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  • 1.  Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Gift Acknowledgements

    Posted 01-31-2025 02:21 PM

    Hello!

    For DAFs is there certain wording that must be used in a gift acknowledgement letter and/or postcard? OR can our university simply indicate "thank you for your recent gift in the amount of $_____ made to _____ made through your donor advised fund"?

    I know the donor does not receive a receipt of any kind. I would like to make sure we still send them a thank you and so they are notified that we received their DAF gift.

    Hope can help. Thank you.



    ------------------------------
    Rachael Pezzuti
    Gannon University
    pezzuti001@gannon.edu
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  • 2.  RE: Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Gift Acknowledgements

    Posted 01-31-2025 02:30 PM
    Nope - no rules. Just make certain that the standard IRS language is absent, and you include a reference to the gift coming through the DAF. I also suggest including the name of that DAF (or other private foundation).

    John H. Taylor, Principal
    John H. Taylor Consulting, LLC
    2604 Sevier Street
    Durham, NC     27705

    919.816.5903 (cell/text)

    Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987






  • 3.  RE: Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Gift Acknowledgements

    Posted 01-31-2025 02:51 PM

    Hi John, thank you!

    a) If we used a postcard then that would be sent out to any DAF gift with a general message would it be okay then to not have the specific name of the DAF? Or would you recommend if we know the specific name of the DAF that a letter with the name it in be used?

    b) For other private foundation - are you referring to something like Family Foundations? Do they not receive a receipt too? or just saying those have to note "made through"?



    ------------------------------
    Rachael Pezzuti
    Gannon University
    pezzuti001@gannon.edu
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Gift Acknowledgements

    Posted 01-31-2025 03:04 PM
    Again, there are no rules regarding acknowledgment letters, so you do not need to specify where the money came from.

    But what will you do about Benevity (America Online Giving Foundation) when it is still a gift from a DAF but includes an employee deduction and a match? Or a gift from the United Way, which isn't exactly a DAF but operates like one?

    Indeed, private foundations operate similarly. There is no "receipt, " but the gift is nearly always made at the behest of an individual or family member.

    You may find there are so many exceptions that trying to use a stock postcard won't feel right.

    With the right programming-as many organizations have invested-you should be able to automate and customize these acknowledgment letters. At least, it is an investment worth considering.

    John

    John H. Taylor, Principal
    John H. Taylor Consulting, LLC
    2604 Sevier Street
    Durham, NC     27705

    919.816.5903 (cell/text)

    Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987





    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Gift Acknowledgements

    Posted 02-03-2025 09:01 AM

    Thank you, John, for the clarification/further explanation! We will look at a letter instead of a postcard.



    ------------------------------
    Rachael Pezzuti
    Gannon University
    pezzuti001@gannon.edu
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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