FAQ
Q. What is Giving Day?
Giving Day is a day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Giving Day is an initiative of GiveGab.
Q. When is Giving Day?
Giving Day is on May 5th, 2026 from midnight to 11:59 PM.
Q. Which organizations can participate?
Organizations benefiting from designated endowment funds hosted by the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation are eligible to participate in Give Local Isabella. If an organization benefits from more than one endowment fund at the Foundation, the organization must choose one endowment from which to raise resources.
Q. Who can donate?
Anyone may donate. All donations made during Give Local Isabella are tax-deductible and cannot be refunded. Credit and debit card donations must be made via the Give Local Isabella website. Cash and checks may be presented in person to a Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation staff member at the Hersee House between 9am and 3pm on May 5th 2026 only. All donations will be receipted by GiveGab. No guarantees the gift will be recorded during a certain time frame (Ex. during a specific prize time frame.).
Q. How do I help my favorite organization raise money before and during Give Local Isabella?
All are encouraged to spread the word about the upcoming event among family and friends via social media, email, text, carrier pigeon, etc. The website also allows individuals to sign up as peer-to-peer fundraisers for any organization registered. Visit the organization profile and select the maroon "Fundraise" button at the top. Follow the prompts to create your own profile and password. GiveGab will then generate a unique weblink that you may share with peers via any of the mediums listed above before and during Give Local Isabella.
Q. What is GiveGab/Bonterra?
GiveGab, which is becoming Bonterra, is a nonprofit giving platform that helps nonprofits to raise money, engage donors and manage volunteers quickly and efficiently. GiveGab/Bonterra 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 organization will be disbursed to the endowment fund that benefits them following the event. All donations will be placed in the principal portion of the fund.
Q. How much of my donation goes to the nonprofit?
GiveGab/Bonterra retains a 2% 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. All donations are final and cannot be refunded. Any donations processed outside of the Giving Day donation period through GiveGab.com, or subsequent recurring donations, are also subject to the transaction fees outlined above.
Q. Who will receive my contact information?
The organization(s) you choose to support will have access to your name and email 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.
Q. Do I need to create an account to make a donation?
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 givingday.org on your mobile device.
Q. Can I pre-schedule a donation for Giving Day?
You cannot pre-schedule your Giving Day gift. In order for your donation to be counted towards prize incentives awarded on Giving Day it must be made between 12:00AM on May 5 - 11:59PM on May 5.
Q. What if my organization wants to participate, but does not have a fund established?
If you represent an organization that is interested in establishing a fund at the Community Foundation, please reach out to Liz Conway at lconway@mpacf.org by April 16.
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. How can I ensure my organization receives its donations?
In order to receive your donations via ACH transfer, GiveGab/Bonterra requires a checking account eligible to receive ACH transfers and withdrawals. Your donations will be deposited within 5-7 business days on a daily rolling basis.
If your organization supplies the wrong type of bank account (such as a savings account), or the wrong account numbers, GiveGab/Bonterra will be in touch! After 30 days, if GiveGab/Bonterra hasn't heard from your organization, they will refund your gifts back to your donors.