> This is the Markdown of a Backed Help Centre page, https://admin.backed.giving/help/administrator/users/approval-limits.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.

An approval limit is the largest amount an administrator can approve on their own. Each
administrator has three: a `Decision Approval Limit`, a `Contract Approval Limit` and a
`Milestone Approval Limit`.

## Before you start

You need `Can edit Approval Limits` to see or change anyone's limits, your own included. Without
it the `Approval Limits` section is not shown on any administrator's page, and limits sent from
anywhere else are ignored while the rest of the change is saved.

## What each limit blocks

- **Decision Approval Limit** stops the administrator sending a Decision whose funding amount is
  above the limit.
- **Contract Approval Limit** stops the administrator sending a Contract whose funding amount is
  above the limit.
- **Milestone Approval Limit** stops the administrator approving a Milestone review whose amount is
  above the limit.

An amount equal to the limit passes. Only an amount above it is blocked, and the page says which
amount and which limit stopped it, in your organisation's currency.

A blank limit, or `0`, means no limit. The show page shows `N/A` for it.

## Set an administrator's limits

1. Go to `People > Administrators` and select the administrator.
2. Select `Edit`.
3. Open `Approval Limits`, after `Signature`. Each input starts with your organisation's currency
   symbol.
4. Type an amount of 0 or more, with no more than two decimal places, or leave it blank for no
   limit.
5. Select `Save approval limits`.

If an amount cannot be saved, the reason appears under that input and nothing is changed.

## See an administrator's limits

Open the administrator from `People > Administrators`. `Approval Limits` sits between `Signature` and
`Activity`, with each limit as an amount or `N/A`.

## When an amount is over the limit

A limit blocks only the send or the approval. Nothing moves to a more senior administrator by
itself, and you can still ask someone else to review it:

- On a Decision, select `Request Review` and choose the reviewer.
- On a Contract, assign it to another administrator for review.
- On a Milestone review, select `Request Reviewer` and choose the reviewer.

The reviewer must be an administrator. When they send or approve, their own permissions, Data
Access Rules and approval limits apply, not yours.

## Common set-ups

- **Delegation.** Record each person's delegated authority as their three limits, so nobody can
  approve a Decision, Contract or Milestone above it.
- **Two-step tranche approval.** Set a grants officer's `Milestone Approval Limit` at the threshold
  in your delegations schedule. Larger Milestones are then sent with `Request Reviewer` to a
  programme manager whose limit covers them.

## See also

- [Administrators and permissions](administrators-and-permissions.md)
- [Admin groups](admin-groups.md)