To write a thank-you note for a donation, thank the donor by name, say in one sentence what their gift will do, and sign it by hand. Keep it to four or five sentences. Send it within a few days, while the gift is fresh.
A short example
"Dear Anita, thank you for your gift to the food bank. It will pay for about a week of meals for families near you. We could not do this without people like you. With thanks, Ravi"
Do and do not
- Use the donor's name and your own name, not "Dear friend".
- Name the real result of the gift. Do not make up a number.
- Do not ask for another gift in this note.
A note is not a tax receipt
In the United States, a gift of $250 or more needs a written acknowledgement from the charity before the donor can claim it. The IRS explains what it must include, and points to Publication 1771. Send the receipt as well. The handwritten note is the part that makes a person feel seen.
Go deeper
Our guide to handwritten donor thank-you notes has more examples and timing. If you thank many donors, we can write a card for each one from your list: see how business sending works. A real pen writes each card on a flat 6x4 card, so every donor gets a note that looks like yours.