FAQ

General FAQ

Q Who we are: One Valley Community Foundation

The One Valley Community Foundation’s mission is to connect people who care to causes that matter to build a better community throughout Gallatin County. Through grantmaking, managing investments, and providing philanthropic counsel to organizations and individuals, community foundations are imperative for the stability of generations to come.

Although community foundations play a pivotal role in the charitable ecosystem of the region, our largest asset is you - your family, your neighbors, your fellow Gallatin County community members is what makes this community so valuable. We see community investment as an essential part of moving towards a more equitable society - when people in the community feel a sense of pride and ownership, they work better together for justice.

Q Why is One Valley Community Foundation hosting Give Big Gallatin Valley for local nonprofit organizations?

We are invested in bringing awareness to the local nonprofit organizations that make our community a vibrant place for us to live, work, and play. Nonprofit organizations play a critical role in all our lives and as a Community Foundation, we are deeply dedicated to supporting the good work that they do. The goal of the Give Big program is to:

Raise the level of knowledge about nonprofit organizations in our county and highlight their positive impact on our well-being.
Support the operating needs of nonprofit organizations that serve Gallatin County through cash prizes made possible by our generous sponsors and funds raised.
Grow the base of engaged donors in Gallatin County – bringing new donors to our nonprofit organizations.
Spotlight the charitable trends in our community. Where are we giving? What are our nonprofit organizations saying is vital and needed right now?

The  One Valley Community Foundation  does not take a portion of any gifts during Give Big. We only receive gifts made directly to our profile, and we are ineligible to win prizes.

Q. Why give?

We all have causes we care about, and Give Big is the perfect way to not only support your passions, but find new organizations doing important work in your community as well! Sort by issue area, see organizations’ stories, and chip in to build on the vital work being done to support friends, neighbors, and families across Gallatin County!

Q. When is Give Big Gallatin Valley?

Give Big Gallatin Valley 2023 will take place at www.givebiggv.org starting at 6 pm on Thursday, May 4th until 6 pm on Friday, May 5th.

Donor FAQ

Q. Who can donate?

Anyone may donate! Donations to a nonprofit organization participating in Give Big Gallatin Valley are tax-deductible. Donations can be made online at GiveBigGV.org, or offline via check, stock, IRA or DAF transfer either directly to the nonprofit or through the One Valley Community Foundation. One Valley does not take any portion of your donation. Find out more on the  Ways to Give  page.

Q. How can I get involved?

Donate online on May 4th & 5th at  GiveBigGV.org!  Search for a nonprofit  to give to by typing in a specific organization’s name or search the causes you’re most passionate about to see which organizations are working in those areas.
Donate via check directly to the organization you support by mailing them a check ahead of Give Big! Want to give to multiple organizations through one check? You can through the One Valley Community Foundation! Check out the  Ways to Give  page to find the Offline Donation Form and learn more.
Be a  Peer-to-Peer Fundraiser  for an organization you care about.
Find a volunteer opportunity on your favorite organization's profile at GiveBigGV.org
Help spread the word - share the initiative with your community! Check out our social media pages for fun ways to spread the word.
Share Give Big or news about a cause you care about on social media. By doing so, you could help a nonprofit you love win one of our cash prizes  check them out here!

Q. How will I be able to search for and donate to a nonprofit?

You will be able to search for a nonprofit directly from www.GiveBigGV.org. You can search for nonprofits by name, community, and cause categories. Underneath the search function, donors will have the ability to see a list of each organization participating.

To donate online go to your nonprofit of choice’s profile and click the donate button!

Q. Is the foundation keeping any revenue from the project?

No, One Valley Community Foundation does not take any portion of your gift during Give Big. Additionally, the Foundation and our presenting sponsor, Yellowstone Club Community Foundation and other generous sponsors have committed to a prize pool to incentive giving. Additionally, the Foundation has committed over $100,000 to cover all the hard costs of this project as well as staff time.

Q. Can I give to more than one organization at a time?

Yes! When giving online, look for the button that says “Add Another Organization” on your donation flow or feel free to continue shopping around the site and the gift basket will save your donations for you.

Q. Is there a minimum or maximum credit card gift?

The minimum donation is $5. The maximum gift will be determined by the donor’s generosity and credit card limit.

Q. Are gifts tax-deductible?

All gifts are 100% tax-deductible and will be for the unrestricted use by the recipient organization.

Q. Can I donate a gift via check?

Whether you want to donate online via credit card or offline via check, giving is easy during Give Big. Go to the  Ways to Give  page for more details.

Q. Can I donate to Give Big through my IRA, donor advised fund or stock transfer?

Yes! Please contact Jennifer Owens at accounting@onevalley.org to facilitate this gift. In order to have your gift count in the Give Big totals, we ask that you reach out to Jennifer by April 21st to help us support your giving.

