Thank-you letters should always be written in a personal, down-to-earth voice. You want to show your appreciation for the effort your donor has made and show how far their donation has gone. You should always address the donor by name, and focus on how they've helped your organization.
While we recommend sending donation acknowledgment letters to all of your donors, you are legally obligated to send documentation to donors who have given a gift of $250 or more. The IRS requires nonprofit organizations to provide a formal acknowledgment letter to these donors for tax purposes.
A donor or donation acknowledgment letter is a letter nonprofits send to thank their donors for their gifts. As we'll discuss below, it's also an opportunity for you to provide the official documentation required by the IRS to donors who have given a gift over $250.
Quid pro quo contributions A charitable organization must provide a written disclosure statement to any donor of a quid pro quo contribution over $75.
While we recommend sending donation acknowledgment letters to all of your donors, you are legally obligated to send documentation to donors who have given a gift of $250 or more.
Technically, donors don't need the substantiation until sometime before they file their personal tax returns for the year the gift was made. There are other ways to acknowledge a gift in addition to a written gift acknowledgment that is sent to the donor, whether via email or regular mail.
15 Best Practices For Your Nonprofit Thank You Letter Use the donor's name. Nothing says, “This is a form letter” more clearly than failing to include a donor's name. Send it promptly. Send it from a person. Show impact. Be warm and friendly. Use donor-centered language. Avoid empty jargon. Reference their history.
Generic donation thank you quotes “Thank you so much for your donation. “We know you have a lot of choices when it comes to donating, and we are so grateful that you chose to donate to our cause. “We have a lot of work to do, and your generous donation helps us get that important work done.”
How to Write a Gift Acknowledgment Letter State the purpose of your letter. Start your gift acknowledgment letter with a confirmation of the donation. Make your letter visually engaging. Personalize your note. Explain the impact of the gift. Express heartfelt gratitude. Invite supporters to stay involved.
How do you fill out an acknowledgment letter? Date of receipt: State when the document or goods were received. Description: Provide a concise description of the received document or goods. Confirmation statement: Include a statement confirming the safe receipt of the document or goods.