I wasn't sure if anyone knew for an advancement office is there a required timeline for keeping donors gifts (copy of check and and paperwork that came in with the donation).  We currently store all of this stuff in a storage room which is out of room.  I wondered if we could shred the older documents.  I think some of our documents go back to the 80's.

 Thanks for any assistance you can provide.

If you are a non profit, the new 990 suggests a data retention policy that may help in this area. I believe most records in regards to audits and financials are 7 years - but you'll wnat to check with legal council. And btw there is no regulation or law requiring you to keep copies of checks - you just need backup documentation so a reply slip from a mailing should suffice.

 some research:

http://www.probonopartner.org/publications/Corporate%20Governance/http___www.lawhelp.org_documents_390901DC_554772-v5-Form_990_alert_-_doc_retentionc-lpedits.pdf

http://www.chhsm.org/pdfs/record-retention.pdf