A donation form is a document used by a nonprofit organization, charity, school, church, community group, club, or other organization to collect information about a donor and their contribution. A well-designed donation form makes it easier to record donations, organize donor information, and provide a clear process for people who want to support an organization or fundraising campaign.

A donation form template provides a ready-made structure that can be customized instead of creating a new form from scratch. Depending on the purpose, a donation form may collect the donor’s name, contact information, donation amount, payment method, purpose of the contribution, and other relevant details.

On this page, you can download 36+ free donation form templates and examples. The collection includes formats that can be adapted for nonprofit organizations, charities, churches, schools, fundraising events, community projects, and other legitimate donation activities. The current page identifies the main downloadable format as Microsoft Word and includes a large collection of donation form examples.

Important: A donation form is a record-keeping or information-collection document. It does not automatically establish that a contribution is tax-deductible or that an organization has charitable status. Organizations should follow the applicable laws and requirements in their jurisdiction.

What Is a Donation Form?

A donation form is a document that allows an organization to collect information about a contribution and the person or organization making it.

A basic donation form may include:

• Donor name
• Organization name
• Address
• Phone number
• Email address
• Donation amount
• Donation type
• Payment method
• Donation purpose
• Date of contribution
• Donor signature
• Comments or special instructions

The information required depends on the organization’s needs and the type of donation being collected.

For example, a charity collecting monetary donations may need different information from a school collecting contributions for a specific fundraising project or an organization accepting donated goods.

Free Donation Form Template

A free donation form template gives organizations a convenient starting point for creating a professional donor form.

Instead of designing the document from a blank page, you can customize a template with your organization’s name, logo, contact information, donation categories, payment options, and other relevant fields.

Donation forms can be useful for:

• Nonprofit organizations
• Charities
• Churches
• Schools
• Colleges
• Community groups
• Sports clubs
• Fundraising events
• Animal welfare organizations
• Volunteer organizations
• Community drives

A reusable template can also help maintain consistency when an organization runs multiple fundraising campaigns.

Donation Form Template in Word

A donation form Word template is a practical option for organizations that want an editable document.

Microsoft Word allows you to customize the template by adding your organization’s branding, changing headings, modifying donor fields, and adding instructions.

For example, a Word donation form could contain:

Organization Name: ______________________

Donor Name: _____________________________

Address: ________________________________

Email: __________________________________

Phone: __________________________________

Donation Amount: ________________________

Payment Method: _________________________

Purpose of Donation: _____________________

Date: ___________________________________

Signature: _______________________________

The actual fields should be adjusted to suit the organization’s needs.

Donation Form Template in Excel

An Excel donation form template can be particularly useful when an organization needs to track multiple contributions.

Excel makes it possible to organize donor information into rows and columns and then sort or filter records.

For example:

A spreadsheet can therefore function as both a donation form and a donation tracking tool, depending on how it is designed.

Charity Donation Form

A charity donation form is used to collect information about contributions made to a charitable organization.

Depending on the charity, donations may include:

• Money
• Clothing
• Food
• Furniture
• Computers
• Books
• Medical supplies
• Equipment
• Professional services
• Other goods

The form should clearly identify the organization and explain the purpose of the contribution where appropriate.

Nonprofit Donation Form

A nonprofit donation form can help an organization standardize the information it collects from donors.

A nonprofit might use different forms for:

• General donations
• Campaign donations
• Annual fundraising
• Event sponsorship
• In-kind contributions
• Recurring donations
• Corporate donations
• Memorial donations

A consistent format makes it easier to maintain organized donor records.

Fundraising Donation Form

A fundraising donation form is designed for a specific fundraising campaign or event.

For example, an organization might raise money for:

• School improvements
• Community development
• Disaster relief
• Medical assistance
• Scholarships
• Animal welfare
• Religious activities
• Sports programs
• New equipment
• Building projects

Including the campaign name or purpose on the form helps donors understand what their contribution is intended to support.

Donation Pledge Form

A donation pledge form is used when a person or organization commits to contributing an amount or other support, potentially at a later date.

A pledge form may include:

• Donor information
• Pledged amount
• Campaign name
• Payment schedule
• Preferred payment method
• Contact information
• Signature

A pledge should be clearly distinguished from a donation that has already been received.

Donation Receipt Form

A donation receipt and a donation form have different purposes.

A donation form generally collects information about a contribution.

A donation receipt acknowledges that an organization has received a contribution.

