Q. What is the Valley Giving Guide?
Valley Giving Guide (VGG) is a month of online giving hosted by Blue Mountain Community Foundation (BMCF) that brings together the entire community to lift up local nonprofits. VGG owes a debt to the Sustainable Living Center, which introduced the Alternative Gift Fair back in 2018, a way to give mindfully and meaningfully during what is often a season of material excess.
When BMCF first took on community giving in 2020, “All In Washington” 100% matching funds caused incredible excitement around giving. And in the years since, BMCF has continued the tradition of boosting gifts by securing a bonus pool.
In 2023, the first $10,000 of each online gift got a 10% boost, and offline gifts, like checks, earned a 7% bonus.
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. This year, BMCF reports 172 nonprofits are on board.
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 are received and receipted by GiveGab, a giving platform that helps nonprofits raise money.
Q. Do I need to create an account with GiveGab?
No. You do not need to create an account to make a donation. Whether you have an account or not, your tax receipt is emailed immediately after your donation is processed. To claim a donation as a deduction on U.S. taxes, you should retain the donation receipt as an official record.
YWCA Walla Walla as it appears in tie Valley Giving Guide
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 a BMCF check.
Q. How much of my donation goes to the nonprofit?
100% of your donation goes to the 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.
Some donors like to cover those fees themselves so the guide includes that option at checkout. 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 anyone to know about my donation?
On the final checkout page, you’ll have a chance to indicate your Privacy Options. The three options are:
- Please do not display a name publicly.
- Please do not display the donation amount publicly.
- Hide my name from this organization and the public.*
*The privacy level is completely in your control, but honestly, we hope you don’t hide your name from us. We want the chance to thank you and let you know what your gift can make possible!
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 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.
Q. Can I donate to YWCA Walla Walla using my phone?
Yes! Simply visit our VGG page on your mobile device.
Q. Can I pre-schedule a donation for Valley Giving Guide?
You may make a gift any time, but in order for your donation to be bonus pool eligible and counted towards prize incentives, your donation must be made between 12/3/24 – 12/31/24.
Q. Who do I make my check out to?
Please make all checks payable to Valley Giving Guide or VGG.