How to Record a Material Donation

Track donations of physical goods and materials to your organization.

What is a Material Donation?

A material donation is a gift of physical items (not cash) that your organization will redistribute or use:

• Food donations for a food pantry
• Clothing for a thrift store or distribution
• School supplies for students
• Household items for families in need
• Building materials for construction projects

Accessing Material Donations

Navigate to: Materials > Material Donations

Recording a Donation

1. Click Add New
2. Select or add the donor constituent
3. Enter donation details:
   • Donation Date: When received
   • Type and Category: Classification
   • Status: Received, pending, etc.
   • Description: What was donated
4. Enter value information:
   • Total Approximate Value: Fair market value estimate
5. Save the donation record

Itemizing the Donation

For detailed tracking:

1. Open the donation record
2. Add individual items with quantities and values
3. Items can be added to your material inventory

Material Donation vs In-Kind Donation

• Material Donation: Physical items for redistribution (tracked in Materials module)
• In-Kind Donation: Donated goods or services supporting operations (tracked in Fundraising)

Acknowledgment

Material donations may require acknowledgment letters. Note that you should not assign specific values on donor receipts—donors determine fair market value for tax purposes.