A receipt may contain:

• Organization name
• Donor name
• Date received
• Amount or description of donation
• Payment method
• Receipt number
• Appropriate acknowledgment language

Whether a receipt needs particular wording depends on the organization’s location and legal or tax requirements.

In-Kind Donation Form

Not all donations are monetary.

An in-kind donation form can be used when someone contributes goods or services instead of money.

Examples include:

• Clothing
• Food
• Furniture
• Computers
• Office equipment
• Books
• Medical supplies
• Professional services

The form can record the donor, description of the item or service, quantity, date, and other information required by the organization.

Church Donation Form

A church donation form can be used to record contributions made to a church or religious organization.

Depending on the organization’s procedures, the form may include:

• Donor name
• Contact details
• Donation amount
• Donation type
• Fund or ministry
• Payment method
• Date
• Optional comments

Organizations should customize the form according to their own accounting and record-keeping requirements.

School Donation Form

Schools may use donation forms when parents, alumni, businesses, and community members contribute to a school or fundraising campaign.

A school donation form might be used for:

• School improvement projects
• Student activities
• Sports programs
• Scholarships
• Library resources
• Classroom equipment
• Community events

The form can identify the campaign and provide donors with clear instructions for making their contribution.

Donor Information Form

A donor information form focuses on collecting the details needed to maintain an organization’s donor records.

Typical fields include:

Full Name: __________________________

Organization: _______________________

Address: ____________________________

Email: ______________________________

Phone: ______________________________

Donation Date: _______________________

Donation Amount: ____________________

Campaign: ___________________________

Organizations should avoid collecting unnecessary personal information and should handle donor data appropriately.

What Should a Donation Form Include?

There is no single format that works for every organization. However, a useful donation form should make the process simple and clearly explain what information is required.

Donor Information

Collect the contact information needed for legitimate administrative purposes.

Donation Details

Specify the amount, item, service, or other type of contribution.

Payment Information

If applicable, provide the payment methods accepted by the organization.

Donation Purpose

If donations support different programs or campaigns, give donors an appropriate way to identify the intended purpose.

Date

Record the date the contribution was made or received.

Acknowledgment

Where appropriate, include information about how the organization will acknowledge the donation.

How to Create a Donation Form

You can create a donation form from scratch, but a template can make the process much faster.

Step 1: Identify the Purpose

Decide whether the form is for general donations, a specific fundraising campaign, an in-kind donation, a school project, or another purpose.

Step 2: Add Organization Information

Enter the organization’s name, address, contact details, and other appropriate information.

Step 3: Add Donor Fields

Include the information needed to maintain accurate donor records.

Step 4: Add Donation Options

Specify the types of donations accepted.

Step 5: Add Payment Methods

If accepting monetary donations, clearly identify the available payment options.

Step 6: Add Campaign Information

If the form relates to a particular fundraiser, clearly identify the campaign or project.

Step 7: Review the Form

Check the instructions, fields, contact information, and payment details.

Step 8: Test Before Distribution

Complete a test copy to make sure all fields are understandable and that the form works as intended.

Benefits of Using a Donation Form Template

Saves Time

A template eliminates the need to design every form from scratch.

Creates Consistency

Organizations can use a common format for different fundraising campaigns.

Improves Record Keeping

Standardized fields make donor information easier to organize.

Easy to Customize

You can add logos, organization information, campaign details, and additional fields.

Supports Different Donation Types

The same basic template can often be adapted for monetary and in-kind contributions.

Donation Form vs. Donation Receipt

These documents should not be confused.

A donation form generally collects information about a contribution.

A donation receipt generally confirms that a contribution has been received.

For example:

1. Donor completes the donation form.

2. Organization receives the contribution.

3. Organization records the contribution.

4. Organization issues an appropriate receipt or acknowledgment when applicable.

This distinction is particularly useful for organizations trying to improve their donation record-keeping process.

Printable Donation Form

A printable donation form can be useful for events, church services, school fundraisers, community drives, and other situations where donors complete forms by hand.

Before printing large quantities, check:

• Page size
• Margins
• Field spacing
• Font size
• Contact information
• Payment instructions
• Organization name
• Campaign name

Make sure there is enough room for donors to write comfortably.

Online Donation Form

Many organizations now use online donation forms rather than relying entirely on paper documents.

An online form can collect the same basic information while integrating with a payment processor or donor-management system.

However, an online donation form should be designed with security and privacy in mind, particularly when it collects financial or personal information.

For larger organizations, dedicated fundraising software may provide features such as recurring payments, automated receipts, donor databases, campaign reporting, and online payment processing.

