FAQ
Nonprofit FAQs
Q. What is Brooklyn Gives on GivingTuesday?
Brooklyn Gives on GivingTuesday is Brooklyn’s first and only boroughwide giving campaign, created by Brooklyn Org in 2016 to drive support for grassroot social justice nonprofits in Brooklyn, and to encourage local donors to "Give Where You Live!"
Q. Is my organization eligible to participate?
Eligible organization are:
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations headquartered or providing services in Brooklyn, New York
- Registered with the New York Charities Bureau
Q. How can my nonprofit register?
Starting September 15th through November 14th, eligible nonprofits can register at bkgives.brooklyn.org/register to create your new Brooklyn Gives on GivingTuesday 2023 profile.
Q: When do donations open on the platform?
Donations open on the platform on November 14th.
Q. How can my nonprofit register?
Starting September 15th through November 14th, eligible nonprofits can register at bkgives.brooklyn.org/register to create your new Brooklyn Gives on GivingTuesday 2023 profile.
Q: Does it cost anything to participate?
It is FREE for organizations to participate in Brooklyn Gives on GivingTuesday and to maintain a profile on the GiveGab platform year round. GiveGab retains a 3% campaign management fee from all donations. Credit Card processing fees are an additional 2.5% + $0.30. Donors are given the option to cover the fees and a majority of them do. If they cover the processing fees, 100% of their online charitable gift will go to your organization.
Q. How long can my organization use the Brooklyn Gives on GivingTuesday platform?
The donation platform will remain open and free to use through December 31, 2023. We recommend you also create a profile on our year-round platform, Brooklyn Gives Nonprofit Connection, at nonprofits.brooklyn.org, where you can receive donations, list volunteer opportunities, and more!
Q: What is Brooklyn Org?
Brooklyn Org is a champion for Brooklyn. We celebrate Brooklyn’s brilliance and resilience, its incomparable culture and uncompromising grit – and we demand more for our communities.
We are a new model for community philanthropy. Building on the “big idea” born 15 years ago as Brooklyn Community Foundation, we are bringing together Brooklynites, Brooklyn backers, businesses, and broader believers in equity and justice to make Brooklyn a beacon for the world.
We are a platform for galvanizing giving. We are here to ensure that ideas are met with resources, challenges are met with solutions, and inequality is met with justice.
Learn more at brooklyn.org.
Q. What is GiveGab?
GiveGab is an online giving platform that helps nonprofits raise money, engage donors, and manage volunteers quickly and efficiently. GiveGab offers a full portfolio of simple and easy-to-use products that allow organizations to function in a more streamlined manner.
Q. Can more than one person claim administrative access on our organization's page?
Yes, pending approval from existing administrators. All administrators will need to create a personal profile on GiveGab. Every person who has administrative access will receive emails about updates to their page. For more information, please check out our support article on how to add an administrator to your organization, chat with us using the little blue chat bubble on the bottom right hand corner of the page!
Q. How much of the donation will go to our organization?
GiveGab retains a 3% campaign management fee from all donations. Credit Card processing fees are an additional 2.5% + $0.30 for all credit cards. 100% of all donations are tax-deductible for the donor. All donations will be officially receipted for tax purposes by GiveGab. Any donations processed outside of the Giving Day Period, through GiveGab.com, or subsequent recurring donations are subject to transaction fees outlined on the GiveGab.com pricing page: info.givegab.com/pricing.
Q. When will my organization receive the donated funds?
Organizations will receive all donations, less any uncovered processing fees, within 5-7 business days via direct deposit as long as bank routing and account information has been verified. GiveGab uses a PCI Level I compliant payment service to ensure that all financial data is secure.
Q. How does an organization know who donated and how much? Can I download a donations report?
All organizations that participate in Brooklyn Gives on GivingTuesday will be able to access and download a .CSV file of their donations via their administrative dashboard on GiveGab. The report is updated in real-time and will include the donation payout date for bank account reconciliation, donation information (including a breakdown of the fees), and the donor's name and contact information. Click here to learn how to download your donation report and how to read your donation report.
Q. What is state charitable solicitation registration?
Nonprofits are held to a high standard of government regulation and public scrutiny. And that is with good reason! Eligible 501(c) nonprofits are exempt from federal corporate taxes and have access to public funding. These benefits are not typically available to for-profit businesses, so laws are in place to protect the public and ensure nonprofits do not abuse their financial advantages. The IRS and states all have requirements for nonprofits.
