Donation Questions:

How can I donate to Give Local?

Visit spsgives.org from November 7th through November 18th to view the list of Give Local 2022 nonprofit participants. Click the profile to explore a nonprofit and their projects. When you are on the page of a nonprofit you would like to support, click the "donate" button to make a secure online donation.

Who can donate?

Anyone can donate to a nonprofit that has a campaign on the Give Local online giving platform. You do not have to have a fund at the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound. You can even reside outside of Washington and still donate. As long as you care about the South Puget Sound region, you can “Give Local”!

Can I donate by check?

We strongly encourage online donations to the Give Local platform, but cash, checks, stock, and other types of gifts will be accepted. The Community Foundation will manually add offline donations made during Give Local to the nonprofit organization’s online total.  

Gifts must be received by Friday, November 18 at 5:00pm to count toward an organization’s Give Local total.  

Please make checks payable to the “Community Foundation of South Puget Sound” and please write the name of the organization you’d like to support in the memo.

‍Checks may be mailed to:

‍Community Foundation of South Puget Sound
212 Union Ave SE, Suite 102, Olympia, WA  98501

For questions, please call us at 360.705.3340.

Can I make a Give Local gift through my donor advised fund or individual retirement account?

Yes! Donations made via a fund held at the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound (or elsewhere) can count toward Give Local. Please review this document with instructions on how to make gifts through your DAF or IRA during Give Local. For more information on how to make Give Local donations through your fund, email Mary Lam (she/her) at mary@thecommunityfoundation.com or call 360.705.3340.

Is my gift tax deductible?

Give Local donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Immediately after making your gift, you will receive a confirmation email. This email will include the necessary tax information, so make sure to save this correspondence for your records. If you didn’t receive the email or need another copy, please contact Melissa Rosscup (they/them) at mrosscup@thecommunityfoundation.com.

Is my gift safe and secure?

Yes. The Give Local website is powered by Community Funded and is a secure PCI-Level 1 compliant site for donating to your favorite charities. You can be sure that your personal information is protected when you donate through our Give Local giving platform.

May I get a refund if there is an error with my donation?

While charitable donations made via Give Local are irrevocable, we will process refunds if there are extenuating circumstances related to the transaction. Please contact us by phone at 360.705.3340 by 1:00 p.m. on Monday, November 28 if you have an issue with your donation, and we will review your individual case.

How much of my donation goes to the nonprofit?

All of it! With every online donation, there is a standard transaction fee assessed by the credit card company and fees associated with the Give Local online giving platform. However, thanks to the generous support of our Give Local Sponsors, credit card fees are covered so that 100% of the donations go to the nonprofit of your choosing.

Does the nonprofit see my name?

Yes. If you give via the Give Local platform, the nonprofit you support will be notified of your gift. Choosing to remain anonymous means your name won't be published on the Give Local online platform. If you are interested in making a 100% anonymous gift, contact Mary Lam (she/her) at mary@thecommunityfoundation.com or call 360.705.3340.

Does the Community Foundation receive any portion of the donations or fees?

No, the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound does not receive any portion of your donation or the related transaction fees. However, you can help support Give Local by making a gift to the Community Foundation.

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Give Local Specific Questions:

How does the Bonus Fund work?

Every dollar raised by an organization will be stretched by the $100,000 Bonus Fund generously provided by the Dawkins Charitable Trust. The Bonus Fund is a proportional match. The Bonus Fund proportionally increases the value of every dollar donated.

Here's how it works:

If a nonprofit organization receives 5 % of the total amount raised during Give Local, that same nonprofit receives 5 % of the $100,000 Bonus Fund (0.05 x $100,000 = $5,000). However, no organization will receive more than $7,500 of the Bonus Fund. So, for example, if an organization raises 20% of all the funds raised during Give Local, their match will be capped at $7,500. This “cap” is in place to ensure that all participating nonprofits will get the chance to benefit from the Bonus Fund.

How does Giving Wednesday work?

Donors who make gifts made on Give Local Wednesdays (November 9 and November 16) will automatically be entered into a drawing to win $100 for a participating nonprofit of their choice.  

The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound will broadcast the drawing and announce the winners on social media by the end of the week. Winners will receive a follow-up email from the Community Foundation, and requests that winners respond to the email within two business days to ensure timely distribution.

Drawing entries are limited to one per person. There is a minimum $5 donation to be entered into the drawing. Donors who choose to donate anonymously will not be entered into the drawings.  

Please follow our social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@tcfsps) on the following platforms to join in on the fun!  

How will I be recognized as a donor?

You will receive an immediate thank you and a tax receipt via email. The nonprofit(s) you support can also send a personal thank you note as well. Your name and donation will also appear on the online giving platform. If you prefer not to be recognized, you can choose to make an anonymous contribution. Anonymous donors will receive a tax receipt but will not have their name shared online.

What organizations are participating in Give Local?

Give Local organizations are 501(c)(3) public charities that provide services in Thurston, Mason, and Lewis Counties. All the nonprofits participating in Give Local have been reviewed by the Community Foundation. We verify that each participant is recognized by the IRS as a qualified charitable organization.  

What if I can't find my favorite nonprofit on the Give Local site?

All qualified organizations in Thurston, Mason, and Lewis Counties are welcome to register for Give Local. Registration was promoted via Community Foundation emails, newsletters, and social media accounts. If you wish to support a nonprofit that is not participating in Give Local, then you cannot donate to it through the Give Local online giving platform. However, we are happy to assist you with your charitable giving please email Mary Lam (she/her) at mary@thecommunityfoundation.com or call 360.705.3340.
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Other questions?

We would be happy to answer any additional questions you have regarding Give Local or the Community Foundation. Please contact Mary Lam (she/her) at mary@thecommunityfoundation.com or call 360.705.3340.