FundSvcs Community

Hello friends,

Token benefits have reared their delightful heads again and while I thought I had finally gotten to a place where I understood them, I have new questions. Or the same old questions, just in new clothing.

1. Should the cost of mailing token benefits be included in the benefit? We are looking to mail branded stickers (cost to us, less than $1) but when the mailing price is factored in, I'm being told the benefit is $9 (I'm following up on why the shipping cost is so high). I don't think I've ever factored in delivery costs before.
2. My understanding is that the value of token benefits a donor can receive in 2026 must not exceed $13.90, for a gift totaling at least $69.50. What I'm telling my direct response folks is that in order to receive this $9 benefit without it impacting a donor's fully tax deductible gift, they have to give a gift of at least $69.50. If they give less than that, their receipt needs to reflect that their deductible portion is $9 less than the gift amount.
   But even if I only factor in the stickers, am I really saying that for gifts less than $69.50, I'm benefiting out $1 on their receipt?
3. And then there's the recurring gift component. I said that I'm not comfortable providing a sticker for the first payment of a recurring gift that's less than $69.50, without benefiting it out on the receipt. If the donor were to give $69.50+ as part of their recurring giving, is a new receipt needed for that initial gift? Of course, our other option is to do an annual receipt and make a determination then about whether we need to benefit out the sticker.
4. And if that's all correct, what's the point of having the logo vs not logo? Isn't it the logo that makes this fall into the token benefit category? I'm questioning so many life choices right now...

Thanks to this special hive for your help and understanding. I feel the solidarity just in writing this.

Elizabeth

Hello friends,

Token benefits have reared their delightful heads again and while I thought I had finally gotten to a place where I understood them, I have new questions. Or the same old questions, just in new clothing.

1. Should the cost of mailing token benefits be included in the benefit? We are looking to mail branded stickers (cost to us, less than $1) but when the mailing price is factored in, I'm being told the benefit is $9 (I'm following up on why the shipping cost is so high). I don't think I've ever factored in delivery costs before.
2. My understanding is that the value of token benefits a donor can receive in 2026 must not exceed $13.90, for a gift totaling at least $69.50. What I'm telling my direct response folks is that in order to receive this $9 benefit without it impacting a donor's fully tax deductible gift, they have to give a gift of at least $69.50. If they give less than that, their receipt needs to reflect that their deductible portion is $9 less than the gift amount.
   But even if I only factor in the stickers, am I really saying that for gifts less than $69.50, I'm benefiting out $1 on their receipt?
3. And then there's the recurring gift component. I said that I'm not comfortable providing a sticker for the first payment of a recurring gift that's less than $69.50, without benefiting it out on the receipt. If the donor were to give $69.50+ as part of their recurring giving, is a new receipt needed for that initial gift? Of course, our other option is to do an annual receipt and make a determination then about whether we need to benefit out the sticker.
4. And if that's all correct, what's the point of having the logo vs not logo? Isn't it the logo that makes this fall into the token benefit category? I'm questioning so many life choices right now...

Thanks to this special hive for your help and understanding. I feel the solidarity just in writing this.

Elizabeth

Hello friends,

Token benefits have reared their delightful heads again and while I thought I had finally gotten to a place where I understood them, I have new questions. Or the same old questions, just in new clothing.

1. Should the cost of mailing token benefits be included in the benefit? We are looking to mail branded stickers (cost to us, less than $1) but when the mailing price is factored in, I'm being told the benefit is $9 (I'm following up on why the shipping cost is so high). I don't think I've ever factored in delivery costs before.
2. My understanding is that the value of token benefits a donor can receive in 2026 must not exceed $13.90, for a gift totaling at least $69.50. What I'm telling my direct response folks is that in order to receive this $9 benefit without it impacting a donor's fully tax deductible gift, they have to give a gift of at least $69.50. If they give less than that, their receipt needs to reflect that their deductible portion is $9 less than the gift amount.
   But even if I only factor in the stickers, am I really saying that for gifts less than $69.50, I'm benefiting out $1 on their receipt?
3. And then there's the recurring gift component. I said that I'm not comfortable providing a sticker for the first payment of a recurring gift that's less than $69.50, without benefiting it out on the receipt. If the donor were to give $69.50+ as part of their recurring giving, is a new receipt needed for that initial gift? Of course, our other option is to do an annual receipt and make a determination then about whether we need to benefit out the sticker.
4. And if that's all correct, what's the point of having the logo vs not logo? Isn't it the logo that makes this fall into the token benefit category? I'm questioning so many life choices right now...

