FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How can we be sure that the charities are legitimately 501(c) 3 organizations?
There is a website that will give us a list of the 501c3 charities which are registered with the IRS. If there is a question as to the status of an organization, we will confirm its non-profit status prior to the vote.
2. What kinds of charitable organizations can be considered?
To 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) organization.
· It must be located in the Elmhurst Area or surrounding area with the majority of funds being allocated to providing services in Elmhurst and the closely 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.
3. Can a charity be considered more than once?
Charities can be reconsidered as often as their presenter’s name comes up in the lottery. This includes charities that have already been awarded a donation by our group at a previous meeting.
4. Can a charity be considered that is outside of Elmhurst?
The charity must demonstrate that a majority of funds allocated from the 100+ donation be used to provide services in the Elmhurst area.
5. How can I get a charity on the docket for consideration 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 normal lottery system.
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. Can I bring someone from the charity to help me with my presentation if I am chosen?
No. Only active members of Elmhurst Area 100+Women Who Care can present a charity.
9. 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.
10. How will I receive a receipt/acknowledgement for my donation?
Your check will be written directly to the chosen charity. You will receive a thank-you letter from the charity. Your cancelled check serves as your receipt.
11. Will my contact information be shared?
No. Your contact information will not be shared with anyone, and the chosen charity understands that they cannot use your information for future solicitation. They also agree not to share your contact information.
12. 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 immediately following the meeting. It will give you instructions as to who to make your check out to and where to send it. We ask that checks be sent within two weeks of the meeting so that we can present the checks to the chosen charity in a timely manner. We will present all checks at one time.
13. How are the checks presented to the winning charity?
The presenter of the winning charity should be prepared 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.
14. 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 costs have been donated.
15. 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 10/2014
1. How can we be sure that the charities are legitimately 501(c) 3 organizations?
There is a website that will give us a list of the 501c3 charities which are registered with the IRS. If there is a question as to the status of an organization, we will confirm its non-profit status prior to the vote.
2. What kinds of charitable organizations can be considered?
To 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) organization.
· It must be located in the Elmhurst Area or surrounding area with the majority of funds being allocated to providing services in Elmhurst and the closely 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.
3. Can a charity be considered more than once?
Charities can be reconsidered as often as their presenter’s name comes up in the lottery. This includes charities that have already been awarded a donation by our group at a previous meeting.
4. Can a charity be considered that is outside of Elmhurst?
The charity must demonstrate that a majority of funds allocated from the 100+ donation be used to provide services in the Elmhurst area.
5. How can I get a charity on the docket for consideration 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 normal lottery system.
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. Can I bring someone from the charity to help me with my presentation if I am chosen?
No. Only active members of Elmhurst Area 100+Women Who Care can present a charity.
9. 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.
10. How will I receive a receipt/acknowledgement for my donation?
Your check will be written directly to the chosen charity. You will receive a thank-you letter from the charity. Your cancelled check serves as your receipt.
11. Will my contact information be shared?
No. Your contact information will not be shared with anyone, and the chosen charity understands that they cannot use your information for future solicitation. They also agree not to share your contact information.
12. 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 immediately following the meeting. It will give you instructions as to who to make your check out to and where to send it. We ask that checks be sent within two weeks of the meeting so that we can present the checks to the chosen charity in a timely manner. We will present all checks at one time.
13. How are the checks presented to the winning charity?
The presenter of the winning charity should be prepared 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.
14. 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 costs have been donated.
15. 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 10/2014