Q. What is GiveGab?

GiveGab is an online giving platform that helps nonprofits raise money, engage donors, and manage volunteers quickly and efficiently. GiveGab manages the Give Big website. Their support team is available through the blue chat bubble in the bottom right corner.

Q. How will donations be distributed?

Each donation made to a participating nonprofit will be disbursed directly from GiveGab’s payment processor, Stripe, via direct deposit within 5-7 business days. All offline donations received through the One Valley Community Foundation and prizes awarded to nonprofits will be distributed by the One Valley Community Foundation to nonprofits within a month of the initiative. The One Valley Community Foundation does not receive any portion of donations during Give Big outside of donations made directly to One Valley.

Q. How will donations be reported on the donor’s credit card statement?

The statement will show a charge for each organization to which a donation was made. It will show GiveGab-[organization name].  If you are making multiple gifts or high-volume gifts, it might be worth checking with your bank ahead of time so that your card is not flagged!

Q. How much of my donation goes to the nonprofit?

If you donate online with a credit card, 4.5% + $0.30 will be retained by the credit card companies and GiveGab. The complete breakdown is as follows: 

2% service charge from GiveGab for building and maintaining the hosting site. This is the only cost accrued by GiveGab and it goes to cover site building and maintenance, live event customer service, and donation processing.
2.5% + $0.30 is charged on all transactions made with any card provider. In past years, fees have been higher for transactions with American Express. These are standard charges from each credit card company for donations made online. 
You are given the option to cover the fees during check out and if you choose this option, 100% of your online charitable gift will go to the receiving organization.

The One Valley Community Foundation does not receive any portion of donations during Give Big outside of donations made directly to One Valley.

Any donations processed outside of Give Big Gallatin Valley, through GiveGab.com, or subsequent recurring donations are subject to transaction fees outlined on the GiveGab.com pricing page and may vary based on organization subscription: http://info.givegab.com/pricing.

Q. Can donors designate how a nonprofit uses their gifts?

Gifts made during Give Big are considered unrestricted gifts to the nonprofit.

Q. Who will receive my contact information?

The organization(s) you choose to support will have access to your name and email address. You also have the option of sharing your phone number and address. This information is used solely to send thank you messages, provide the option to receive future notifications, and to notify you of future activities. 

If you choose to give anonymously, your donation and or name (based on your selection) will be listed as anonymous on the Give Big website and hidden from public view. To make your name and amount anonymous, select one or both boxes under the “Optional” heading of the Donation form ("Please do not display the donation amount publicly." and "Hide my name from the public"). This will hide your name and/or donation information from public view on the Give Big website. Organizations will still have access to your name and contact information on their donation reports.

If you would like to give completely anonymously, please select, "Hide my name from this organization and the public" and the organization will not be provided your name or contact information but will receive the full donation. One Valley Community Foundation will still have access to all contact information to help answer any questions or resolve any issues that come up.

One Valley Community Foundation will NEVER give or sell any donor information to a third party.

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 donation opportunities. 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. What if my preferred organization is not listed?

If your preferred organization is not listed, that means they did not register for Give Big this year. Reach out to them to encourage them to participate next year! We encourage you to use the “Search” function on www.GiveBigGV.org to find other causes that match your passions!

Q. Who can I contact if I have additional questions?

Click the blue chat bubble in the bottom right corner for immediate support from Give Gab. They will be able to support you with any questions about the website, your receipts and how to give online. You can also contact Jill Ellwood, Nonprofit Programming & Relations Manager for One Valley Community Foundation, at jill@onevalley.org for questions about in-person events, media inquiries, nonprofit support and offline gifts.

Nonprofit FAQ

Q. When is Give Big Gallatin Valley?

Give Big Gallatin Valley 2023 will take place from 6 pm on Thursday, May 4th to 6 pm on Friday, May 5th.

Q. Is there a fee to participate?

Yes. Registration fees are on a sliding scale based on your organization's budget size. Organizations with a budget less than $100k pay $80. Organizations with a budget between $100k and $500k pay $110. Organizations with a budget over $500k pay $140. Registration fees help support the marketing and planning needs for the initiative.

Q. Are there terms of service for participating in Give Big Gallatin Valley?

Yes, the Terms of Service for participating in Give Big Gallatin Valley can be found  here. Each nonprofit must read and agree to the Terms of Service during registration. 

Q. Which organizations can participate?

Organizations that are verified 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits that are located in  OR  serving Gallatin County are eligible to participate if registered by Friday, March 15th, 2023. Every organization must register their organization in order to participate, even if your organization has participated in past events.

