FAQ

Q. What is the New York State YMCA Foundation’s “Find Your Y” Campaign?

The New York State YMCA Foundation is hosting a statewide “Find Your Y” Campaign to help all YMCAs in New York State raise funds to ensure that YMCAs across New York State can continue to serve the needs of their communities.

Q. When is the New York State YMCA Foundation’s “Find Your Y” Campaign?

Our Find Your Y Campaign will kick off on Thursday, November 16, and will run until  Thursday, November 30.

Q. What is the New York State YMCA Foundation?

The New York State YMCA Foundation works to improve the quality of life in our state by supporting the 37 independent YMCAs of the Empire State. The Foundation operates with a board of directors and a board of trustees, who are responsible for allocating and distributing funds from for the support and development of YMCA programs and services in New York State. The New York State YMCA Foundation is an active partner to the Alliance of New York State YMCAs, which serves as the advocacy, public policy, resource delivery and program support hub for the YMCAs in New York State.

Q.Who can donate?

Anyone with a credit card and access to the internet can make a donation.

Q. What is GiveGab?

GiveGab 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 YMCA will be disbursed directly from GiveGab via direct deposit within 5-7 business days.

Q. Can I support my local YMCA or multiple Ys in New York State, or do I have to make my gift to the New York State YMCA Foundation?

You can absolutely support your local Y, and you can also support multiple local Ys if you wish. Simply choose your YMCA (or multiple Ys) on the main giving page and add each gift to your cart.

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

GiveGab retains a 3.5% campaign management fee from all donations. Credit Card processing fees are an additional 2.5% + $0.30 for all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover). Donors are given the option to cover the fees and if they choose this option, 100% of online charitable gift will go to the receiving organization. All donations are final and cannot be refunded. Any donations processed outside of Find Your Y donation period, through GiveGab.com, or subsequent recurring donations are subject to the transaction fees outlined above. 

Q. What forms of donations are accepted?

MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express donations received through the website on the giving day will be matched from the bonus pool on a prorated basis. No donations via check, cash or stock will be accepted.

Q. Is my donation tax-deductible?

Yes. When donations are received through the website, a receipt is automatically generated for the gross amount of your gift and emailed to the address you provide. Your tax professional can advise you on the tax deductibility of the donation.

Q. Will I receive a receipt for tax purposes?

Yes. You will automatically receive an emailed receipt acknowledging your gift.

Q. Is there a minimum gift?

There is a $5 minimum donation.

Q. May I pay a pledge with my gift?

Since our "Find Your Y" Campaign is a special, statewide campaign designed to generate new support, we are unable to accept gifts to pay off existing pledges.

Q. May I designate how the YMCA uses my gift?

All donations made during our "Find Your Y" Campaign will be used to support YMCA programs and services that benefit children, families and seniors throughout New York State. However, you may express your desire that your gift be used for a specific program or project (in the notes field of the giving form).

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 www.FindYourY.org on your mobile device.

Q. Can I pre-schedule a donation for the "Find Your Y" Campaign?

You cannot pre-schedule your "Find Your Y" gift, but you may make a donation to a participating nonprofit before or after the campaign. In order for your donation to be counted toward the online "Find Your Y" Campaign, it must be made by 12am EST  on Thursday, November 30, 2023.


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:

Q. How can I ensure my organization receives its donations?

In order to receive your donations via ACH transfer, GiveGab requires a checking account eligible to receive ACH transfers and withdrawals. Your donations will be deposited within 5-7 business days on a daily rolling basis.

If your organization supplies the wrong type of bank account (such as a savings account), or the wrong account numbers, GiveGab will be in touch! After 30 days, if GiveGab hasn't heard from your organization, they will refund your gifts back to your donors.