FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What kinds of charitable organizations can be considered for a donation?
An organization must meet the following criteria:
· It must be a non-profit recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3)
· It must be located in Elmhurst or surrounding area with the majority of funds being allocated to providing services in Elmhurst and the surrounding area
· It must be willing to send a representative to the next meeting to share how the money was or will be spent, and it must agree not to create, sell, or distribute a list with our members' contact information, and agree not to solicit our members directly for further contributions.
2. How can we be sure that the charities are legitimately 501(c) 3 organizations? All charities are confirmed to be of 501c3 status prior to the vote. During the meeting, a member will be checking websites and databases to confirm non-profit status.
3. Can a charity be considered more than once?
Charities can be reconsidered as often as their presenter’s name is drawn at the meeting. This includes charities that have already been awarded a donation at a previous meeting.
4. Can a charity be considered that is outside of Elmhurst?
The group vote determines the charity that is selected each quarter. The charity should be able to demonstrate that funds allocated from the 100+ donation will be used to provide services to those in Elmhurst and the surrounding area.
5. How can I get a charity to be considered if there is a time-sensitive nature to its need for funds? There is no process to advance a charity for consideration outside of the monthly meeting and voting process.
6. Can religious charities be considered? Yes, as long as they are an approved 501c3 charity.
7. What if more than one person wants to nominate the same charity?
If two or three of the selected members are presenting the same charity, other names will be drawn until three distinct charities are chosen for the presentations.
8. What happens if I miss a quarterly payment? Recognizing that there are can be extenuating circumstances causing a member to miss a payment, a member can return to “good standing” and active membership by writing a check for the previous meeting's recipient. A member who is not current in payments may not vote or present at meetings until they have returned to good standing.
9. Can I bring someone from the charity to help me with my presentation if I am chosen? Guests are welcome but only active members of Elmhurst Area 100+Women Who Care can present a charity.
10. What if questions remain and the five minute time interval for questions after the presentations has expired? At the will of the majority in attendance at the meeting, the time may be extended by three minutes. Time boundaries are set to respect the hour time set for the meetings.
11. Can I make my contribution with a credit card?
No. There is no current mechanism in place to process credit cards. Cash or checks are acceptable forms of payment. Checks are made payable directly to the chosen charity. Cash donations will receive a receipt from the charity once the money has been received.
11. How will I receive a receipt/acknowledgement for my donation?
Your check will be written directly to the chosen charity. You will receive an acknowledgement letter from the charity. Your canceled check serves as your receipt.
12. Will my contact information be shared?
No. 100+ Women Who Care will not share your contact information and the chosen charity cannot use your information for future solicitation or share your contact information.
13. How will I be notified of the winning charity if I am unable to attend a meeting? You will receive an e-mail from elmwomenwhocare@gmail.com following the meeting. It will give you instructions as to who to make your check out to and where to send it. Checks should be sent within two weeks of the meeting so the donation can be made to the chosen charity in a timely manner.
14. How are the checks presented to the winning charity?
The presenter of the winning charity is encouraged to be a part of the process for presenting the checks. Our goal is to present all of the checks together to the chosen charity within two weeks of our meeting.
15. Are there any hidden costs of joining this group?
No. Angelo’s Ristorante is donating the space for our meeting. There are no food/beverage costs for the meeting. Any printing/administrative/website costs are donated.
16. If I am unable to continue my participation with this group, what are the consequences?
None. We would appreciate if you would notify us if you can no longer participate, but there are no consequences. We operate on the “Honor System,” so we hope that members have joined in good faith, but we understand that circumstances sometimes change.
updated 01/2019
1. What kinds of charitable organizations can be considered for a donation?
An organization must meet the following criteria:
· It must be a non-profit recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3)
· It must be located in Elmhurst or surrounding area with the majority of funds being allocated to providing services in Elmhurst and the surrounding area
· It must be willing to send a representative to the next meeting to share how the money was or will be spent, and it must agree not to create, sell, or distribute a list with our members' contact information, and agree not to solicit our members directly for further contributions.
2. How can we be sure that the charities are legitimately 501(c) 3 organizations? All charities are confirmed to be of 501c3 status prior to the vote. During the meeting, a member will be checking websites and databases to confirm non-profit status.
3. Can a charity be considered more than once?
Charities can be reconsidered as often as their presenter’s name is drawn at the meeting. This includes charities that have already been awarded a donation at a previous meeting.
4. Can a charity be considered that is outside of Elmhurst?
The group vote determines the charity that is selected each quarter. The charity should be able to demonstrate that funds allocated from the 100+ donation will be used to provide services to those in Elmhurst and the surrounding area.
5. How can I get a charity to be considered if there is a time-sensitive nature to its need for funds? There is no process to advance a charity for consideration outside of the monthly meeting and voting process.
6. Can religious charities be considered? Yes, as long as they are an approved 501c3 charity.
7. What if more than one person wants to nominate the same charity?
If two or three of the selected members are presenting the same charity, other names will be drawn until three distinct charities are chosen for the presentations.
8. What happens if I miss a quarterly payment? Recognizing that there are can be extenuating circumstances causing a member to miss a payment, a member can return to “good standing” and active membership by writing a check for the previous meeting's recipient. A member who is not current in payments may not vote or present at meetings until they have returned to good standing.
9. Can I bring someone from the charity to help me with my presentation if I am chosen? Guests are welcome but only active members of Elmhurst Area 100+Women Who Care can present a charity.
10. What if questions remain and the five minute time interval for questions after the presentations has expired? At the will of the majority in attendance at the meeting, the time may be extended by three minutes. Time boundaries are set to respect the hour time set for the meetings.
11. Can I make my contribution with a credit card?
No. There is no current mechanism in place to process credit cards. Cash or checks are acceptable forms of payment. Checks are made payable directly to the chosen charity. Cash donations will receive a receipt from the charity once the money has been received.
11. How will I receive a receipt/acknowledgement for my donation?
Your check will be written directly to the chosen charity. You will receive an acknowledgement letter from the charity. Your canceled check serves as your receipt.
12. Will my contact information be shared?
No. 100+ Women Who Care will not share your contact information and the chosen charity cannot use your information for future solicitation or share your contact information.
13. How will I be notified of the winning charity if I am unable to attend a meeting? You will receive an e-mail from elmwomenwhocare@gmail.com following the meeting. It will give you instructions as to who to make your check out to and where to send it. Checks should be sent within two weeks of the meeting so the donation can be made to the chosen charity in a timely manner.
14. How are the checks presented to the winning charity?
The presenter of the winning charity is encouraged to be a part of the process for presenting the checks. Our goal is to present all of the checks together to the chosen charity within two weeks of our meeting.
15. Are there any hidden costs of joining this group?
No. Angelo’s Ristorante is donating the space for our meeting. There are no food/beverage costs for the meeting. Any printing/administrative/website costs are donated.
16. If I am unable to continue my participation with this group, what are the consequences?
None. We would appreciate if you would notify us if you can no longer participate, but there are no consequences. We operate on the “Honor System,” so we hope that members have joined in good faith, but we understand that circumstances sometimes change.
updated 01/2019