FAQ
Q. What is Giving is Gorges?
Giving is Gorges is a day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration between United Way of Tompkins County, GiveGab, Visions Federal Credit Union, local nonprofits and donors. Giving is Gorges is an initiative of United Way of Tompkins County.
Q. When is Giving is Gorges?
Giving is Gorges is on June 21st, 2022 from midnight to 11:59 PM.
Q. Which organizations can participate?
Organizations that are verified 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits complying with the Patriot Act that are headquartered or provide services in Tompkins County. Organizations must be registered to participate by June 15th.
Q. Who can donate?
Anyone may donate. Donations through the Giving is Gorges online portal to charitable nonprofit organizations are tax-deductible and cannot be refunded. Contributions may be made via credit and debit cards only. Donations will be received and receipted by United Way of Tompkins County.
Q. What is GiveGab?
GiveGab is a nonprofit giving platform that helps nonprofits to raise money, engage donors and manage volunteers quickly and efficiently. GiveGab offers a full portfolio of simple and easy-to-use products that allows organizations to function in a more streamlined manner.
Q. How will donations be distributed?
Each donation made to a participating nonprofit will be disbursed directly from United Way of Tompkins County by check by July 30, 2022.
Q. How much of my donation goes to the nonprofit?
GiveGab retains a 3.5% campaign management fee from all donations. Credit Card processing fees are an additional 2.5% + $0.30 for all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover). You are given the option to cover the fees and if you choose this option, 100% of your online charitable gift will go to the receiving organization and you have also supported United Way of Tompkins County for its direct costs. For those not covering these fees, Visions Federal Credit Union as a Corporate Cornerstone Partner covers administrative fees and United Way of Tompkins County sends 100% of your gift to the receiving organizations. United Way of Tompkins County does not retain any fees unless you elect to “tip the host” at “checkout.” All donations are final and cannot be refunded. Any donations processed outside of Giving is Gorges donation period, through GiveGab.com, or subsequent recurring donations are subject to transaction fees outlined on the GiveGab.com pricing page: http://info.givegab.com/pricing.
Q. Who will receive my contact information?
In addition to United Way of Tompkins County receiving your contact information, the organization(s) you choose to support will have access to your name and email address.
Q. Do I need to create an account with GiveGab?
No. You do not need to create an account to make a donation. The benefits of creating an account include having your tax receipts collected in one location, being able to track your donations, follow the charities you support, and engage in future volunteering and donations. Your tax receipt is emailed immediately upon processing your donation. To claim a donation as a deduction on U.S. taxes, you should retain the donation receipt as an official record.
Q. Can I make donations via a mobile device?
Yes! Simply visit givingisgorges.org on your mobile device.
Q. Can I pre-schedule a donation for Giving is Gorges?
You cannot pre-schedule your Giving is Gorges gift, but you may make a donation to a participating nonprofit from June 16 to June 30, 2022 through Giving is Gorges.
Q. What if my preferred organization is not listed?
Please send an email to info@uwtc.org to request that we contact your organization of choice.
Q. What is state charitable solicitation registration?
Nonprofits are held to a high standard of government regulation and public scrutiny. And that is with good reason! Eligible 501(c) nonprofits are exempt from federal corporate taxes and have access to public funding. These benefits are not typically available to for-profit businesses, so laws are in place to protect the public and ensure nonprofits do not abuse their financial advantages. The IRS and states all have requirements for nonprofits.
Q. Why is state charitable solicitation registration compliance important?
While 501(c) nonprofits receive key financial benefits, the penalties for noncompliance can be serious. The IRS can revoke a nonprofit’s tax exemption and impose fines that can accrue daily. The states can administratively dissolve a nonprofit corporation and levy steep financial penalties. Perhaps worst of all, an organization can lose out on a grant or large donation because it has not kept itself in good standing.
Taking a proactive approach to compliance helps ensure the sustained success of the organization. The cost of staying compliant is small in comparison to the much larger costs of noncompliance. The saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” could not be more true in this context.
Q. What are the key aspects of state charitable solicitation registration compliance?
The IRS provides tax exemptions to eligible nonprofits under IRC 501(c). Public charities and private foundations receive 501(c)(3) tax exemption. The IRS scrutinizes organizations when they apply for 501(c)(3) but also ensures that those organizations meet the ongoing obligations to remain eligible. Nonprofits must file a 990 tax form each year with the IRS to disclose their financial data for the year.
Each state has their own set of requirements. Nonprofits are typically incorporated in a given state as a nonprofit corporation. The state in which the nonprofit has incorporated will impose requirements on the nonprofit, and those responsibilities typically span across multiple state agencies. Usually nonprofits must submit an annual filing to the corporations division of the secretary of state, maintain its license to fundraise (charitable solicitation registration), file for a state business license, and maintain state-level tax exemption with the revenue department. As nonprofits expand outside of the state or operate nationwide, they must comply with the same items in each other state as well.
In addition to IRS and state filing requirements, nonprofits must keep adequate records. Keeping accurate and complete records is critical in the event that an organization is audited. It is also common for board members or donors to request information from the organization. Finally, records are necessary for submitting applications and renewal filings with various government agencies.
Q. When I check the box on GiveGab to declare state charitable solicitation registration compliance, what am I attesting to?
When you check the box, the box you are attesting (defined as "declaring that something exists or is the case") that your organization is compliant with applicable state fundraising requirements in the states in which you may solicit donors using the GiveGab platform.
Q. How can I ensure my organization receives it's donations?
United Way of Tompkins County will automatically send a check by July 30 to the mailing address you use in your organization’s registration. Because in order to participate UWTC will have verified your 501c3 status and compliance with the Patriot Act, there is nothing more you need to do!