FAQ

Q. What is Valley Giving Guide?

Valley Giving Guide is a month of online giving that provides nonprofits the opportunity to gain exposure to -- and start relationships with -- new donors, and for people in our region to come together to raise as much money as possible for local nonprofits.

Q. Which organizations can participate?

Organizations that are verified 501( c )(3) charitable nonprofits that are headquartered or provide services in Walla Walla, Columbia, Umatilla, or Garfield Counties.

Q. Who can donate?

Anyone may donate. Donations through the Valley Giving Guide online portal to charitable nonprofit organizations are tax-deductible and cannot be refunded. Contributions may be made via credit and debit card only. Donations will be received and receipted by GiveGab.

Q. What is GiveGab?

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 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 nonprofit will be collected and disbursed at the end of the giving event through check from Blue Mountain Community Foundation.

Q. How much of my donation goes to the nonprofit?

100% of your donation will go to the nonprofit or nonprofits that you choose. While each donation incurs credit card fees and platform fees (to pay for the website and technology that makes the online giving work), Valley Giving Guide uses the bonus pool to cover all those fees. Alternatively, you have the option to cover these expenses yourself at checkout. Either way, the nonprofit(s) to which you donate will receive 100% of your donation. If you choose to cover those fees it will leave more money in the bonus pool to provide boosts to all gifts made through the Valley Giving Guide.

Q. What is this option to pay the fees at checkout?

Each donation incurs credit card fees and platform fees (to pay for the website and technology that makes the online giving work). The platform fee is 3.5%. The credit card fees vary based on the credit card that a donor chooses to use. Altogether, those fees run from 5.6% to more than 6%. Valley Giving Guide uses the bonus pool to cover all those fees. Some donors like to cover those fees themselves so we have included that option at checkout. Specifically, on the final checkout page, you’ll see a box checked next to “I’ll cover the fees!” If you leave that box checked, an amount equal to these fees will be added to your donation, leaving more money in the bonus pool to provide boosts to donations made through the Valley Giving Guide. 

If you don’t want to cover the fees, then uncheck that box.

Q. Anonymity and privacy. What if I don’t want the public or the nonprofit to which I’m donating to see my name?

On the final checkout page, you’ll see three choices under “Privacy Option(s).” If you check the box next to “Please do not display a name publicly,” then your name will not be displayed on the Valley Giving Guide website as a person who has donated. If you check the box next to “Please do not display the donation amount publicly,” then the amount of your donation will not be displayed on the Valley Giving Guide website. For example, if you check the first box but not the second box, then your donation will be shown publicly on the Valley Giving Guide website as “Anonymous” along with your donation amount. Or, if you check only the second box, then your donation will be shown publicly on the Valley Giving Guide website with your name but without any donation amount. If you check both boxes, then nothing about your donation will be shown publicly on the Valley Giving Guide website. However, your gift details will be shared privately with the nonprofit(s) you supported, including your name, gift amount, address, phone number, honoree or memorial listing, and email address if provided.

The third Privacy Option choice is “Hide my name from this organization and the public.” If you check that box, then nothing related to your donation – neither your name nor your donation amount - will be shown on the Valley Giving Guide website or shared with the nonprofit(s) to which you donate. Blue Mountain Community Foundation (BMCF) is the only organization that will be able to see your details. BMCF promises you that we will not share your information with any other organization and will not use your contact information to contact you.

Q. Who will receive my contact information?

It depends on what you select under Privacy Options. On the final checkout page, if you select an option or options other than “Hide my name from this organization and the public,” then each organization you donate to will be able to see your gift details, your name, address, phone number, honoree or memorial listing, and email address if provided. 

If you instead select “Hide my name from this organization and the public,” then Blue Mountain Community Foundation (BMCF) is the only organization that will be able to see your name and contact information. BMCF promises you that we will not share your information with any other organization and will not use your contact information to contact you.

Q. Do I need to create an account with GiveGab?

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 valleygivingguide.org on your mobile device.

Q. Can I pre-schedule a donation for Valley Giving Guide?

You cannot pre-schedule your Valley Giving Guide gift, but you may make a donation to a participating nonprofit before or after the Valley Giving Guide. In order for your donation to be bonus pool eligable and counted towards prize incentives, your donation must be made between 12/3/24 - 12/31/24. 

Q. What if my preferred organization is not listed?

Please send an email to meg@bluemountainfoundation.org to request that we contact your organization of choice.

Q. Who do I make my check out to? 

Please make all checks payable to Valley Giving Guide or VGG.