Your donation receipt template needs these 5 things.

This article outlines everything you need to know about what a donation invoice is, how to create one, and the top five things you should always include when crafting your own.

Charitable giving can be incredibly rewarding. It also frequently comes with a little paperwork, especially if you’re the one in charge of helping the charity or nonprofit. Because donations are tax deductible, it’s important to know how to create donation invoices properly, so you can include all the details donors need to file taxes correctly.

But what exactly is a donation invoice, and how do you create one accurately? Keep reading to learn more about creating an invoice for donation template.

What is a donation invoice?

Donation invoices (sometimes called donation receipts) act as proof that someone (often referred to as a donor) made a charitable contribution to a nonprofit, charitable, or similar organization.

These types of invoices for charitable giving are important for people who want to claim deductions on their tax returns. Typically, they are only necessary for people who make donations of $250 or more. Nonprofit or charitable organizations typically create donation invoices after they’ve processed incoming donations. These organizations then send the donation invoices back to their donors.

Donation receipts can serve as a convenient form of proof that the donation happened, and can be used in the event of an IRS audit. There are two main types of donation receipts: A charitable donation receipt and a 501c3 donation receipt.

Anyone can receive a donation invoice for a donation that has occurred in any capacity. However, a 501c3 donation receipt is given when a donation is granted to an officially titled 501c3 organization.

What to include on your invoice for a charitable donation.

Every donation invoice is bound to look different because every charity (and every donation amount) is unique. However, it’s a good idea to include these specific details on your charitable donation invoice, at a minimum:

1. The donor’s name
2. The name of the nonprofit or charity (plus the gift officer’s name and title, if applicable)
3. The date that the donation was made
4. The donation amount
5. A signature from the nonprofit or charity that verifies the invoice

When to use a donation receipt.

A donation receipt should be considered any time a donation is given that holds a value of over $250. It will be presented to the donator from the charity. The donor is the person that will determine the value of the content that was donated.

For example: A person may choose to donate two laptops to a youth organization in need. Together, these may be evaluated at a market value of $150 each. As the total cost of the donation is over $250, the donor may request a donation receipt from the organization for future tax write-offs. Other common donations that can cross the $250 valuation threshold include:

• Cars
• Computers and technological devices
• Professional services
• Furniture
• Property

Authorizing and verifying a nonprofit invoice for a donation has never been easier. With Adobe Acrobat Sign, you can easily fill out and sign donation invoice receipts. Edit, modify and sign donation agreements simply and securely.

Get started with Acrobat Sign today to discover effortless filing and simplified digital-signature tools.