Help Your Donors December 11, 2007

I know I’ve blogged about this now what seems like years ago but this issue has surfaced again.

In case you missed it, the IRS has tightened donor documentation requirements effective for all 2007 donations. Basically, they’re saying a donor’s records are no longer sufficient for documentation. Bank records or a receipt or letter from the nonprofit are the only acceptable documentations. So that means your donor’s donation list, checkbook register, MasterCard bill or Quicken/Money report is not going to cut it.

Here’s how can you help. After New Years, consider sending each 2007 donor a summary report of their giving for the 2007. GiftWorks makes that very easy. Just pull SmartList of all 2007 donations and Send Mail for these donations using a letter template with the donation table field inserted and…bingo…that’s it. With appropriate language around the donation table citing your concern for donor convenience and your deep appreciation for their commitment to the mission, you’ve provided a handy chart documenting their 2007 giving to you. You’ve also taken a nice first step toward cultivating your donors for 2008.

And Thank You for supporting us this year!