Charitable Giving Guide For Acknowledging and Reporting Cash Charitable Gifts

Generous giving is the financial backbone of every church and most ministries. Not only is it a blessing to the ministry to receive charitable gifts, it may be a tax-deductible incentive for the giver.  

In order for a giver to deduct their contribution on their federal income tax return, they must receive a written acknowledg­ment from the church or ministry. Therefore, it is important for charitable organizations to know when to acknowledge charitable gifts and when not to acknowledge charitable gifts. 

It seems simple to thank givers for their contributions, but it is often not so. Gaining a basic understanding of tax law will allow a church or ministry to properly thank their givers for their contributions while also being in alignment with the Internal Revenue Service. 

This how-to guide includes many examples and sample illustrations to help churches and ministries properly acknowledge charitable gifts. We trust this informative ECFA resource will be helpful to you and your organization as you serve the kingdom!