Whether you’re creating a receipt for a general donation form on your website or for a specific fundraising campaign, one of the essential components is creating a donation receipt that will get automatically sent to donors following their donation.
With automatic donation receipts, you have the ability to immediately acknowledge your donor’s gift, which has been proven to increase donor retention rates 400%.
This shows that your donation receipt is more than just a record of their transaction, it’s the opportunity to use your receipt to give your donor’s a great experience that will leave a lasting impact post-donation, helping you cultivate long-term relationships with donors.
But, you’ll want to add a few elements to your receipt that really make it stand out to your donors. When writing an automatic donation receipt for a 501c3 organization, you should include:
- Personalization using merge tags, which automatically pull a donor’s name, organization info, and transaction info into the receipt.
- A sincere thank you to your donor.
- A specific description of how their gift will make an impact for this particular fundraising campaign.
- Ways they can continue to get involved with your organization/your event.
- Your nonprofit’s EIN/tax id
- Contact information including email, phone, and mailing address.
- Required statements by the IRS that will make your receipt up to tax-deductible standards. For example, “Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent provided by law. No goods or services were given in exchange for this gift.”
- Tailored to the type of donation, ie: one-time vs monthly recurring donations.
To help you write the best automatic donation receipt for your nonprofit, I’ve compiled a few great donation receipt examples and a template you can customize for your own receipt:
Jump to the Donation Receipt Templates.
Example #1: Summit Assistance Dog’s Unleash Your Love Donation Receipt
Summit Assistance Dogs‘ short but powerful receipt works to effectively tie their donor’s gift to impact and their organization’s mission, helping to show donors the importance of their gift. With this receipt, donors walk away with the warm and fuzzy feelings they should have after making a donation, which will play into their decision to give again in the future.
{{full_name}},
Thank you for your donation to {{organization_name}}. Your investment in the lives of our clients and dogs means so much to them. A service dog opens doors for their partner, both literally and figuratively. Physical and emotional challenges tend to diminish, and a sense of greater independence increases. With a skilled service dog at their side, our clients experience only a sense of gain … gained independence, gained companionship, a greater sense of joy!
Please retain this donation receipt. Summit Assistance Dogs is a 501(c)(3) organization and since you received no goods or services, your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. Our EIN # is xx-xxxxxxx.
Here’s your contribution info:
{{transaction_info}}
This transaction should appear on your credit card statement as {{organization_name}}. Again, thank you for your generous contribution!
Sincerely,
– {{organization_name}}
Questions? xxx@xxxxxxxxx.org
Example #2: Loma Public Education Fund’s ‘KEEP! Campaign’ Donation Receipt
Loma Public Education Fund’s Keep! Campaign’s receipt is designed to provide their donors with all the information they need to use their receipt for their tax purposes, while making sure their donors feel appreciated and that their donation is making an impact. Plus, they’re using their receipt to drive potential corporate matching gifts.
{{full_name}},
THANK YOU for your generous donation to LPEF’s KEEP! Campaign. We could not help fund educational programs for children in our district without donors like you! This e-mail serves as your transaction receipt. Please find below your contribution information.*
{{transaction_info}}
This transaction should appear on your credit card statement as {{organization_name}}.
*You may be able to double your impact! Please check to see if your company has a matching gift program.
Since 2001, the Loma Public Education Fund (LPEF) has been raising funds for the Loma Prieta Joint Union School District. As you may know, past LPEF grants have funded essential programs like PE and Library services as well as enrichment programs like science, art, and music to all students at Loma and CT English schools. Your support will help ensure that we continue to provide quality educational programs at Loma and CT English schools.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at xxx-xxx-xxxx or xxxx@xxxx.org.
On behalf of LPEF and all the children who benefit from your caring, THANK YOU again for making a difference in our community.
Best,
xxxxxx xxxxxxx
Loma Public Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent provided by law. Our tax ID number is xx-xxxxxxx. No goods or services were given in exchange for this gift.
