Some people choose to make donations to a charity on their own accord, but others make donations on someone else's behalf. For instance, a couple who is getting married and does not want gifts may ask that guests donate to a favorite charity in the couple's name. Each organization or charity has its own protocol for making a donation on behalf of someone else, but the basic process is the same.
Donate to the selected charity through its typical donation process. Many charities accept donations through the mail, by phone or online.
Give your identifying information just as if you were the official donor so the organization can let the person who requested donations know about your involvement.
Include a note with your donation that identifies the person for whom you are making the donation, including contact information. This allows the charity to send a card or certificate to that person, letting him know that someone has made a donation on his behalf.
Tips
A donation "in honor of" is for someone who is alive and "in memory of" is for someone who has died.
References
- Partners in Health: Donate on Behalf of a Loved One
- Global Giving: Donate in Honor or Memory of Someone
- Internal Revenue Service. "2015 Tax Changes Include: Key Benefits Renewed; A New Way to Save for Retirement; New Accounts for People With Disabilities; Health Care Updates." Accessed March 21, 2020.
- Internal Revenue Service. "Publication 590-B: Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)," Page 13. Accessed March 21, 2020.
- Internal Revenue Service. "Publication 526: Charitable Contributions," Page 3. Accessed March 21, 2020.
- Internal Revenue Service. "Publication 5307: Tax Reform Basics for Individuals and Families," Page 4. Accessed March 21, 2020.
- Internal Revenue Service. "IRS Provides Tax Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2020." Accessed March 21, 2020.
- Internal Revenue Service. "Retirement Topics: Required Minimum Distribution." Accessed March 21, 2020.
- Internal Revenue Service. "About Form 1099-R, Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc." Accessed March 21, 2020.
- Internal Revenue Service. "Publication 526: Charitable Contributions," Page 19. Accessed March 21, 2020.
Writer Bio
Kimberly Turtenwald began writing professionally in 2000. She has written content for various websites, including Lights 2 You, Online Consultation, Corpus Personal Injury and more. Turtenwald studied editing and publishing at Wisconsin Lutheran College.