FundSvcs Community

Before returning the check, can you search your contact reports to see if an MGO indicated a distribution of that amount was coming?

In all of my years, I have not seen a "blank check" from Fidelity.  This information is usually found on the check stub/tear-off.  By any chance, did this check first go to another office that might have been overzealous in throwing that check advice slip away?

John

From time to time we receive checks from a company like Fidelity which is a normal distribution, but doesn't state the individual's name.  We will then call the institution to inquire of the donor's name; often, we have been told that if the donor had authorized release of their name, that information would have been included in the check, and if it isn't, that they can't release the name of the person to us. In those situations, we have recorded the gift to our Anonymous Donor record and deposited the check.  Many times, often weeks or months later, the donor will call us out of the blue (often when they've gotten a new solicitation) to say they made their gift to us via IRA, and we're able to track their gift down, and assign it to the rightful donor.  If not, the gift remains receipted to the anonymous record.

 

Regards,

 

Anthony Lockett-Larsen

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Manager, Gift Administration | Development Services

calling can sometimes work, but like others have said, they may not offer information (depends on who you get on the phone) or they may not even know who the donor is as they were just a check clearing house (but they could tell you the investment firm perhaps).