Nonprofit Frequently Asked Questions

To participate in Brazos Valley Gives, a nonprofit must have:

• A physical location, mailing address, and serve or provide services/programs in one of the 7 counties in the Brazos Valley: Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson, and Washington Counties.
• Be classified as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, 501(c)(19), or public charity as described by the IRS in Section 170(b)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code (i.e., churches, schools, hospitals, municipal/city/county/state government entities)
• Be in good standing with the state and IRS, and not be in violation of any applicable state, local, or federal law, ordinance, or regulation.
• If classified as a 501(c)(3) organization your nonprofit must fall in one of the following sub-categories to be eligible.
• This information can be found in your Letter of Determination given to you by the IRS. [509(a)(1) OR 509(a)(2)]
• The nonprofit must acknowledge that 100% of proceeds raised through Brazos Valley Gives will go directly toward the organization's programs and services in the Brazos Valley.
• Each nonprofit's giving day portal will include a link to its own website, mission statement, and information about its work in the community. This content is intended to provide donors with information on the organization's goals and the use of its charitable dollars.

• If you have never participated in Brazos Valley Gives, submit an eligibility inquiry from the Nonprofit Login screen.
• Once you submit eligibility, you will receive an email indicating if your organization is deemed eligible to participate.
• Once eligible, you will receive a password email to log into your Brazos Valley Gives profile.
• Complete the required fields and submit your registration to be approved and publicly listed on www.brazosvalleygives.org
• You will pay your registration fee at this time.
• Once approved, you will receive a confirmation email and your Dashboard status will say "Approved".

• If you have participated in Brazos Valley Gives in previous years, log in to your profile from the Nonprofit Login screen.
• Complete the required fields and submit your registration to be approved and publicly listed on www.brazosvalleygives.org
• You will pay your registration fee at this time.
• Once approved, you will receive a confirmation email and your Dashboard status will say "Approved".

Each nonprofit pays a $150 registration fee; nonprofits that have established a charitable endowment fund with the Community Foundation pay a $50 registration fee. 100% of these registration fees are used to promote the event,

Once your profile is completed and payment has been received, your nonprofit will be approved to appear on the Brazos Valley Gives site. Nonprofits have until Friday, September 6, 2024, to complete their giving profile on the Brazos Valley Gives website. Credit card payment of registration fees will be accepted online once your nonprofit is approved. In the event your nonprofit does not have a credit card and desires to submit payment via check, please send an email to brazosvalleygives@gmail.com.

Brazos Valley Gives allows nonprofits an opportunity to raise awareness about their mission, reach new donors, and build online fundraising skills. Nonprofits should consider Brazos Valley Gives as another component of their annual giving strategy. Like any tool, it's as effective as you want to make it. A nonprofit can invest as little or as much time, energy, and resources in promoting the event to its supporters and potential supporters as it wants. The more time the nonprofit invests, the more return it will see. Nonprofits are also eligible to receive cash incentive prizes during Brazos Valley Gives. Communities that have held Giving Days in prior years report a significant percentage of new donors based on community awareness and social media influence.

All donations made during Brazos Valley Gives must be 100% tax-deductible. Nonprofits cannot offer a "more than incidental" benefit for donations made during the event. Small, fun promotional items are acceptable, but consult the IRS or your accountant to determine if a give-a-way item such as a keychain, coffee mug, or t-shirt meets these requirements before ordering such items to distribute on Brazos Valley Gives.

All checks must be made payable to the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley - BV Gives and delivered to the drive-thru location during Brazos Valley Gives in order to be counted in your nonprofit's giving day campaign.

ABSOLUTELY! We bet you have "CHAMPIONS" -- a wonderful network of friends and colleagues who support your cause. Encourage your "champions" to create an online Fundraiser to raise money to support your nonprofit's giving goals. Your board members, donors, and patrons choose the goal, get the word out, and become champions for your cause. Businesses can also support nonprofit's giving goals by hosting a Business Fundraising Page.

All donations are tax-deductible and irrevocable and must be used for unrestricted use by the charity. Donations cannot be designated for a specific program at a nonprofit; although, a participating nonprofit is free to indicate that it will use donations for a specific purpose.

No. After an online donation is submitted, the donor will immediately receive an emailed tax receipt confirming the gift from the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley. The Foundation also encourages nonprofits to acknowledge all donations with a simple "thank you note" and share how their contribution helps to fulfill your mission.

Visit our website at www.cfbv.org or call 979.589.4305 to schedule a meeting to learn how the Foundation can partner with you in serving the long-term giving interests of your donors. The Foundation can also assist your donors in establishing an endowed fund to benefit your organization "forever".

Nonprofits must register by midnight, Friday, September 6, 2024, to participate in Brazos Valley Gives.

ABSOLUTELY ZERO! Brazos Valley Gives is powered by the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley. The Foundation is investing significant staff/volunteer time and financial resources into Brazos Valley Gives with the goal of providing area nonprofits with a simplified platform to reach new donors and advance community giving. The Community Foundation receives no compensation for hosting Brazos Valley Gives. Each nonprofit pays a minimal $150 registration fee; nonprofit organizations that have established a charitable endowment fund at the Foundation pay a $50 registration fee. 100% of funding from these fees are used to promote the event.

YES!! We encourage nonprofits to plan a physical event, partner with other participating nonprofits, or connect with local businesses to raise awareness about Brazos Valley Gives on Tuesday, October 15. The more a nonprofit promotes its participation in Brazos Valley Gives, the more it will benefit. Nonprofits are encouraged to link social media posts on Brazos Valley Gives' Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram -- @bvgives.

Yes, as long as they use a personal credit or debit card and not one associated with the nonprofit they are donating to.

If a donor[s] delivers a check to your nonprofit organization during Brazos Valley Gives and you want it to be included in your giving campaign, please deliver the check to the drive-thru location during Brazos Valley Gives.

Nonprofits will receive all net donations and prize money 6-8 weeks after Brazos Valley Gives. 2024 Brazos Valley Gives grants will be distributed via ACH in December.

Unfortunately, over the past 3 years, the Foundation has experienced a significant # of nonprofits that do not cash their Brazos Valley Gives grant checks in a timely manner. Therefore, Brazos Valley Gives grant checks must be cashed by March 1, 2025

The minimum donation amount is $10. All gifts made on www.brazosvalleygives.org are non-refundable.

ABSOLUTELY! Each participating nonprofit has access to a wealth of information on their giving portal including a list of their donors, amount of donation, # of volunteer hours donated, memorial donations, etc. unless the donor requests to remain anonymous.

Please call Patricia Gerling, Foundation President/CEO at 979.589.4305.