Thanks to this special hive for your help and understanding. I feel the solidarity just in writing this.

Elizabeth

Hello friends,

Token benefits have reared their delightful heads again and while I thought I had finally gotten to a place where I understood them, I have new questions. Or the same old questions, just in new clothing.

1. Should the cost of mailing token benefits be included in the benefit? We are looking to mail branded stickers (cost to us, less than $1) but when the mailing price is factored in, I'm being told the benefit is $9 (I'm following up on why the shipping cost is so high). I don't think I've ever factored in delivery costs before.
2. My understanding is that the value of token benefits a donor can receive in 2026 must not exceed $13.90, for a gift totaling at least $69.50. What I'm telling my direct response folks is that in order to receive this $9 benefit without it impacting a donor's fully tax deductible gift, they have to give a gift of at least $69.50. If they give less than that, their receipt needs to reflect that their deductible portion is $9 less than the gift amount.
   But even if I only factor in the stickers, am I really saying that for gifts less than $69.50, I'm benefiting out $1 on their receipt?
3. And then there's the recurring gift component. I said that I'm not comfortable providing a sticker for the first payment of a recurring gift that's less than $69.50, without benefiting it out on the receipt. If the donor were to give $69.50+ as part of their recurring giving, is a new receipt needed for that initial gift? Of course, our other option is to do an annual receipt and make a determination then about whether we need to benefit out the sticker.
4. And if that's all correct, what's the point of having the logo vs not logo? Isn't it the logo that makes this fall into the token benefit category? I'm questioning so many life choices right now...

Thanks to this special hive for your help and understanding. I feel the solidarity just in writing this.

Elizabeth

Hello friends,

Token benefits have reared their delightful heads again and while I thought I had finally gotten to a place where I understood them, I have new questions. Or the same old questions, just in new clothing.

1. Should the cost of mailing token benefits be included in the benefit? We are looking to mail branded stickers (cost to us, less than $1) but when the mailing price is factored in, I'm being told the benefit is $9 (I'm following up on why the shipping cost is so high). I don't think I've ever factored in delivery costs before.
2. My understanding is that the value of token benefits a donor can receive in 2026 must not exceed $13.90, for a gift totaling at least $69.50. What I'm telling my direct response folks is that in order to receive this $9 benefit without it impacting a donor's fully tax deductible gift, they have to give a gift of at least $69.50. If they give less than that, their receipt needs to reflect that their deductible portion is $9 less than the gift amount.
   But even if I only factor in the stickers, am I really saying that for gifts less than $69.50, I'm benefiting out $1 on their receipt?
3. And then there's the recurring gift component. I said that I'm not comfortable providing a sticker for the first payment of a recurring gift that's less than $69.50, without benefiting it out on the receipt. If the donor were to give $69.50+ as part of their recurring giving, is a new receipt needed for that initial gift? Of course, our other option is to do an annual receipt and make a determination then about whether we need to benefit out the sticker.
4. And if that's all correct, what's the point of having the logo vs not logo? Isn't it the logo that makes this fall into the token benefit category? I'm questioning so many life choices right now...

Thanks to this special hive for your help and understanding. I feel the solidarity just in writing this.

Elizabeth

Hello friends,

Token benefits have reared their delightful heads again and while I thought I had finally gotten to a place where I understood them, I have new questions. Or the same old questions, just in new clothing.

1. Should the cost of mailing token benefits be included in the benefit? We are looking to mail branded stickers (cost to us, less than $1) but when the mailing price is factored in, I'm being told the benefit is $9 (I'm following up on why the shipping cost is so high). I don't think I've ever factored in delivery costs before.
2. My understanding is that the value of token benefits a donor can receive in 2026 must not exceed $13.90, for a gift totaling at least $69.50. What I'm telling my direct response folks is that in order to receive this $9 benefit without it impacting a donor's fully tax deductible gift, they have to give a gift of at least $69.50. If they give less than that, their receipt needs to reflect that their deductible portion is $9 less than the gift amount.
   But even if I only factor in the stickers, am I really saying that for gifts less than $69.50, I'm benefiting out $1 on their receipt?
3. And then there's the recurring gift component. I said that I'm not comfortable providing a sticker for the first payment of a recurring gift that's less than $69.50, without benefiting it out on the receipt. If the donor were to give $69.50+ as part of their recurring giving, is a new receipt needed for that initial gift? Of course, our other option is to do an annual receipt and make a determination then about whether we need to benefit out the sticker.
4. And if that's all correct, what's the point of having the logo vs not logo? Isn't it the logo that makes this fall into the token benefit category? I'm questioning so many life choices right now...

