How to Acknowledge Memorial Donations
It's difficult to think of practicalities when a loved one or esteemed colleague passes away, but it's important and proper to acknowledge donations to memorial funds honoring the deceased. Send out thank-you notes within a reasonable time frame after the donation is received.
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Instructions
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Personal Memorial Fund
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Select suitably restrained stationary on which to write your thank-you messages.
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Address each note individually, and open by clearly thanking the recipient for their donation. Then, go on to write a paragraph about how the money will be spent and the good that it will do.
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Close by reiterating your gratitude, and mention how much the donation would have meant to the deceased.
Institutional Donation
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Prepare a professional acknowledgement on letterhead. An official email from the institution may also suffice.
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Start with a message of gratitude from the fund directors and the people who carry out the work it finances. If the donation was to a medical research fund, mention the scientists and medical professionals working to find a cure or to aid the ill. If the donation was to a charity for the homeless, acknowledge those that will benefit from the money or gift.
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State the date of the donation and how much was given to the institution. The donor may wish to use your acknowledgement for tax-deduction purposes.
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Write a sentence or two on the work the donation will fund, including news or recent developments in the field.
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Close by thanking the donor again. Sign the letter from the directors of the fund. Below the signature, add a note about corporate gift programs. Some employers will match charitable donations made by their employees.
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Tips & Warnings
If you don't feel able to write personal notes, ask a friend or relative to compose the acknowledgements.
References
- Lisa Sargent Communications; How to Write a Better Donation Thank You Letter; Lisa Sargent
- Emily Post: Thank-you Notes: to Send or Not to Send
- Memorial Keepsakes; Guide to Writing Funeral Thank You Notes; December 2008
- Letter Samples: Thank You For Memorial Donation
- Clear Lead: Corporate Gift Program: Corporate Gift Giving Ideas
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
