Process

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In the first quarter of each year, charities are invited to submit an application to participate which includes a narrative of their current programs and their most recent financial information. The WCCF ensures that the charity meets the established requirements, which are outlined in the charity toolkit section of this website. Applications must be received by June 1. After all the charity applicants have been properly vetted, the WCCF prepares and distributes the WCCF Gives Check Contribution Form for donors wishing to give by check. Many donors do give by check, and their generosity is reflected in the beginning total that will be published on this website at 8 a.m. on September 18, the online giving event.

Throughout the online giving event, donors make online credit card contributions to their favorite charities through this website and the community can follow the progress of the event through a leaderboard that is maintained in real time. It is exciting to watch! One charity representative referred to it as “the Oscars for nonprofits!”

Because we accept check contributions which are postmarked on or before the online giving event, the overall total, as well as the totals for individual charities, are often not finalized until well after this day. In the fourth quarter, WCCF Gives grants are distributed electronically to charities, along with a schedule detailing the names and amounts of their contributors, unless anonymity was requested.