make a grant, you can search by name of charity or EIN. If this is a charity not in the system, you’ll also have the option to add in a charity manually to be vetted.
When entering your information, the form fields with red dots are required fields.
Save & Update Grant Recommendations
Did you know you can start a grant recommendation and finish it later? Click the Save for Later option before you Submit a Grant. You can revisit the recommendation by going to the “Recommend a Grant” page.
The saved grant recommendation will be found under the search bar of “Find a Charity.”
Glossary & Definitions
Did you know there are wording differences between how AEF defines certain roles, and how Ren defines roles? When using the platform, role names are as follows:
- Grant Advisor = The person specifically empowered to recommend grants.
- Donor = Any contributor to the fund.
- Money Manager = A financial advisor who works with donors and grant advisors.
Punctuation & Special Characters
Did you know you should avoid using special characters when filling out your digital forms?
Avoid using quotation marks, ampersands, and other special characters when filling out form fields to ensure the forms aren’t marked as inaccurate.