Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Hacemos una donación pequeña a la biblioteca del barrio. - We make a small donation to the neighborhood library.

Donamos a la biblioteca del barrio = “We donate to the neighborhood library” (short and direct).
Hacemos una donación a… is also very common and slightly more formal.
Avoid damos una donación (not idiomatic). Instead, you can say hacemos un donativo or damos un donativo. In many places you’ll also hear aportar/hacer un aporte.

Why is the simple present hacemos used instead of estamos haciendo?

Spanish often uses the simple present for habitual or general actions. Hacemos suggests a regular or general fact. If you mean “We are making [it] right now,” use Estamos haciendo una donación…. For a near future plan, you could say Vamos a hacer or Haremos.

Is there a difference between una donación pequeña and una pequeña donación?

Both are correct. Placement shifts nuance:

Una pequeña donación often feels more subjective/emphatic (“a small/modest donation”).
Una donación pequeña is more neutral/descriptive (“a donation that is small”). In practice, many speakers prefer the adjective before the noun here.

Why is it pequeña (feminine) and not pequeño?

Because donación is feminine. Adjectives must agree in gender and number:

Singular: una donación pequeña
Plural: unas donaciones pequeñas Many nouns ending in -ción are feminine.

Why a la biblioteca and not para la biblioteca?

A la marks the recipient: you give the donation to that entity.
Para la highlights purpose/benefit: the donation is for the library’s benefit (it might be delivered through someone else). Both are possible, but a is the default with verbs of giving.

Is this a the same as the “personal a”?

No. Here a marks the indirect object (the recipient). The “personal a” is used with direct objects that are people (e.g., Veo a María). You can have both in a sentence like Le damos el libro a María (IO marker + personal a).

Why a la and not al?

Al is the contraction of a + el (masculine singular). Biblioteca is feminine, so you must use a la.

Why del barrio and not de el barrio?

Spanish contracts de + el to del. So it must be del barrio. There’s no contraction with la: de la stays as is.

Should I add an indirect-object pronoun, like le?

You can. Le hacemos una donación a la biblioteca del barrio is very natural (clitic doubling with IOs). With a noun (like la biblioteca) the pronoun is optional but common, especially if you move the IO to the front: A la biblioteca del barrio, le hacemos…. Without the noun, the pronoun is required: Le hacemos una donación.

Can I drop the articles and say Hacemos donación a biblioteca?

Not in normal speech. Spanish generally needs the articles here: Hacemos una donación a la biblioteca. Phrases like hacer donación de sound legal/formal and are used in documents, not everyday conversation.

What does barrio mean in Latin America?

It means “neighborhood/district” and is neutral. Synonyms you may hear: vecindario (widely understood) and, in some places, colonia (Mexico) for certain administrative areas. La biblioteca del barrio is the local neighborhood library.

Is donación countable? How can I talk about what we donate?

Yes, it’s countable.

Plural: Hacemos donaciones a la biblioteca.
Specify content: Hacemos una donación de libros / de dinero / de equipos. Or use the verb: Donamos libros/dinero/equipos a la biblioteca.

What’s the difference between donación and donativo?

Both mean “donation.” Donativo often suggests a small, voluntary contribution (e.g., a suggested donation at an event). Donación is broader and used in legal, charitable, and everyday contexts.

Should I say en la biblioteca or a la biblioteca?

Different meanings:

A la biblioteca = to the library (recipient).
En la biblioteca = in/at the library (location). Example: Hacemos una donación en la biblioteca del barrio, a la Cruz Roja. (The act happens at the library; the recipient is the Red Cross.)

Can I front the recipient for emphasis?

Yes. A la biblioteca del barrio le hacemos una donación pequeña. Fronting the IO is fine; including le is very natural in this order.

Does del barrio mean “of our neighborhood”? Could I say de mi barrio?

Del barrio usually implies the local neighborhood, often “ours” from context. If you want to be explicit, say de mi barrio or de nuestro barrio. All are correct; it’s a matter of how specific you want to be.

Do I need any accent marks here?

Yes:

donación has an accent on -ción (stress on the last syllable).
pequeña has ñ (a distinct letter), not an accent mark.
biblioteca and hacemos have no written accents.