For donations of $250 or more, a donor does need a written acknowledgement from UConn to take a deduction on their tax return. My predecessor Nick Ferron was spot on at the bottom of this chain in that the Foundation can assist in issuing acknowledgements. For donations of less than $250, a written acknowledgement is not required, although donors may like to receive a letter to acknowledge their donation.
I’ll also note that if a donation involves something other than cash (e.g., art, science equipment), then additional acknowledgment rules come into play. My office has issued guidance re: non-cash gifts, located here: https://tax.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1262/2016/08/Guidance-on-In-Kind-Gifts-2.1.2021.pdf. You are also welcome to reach out to me for guidance if a donor approaches you with a non-cash gift christopher.cipriani@uconn.edu