> This is the Markdown of a Backed Help Centre page, https://admin.backed.giving/help/administrator/decisions/decline-reasons.md. Every page is listed at https://admin.backed.giving/help/llms.txt.

> This page uses Backed's default terms, such as Funding Round and Application Template. An organisation may rename them, so read each as your organisation's own term if you've renamed it.

Every declined application in a funding decision is given a decline reason. Your organisation keeps
its own list of reasons, grouped into categories, under `Decide > Decision reasons`. You need
permission to change organisation settings to open it.

## Add a category and its reasons

1. Select `New category`, enter its name and select `Add`.
2. In the category, select `Add reason` and fill in:
   - `Label`: what an administrator chooses on a declined line.
   - `Applicant wording`: what the applicant reads in a Letter of Decline that includes the decline
     reason. Write it for the applicant.
   - `Reporting code`: up to 32 capital letters, digits, dots, dashes or underscores. Reports and
     exports use it. Each code can be used by one reason only.
3. Select `Add`.

A category name is unique in your organisation, and a reason's label is unique in its category.

## Change the order

Select `Up` or `Down` beside a category or a reason to move it one place. Funding decisions offer the
reasons in this order.

## Retire or delete a reason

Select `Retire` to stop offering a reason, or a whole category, on new decisions. A retired reason is
still shown on every decision that used it, and a draft decision that already holds it can still be
sent. Select `Restore` to offer it again.

You can only delete a reason that has never been used on a decision. Once it has been used, `Delete`
is unavailable and says to retire it instead. Deleting a category deletes the reasons in it, so it is
only possible while none of them has been used.