FAQ
Q. What is Valley Giving Guide?
Valley Giving Guide is an online giving event that takes place annually throughout December. It helps local nonprofits raise awareness, connect with new supporters, and inspire generosity across the Blue Mountain region. It's also an opportunity for community members to come together and support the causes they care about most.
Q. Which organizations can participate?
Participating organizations must be verified 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits that are headquartered in, or provide services within, Walla Walla, Columbia, Umatilla, or Garfield counties.
Q. Who can donate?
Anyone can donate through Valley Giving Guide. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law and are nonrefundable.
Donations made through the online giving portal can be completed using a credit or debit card. Donations are processed and receipted through GiveGab (Bonterra).
Q. What is GiveGab?
GiveGab, now part of Bonterra, is an online fundraising platform that helps nonprofits raise money, engage supporters, and manage volunteer activities. Valley Giving Guide uses this platform to securely process online donations.
Q. How will donations be distributed?
All donations made through Valley Giving Guide are collected during the giving event and distributed to participating nonprofits by Blue Mountain Community Foundation after the event concludes.
Q. How much of my donation goes to the nonprofit?
100% of your donation goes to the nonprofit(s) you choose.
Valley Giving Guide covers the platform and credit card processing fees through the Bonus Pool, ensuring that participating nonprofits receive the full value of every donation. Donors also have the option to cover these fees at checkout. When donors choose this option, more Bonus Pool funds remain available to boost gifts made during the campaign.
Q. What is the option to pay the fees at checkout?
Every online donation includes processing fees, consisting of a platform fee and credit card fees.
Valley Giving Guide uses the Bonus Pool to cover these costs so nonprofits receive the full amount of each donation. However, some donors choose to cover the fees themselves to help preserve more Bonus Pool dollars for nonprofit bonus awards and giving incentives.
At checkout, you'll see an option labeled "I'll cover the fees!" If you leave the box checked, the estimated fees will be added to your donation. If you prefer not to cover the fees, simply uncheck the box.
Q. How does privacy and anonymity work?
At checkout, you'll be able to choose from several privacy options. The table below outlines the specifics of each option.
| Privacy Option | Visible to the Public | Visible to the Nonprofit You Support | Visible to BMCF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Show my name and donation amount | Name and donation amount | Yes | Yes |
| Hide my name publicly | Donation amount only (listed as "Anonymous") | Yes | Yes |
| Hide my donation amount publicly | Name only | Yes | Yes |
| Hide both my name and donation amount publicly | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hide my name from this organization and the public | No | No | Yes |
Q. Who will receive my contact information?
Your contact information is shared according to the privacy settings you select during checkout. Please refer to the table above.
If you choose any option other than "Hide my name from this organization and the public," the nonprofit(s) you support will receive your donation details, including your name, address, phone number, email address (if provided), and any honoree or memorial information you include.
If you select "Hide my name from this organization and the public," only Blue Mountain Community Foundation will have access to your information.
Q. Do I need to create a GiveGab account?
No. You do not need to create an account to donate.
The reasons people choose to create an account include viewing your donation history, accessing your tax receipts in one place, following organizations you support, and making future donations more easily.
Whether or not you create an account, a tax receipt will be emailed to you immediately after your donation is processed.
Q. How many organizations can I support?
You may support as many participating nonprofits as you'd like.
Please note that the giving portal allows a maximum of 10 donations per transaction. If you'd like to support more than 10 organizations, please complete an additional transaction.
If you make multiple transactions and would like a consolidated receipt for tax purposes, please email sara@bluemountainfoundation.org.
Q. Can I donate from my mobile device?
Yes! Just visit valleygivingguide.org from your smartphone or tablet to donate.
Q. Can I schedule my donation in advance?
No. Donations cannot be scheduled in advance through Valley Giving Guide.
To qualify for Bonus Pool boosts and prize incentives, donations must be made between December 1 and December 31, 2026.
Q. What if my favorite nonprofit isn't listed?
Please email bmcf@bluemountainfoundation.org with the best name and contact information for the nonprofit organization. Someone on our team will reach out to determine whether they are eligible to participate and encourage them to register for future Valley Giving Guide events.
Q. Who should I make my check payable to?
Please make checks payable to Valley Giving Guide or VGG.