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.
However, no matter the form, every receipt must include six items to meet the standards set forth by the IRS. Name of the Charity and Name of the Donor. Date of the Contribution. Detailed Description of the Property Donated. Amount of the Contribution.
Dear first name, Thank you for being a major donor to our annual campaign for your cause. Your concern for cause's goal is above and beyond. Thanks to your continued support, we've been able to help list who, what, or how your organization is helping.
Dear Donor Name, We are so grateful for your thoughtful donation of specific item/service. Your contribution is already making a difference by specific impact, e.g., “providing essential supplies to families in need”. Your generosity and kindness enables us to extend our reach and better serve our community.
In your message to the donor, you can acknowledge that you received the gift from their donor advised fund but omit any mention of their ability to claim a tax deduction for the gift. It may be helpful to remind the donor that your acknowledgment is not a tax receipt. But do say thank you!
Most of your donors will file their taxes before the deadline, some as early as February. That's why most organizations are proactive and send their acknowledgments before January 31. You don't want an inbox full of requests for donor acknowledgments from February through April.
Send thank-you emails no later than 24 hours after a supporter makes a donation to maximize your chances of retaining their recurring support. For the best results, set up automated email responses to send a simple “thank you for your donation” message along with a receipt immediately after donors give.
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.
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.
“We are so grateful for your donation and for being a part of our cause. Your generosity inspires us every day!” “Thank you for choosing to make a difference through your donation. We appreciate your support more than words can express.”