A donation acknowledgment letter (sometimes called a donation receipt or thank-you letter) is an email or paper that recognizes a charitable contribution. At a bare minimum, it's a confirmation receipt to your donors acknowledging you've received their donation.
However, you should be able to provide a bank record (bank statement, credit card statement, canceled check or a payroll deduction record) to claim the tax deduction. Written records, like check registers or personal notations, from the donor aren't enough proof. The records should show the: Organization's name.
There are several details that the IRS requires you to include: The name of your donor. The full legal name of your organization. A declaration of your organization's tax-exempt status. Your organization's employer identification number. The date the gift was received. A description of the gift and the amount received.
Proof can be provided in the form of an official receipt or invoice from the receiving qualified charitable organization, but it can also be provided via credit card statements or other financial records detailing the donation.
Technically, if you do not have these records, the IRS can disallow your deduction. Practically, IRS auditors may allow some reconstruction of these expenses if it seems reasonable.
Example 2: Individual Acknowledgment Letter Hi donor name, We're super grateful for your contribution of $250 to nonprofit's name on date received. As a thank you, we sent you a T-shirt with an estimated fair market value of $25 in exchange for your contribution.
Ing to the IRS, any kind of donation above $250 should require a donation receipt. The same applies to stock gifts/donations.
Substantiation the amount you contributed; a description of any property you gave; a statement as to whether the charity provided services or goods (a meal or tickets, for example) as full or partial consideration for your donation, plus a description and good faith value estimate of the services or goods.
Each letter should include the following information: The donor's name. The full legal name of your organization. A declaration of your organization's tax-exempt status. Your organization's employer identification number. The date the gift was received. A description of the gift and the amount received.
Individuals, partnerships, and corporations file Form 8283 to report information about noncash charitable contributions when the amount of their deduction for all noncash gifts is more than $500.