Frequently Asked Questions: OrganizationsCan my organization raise funds through the GivSmart Program? If your group is a Faith, School, Nonprofit, Sports League or team, Club or Fraternal Organization the answer is almost certain to be yes. Organizations are eligible if they are:
If you have any questions regarding your group’s eligibility, please call 888.659.8333. While we want to help every group, we reserve the right to refuse or terminate the participation of any organization that appears to be operating outside applicable laws and regulations. What is "the list" and how do we get on it? When a donor schedules a pick-up, through this website or by phone, they are given a choice of organizations to receive the proceeds (they can also name one not already on the list). Whether this is a person who you pointed to our program or a complete stranger, having your organization on the list makes the process very easy for the donor. While every organization that registers is on the list, we can also provide you with a dedicated donation "page" that circumvents the list and names your group as the recipient and then follows the typical process. This dedicated page is designed to be a permanent "schedule a donation" link on your website and emails. How do we register? It takes just a couple of minutes to register your organization. Once you have submitted the registration, you will be emailed our simple agreement that explains our obligations and authorizes us to put your organization on our website and phone list. We will also offer you options regarding web links, tax receipts etc. Once you have reviewed the agreement , please sign and fax (888.659.8333), mail or scan/ email it to us. After a brief review, your organization will be added to the online list and you will receive marketing materials that will help you get the most from your GivSmart at Your Doorstep fundraiser. Can we still raise funds through GivSmart even if we don't register? Yes. While there is no cost to register, even if you don't, a person can still direct the proceeds to your organization if your group meets our eligibility criteria. However, unregistered organizations will not be on the website or phone list and will not receive our marketing support. What is the cost to our organization? There are no sign-up costs or other fees to participate in the GivSmart at Your Doorstep program. As with any fundraiser, organizations may incur some cost if their paid staff handles the marketing. In addition, some organizations choose to buy display ads, print flyers, posters and other advertising materials. We provide brochures, samples and templates of advertising materials free of charge to you and are happy to work on additional marketing strategies. How much do you pay for the donated items? We will pay your organization $0.15 lb for items in the Clothing category and $0.05 lb for Household Goods (See complete list). However, there is a monthly cap on the total payout for Household Goods. While we will pick-up all of the Household Goods your donor puts out, we have to cap the Household goods weight credited to your organization at the total weight Cloth and Accessories for that month. Example: Monthly total for Cloth 500lbs X $0.15 = $75.00 Monthly total for Household 600lbs Minus 100lbs=500lbs X $0.05 = $25.00 Total = $100.00 How much money can we expect to raise? The easiest way to estimate potential revenue is to project the number of households who would participate. We use an average of $30.00 to $50.00 a year per household as a beginning point. Don't overlook the potential donations from "extended" family, friends and supporters, which can add considerably to your totals. This is a program that builds on consistency and frequency; once supporters get into the habit of setting aside specifically for your group, the momentum and the dollars grow. How do you pay us? At the close of each month, we total the weight of donations made in your name and send you a check. We include the donors’ names and addresses in a hard copy and can, at your request, send you an Excel file of your donor data. What do you do with the donor data? Your donors are volunteering their information to us so our privacy and terms of use policies apply to that information. If you are on our list, we consider that data to be yours and we will not sell, share or give your donor data to any other organization or company, PERIOD. We will limit our use of the data to manage the GivSmart at Your Doorstep program only and will not "mine" the donors list for any other fundraising program. We understand how important the donor/organization relationship is to any well run organization and will not betray or abuse your trust. How do we market the program? Your normal communication channels (email, newsletter, direct mail, web site, posters, flyers for students to take home, meeting announcements etc) are the place to start. In addition, convenience of home pick-up and nothing to buy makes the pool of potential donors much larger. Think about ways your core activist can market for you without the usual reservations that accompany the typical fundraiser. So, we urge you to look at the strengths of your organization and be creative; this fundraiser is a new opportunity! And remember, as part of registering your organization, we will send you a range of fundraising tools for your use. We have a vested interest in your organization maximizing this opportunity and will continue to develop new ideas and tools to help your program succeed. Are there limits to how much you will accept? In most cases no -- but if there is a very large pick-up (200 lbs or more) it is usually better for the donor and us to schedule a special pick-up. That can be done through the regular scheduling system on this site or drop us a note. What items do you accept? There are 2 categories of items
(See complete list) Where do you pick-up? Currently we have pick-ups scheduled once a month, by zip code, in most areas of Clackamas, Clark, Multnomah and Washington Counties. If you are outside our current service area but would like to raise funds through our program, please contact us. How does the scheduling work--- do we need to do anything? Organizations don't have any responsibility for scheduling, we do it all. Your donor selects the best date for them online or phone. Dates are assigned to routes that are based on zip codes. Every weekday we assemble routes with the list of stops that have been reserved by your donors. On any given route, we will pick-up donations directed to any number of organizations. Every pick-up is recorded and tracked individually. What about receipts for donors? At a minimum we leave our generic thank you receipt that also gives the donor the next pick-up dates in their area and background on GivSmart at Your Doorstep. You have the option to have us add a thank you from your organization and, if you are a 501 (c) (3), a tax receipt you provide. Our agreement spells out your options. How are the donations weighed? Our drivers have a list of the pick-ups scheduled for the day that designates the receiving organization. Each pick-up is weighed onsite using equipment designed for the purpose. The weights are recorded, and entered into our database that tracks donors, weight of pick-up and the designated organization. Are there other ways to make money with your program? Yes! At the doorstep pick-ups are only one method of collecting reusable goods. In-house clothing drives (make it fun and have a contest to see who can raise the most!), a collection bin at your location, rummage/garage sale leftovers, lost and found inventory are just a few ways you can add to your bottom line. Be creative! If you have an idea, talk it over with us; we want to help your organization EXCEED its fundraising goals. |