One of the most effective ways to simplify end-of-year tax receipting and donor stewardship in PowerMail is using the Gift Block replacement variable ([gift_block]).
Unlike standard single-value replacement variables (such as [fname] or [totalgift]), the Gift Block automatically generates a clean, itemized list of a donor's contributions over a specific timeframe—making it the ideal tool for year-end giving statements.
What is the Gift Block?
The [gift_block] replacement variable creates a structured table of contributions directly within your email message. The table includes columns for:
Donation Date
Contribution Amount
Tax-Deductible Amount
Note: Because the Gift Block renders as an HTML table, it is designed for HTML and Drag & Drop email formats. It will not display as formatted text if a recipient views their email in plain text mode.
How to Set Up a Year-End Gift Block Email
1. Insert the Replacement Variable into Your Message
When drafting your year-end email in either the Drag & Drop Editor or the HTML Editor:
Place your cursor where you want the donation summary to appear.
Select Gift Block from the Merge Tags / Merge Fields drop-down menu (or manually type
[gift_block]).Finish writing your message content and save your template.
2. Configure Date Ranges and Filters During Publishing
The Gift Block does not pull data until you prepare to send your message. When you reach the PowerMail Publish page:
Select the Date Range: You will be prompted to specify the timeframe for contributions (e.g.,
01/01/2025to12/31/2025for annual tax letters).Filter by Campaign Type: You can filter which specific contribution or campaign types to include, ensuring only tax-deductible gifts are listed on the summary.
Working with Household & Grouping Data
If your organization uses Contact Groupings (such as Households), PowerMail will prompt you on the Publish page to select your target grouping:
Contact Grouping (Individual): Displays only the contributions made by that specific record.
Household / Combined Grouping: When a grouping other than individual Contact is selected, PowerMail evaluates contributions across all members of the household to generate a unified list of giving.
Frequently Asked Questions & Best Practices
Can I customize the columns in the Gift Block table?
The Gift Block generates a standard system table with Date, Amount, and Deductible Amount columns. If you only need to show a single total figure instead of an itemized table, consider using variables like [totalgift] or [most_recent_amt].
What if a donor has no contributions in the selected date range?
If a recipient record has no matching gifts for the specified parameters, the Gift Block area will remain blank for that recipient.
Can I use the Gift Block in personalized URLs?
No. Because [gift_block] outputs a full HTML table, it cannot be used inside link URLs or prefixed with url_.
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