Donor FAQ

Why should I donate via WCCF Gives?

Because it’s easy, efficient, effective, and impactful! You can streamline your giving by supporting multiple charities with one gift at one time per year. Rather than securing multiple receipts, you will receive one receipt for your records and tax purposes. The Community Foundation screens registrants each year so you can be assured that charities on the Gives website meet Federal and State charitable guidelines. The Community Foundation covers all processing fees. And you will help build a stronger Washington County by joining the community in supporting charities that are making a positive impact!

What types of credit/debit cards are accepted?

Visa, Mastercard, and Discover credit cards are accepted. Debit cards are also accepted. Credit card gift cards are not accepted because of their high processing fees.

Can I write a check instead of giving with a credit or debit card?

Yes. If you are donating to multiple charities, please send us one check for the total of your contributions. Your check should be made payable to “WCCF” and mailed directly to:

Washington County Community Foundation
1253 Route 519, PO Box 308
Eighty Four, PA 15330

Please be sure to include the PO Box when addressing the envelope, and to include a completed Check Contribution Form with your check. Check forms will be available in June.

Can I donate with cash?

No. Cash gifts will not be accepted.

Can I make a contribution through an IRA charitable transfer?

Yes. This is an excellent giving vehicle for donors. We know from experience that IRA charitable transfers can take several weeks to process so please begin this process by September 1. Please note that gifts received via an IRA charitable transfer are not tax-deductible so the receipt we provide to you will differ from the typical receipt. If you need assistance, please call us at 724-222-6330.

When can I make my donation?

You may send a check to us anytime during the giving window of June 1 through September 18. Credit card contributions can be made on September 18 from 8 am to 8 pm through this website.

Is there a minimum and/or maximum donation?

The minimum donation is $25 per charity. There is no maximum donation; however, you may need to contact your credit card provider if you intend to make an unusually large transaction.

Who can donate?

Both individuals and businesses. However, charitable institutions are not eligible to make donations to themselves. Supporting organizations that directly support or fundraise for a participating charity are not eligible to make donations to that charity. No collected/pooled donations will be accepted.

Why can’t I find the charity I would like to support?

The charity may not have been aware of WCCF Gives or perhaps did not submit all of the required documentation to participate. Contact your charity and encourage them to consider participating next year.

What will WCCF do with my contact information?

All donor contact and gift information received during WCCF Gives will be sent to the respective charities after the final numbers are calculated and WCCF Gives grants are distributed. Anonymous donors will be listed as such.

If I don’t have an email address, how will I receive my receipt?

When completing your information on the website or on the Check Contribution Form, please be sure to provide a full mailing address so that we may mail your receipt to you.

How will my WCCF Gives donation be used?

All WCCF Gives grants are issued as unrestricted grants*, which generally permits a charity to use the grant for any purpose in support of their charitable mission. If a charity that you support wishes to direct the grant to a particular project that is between you and that charity. *Regional charities are required to use WCCF Gives grants exclusively in Washington County.

What if my employer matches gifts?

There is a section on the Check Contribution Form and on the Website Checkout Form for matching gifts from employers. Please note that you, as the employee, are responsible for initiating and completing your employer’s company match paperwork. Make your employer aware that all gifts made for WCCF Gives are made to the Washington County Community Foundation.

My credit card was declined. What do I do?

You should first verify you are entering all of your information correctly. A transposed number or incorrect billing information can cause a card to be declined. If your card is still being declined, please contact your credit card company directly.

I didn’t get an emailed receipt. Why?

The receipt could be in your junk filter, or an incorrect email address could have been entered. If you need a receipt, please call us at 724-222-6330. If you gave by check and did not provide an email address, you will receive a receipt via US Mail if you provided your mailing address.

I’m having problems with the WCCF Gives site. What should I do?

Please call us at 724-222-6330.

May my charity use WCCF Gives as an opportunity to collect membership dues?

We do not allow the collection of membership dues through WCCF Gives.

When will I know how much the charities received?

Preliminary results are posted to the website instantaneously on September 18, the online giving event. As soon as an online donation is made, you can see the charity’s total donation increase. The preliminary results will stay displayed on the website after the online giving event. Also, because we accept contributions postmarked by September 18, final numbers are not available for several weeks. We will notify all participating charities when their numbers are final. Charities will receive their WCCF Gives grants in the fourth quarter of the year.

Do you have a refund policy?

All donations are final, and no refunds will be issued. However, if you mistakenly selected an incorrect charity on the Check Contribution Form or the website or entered an incorrect amount on the website, please contact us soon as possible and we will do our best to make the correction for you.

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.

How much of my donation goes to the nonprofit?

GiveGab/Bonterra retains a 3.5% platform fee, a 2.5% credit card processing fee, and a $0.30 flat credit card fee. These fees apply only to donations made via credit card. You have the option to cover these fees or explore alternative payment methods, such as an IRA charitable transfer or check.