Donor Identification
Full legal name, tax identification number, and contact information to support identity verification and any required IRS reporting or backup withholding checks.
Completing the form correctly speeds transfers, preserves tax advantages tied to in-kind gifts, and prevents administrative delays. It documents donor intent and provides the information required for a charity to issue a timely donation acknowledgment for tax records.
Each role has different responsibilities: the donor authorizes, advisors prepare, and the charity verifies receipt and issues acknowledgment.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Authentication | Use email link plus SMS code for signer attribution and audit trail. |
| Delivery Method | Send PDF via secure portal and copy charity gift officer by email. |
| DTC Instructions | Include exact receiving broker DTC number and account reference in a dedicated field. |
| Notifications | Enable automatic confirmations to donor and charity when transfer completes. |
Confirm the receiving charity accepts electronic submissions and retains an audit trail that satisfies ESIGN and any applicable state rules before using e-signatures.
Transfers must complete by December 31 to qualify for that tax year
Allow 3–10 business days for DTC transfers to settle
Request written acknowledgment after transfer posts for donor records
Provide W-9 to charity upon request; no fixed deadline
Retain acknowledgment for IRS purposes when filing returns April 15
Complete donor, account, and security details accurately before submission.
Donor broker validates account and schedules the DTC transfer.
Receiving broker posts shares to charity account and confirms delivery.
Charity sends a written donation receipt for donor tax records.
| Criteria | Electronic | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Validity | valid under esign/ueta | valid when signed |
| Processing Time | typically faster | typically slower |
| Audit Trail | detailed metadata | minimal metadata |
| Notarization | possible via ron | in-person available |
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
The donor named on the brokerage account or authorized signatory must sign. If an agent signs under power of attorney, include valid POA documentation and follow broker acceptance rules.
A charity's authorized officer or gift processing agent should confirm receipt and sign any acceptance acknowledgment; internal delegation policies determine who may sign.
A donor instructs a transfer of 100 shares of a publicly traded stock to a community foundation
A financial advisor completes the form for a client, including exact CUSIP and account details
Full legal name, tax identification number, and contact information to support identity verification and any required IRS reporting or backup withholding checks.
Donor brokerage account number, broker name, and broker contact information so the donor's broker can validate authority before initiating a DTC transfer.
Ticker symbol, CUSIP, number of shares or dollar value, and class of security to ensure receiving broker posts the correct instrument.
Charity's broker name, DTC number, and receiving account reference to route the transfer accurately without manual intervention.
Clear donor signature block and printed name, plus any required corporate approval or power-of-attorney documentation for agent signers.
Space for the charity to enter gift date, transferred amount or share count, and a statement suitable for donor tax substantiation.
Discrete fields for account numbers, DTC numbers, and security identifiers enable automated validation and reduce manual transcription errors during electronic intake.
Capture signer email, timestamp, IP address, and authentication method so the executed file contains an auditable record compliant with ESIGN/UETA.
Allow attaching broker confirmations, POA documents, or charity acceptance letters to the record to maintain complete documentation for audits.
Include explicit consent for electronic records where required by consumer disclosure rules to ensure the e-signed form is legally effective.