Re: Donation Acknowledgements - and the IRS . . .

Popeye8762 Wrote:
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> Within the last few weeks, I donated a hundred
> bucks to a very prominent organization on this
> board, one I admire.  I received no acknow-
> ledgement.  I donated $1000 to them in 2015.
> I generally donate $100 every other month to
> someone here.
>
> I figured they were just busy, no hard feelings.

rainbowroute Wrote:
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> I have to admit, manners are nice . . . but,
> for me at least, what the San Juan County
> Historical Society does is so fantastic they
> get an easy pass.  They're busy actually
> doing stuff.
>
> Because gawdalmighty, I've never encount-
> ered a historical group that has preserved
> a mine, mill, boarding house-turned-world-
> class-museum, and helped to stabilize so
> many structures in the region.
>
> They'll always get my money and love.


Yes, manners are nice –

But for those of us who deduct donations to 501(c)3 organizations from our income when preparing our tax returns (as I'm doing this week), those cards and letters acknowledging donations are ESSENTIAL.  For several years now, the IRS has required a written acknowledgement of the donation – NOT just your cancelled check – as proof.  Of course this matters only if you get audited — but why take a chance?  As an old geezer on a fixed pension – no annual COL adjustment – I don't donate nearly as much as some of you on this board, but if my few $50 and $100 donations aren't acknowledged then they'll go elsewhere next year . . .

- Russ