Act of Donation Form
All states
Some states have specific requirements or legal restrictions regarding the Act of Donation. Review the legislation of your state to ensure full compliance with legal requirements.
Whether you need to urgently raise money or have a longer-term goal, the type of online donation form used can influence people's decision to donate. Ensuring these forms are well-designed and easy to use can, therefore, significantly impact fundraising success.
When to Use an Act of Donation Form
An act of donation form is required each time you give or collect money or other goods. The forms help build relationships, encouraging recurring donations from people who want to support you and your cause. You can have people send used clothing, furniture, or old books to support you or your charity. The form can be digital or a hard copy. However, digital forms on websites are more popular, and many individuals, businesses, and organizations use them to collect online donations.
Parties
-
Donor — This refers to the individual or entity making a donation. It's the donor's responsibility to deliver the item or property being donated to the recipient based on the terms outlined in the act of donation form. Upon successful donation, the donor often provides a document confirming the donation. This document signifies that the donor has completed the donation process, thus transferring full ownership to the recipient.
-
Recipient (or Donee) — This would be the person or entity receiving the donation. The recipient's role in the act of donation form is to accept the donation items and thereby assume full ownership. Once the donation has been accepted, it is typically confirmed with a document or letter from the donor attesting to this fact. This document should be kept as a record, providing proof of ownership or receipt.
Key Terms
- Donor: This is the person or entity giving the donation. In the context of an act of donation form, the donor makes the decision and takes action to transfer ownership of a specific property or item.
- Recipient (or Donee): The person or entity receiving the donation from the donor.
- Description of Donation: This term refers to the detailed and thorough description of the item or property being donated. It often includes details like type, model, physical features, condition, estimated value, and more.
- Intent to Donate: This is the expression of the donor's free will to transfer the ownership of the item or property to the recipient without expecting compensation or return.
- Acceptance: This term refers to the recipient's agreement to take the donation from the donor. It signifies the recipient's agreement to the terms of the donation and their understanding of what is being transferred to them.
How to Write an Act of Donation Form
Identifying the parties: Clearly state the full legal names and contact information of the donor and the recipient. This detail is commonly seen in every free donation form.
Description of the donated item: Provide a comprehensive and accurate description of the item or property being donated, including its value. A donation form example can offer a suitable blueprint for this section.
Declaration of voluntary donation: This is a statement by the donor affirming that the donation is made voluntarily, without coercion or undue influence, and it represents no hidden transaction or exchange.
Acceptance of the donation: The recipient must affirm that they fully understand and accept the donation. This clarifies that they are aware of their rights and obligations, especially where taxable items are concerned.
Signatures: The form must be signed and dated by both the donor and the recipient to finalize the process.
Notarization: Depending on local law and the nature and value of the donation, it may be necessary to have the form notarized for additional validation.
By ensuring these points are covered in the sample donation form, your act of donation transpires seamlessly, safely protecting the interests of both parties.
A customizable template, like a free donation template, can make navigating the complexities of donations easier and possibly help save significant legal expenditures. An act of donation template directs you to precisely fill out all critical aspects, leading to an accurate and legally effective document. This method alleviates stress, saves time, and is economical, marking it a wise option for prudent donors.
Also Read
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You may include the option if you think it may appeal to your donors. However, most non-profits will simply send an email thanking their donors or a newsletter update with what their donation has been used for. You can send a digital receipt to the donor's email if you would like to. Your donors are more likely to want a receipt if they made a donation to your business. This will serve as confirmation that the donation is actually going toward what you advertised.
You can make sure that the fields asking for personal information are optional. Some people will not want to get emails from you or may be worried about putting their information on a site. However, they will need to enter their payment information for billing. You can ask them to opt-out of their information being saved. In the current climate where so many sites and platforms sell information, it is natural for your donors to be wary, and you should try to provide them with reassurance that their personal information is safe with you and will not be shared with any third party sites.
No. However, it is worth noting that it is one of the quickest ways available to get donations on your site if crafted properly. Other methods may not as effective. A donation form is certainly one of the best tools to get key donor information and process your donations. Having one on your site will help you collect money more quickly as site links are easily shared and may even go viral.