Example #3: Autism Society of Minnesota’s ‘Brunch @ Home’ Virtual Event Donation Receipt
While Autism Society of Minnesota‘s receipt may not be up to tax-deductible standards (they opted to send their tax receipts later), the donation receipt works to further engage donors by driving them to their website to further engage them, and extends the invitation + details to join their virtual event.
{{full_name}},
Thank you for making a donation to {{organization_name}}. See how we put your dollars into action every day by visiting www.ausm.org. Here you will learn more about AuSM’s programs, services, and upcoming events for the Minnesota autism community and everyone who loves and cares for someone on the spectrum.
Here’s your contribution info:
{{transaction_info}}
We’re excited to have you join us on Feb. 28 for our brunch@home livestream program. Join us at 11 a.m. for demos from celebrity chefs, drawings, and more!
Thank you again for your generous donation.
Sincerely,
– {{organization_name}}
Example #4: Mortgage Professional Providing Hope’s Recurring Donation Receipt
Mortgage Professionals Providing Hope tailored their donation receipt for their monthly recurring donors, emphasizing the lasting impact of their ongoing gifts and acknowledging their gift as an investment.
{{full_name}},
Thank you so much for making a life-changing gift that will make a lasting impact on the lives of hundreds of families, women, and children in desperate need of a helping hand.
We’re so thankful for the impact you’re helping to make possible! Because of you, hope is being restored to the hopeless.
With gratitude,
The MPPH Team
Remember to save this email as this letter serves as your official transaction receipt for tax purposes.
Today, you made the following investment in a better world:
{{transaction_info}}
As a quick reminder, your gift should appear on your credit or debit card statement as {{organization_name}}.
Automatic Donation Receipt Templates
Copy, paste and customize these templates with your own info and impact statements to craft a great donation receipt.
If you’re fundraising on CauseVox, here’s how you can set up one-time and recurring donation receipts, and more info on using merge tags to autofill donor and organization content. Automatic recurring receipts on CauseVox automatically include a link for donors to manage their monthly gift easily.
501c3 One-Time Donation Receipt Template
Hi {{full_name}},
Thank you for your donation of ${{amount}} to {{organization_name}}! Because of you, (INSERT IMPACT STATEMENT)
This donation should appear on your credit card statement as “{{organization_name}}”.
Without you, our organization could not (INSERT MISSION STATEMENT).
On behalf of {{organization_name}} and everyone we serve, thank you for making a difference!
Sincerely,
{{organization_name}}
(INSERT ADDRESS)
(INSERT PHONE)
(INSERT EMAIL)
EIN: (INSERT EIN)
This email serves as your receipt for tax purposes and certifies that you have made this donation as a charitable contribution. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your contribution.
501c3 Recurring Donation Receipt Template
Hi {{full_name}},
Thank you for your monthly donation of ${{amount}} to {{organization_name}}! Your monthly gift will make a lasting impact for (INSERT IMPACT STATEMENT).
This donation should appear on your credit card statement as “{{organization_name}}”.
Should you need to update your monthly donation, just click the secure link below to update your credit card information, email address, donation amount, or to suspend your monthly gift.
Again, thank you for partnering with us to make a lasting impact our community! Because of you, (INSERT IMPACT STATEMENT).
Sincerely,
{{organization_name}}
(INSERT ADDRESS)
(INSERT PHONE)
(INSERT EMAIL)
EIN: (INSERT EIN)
This email serves as your receipt for tax purposes and certifies that you have made this donation as a charitable contribution. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your contribution.
Raise More With Less Hassle on CauseVox
Need a solution to help you run your fundraising and automate your donation receipts?
CauseVox is a digital fundraising platform for nonprofits that helps you raise more with less hassle by making fundraising easy for you to manage.
CauseVox helps you run donation pages, crowdfunding, event ticketing, and peer-to-peer fundraising in less time, with less effort.
