FAQs
About the Event
What is Give Local?
Give Local is an annual event designed to celebrate the causes that matter to Chester County and Lancaster County, South Carolina. Each year, supporters can get involved by donating funds or giving time in support of our important nonprofit organizations. Launched in 2016 by the Arras Foundation and supporting partners (City of Lancaster, Lancaster County Community Foundation, and Lancaster County Partners For Youth), Give Local Lancaster has raised over $1.2M for more than 60 nonprofit organizations.
When is Give Local 2022?
Give Local Lancaster will be held on Tuesday, November 15, 2022.
Why did we choose this date?
November 15 is National Philanthropy Day! In the original Greek translation, the word philanthropy means the “love of humanity.” We choose to highlight this day as we recommit ourselves to extending goodwill to all people; to helping our own communities stay safe and strong; to lifting up our neighbors and friends in need; to striving toward a brighter future, and to celebrate all those that share this vision!
If I have additional questions, who should I contact?
If you have other questions, feel free to use the "little blue chat bubble" located in the bottom-right corner of your screen or email CustomerSuccess@GiveGab.com. You can also contact the Arras Foundation at givelocal@arrasfoundation.org or by phone at 803-286-8772.Giving
What forms of donations are accepted?
Credit Card: Donations can be made with MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express credit or debit cards on the Give Local Lancaster website.
Bank Account: Donations can be made directly from your online bank account using Plaid with a donation minimum of $100 on the Give Local Lancaster website. You can learn more about using your bank account for your donation by viewing this article.
Check: Donations can be made by check, but must be written out and mailed to the nonprofit of your choice, dated November 15, 2022, and marked with "GL 2022" in the subject line. Contact your favorite nonprofit for more information. If you would like to support the Give Local Lancaster campaign without specifying an organization, checks must be written out and mailed or dropped off to the Accountants of Record for Give Local, Thompson & Davis CPAs (102 S Catawba Street, Lancaster, SC 29720).
Do you have a large donation or required minimum donation that you would like to distribute to multiple organizations? The Arras Foundation will be happy to assist! For more information, please contact Arras Foundation at 803-286-8772 or GiveLocal@ArrasFoundation.org by Wednesday, November 9, 2022 to process.
Is there a minimum gift?
Yes, a minimum donation of $10 is required to participate in the Give Local campaign.
How will the donations be reported on my credit card statement?
When you receive your emailed receipt following your donation, you will see a preview of how your credit card statement will report your gift. Your credit card statement will typically read: {Organization’s Name}.
How can I donate anonymously?
There are a few options here. During the donation process, you can choose to hide your name, or dollar amount from the Recent Gift wall. You can also choose to be super anonymous and hide your name and information from the nonprofit that you are donating to. Here are the three different options:
- Please do not display a name publicly.
- Please do not display the donation amount publicly.
- Hide my name from this organization and the public.
May I designate how a nonprofit uses my gift?
Give Local gifts are considered unrestricted donations to the nonprofit organization(s) you support. No goods or services may be received in exchange for donations.
How much of my donation will go to my selected nonprofit organizations?
As with any credit card transaction, there are typical transaction fees assessed by the credit card companies as well as technology and processing costs to execute the event. The processing fee for credit card transactions will be 5.5% + $.30 per donation (credit card fees + technology fees). Donors will receive a tax deduction on the full donation amount. For donations made using your bank account, the minimum transaction is $100 and the processing fee is 3% + $3.00 per transaction (bank account processing fee + technology fees).
Want your nonprofit to receive the full donation amount? Cover the transaction fee! Donors have the option to help cover the fees when they checkout, allowing more of their donation amount to go to the nonprofit. In 2021, more than 93% of donation fees were covered, resulting in over $6,937 in additional funds to participating nonprofits.
Can I make my donation over the phone?
Smart phones that allow you to make a credit or debit card donation online enable you to contribute via phone during Give Local, however you may not "call in" a donation.
Is my donation tax-deductible? How do I get a copy of my receipt?
Donations through the givelocallancaster.org website and campaign are tax-deductible and cannot be refunded. Online donations will be received and receipted by GiveGab.
When will my selected nonprofit organization(s) receive my donation?
Stripe disburses all donations via direct deposit, minus technology and processing fees, typically between 5 business days following the donation.
If I have questions while making my donation who can I contact?
If you have questions while making your donations, please contact us at GiveLocal@arrasfoundation.org or by phone at 803-286-8772. Additionally, feel free to use the "little blue chat bubble" located in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
May I use my Giving Day donation to buy event tickets, museum memberships, or other things that provide me a benefit?
Donations may not be used to pay for anything that might be perceived as a material benefit to the donor, advisor or other disqualified person – including dinner tickets, membership fees, golf fees, admission tickets or other gifts. All donations made through givelocallsc.org are final, irrevocable and non-refundable. Nonprofit organizations may not promise or provide goods or services in exchange for your donation.
Nonprofits
What organizations are eligible for Give Local 2022?
Any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization who serves the communities of Chester County or Lancaster County and are in good standing with the IRS can participate in Give Local. Supporting documents must be submitted during the registration process.
What is required for organizations to participate? Is there a fee?
There is no fee for your organization to participate. However, to make the most of Give Local, you should prepare to devote time and energy to promoting the giving day among your own donors and social networks.
What if I can't find my favorite nonprofit on the website?
If you can't find a nonprofit organization on the site, they may not be participating in the event this year. However, we encourage you to share Give Local with them in hopes that they can join us next year!
When will my selected nonprofit organization(s) receive my donation?
Stripe, the trusted payment processing platform, disburses all donations via direct deposit to the nonprofit’s checking account, minus technology and processing fees, typically 5 business days following the donation in a lump-sum payment.
If someone gives my organization a check, is there a way to add that to our overall giving day totals?
Yes! From your Give Local dashboard, click "Add Offline Gift" in the right-hand menu. Then, fill in the form with as much information as possible. Click "Submit" when you are finished filling in the form. Once submitted, your gift will appear in your organization's leader board! Refer to this support article for step-by-step photos on how to add an offline gift.