classified-and-unclassified.md

Clarification on "classified" and "unclassified" totals and summation types

Several tables on the donations portal have rows labeled "classified total" and "unclassified total". This document explains what they mean and when they add up to what.

Meaning of "classified" and "unclassified"

These rows show up in tables that have groupings (e.g. cause area, influencer, country, disclosures). If a donation can be associated with a group member, it is "classified"; otherwise it is "unclassified".

As such, these terms have nothing to do with the confidential nature of the donations (all donation information is gathered from public sources).

Summation types

Classified + unclassified vs total (green)

• In general, classified total + unclassified total ≥ total.
• For number of donees, classified total + unclassified total ≥ total. Equality is not guaranteed because a donee might have received a donation that was classified and also a donation that was unclassified.
• For number of donations, classified total + unclassified total = total. Equality is guaranteed because each donation is classified xor unclassified.
• For donation amount, classified total + unclassified total = total. Equality is guaranteed because each donation is classified xor unclassified.

Classified total vs sum of group members (blue)

For groupings, an additional question is whether summing up a column using values from each group member row (i.e. a row that isn't one of "classified total", "unclassified total", or "total") will equal the "classified total" row. Here the relevant question is whether each donation can be associated with just one group member (cause area, influencer, country list – these are just strings rather than actual lists) or with multiple group members (donor_side_name of disclosures). In the former case, adding up an amounts, number of donations, or number of donees column will equal the "classified total" value. In the latter, adding up the column will be greater than or equal to the "classified total" value.

Yearly sum (red)

For yearly sums, the question is whether the quantity being summed can belong to multiple years. Currently the table shows only yearly sums for donation amount, and a donation can only belong to a single year, so yearly sum = total.

On the other hand, if the quantity being summed is number of donees, then a single donee can receive donations in multiple years, so yearly sum ≥ total.