What documents does an NGO need in order to receive a donation?
A receipt proves the money entered the organisation. The donation deed is a different thing: it transfers ownership, and its form depends on the amount and on the type of asset.
Short answer
- For money and tangible movable goods up to 25,000 lei, a manual gift is enough, with no notary involved.
- Above 25,000 lei and for any immovable asset, the donation needs a notarial deed, otherwise it is absolutely void.
- Donated movable goods must be listed and valued in a written document, even a private one.
- A promise by a donor to give in the future is valid only in notarial form.
- The receipt remains the collection document and does not replace the donation deed.
What the law says
- The Civil Code (Law 287/2009) art. 1011(1): a donation is concluded by notarial deed, otherwise it is absolutely void.
- Art. 1011(2): indirect donations, disguised donations and manual gifts are exempt from the notarial form.
- Art. 1011(4): tangible movable goods up to 25,000 lei may be a manual gift, concluded by mutual consent plus handover of the asset.
- Art. 1011(3): the movable goods donated must be listed and valued in a written document, even a private one, otherwise the donation is void.
- Art. 1012: the notary records the authenticated donation contract in the national notarial register, and the land-book rules remain applicable.
- Art. 1014(1): a promise of donation is subject to the notarial form, otherwise it is absolutely void.
- Law 32/1994 art. 1: a sponsorship contract is concluded in written form and a mecenat act in notarial form, so a sponsorship is not documented as a donation.
- Accounting Law 82/1991 art. 6(1): every transaction is recorded when it happens in a document, which thereby becomes a supporting document.
Practical examples
- A donor transfers 500 lei to the association account: no notary is needed, and the file closes with the bank statement and the receipt.
- A company donates 40 chairs valued at 12,000 lei: you sign a document listing and valuing them, then a handover protocol.
- A donor wants to leave land to the foundation: the donation is made only by notarial deed, followed by registration in the land book.
- A donor promises 60,000 lei in three yearly instalments: the commitment binds them only if the promise of donation was authenticated.
- An individual donor brings a 4,000 lei laptop: it stays a manual gift, but the valuation document is what lets you book the asset.
Common mistakes
- The receipt is issued and the file is considered complete: a receipt proves the collection, not the transfer of ownership over an asset.
- Goods are accepted without the listing and valuation document required by art. 1011(3), although the penalty is absolute nullity of the donation.
- A donation contract for real estate is signed privately: the deed is void and the asset cannot be registered in the land book.
- A promise of donation is treated as an ordinary commitment: without notarial form, the organisation can only claim the expenses it incurred.
- People believe no donation can be received without registration in the Register of entities: that conditions the 3.5% redirection and the tax credit of the sponsor, not the donation itself.
How 4ong helps
- Points to the right deed on every recorded donation — manual gift, notarial deed or promise — by amount and type of asset.
- Keeps the valuation document and the handover protocol on the in-kind donation itself.
- Holds both the donation deed and the receipt on the donor record, so the two documents are no longer confused.
- Tracks the instalments of a promise of donation and flags the one that is due but not collected.