> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.introw.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Funds & Allocation

> Create marketing funds, allocate budget by segment, choose fixed or pooled, and surface balances to partners in Introw.

**Open in Introw:** [Marketing Funds](https://app.introw.io/marketing-funds)

## How it works

Marketing funds live under **MDF**, shown as Marketing Funds. You create a fund, then configure it
in edit mode across a general tab and a budget tab. The general tab sets the name, currency, and
period; the budget tab allocates budget to partners by segment, choosing fixed-per-partner or
pooled allocation. When you create a fund, Introw provisions the request, claim, ROI, and invoice
forms it needs.

Allocation is segment-based, so the partners in each segment determine who can draw on the fund.
A fund has a status of active, expired, or archived, and funds expire automatically after their
period ends.

## Prerequisites

* The MDF module enabled on your plan.
* Write access to MDF.
* Segments defined for the partners you want to allocate budget to.

## Settings & configuration

Funds are managed at [Marketing Funds](https://app.introw.io/marketing-funds).

### Creating a fund

Use Create fund to make a new fund; it opens in edit mode. There is no separate new-fund page.

### General

On the general tab, set the fund name, an optional description, the currency, and the period.
Only spend within the period qualifies.

### Budget and allocation

On the budget tab, add allocation rows by segment. Choose fixed allocation to give each partner in
a segment a set amount, or pooled allocation to let a segment share a single pool. Total allocated
budget is computed from these rows.

### Lifecycle forms

Each fund binds a request, claim, ROI, and invoice form. These are provisioned from templates and
edited in the form editor; see Requests, Claims & ROI for the lifecycle.

### Partner visibility

Add an MDF overview section to a portal experience so partners see their allocation, pending,
approved, and available budget.

## Setup walkthrough

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a fund">
    On [Marketing Funds](https://app.introw.io/marketing-funds), create a fund.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set general details">
    Set the name, currency, and period on the general tab.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Allocate budget">
    On the budget tab, add segment allocations and choose fixed or pooled.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm forms">
    Confirm the request, claim, ROI, and invoice forms are in place.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Surface it to partners">
    Add an MDF overview to a portal experience.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## How-to guides

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Set up an MDF program" icon="book-open" href="/features/mdf/funds-allocation/guides/set-up-an-mdf-program">
    Stand up a marketing fund end to end: general details, budget allocation by segment, ROI tracking, lifecycle timelines, and a partner-facing overview.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Limits & gotchas

<Warning>
  MDF requires the module to be enabled on your plan. Allocation is based on segments, so partners must be in the right segments to receive budget. Funds expire automatically after their period ends, so extend the period if a program runs longer.
</Warning>

## Troubleshooting

* **A partner has no budget** - they are not in a segment with an allocation.
* **The fund shows expired** - its period has ended; update the period to reactivate the window.
* **The MDF area is locked** - the MDF module is not enabled on your plan.