Which donations can be deducted
In the United States, gifts to organizations the IRS recognizes under section 501(c)(3) are generally tax-deductible to the extent the law allows. Gifts made directly to an individual are not.
How much you can actually deduct depends on how you file your return and on limits in the tax code. IRS Publication 526, Charitable Contributions, sets out the rules, and a tax professional can apply them to you.
How to check a charity is a 501(c)(3)
Ask the charity for its EIN, the nine-digit number the IRS gives it, and look it up in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. 1 Million Hearts is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and our EIN is 88-2016265. You can also find us on Candid, where we hold a Platinum Seal of Transparency.
What a donation receipt should show
Keep a record of every gift. A receipt from the charity normally shows the charity's name, the date, the amount, and a statement of whether you received any goods or services in return.
For any single gift of $250 or more, the IRS requires a written acknowledgment from the charity before you claim the deduction. If you received something in return, such as a dinner or a gift, the deductible amount is reduced by its value.
Receipts at 1 Million Hearts
We email a receipt for every gift, including each monthly payment, with the amount, the date, our EIN and the statement that no goods or services were provided. When you sign in to your account you can see every gift and print a summary for any year, which is the page to hand to whoever prepares your taxes.