Free Donation Receipt Template

Donation Receipt Previews for Money Received

Give the donor a receipt that names the gift and the purpose it supports. Each preview opens the same Docelf receipt editor. Use the donation Notes example below for gift-specific wording.

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  Sample Donation Receipt Template

  Create Free Receipt
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  Free Donation Receipt Template

  Create Free Receipt
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  Printable Donation Receipt Template

  Create Free Receipt

See six more donation receipt previews below.

Record the Donation You Received

A donation receipt gives the donor and your organization a record of the money received. Naming the donor and fund or campaign makes the gift easier to find later.

Already using a Docelf invoice for an agreed contribution? Record the payment there and create a receipt from the invoice. Docelf brings over the donor and contribution details. Without an invoice, start a standalone receipt for the gift.

How to Create a Donation Receipt

Start with the donor’s details and the amount received. Choose your first receipt number; Docelf numbers later receipts in sequence.

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1. Your Organization: Enter its name and a contact for donation questions.
2. Your Logo: Use the logo your supporters recognize, or leave it out.
3. The Donor: Add the donor’s name and contact details in the customer section.
4. Number and Date: Check the number. Use the date you received the money.
5. The Contribution: Name the fund and enter the amount given to it.
6. Amount Received: Docelf adds the contribution lines. Record the amount received.
7. Donation Notes: Add the payment method and a thank-you. Check and send the copy.

Show What One Donation Supports

One gift to one fund needs only one line. When a donor divides a payment among several funds, separate lines show that choice without creating separate donations.

In this fictional example, a donor sends $450.00 by bank transfer on September 18, 2026, and divides it among three funds. The amounts are in US dollars. They are parts of one monetary gift, so this example includes no sales tax.

The three fund amounts make up the $450.00 received. This shows the donor’s choices without suggesting three separate payments.

What to Include in Donation Receipt Notes

Notes can connect the gift to a campaign and payment reference. A brief thank-you keeps the receipt personal without turning it into another fundraising request.

For a U.S. charitable acknowledgment, use the goods-or-services statement that matches the gift. The IRS written-acknowledgment guidance explains what to include. The example below assumes the donor received nothing in return.

Record Each Payment Toward a Pledge

A pledge is a promise, not money received. If a supporter pledges $900.00 and sends $450.00, the receipt confirms that first $450.00. Notes can name the pledge. A suggested donation, by itself, is not an amount the donor owes.

When the other $450.00 arrives, give it its own receipt and payment date. Keep both receipts with the pledge record so each payment is counted once.

Donated Goods Need a Different Description

For donated supplies, keep an acknowledgment that describes the items, separate from any cash-payment total. For U.S. noncash contributions, the IRS guidance calls for a description, not a value assigned by the organization.

Donated services need wording that describes the help received, not a cash amount. Ask your organization’s advisor which acknowledgment fits the gift and local requirements.

Keep the Receipt Recognizable and Easy to Find

Use your organization’s logo, fonts, and colors, with a donation contact in the footer. Choose the currency actually received: Docelf supports USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, and AUD. A relevant PDF or image attachment can explain the campaign without crowding the receipt.

For a returning donor, saved customer details save another round of typing. A duplicated receipt becomes a new draft with a new number. Replace the old amount, payment date, method, fund, and reference before sending it.

You can email the receipt from Docelf and see delivery and opening information in its history. For a donor who needs another copy of the same gift, resend the existing receipt or share its PDF rather than record the donation again.

More Donation Receipt Previews

Browse the remaining donation receipt previews below. Each opens the same receipt editor, where you can enter the gift and donor details.

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  Blank Donation Receipt Template

  Create Free Receipt
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  Simple Donation Receipt Template

  Create Free Receipt
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  Fillable Donation Receipt Template

  Create Free Receipt
• 

  Professional Donation Receipt Template

  Create Free Receipt
• 

  Downloadable Donation Receipt Template

  Create Free Receipt
• 

  Editable Donation Receipt Template

  Create Free Receipt

Donation Receipt Files for Your Usual App

These general receipt templates can also hold the donor, fund, and contribution details. Choose Word, Google Docs, Excel, or Google Sheets to work in that app; Docelf’s finished receipt download is a PDF.

• Word Receipt Template
• Google Docs Receipt Template
• Excel Receipt Template
• Google Sheets Receipt Template

Match the Document to the Contribution

Use a donation invoice only when requesting a contribution. The sponsorship page covers payments tied to sponsor benefits, while the letter guide helps with an accompanying message.

• Donation Invoice Template
• Sponsorship Receipt Template
• Receipt Letter Template
• Receipt Log Template

Donation Receipt FAQs

• Which date belongs on a donation receipt sent later?

  Use the date you received the money, even when you send the receipt later. For the example above, that is September 18, 2026.

• Can I give a receipt for a donation that is only pledged?

  A payment receipt should record money already received. Keep an unpaid pledge in the pledge record. When part of the gift arrives, acknowledge that amount and refer to the pledge when useful.

• Can one receipt show several funds?

  Yes. For one payment divided among funds, list each fund and its share. Together, the lines should equal the amount received.

• Does this template make a donation tax-deductible?

  No. The template records the gift; it does not determine tax eligibility. Confirm the acknowledgment requirements and any goods-or-services statement with your organization’s advisor.

• Should donated goods go in the amount received?

  Not as a cash payment. Describe the donated items in an appropriate acknowledgment and keep them out of the monetary total. The IRS guidance linked above explains the description used for a U.S. noncash acknowledgment.

• Can I reuse a receipt for a regular donor?

  Yes. After the new donation arrives, duplicate the receipt to start a new draft with a new number. Update the amount, fund, payment date, method, and reference. Check the details before sending.

Finish the Record for This Donation

Acknowledge the supporter’s gift while the details are easy to check.

• Name the donor and the fund
• Record the money actually received
• Email, print, or save the receipt as a PDF

Create Free Receipt