Instead of Gifts

A gift that carries on

There is this moment before every milestone birthday: you already have everything you need, and yet thirty people are wondering what on earth to bring.

More and more people solve this by asking for a donation instead of a gift. What comes together surprises nearly everyone: amounts that barely hurt the individual quickly add up to a sum that makes a difference for weeks at HOPPS – the home nursing care for seriously ill children at Olgahospital Stuttgart.

We are glad to support this and take the work off your hands. There is nothing to organise and nothing to account for; two sentences in your invitation are enough.

Occasions where others have done it before

Three steps

1. Let us know

   An informal email is enough: which occasion, which name, roughly when. We then set up a reference of your own so the donations can be assigned to your occasion.

2. Add it to the invitation

   One or two sentences will do. You will find wording below – phrased so that nobody feels pushed into anything.

3. We take care of the rest

   We issue donation receipts, collect the amounts under your reference and tell you afterwards what came together – so you can share it with your guests.

Two sentences are enough

The most common reason people drop the idea is the question: how do I put this without sounding pushy? Here are three suggestions – to copy and adapt.

I would of course be delighted with a gift – but I would be even happier if you supported the association “Was uns am Herzen liegt” instead. It raises money for the home nursing care of seriously ill children at Olgahospital Stuttgart.

Kreissparkasse Heilbronn
IBAN: DE85 6205 0000 0000 4579 90
Reference: [your keyword]

I have everything I need. So for my birthday I am not wishing for a present, but for something else: a donation for children who are going through a very hard time.

The association “Was uns am Herzen liegt” supports HOPPS – a nursing team that cares for children with cancer at home, so they do not have to live in hospital. Every amount helps, however small.

Kreissparkasse Heilbronn
IBAN: DE85 6205 0000 0000 4579 90
Reference: [your keyword]

If you would like a donation receipt, simply add your postal address.

We kindly ask you to refrain from wreaths and flowers. If you wish, please support the association “Was uns am Herzen liegt” in his/her name; it accompanies seriously ill children and their families.

Kreissparkasse Heilbronn
IBAN: DE85 6205 0000 0000 4579 90
Reference: [name]

Bank details and donation receipts

Bank

Kreissparkasse Heilbronn

IBAN

DE85 6205 0000 0000 4579 90

BIC

HEISDE66XXX

About donation receipts

• Up to 300 euros the German tax office usually accepts the bank statement as proof – nothing needs to be done on our side.
• Above that we are glad to issue a formal donation receipt. For that, the postal address needs to be in the payment reference or sent to us by email.
• If you collect the money yourself and transfer the total, the receipt will be in your name. If every guest should receive their own, it is easier for each of them to transfer directly.

We are a recognised non-profit association; donations are tax-deductible in Germany. For questions about your particular case your tax adviser can help – or write to us and we will work out what is possible.