Thanks to this special hive for your help and understanding. I feel the solidarity just in writing this.

Elizabeth

Hello friends,

Token benefits have reared their delightful heads again and while I thought I had finally gotten to a place where I understood them, I have new questions. Or the same old questions, just in new clothing.

1. Should the cost of mailing token benefits be included in the benefit? We are looking to mail branded stickers (cost to us, less than $1) but when the mailing price is factored in, I'm being told the benefit is $9 (I'm following up on why the shipping cost is so high). I don't think I've ever factored in delivery costs before.
2. My understanding is that the value of token benefits a donor can receive in 2026 must not exceed $13.90, for a gift totaling at least $69.50. What I'm telling my direct response folks is that in order to receive this $9 benefit without it impacting a donor's fully tax deductible gift, they have to give a gift of at least $69.50. If they give less than that, their receipt needs to reflect that their deductible portion is $9 less than the gift amount.
   But even if I only factor in the stickers, am I really saying that for gifts less than $69.50, I'm benefiting out $1 on their receipt?
3. And then there's the recurring gift component. I said that I'm not comfortable providing a sticker for the first payment of a recurring gift that's less than $69.50, without benefiting it out on the receipt. If the donor were to give $69.50+ as part of their recurring giving, is a new receipt needed for that initial gift? Of course, our other option is to do an annual receipt and make a determination then about whether we need to benefit out the sticker.
4. And if that's all correct, what's the point of having the logo vs not logo? Isn't it the logo that makes this fall into the token benefit category? I'm questioning so many life choices right now...

Thanks to this special hive for your help and understanding. I feel the solidarity just in writing this.

Elizabeth

For the first time, we are considering a change to who does/does not receive our alumni magazine.  Moving forward, we envision mailing to:

1.  Current parents
2. Alumni and friends we want to work to engage/continue to engage-including current donors.  

We believe the magazine cost to print and mail is roughly $3.00 per issue. That print portion of that number will fluctuate based on total count printed.  Of course this does not include content development.  The magazine will, of course, be online for free. 

Here is my two part question: 

PART ONE: Given that the audience is not exclusively donors, and that the entire alumni population will have access to the same content (more actually) on line, is there a quid here?  I am not convinced that there is...

PART TWO: Without crossing a line, how do we let people know that the most likely/most effective means to ensure a place on the mailing list is by  making a gift (amount to be determined).

Following this discussion closely, as the flowchart that I see in my mind currently looks like spaghetti! And while I know we can no longer afford to send the magazine to everyone, I anticipate a lot of frustrated $100 donors if we have to deduct the FMV from each of their gifts.  

Tracy Rush

Executive Director, Philanthropy Services

Otterbein University | Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement

1 South Grove

Westerville, OH 43081

Office: 614,823.1290 | Cell:614.738.2870

 

Your support of Otterbein today can make a difference in the lives of our students!

 

Hello friends,

Token benefits have reared their delightful heads again and while I thought I had finally gotten to a place where I understood them, I have new questions. Or the same old questions, just in new clothing.

1. Should the cost of mailing token benefits be included in the benefit? We are looking to mail branded stickers (cost to us, less than $1) but when the mailing price is factored in, I'm being told the benefit is $9 (I'm following up on why the shipping cost is so high). I don't think I've ever factored in delivery costs before.
2. My understanding is that the value of token benefits a donor can receive in 2026 must not exceed $13.90, for a gift totaling at least $69.50. What I'm telling my direct response folks is that in order to receive this $9 benefit without it impacting a donor's fully tax deductible gift, they have to give a gift of at least $69.50. If they give less than that, their receipt needs to reflect that their deductible portion is $9 less than the gift amount.
   But even if I only factor in the stickers, am I really saying that for gifts less than $69.50, I'm benefiting out $1 on their receipt?
3. And then there's the recurring gift component. I said that I'm not comfortable providing a sticker for the first payment of a recurring gift that's less than $69.50, without benefiting it out on the receipt. If the donor were to give $69.50+ as part of their recurring giving, is a new receipt needed for that initial gift? Of course, our other option is to do an annual receipt and make a determination then about whether we need to benefit out the sticker.
4. And if that's all correct, what's the point of having the logo vs not logo? Isn't it the logo that makes this fall into the token benefit category? I'm questioning so many life choices right now...

Thanks to this special hive for your help and understanding. I feel the solidarity just in writing this.

Elizabeth