Yes. The IRS may not check every donation receipt, but it's best to operate as if it does. You want to be ready if the IRS decides to check your records. Incomplete records could mean disqualification of your tax-exempt status.
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.
Getting a receipt every time you donate strengthens your tax records if you are audited. If you make a large donation and don't have (or can't find) the receipt, the donation will almost certainly be disallowed on audit. For this reason, it's best to set up a record-keeping system at the start of each year.
There's no charity tax deduction minimum donation amount required to claim a charitable deduction.
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.
Charitable contributions to qualified organizations may be deductible if you itemize deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040), Itemized Deductions PDF. To see if the organization you have contributed to qualifies as a charitable organization for income tax deductions, use Tax Exempt Organization Search.
Include a statement that no goods or services were provided by the organization in exchange for the contribution, if that was the case. If any goods or services were provided by the organization in exchange for the contribution, include a description and good faith estimate of the value of those goods or services.
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.
Ing to the IRS, any kind of donation above $250 should require a donation receipt. The same applies to stock gifts/donations.