Tips for Creating an Effective Donation Form

Keep it simple. Ask only for information that is genuinely necessary.

Explain the purpose. Tell donors what their contribution supports when appropriate.

Use clear labels. Donors should immediately understand what each field requires.

Make payment instructions obvious. Avoid unnecessary confusion about how contributions can be made.

Protect donor information. Store completed forms securely and follow applicable privacy requirements.

Use consistent records. Keep donation information organized so it can be reconciled with financial records.

Review the form periodically. Update outdated payment methods, contact details, campaigns, and organizational information.

Download Free Donation Form Templates

Whether you need a donation form template, charity donation form, nonprofit donation form, fundraising donation form, donor information form, donation pledge form, donation receipt form, Word donation form, Excel donation form, or printable donation form, the collection on this page provides multiple starting points.

Choose a template that matches your purpose and customize it with your organization’s information, donor fields, donation options, campaign details, and payment instructions.

The current TemplatesDoc page provides 36+ donation form templates and examples, giving users a broad selection of layouts to choose from.

A good donation form should make contributing straightforward while also giving the organization the information it needs for accurate record keeping. Keep the document simple, clearly organized, and appropriate for the type of donation you are collecting.

Downloadable Donation Form Templates And Formats

1. Donation Form Template

This donation form template provides a structured layout for collecting donor information and contribution details. It can be customized with an organization’s name, contact information, donation amount, payment method, campaign details, and other appropriate fields.

The template can be useful for charities, nonprofits, schools, churches, community organizations, and fundraising events that need a printable document for recording donations.

2. Donation Form Template Example

This donation form example demonstrates how donor and contribution information can be organized in a reusable form. It can be adapted for different types of fundraising activities and organizations.

The template can be customized with the organization’s branding, donation categories, payment options, and campaign information.

3. Printable Donation Form

This printable donation form provides a convenient paper-based format for collecting information from donors. It can be used at fundraising events, school campaigns, community drives, church activities, and other donation activities.

The form should provide sufficient space for donors to enter their information and contribution details clearly.

4. Charity Donation Form

This charity donation form provides a structured format for recording contributions made to a charitable organization. It can be adapted for monetary or other appropriate donations.

Organizations can add their name, logo, contact information, campaign details, and donor fields before distributing the form.

5. Nonprofit Donation Form

This nonprofit donation form provides a reusable structure for collecting donor information and contribution details. It can be adapted for general donations or a specific nonprofit fundraising campaign.

The form can support consistent donor record keeping when used as part of an organization’s donation process.

6. Fundraising Donation Form

This fundraising donation form can be customized for a particular campaign, event, school project, community drive, or nonprofit initiative.

Adding the fundraising purpose to the form can help donors understand what their contribution supports.

7. Donation Pledge Form

This donation pledge form can be adapted to record a donor’s commitment to contribute a specified amount or other support.

It can include donor information, pledged amount, campaign, payment schedule, and other appropriate details.

8. Donation Form Sample

This donation form sample provides a reference for organizing donor and contribution information in a clear document format.

It can be used as a starting point for creating a customized donation form for a charity, school, church, or community organization.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a donation form?

A donation form is a document used to collect information about a donor and their contribution. It may include the donor’s name, contact information, donation amount or type, payment method, date, and purpose.

What should a donation form include?

A basic donation form can include donor information, donation amount or description, date, payment method, campaign or donation purpose, and any other information required by the organization.

Can I create a donation form in Word?

Yes. A Word donation form template can be customized with an organization’s name, logo, donor fields, donation options, and instructions.

Can I make a donation form in Excel?

Yes. Excel can be used to create and track donation records. It is particularly useful when an organization needs to manage many contributions in a structured spreadsheet.

What is the difference between a donation form and a donation receipt?

A donation form generally collects information about a contribution, while a donation receipt acknowledges that the organization has received the contribution.

What is an in-kind donation form?

An in-kind donation form records non-monetary contributions such as clothing, food, equipment, furniture, supplies, or professional services.

What is a donation pledge form?

A donation pledge form records a person’s or organization’s commitment to contribute an amount or other support, potentially at a later date.

Can schools use donation forms?

Yes. Schools can use donation forms for fundraising campaigns, scholarships, equipment purchases, student activities, community projects, and other legitimate fundraising purposes.

Can churches use donation forms?

Yes. Churches and other religious organizations can customize donation forms to record contributions and, where appropriate, identify the fund or program supported by the donation.