Q. Why is state charitable solicitation registration compliance important?
While 501(c) nonprofits receive key financial benefits, the penalties for noncompliance can be serious. The IRS can revoke a nonprofit’s tax exemption and impose fines that can accrue daily. The states can administratively dissolve a nonprofit corporation and levy steep financial penalties. Perhaps worst of all, an organization can lose out on a grant or large donation because it has not kept itself in good standing.
Taking a proactive approach to compliance helps ensure the sustained success of the organization. The cost of staying compliant is small in comparison to the much larger costs of noncompliance. The saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” could not be more true in this context.
Q. What are the key aspects of state charitable solicitation registration compliance?
The IRS provides tax exemptions to eligible nonprofits under IRC 501(c). Public charities and private foundations receive 501(c)(3) tax exemption. The IRS scrutinizes organizations when they apply for 501(c)(3) but also ensures that those organizations meet the ongoing obligations to remain eligible. Nonprofits must file a 990 tax form each year with the IRS to disclose their financial data for the year.
Each state has their own set of requirements. Nonprofits are typically incorporated in a given state as a nonprofit corporation. The state in which the nonprofit has incorporated will impose requirements on the nonprofit, and those responsibilities typically span across multiple state agencies. Usually nonprofits must submit an annual filing to the corporations division of the secretary of state, maintain its license to fundraise (charitable solicitation registration), file for a state business license, and maintain state-level tax exemption with the revenue department. As nonprofits expand outside of the state or operate nationwide, they must comply with the same items in each other state as well.
In addition to IRS and state filing requirements, nonprofits must keep adequate records. Keeping accurate and complete records is critical in the event that an organization is audited. It is also common that board members or donors request information from the organization. Finally, records are necessary for submitting applications and renewal filings with various government agencies.
Q. When I check the box on GiveGab to declare state charitable solicitation registration compliance, what am I attesting to?
When you check the box you are attesting (defined as "declaring that something exists or is the case") that your organization is compliant with applicable state fundraising requirements in the states in which you may solicit donors using the GiveGab platform.
Q. Do you have additional resources to reference about state charitable solicitation registration?
Yes! Here are a few more resources from Harbor Compliance to help you:
- Guide and Overview of Many Nonprofit State by State Compliance Requirements
- Guide and Overview Specific to Fundraising Compliance
- National Council of Nonprofits and Harbor Compliance have partnered to create a white paper explaining the state charitable solicitation registration requirements.
- A Quick Summary of Charitable Solicitation in Graphic Form
- Executive Brief: Charitable Solicitation Registration (great for driving awareness and support with leadership and the board)
- State by State Links to the State Organizations that Regulate Charities, Solicitation, and Registrations
Donor FAQs
Q. Who can donate?
Anyone with a credit card or debit card may donate via bkgives.brooklyn.org.
Q. Can my donation be refunded?
Donations through the Brooklyn Gives on GivingTuesday online portal to charitable nonprofit organizations are tax-deductible and can be refunded within the first 4 days of the donation through GiveGab. With approval from Brooklyn Org, refunds can be refunded up to four days after the donation is made. After that timeframe, the donor will be asked to coordinate the refund by communicating directly with the nonprofit who received the donation. Donations will be received and receipted by GiveGab.
Q. How much of my donation goes to the nonprofit?
GiveGab retains a 3% campaign management fee from all donations. Credit Card processing fees are an additional 2.2% + $0.30 . You are given the option to cover the fees and if you choose this option, 100% of your online charitable gift will go to the receiving organization. With approval from Brooklyn Org, refunds can be refunded up to four days after the donation is made. After that timeframe, the donor will be asked to coordinate the refund by communicating directly with the nonprofit who received the donation.
Q. Who will receive my contact information?
The organization(s) you choose to support will have access to your name and email address. This information is used solely to send thank you messages, provide the option to receive future notifications, and to notify you of future activities.
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 bkgives.brooklyn.org on your mobile device.
Q. Can I make donations from a Donor Advised Fund?
If you have a Donor Advised Fund at Brooklyn Org, you can give through your fund for Brooklyn Gives on GivingTuesday. Contact donorservices@brooklyn.org to learn more.