Frequently Asked Questions
We are different because we are the first and only organization of its kind that is 100% devoted to helping kids! That's right, only kids! We were established by kids, for kids! We certainly understand the need to raise money for other meaningful causes such as an animal rescue effort, grandpa's mounting hospital bills, or Kelly's honeymoon fund. However, as we mentioned, we only provide grants for the benefit of children under 18 years of age. (For other fundraising goals, click here for a list of for-profit online crowdfunding business that may suit your needs.)
Is KidGiving.org really a nonprofit organization?
Absolutely! We do not fault the owners of the other online fundraising sites for trying to make a dollar, or two, or millions. For example, GoFundMe proudly professes on their site that donors have contributed over $175 million, which is quite impressive! What they really don't call attention to is how rich the owners are! Yes, they fully disclose to fundraisers that there is a 5% processing fee deducted from the total donation amount, which they say is "easily made up for by how much money you raise." Well, okay, considering that the more you raise, the more goes into their pockets. Again, it is a great business model, and as a company, they are making bank! Their cut of the pie which was deducted from the $175M donated was a massive $8,750,000.00 earned since the company was formed.....that is a profit of 8.75 million dollars! Not too shabby for a 2 guy partnership. After all, business is business, and when the goal of a traditional business is to make a profit, those two are certainly a success story deserving of recognition.
Now let's get back to why we think KidGiving.org is a better option. Wouldn't you (as either a donor or a person requesting funding) sleep better at night knowing that the processing fees are being used for charitable purposes, rather than sending business owners on lavish vacations, paying for their mansions and sports cars. or putting their kids in top-notch private schools? We think that many of you would answer yes, which is why our site gives donors a way to make a two-fold charitable contribution (primarily to the child that they support, and secondarily to a children's charity.) We put more money into the hands of those in need than any other crowdfunding site available! When KidGiving.org reaches the $175M donation mark, we will be able to proudly say that as an agency, our users received $5,162,500.00 more of the donations that were intended for them (as compared to GoFundMe.) Additionally, we will be able to report that 4.8M was given to other charities for kids. Our promise to you...Not a single penny form any transaction conducted through our site will ever contribute to the personal wealth of a business owner. Remember, at KidGiving.org our goal is NOT profit....it is helping kids!
Now let's get back to why we think KidGiving.org is a better option. Wouldn't you (as either a donor or a person requesting funding) sleep better at night knowing that the processing fees are being used for charitable purposes, rather than sending business owners on lavish vacations, paying for their mansions and sports cars. or putting their kids in top-notch private schools? We think that many of you would answer yes, which is why our site gives donors a way to make a two-fold charitable contribution (primarily to the child that they support, and secondarily to a children's charity.) We put more money into the hands of those in need than any other crowdfunding site available! When KidGiving.org reaches the $175M donation mark, we will be able to proudly say that as an agency, our users received $5,162,500.00 more of the donations that were intended for them (as compared to GoFundMe.) Additionally, we will be able to report that 4.8M was given to other charities for kids. Our promise to you...Not a single penny form any transaction conducted through our site will ever contribute to the personal wealth of a business owner. Remember, at KidGiving.org our goal is NOT profit....it is helping kids!
Are donations made through KidGiving.org tax-deductible?
KidGiving.org is a nonprofit corporation, organized and operated for charitable purposes. When contributions are made via our secure payment processor, donors receive an email confirmation receipt. If donors wish to receive a more detailed receipt or a letter of verification that the funds were used for charitable purposes, our confirmation page offers a form to make such a request. KidGiving.org emails receipts and letters every January for donations received in the previous calendar year. We encourage you to seek guidance from a tax professional, as we are prohibited from giving tax advice regarding the deduction eligibility of your contribution. However, we are able to give you the following information, which can be found on the Internal Revenue Service website: You may deduct a charitable contribution made to, or for the use of, any of the following organizations that otherwise are qualified under section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code: A community chest, corporation, trust, fund, or foundation, organized or created in the United States or its possessions, or under the laws of the United States, any state, the District of Columbia or any possession of the United States, and organized and operated exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, scientific, or literary purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.
KidGiving.org is the cheapest option for online funding...is it too good to be true?
So you want to know how we can operate without making any profit at all? We are so very proud to say that the KidGiving.org website is maintained by volunteers from other charitable organizations, therefore, we have no employee salaries, no administrative costs, and no overhead! We fully acknowledge that there are better looking and more technologically advanced fundraising sites available. If your priorities are "snazzy" site features and paying higher rates, then we are not the best option. However, if your focus is obtaining more funding for your worthy cause (versus making business owners rich) then KidGiving.org is the answer! Why? Because we put more money in the hands of the kids who need it! The numbers speak for themselves. We are not a business, therefore, we have NO OWNERS, INVESTORS or SHAREHOLDERS who are profiting from donations made through our site! KidGiving.org is straightforward. It is easy. It is honest. It is simple. It is charity!
What is a "Grant Request" page?
A grant request page on our site, is equivalent to a fundraising/campaign page on the other sites. When you create your page, you are essentially applying for a grant from KidGiving.org. When donors make contributions through our site, they are allowed to give a "general" donation, or they can specify how their funds will be used by selecting a cause benefitting a child or group of children. You set your own grant application amount, and grant application deadline. Once the deadline has passed, any funds that our donors have designated for you or your group will be awarded to you in the form of a grant. (In some ways, we are similar to the United Way Campaign. Employees who give to the UW can specify who their funds are to benefit, and the UW must award grants to those agencies for the specified amount.
Is it free to set up an account and establish a Grant Request page?
Yes, it really is! We provide a convenient step-by-step submission form to upload all information for your page. There are absolutely NO fees to promote your cause!
When will my page be active online, and how do I manage it?
