In-kind gift

Why it matters

In-kind gifts can save you real money and deserve a real thank-you. Log them with the donor's history, so you see the full picture of what each person gives.

Receipting is different from cash. For a gift of $250 or more, your written acknowledgment describes the item but does not state its value. Placing a value on it for a tax deduction is the donor's job. Donated services are generally not deductible, so check with your accountant.

How Steward shows it

Steward keeps in-kind gifts at fair market value, never as cash. An import routes in-kind rows to their own place, and a donated auction item can be logged as an in-kind gift from the event. Steward's tax receipts cover cash gifts only, so you write the acknowledgment for an in-kind gift yourself.

Related terms

• Acknowledgment letter Acknowledgment letter is the name for the thank-you a nonprofit sends after a gift. It thanks the donor personally and, when it includes the required details, also serves as their written acknowledgment for tax purposes.
• Tax receipt Tax receipt is the name for the written confirmation a nonprofit gives a donor so they can deduct a gift. A US donor needs one to deduct any single contribution of $250 or more.
• Gift acceptance policy Gift acceptance policy means a board-approved document setting out which gifts a nonprofit will accept, which it will refuse, and who decides the unusual ones, such as property, stock, vehicles or gifts with conditions.