how to thank a DAF
Tips for Thanking Donors With a Charitable Fund
Our donor-advised fundholders are local folks who see benefit in coordinating their charitable giving with the Community Foundation. Donors appreciate their gift being acknowledged, especially in a personal way. We're here to help our grantee-partners know what to do next after receiving a donor-advised grant from the Community Foundation.
Send your appreciation promptly if you can: Our speedy payment system won't offer you a chance to "thank before you bank," but look to acknowledge the gift as quickly as you can. You'll mail it to the Foundation, our staff will forward it to the donor as they've requested.
Consider making it personal: Thank you letters with a personal touch, whether a handwritten card, a quick note atop a printed letter, or content that's tailored to them are always encouraged. We do not forward generic or form letters that aren't addressed to the donor or their fund, or our anonymous fund, so avoid attributing donor-advised grant acknowledgements to our Foundation staff.
Skip the solicitations and supplemental marketing info: We don't forward gifts of any type, nor newsletters, publications, calendars, or marketing materials. We can't forward solicitations of any kind, including any invitations for additional giving, planned gifts, or sponsorship requests so be sure to exclude those.
No tax-receipt needed: The donors received their tax deduction when they put their gifts into their fund at the Community Foundation. Therefore, donor-advised grants have no tax consequences. Do not include any statement of tax-deductibility to the donors.
Let the award letter be your guide: Your award notification will instruct on how to address your thank you letter. Often, it's to the donor's fund name. Example:
Donor-Advisors to the Pay It Forward Fund c/o Community Foundation Santa Cruz County 7807 Soquel Drive Aptos, CA 95003 (Dear Donor-Advisors to the Pay It Forward Fund...)
Donors sometimes choose to give anonymously. In those cases, the award letter will instruct you to send to our Anonymous Fund. Example:
Donor-Advisors to the Anonymous Fund c/o Community Foundation Santa Cruz County 7807 Soquel Drive Aptos, CA 95003 (Dear Donor-Advisors to the Anonymous Fund...)
Unsure? Just ask. Contact us and we'll offer prompt guidance on anything that's not clear. Together we'll give your team the clarity they need to properly acknowledge donor-advised grants and to help you steward your relationships with local donors.