As we mentioned in the "how are we different" answer, kids are our only beneficiaries. Because we have restricted the types of causes that are allowed to request grants, we must also monitor what is posted on each page. If we used a "live" platform, then there would be no way to restrict publically posted content. What we can promise, is to review your grant request page submission as soon as possible, and you will receive your page link via email if you meet the posting criteria. Typically, this happens within 2-4 business days. Once you receive your link, then your page is active and fully functional for you to promote to your friends, family and online social networks. You may add/modify your page up to 2 more times by completing another grant request form and selecting the "modify existing page" button. (Additional modifications may be considered on a case by case basis, and under special circumstances. For example, if a critically ill child passes, the health page can be modified to a memorial page.)
Do you offer social media sharing links so that I can promote my cause?
Absolutely! By default, our pages are set up with a Facebook "Share" button and a Twitter "Tweet" button. Both of these will allow users to post on their timeline asking their friends and followers to support your cause. Your page link will automatically be included with a single click, and users can add their own thoughts to the message. We also include a built in platform for Facebook users to leave comments right on your page. (These are visible not only on your page, but on your Facebook timeline as well!) Some people write personal messages or well wishes. Others announce their contribution amount so that others can see what they donated. Any of these features can be disabled by request when you are setting up your page. If you use other social media sites such as Pinterest, LinkedIn, Google+, etc. then you can request customized sharing buttons when you sign up.
Can I include pictures, videos or music on my page?
Of course! Some other fundraising sites allow you to post a picture or two, and some even allow a video upload in lieu of a picture, but our site is different. We have so many options to choose from! We can post anything from a single picture, to a photo gallery slideshow. If you have a video or music that you would like to include, we can make that happen as well. We'll even take suggestions if you have anything else that you would like to link on your page! Because we want our site to maintain uniformity, all grant request pages start from a default template page for consistency, and we are unable to change themes/colors/backgrounds.
What advice can you give for creating a compelling and effective grant request page?
1. First and foremost, be honest. If all goes well, your grant request page will go viral, so you should always strive to be honest and transparent. If you legitimately need funding for something, explain your need, but do so without exaggeration or giving false information. Your story, if sincere and pure, will tug at someone's heartstrings and allow us to provide you with the grant you are seeking! If you are reported for misconduct, then we will investigate accordingly. Substantiated claims will result in funds being refunded to donors, and you being banned from future grant requests. Please keep in mind that we are on the up-and-up! If you have anything other than pure intentions, then please select another fundraising site with fewer restrictions.
2. Provide relevant details! Don't be greedy, and don't be vague. Explain what you need, when you need it, what the expected costs will be, and establish reasonable goals. For example, if you are seeking a grant so that you can take dual credit courses in high school, then do your homework first. Find out the cost of each course, how many you will be eligible to take, and what your deadline is for registration and payment. If you can take 3 your junior year and 4 your senior year, and each course will cost $150, then you should submit a grant request for $1,050 which is a reasonable goal based on your needs. Donors will appreciate your clarity, and you will have a better chance of reaching your goal.
2. Provide relevant details! Don't be greedy, and don't be vague. Explain what you need, when you need it, what the expected costs will be, and establish reasonable goals. For example, if you are seeking a grant so that you can take dual credit courses in high school, then do your homework first. Find out the cost of each course, how many you will be eligible to take, and what your deadline is for registration and payment. If you can take 3 your junior year and 4 your senior year, and each course will cost $150, then you should submit a grant request for $1,050 which is a reasonable goal based on your needs. Donors will appreciate your clarity, and you will have a better chance of reaching your goal.
How and when do I receive my grant?
We have mentioned a couple of times that we operate quite differently than other fundraising sites. Most of the for-profit businesses will allow you to make periodic withdrawals while your campaign is still active, and they could really care less if you actually use the money for what you claimed to need it for. At KidGiving.org, we have mechanisms in place to assure our donors that their contributions are being used for charitable purposes. Within 7 business days of your grant deadline, you will receive a full report of every donation made on your behalf, and your goal versus award amount will be posted on your page (which will remain active unless you request removal.) A single grant payment will be issued from the checking account of KidGiving.org according to your preference when you set up your account. Payments are made either via printed check or ACH transfer directly into the trustee's bank account. (A trustee must be at least 18 years old. A trustee is the person who established the grant request page on behalf of the youth beneficiary. The trustee will be the individuals who receives the grant check, and will be responsible for making sure that the funds are used for the purposes identified in the grant request application.)
What about privacy?
KidGiving.org takes privacy very seriously! On the grant request pages, we never include "locations" since out beneficiaries are minors. Some sites will list the city and state of the person raising funds, but we elect to omit that information for security reasons. Any other personal information such as name, age, illness, etc. are protected to the extent of what is submitted by users for posting on their page. For example, to keep your location private, you may not want to name the school that you attend. Unfortunately, even at a donor's request, we will not give out contact information for the grant beneficiaries. Donors receive the same respect from KidGiving.org with respect to privacy, which is why there are options to select anonymous donations. Donor contact information will not be given to beneficiaries. Neither donors' nor grant recipients' information will be used inappropriately or provided to any third party solicitor. Please contact us to request a copy of our Privacy Policy. All payments are processed securely via PayPal, so you may also want to refer to their Privacy Policy.
How can I thank my donors if you don't give out their information?
There are a few options for showing your appreciation to the people who contribute to your grant fund. 1. During set up, you are given the opportunity to write a custom thank you message which will be displayed after check out, and it will be posted to your page after the grant deadline has passed. 2. You can reply to donor messages left on your page via the Facebook comment app. 3. You may send us a personalized message or e-card, and we will gladly forward it via email on your behalf. (This may be a good option for special recognition and appreciation of your top contributors!)