The purpose of a thank you letter for a memorial donation is not only to demonstrate gratitude and respect, but also to acknowledge receipt of a donation made in memory of someone. Memorial donations help organizations as well as provide comfort to the family that has chosen to establish the fund. A well-crafted thank you letter is as important as the donation itself. Although there is no need for a thank you letter to be long, there is a basic structure and elements that should be included in a formal letter to the family and to each donor.

Start the letter with the word "Dear" followed by the name of the person or people making the donation. Make the letter as personalized as possible and avoid using a generic salutation such as "Dear Friend." "To Whom It May Concern," or using the full name. Think Mr. Jones or Ms. Smith.

Thank the donor for the specific amount given. Also state the deceased person's name.

Indicate how the monetary gift will be used and the effect that the donor's gift will have toward helping others.

Refrain from offering condolences or dwelling on the loss of the deceased. Instead, keep the content of the letter focused on how the donation will support the work of others.

Tip

Proofread the thank you letter thoroughly and avoid misspelling names.

If the thank you note is going to a family member, include the total amount of money given to date along with the list of donors.

Make sure to thank the family for setting up the memorial fund to honor the deceased individual.

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