Q. Why should my organization participate?

Great question! Here are some reasons to participate in Give Big:

Year after year, Give Big helps raise awareness for the nonprofit sector. By coming together on one day, we are able to leverage all of our resources to promote all of the good work charities are doing in our region!
Give Big exists to support, equip, and serve the local nonprofit community through free workshops, tools, and templates that can be used to fundraise year-round. Our hope is to help equip each and every agency in our county footprint with the tools they need to thrive!
Prize funds will go to organizations that participate in the event. This money is spread out amongst the different sized organizations and enabled donors to maximize their impact!
Giving is contagious and by creating an entire event dedicated to giving, we can come together as a community and encourage our friends and family to give to the causes we love the most. With so many new organizations to discover, there's something for everyone!

Q. Who can donate?

Anyone may donate. Donations through the Give Big Gallatin Valley online portal to charitable nonprofit organizations are tax-deductible. Donations will be processed and receipted by GiveGab.

Q. What is GiveGab?

GiveGab is an online giving platform that helps nonprofits to raise money, engage donors and manage volunteers quickly and efficiently. You can contact GiveGab through the blue chat bubble in the bottom right corner. They can help with participation approval, creating your profile, adding peer-to-peer fundraisers and any other questions about the website.

Q. Why do you require the last four digits of the nonprofit administrator's Social Security number and date of birth for a nonprofit's donation payouts?

GiveGab is an online platform that collects, processes, and distributes money in the form of donations from supporters to organizations, and they fall under certain regulations, in particular, for US-based organizations, they are required to abide by the compliance laws that are part of the Patriot Act.

In short, GiveGab needs to verify that the individual who is signing up an organization to collect donations, is who they say they are and is authorized to do so. Additionally, we need to verify that the organization is a legitimately registered corporation. Collecting this information helps us streamline donation processing and payouts with our underlying payment processor (Stripe) and the financial institutions that they work with. More importantly, we have a duty to our users that when they choose to support a cause with a monetary gift, that money is going where they expect it to go! You can read a full explanation here, including how this information is stored.

Q. How will donations be distributed?

Each donation made to a participating nonprofit will be disbursed directly from GiveGab via direct deposit within 5-7 business days. All offline donations received through the One Valley Community Foundation and prizes awarded to nonprofits will be distributed by the One Valley Community Foundation to nonprofits within a month of the initiative.

The One Valley Community Foundation does not receive any portion of donations during Give Big outside of donations made directly to One Valley.

Q. How much of donations goes to my nonprofit?

For online credit card donations, 4.5% + $0.30 will be retained by the credit card companies and GiveGab. The complete breakdown is as follows: 

2% service charge from GiveGab for building and maintaining the hosting site. This is the only cost accrued by GiveGab and it goes to cover site building and maintenance, live event customer service, and donation processing.
2.5% + $0.30 is charged on all transactions made with any card provider. In past years, fees have been higher for transactions with American Express. These are standard charges from each credit card company for donations made online. 
A donor is given the option to cover the fees and if they choose this option, 100% of their online charitable gift will go to the receiving organization.

The One Valley Community Foundation does not receive any portion of donations during Give Big outside of donations made directly to One Valley.

Q. Who will receive the donor's contact information?

Donors have multiple options regarding anonymity. Donors can choose to be listed publicly on the Give Big website and share their contact information with the organization(s) they support. Additionally, they may choose to be listed anonymously on the website but share their information with the organization, in which case the organization will receive their name, email address and optionally their address and phone number. This information is should be used solely to send thank you messages, provide the option to receive future notifications, and to notify donors of future activities. Finally, a donor may choose to give and be kept anonymous from the public and the organization. If that is the case, the organization will receive the full donation and the donor will be listed anonymously in the organization's donation report. One Valley Community Foundation will receive all donor contact information to help resolve any issues that may arise. This information will never be sold or given to a third party by One Valley and should not be sold or given away by the nonprofits either.

Q. How do matching gifts and challenge gifts work for my nonprofit?

Matches and challenges are a great way to engage committed supporters of your organization and engage new and smaller donors by helping their gift go farther. Gifts to be used as matches or challenges can be made directly to your organization before, during, or after Give Big depending on what works best for your organization and your donor. As the organization, you simply add the match or challenge to your profile from your Giving Day dashboard. You can customize the time frame, name, amount, and more. Your organization is responsible for receipting this donor for their contribution.

Matches get automatically added as gifts come in through the Give Big platform and get added to the organization's total. For example, an organization has a $1,000 match. The organization receives a $100 gift and their matching fund automatically adds another $100 to their total.

Challenges get added to the organization's total in full when a certain goal is met. For example, an organization has a $1,000 match that will get added when the day of gifts reach $10,000. When a donor makes the gift to hit $10,000, the $1,000 challenge bonus is automatically added to the total.

Q. Who should I contact for help with the registration process?

If you have questions related to the website platform or your profile, please contact GiveGab support in the blue chat bubble at the bottom right of your screen.

If you have questions related to eligibility, resources or local considerations, please contact Jill Ellwood at jill@onevalley.org.