Charitable Giving Log
Track charitable donations with tax-deductible flag.
Overview
The Charitable Giving Log is a simple, year-round record of every donation you make, kept in the format that makes tax season painless. Capture the charity name, date, amount, currency, optional notes, and a tax-deductible flag so qualifying gifts are separated from informal giving like crowdfunding or buying a friend's fundraiser shirt. Instead of scrambling through bank statements next April, the log gives you a running total that mirrors what an accountant or tax-prep app needs.
It is built for normal givers, not enterprise donor systems: a person tithing weekly, a family sponsoring a child, an individual who throws money at GoFundMe campaigns. By logging each gift in the moment, you avoid the late-March guessing game and you also gain a clearer picture of where your generosity actually lands during the year.
How it works
Each entry stores the recipient organisation, date, amount, currency, free-form notes, and a deductible Yes or No flag. The log lists gifts in reverse chronological order and surfaces a running total. Deductible and non-deductible totals are tracked separately, so the value you can claim on a Schedule A or equivalent return is never mixed with informal giving.
There is no integration with charity registries or IRS lookups; the deductible flag is yours to set based on the receipt the charity gives you. The honest signal is the receipt, not a database guess, so the tool keeps human judgement in the loop.
Examples
- Log a recurring monthly tithe to your local congregation, marked deductible because the church is a registered 501(c)(3) or equivalent.
- Record a one-off thirty-dollar GoFundMe contribution and leave the deductible flag off, since personal fundraisers usually do not qualify.
- Capture year-end gifts to multiple charities in December and check the deductible total before deciding whether to add one more bunched donation.
- Note in-kind donations (clothing, household goods) with an estimated fair-market value and the deductible flag set when the receiving thrift store provides a written acknowledgement.
FAQ
Does the log decide if a gift is tax-deductible?
No. You set the flag yourself based on the receipt or documentation the charity provides. The tool is a record, not a tax adviser.
Can I export the log at tax time?
The on-screen list is the source of truth. Copy entries into your tax preparer's worksheet or print the page when the year closes.
What if I donate in a different currency?
Each entry stores its own currency code, so foreign donations stay in their native units. Convert to your reporting currency at the rate your tax authority specifies when you file.
Should I log non-cash donations?
Yes, if you intend to claim them. Note the fair-market value, mark deductible, and keep the physical receipt from the receiving organisation in case of audit.
What about anonymous or street giving?
Cash handed out informally is rarely deductible. Log it without the flag so you still see how much you give in total, just not in the deductible column.