FAQ for Nonprofits and Donors
Q. What is Ithaca Philanthropy Hub?
IthacaNonprofitCouncil.org is your resource for local giving provided by The Ithaca Community Foundation. It is a database of local nonprofit organizations providing services in the Ithaca and greater Tompkins County region. It helps donors learn about, connect with, and give to nonprofits online. The Ithaca Nonprofit Council helps nonprofits increase their visibility and receive on-line donations through a widely advertised searchable database.
Q. What are the goals?
Ithaca Philanthropy Hub provides comprehensive information on local nonprofits to enable donors an efficient and effective way to make gifts with knowledge and confidence to the areas of interest and organizations that they wish to support.
The goals of the Ithaca Nonprofit Council are to: Increase the amount of giving to local causes and strengthen the nonprofit sector.
Q. What is a nonprofit profile?
Today’s donor wants easy, accessible information in order to make more informed decisions. In the Ithaca Nonprofit Council you will find: General Information--contact information, mission, impact, and needs; Programs; Management; Governance; Financials--three years of financial information in an easy to read format, IRS form 990 (nonprofit tax reporting form), audit or financial review. The information is provided on a voluntary basis by area nonprofits. The Ithaca Nonprofit Council staff verifies some information (i.e. financial data is verified against the 990 and audit) at the same time, much of the data is self-reported. Nonprofits are asked to update profiles annually.
Q. Why are some nonprofits missing?
We are continuously adding new profiles. If you see an organization that is missing let us know and we will contact them to verify their interest.
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 GiveGab via direct deposit within 4-7 business days.
Q. How much of my donation goes to the nonprofit?
GiveGab retains a 2% campaign management fee from all donations. Credit Card processing fees are an additional 2.2% + $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. All donations are final and cannot be refunded. Any donations processed outside of Ithaca Philanthropy Hub through GiveGab.com, or subsequent recurring donations are subject to transaction fees outlined on the GiveGab.com pricing page: http://info.givegab.com/pricing.
Online giving is an efficient and cost effective way to make your gift, and we encourage you to contact us if you have questions about the fees charged by the outside vendors.
Q. Who will receive my contact information?
The Ithaca Nonprofit Council and the organization(s) you choose to support will have access to your name and email address. This information is used to send thank you messages, provide the option to receive future notifications, and to notify you of future activities.
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 https://philanthropyhub.mycommunitygives.org on your mobile device.
Q. Will my personal information be shared with others?
The organization you designate your gift to will receive your contact information so they can thank you for your support unless you choose to remain anonymous. The iTAHCA Nonprofit Council will not sell or share your personal contact information with unaffiliated third parties.
Q. How will I get a receipt for my tax deductible donation?
Once you make a gift, you will receive a written acknowledgement email from IthacaNonprofitCouncil.org. You should print and keep this gift acknowledgement for tax purposes. If you lose this gift acknowledgment please click on the blue chat bubble to have it reissued. Any additional thank you note that you receive directly from the organization you designated your gift to cannot be used as a gift acknowledgement. The gift you are making is 100% tax deductible, and the acknowledgment will display the federal tax identification number of the organization you have designated.
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 that board members or donors request information from the organization. Finally, records are necessary for submitting applications and renewal filings with various government agencies.
Q. When a nonprofit checks the box on GiveGab to declare state charitable solicitation registration compliance, what is it attesting to?
When you check 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. Do you have additional resources to reference about state charitable solicitation registration?
Yes! Here are a few more resources from Harbor Compliance to help you:
- Guide and Overview of Many Nonprofit State by State Compliance Requirements
- Guide and Overview Specific to Fundraising Compliance
- National Council of Nonprofits and Harbor Compliance have partnered to create a white paper explaining the state charitable solicitation registration requirements.
- A Quick Summary of Charitable Solicitation in Graphic Form
- Executive Brief: Charitable Solicitation Registration (great for driving awareness and support with leadership and the board)
- State by State Links to the State Organizations that Regulate Charities, Solicitation, and Registrations
Q. How do nonprofits receive donations through the Ithaca Nonprofit Council?
In order to receive donations via ACH transfer, GiveGab requires a checking account eligible to receive ACH transfers and withdrawals. A nonprofit's donations will be deposited within 4-7 business days on a daily rolling basis.
If an organization supplies the wrong type of bank account (such as a savings account), or the wrong account numbers, GiveGab will be in touch! After 30 days, if GiveGab hasn't heard from the organization, they will refund donor's gifts back to the donors.