Frequently Asked Questions
- QGiving
- Donor Info
- Tax Benefits
- Your Account
- Nonprofits
FAQs - QGiving
What is QGiving?
QGiving is an online donation portal and the best way to connect to the San
Francisco Bay Area’s LGBT nonprofits. Through QGiving, you can easily donate to
LGBT nonprofits online, search by keyword or category, and learn more about
their work. Horizons Foundation is dedicated to helping more people become more
informed, get more involved, and generously contribute to LGBT organizations.
What organizations are
part of QGiving?
QGiving
includes LGBT-specific organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Groups that
are fiscally sponsored by another nonprofit also list the name of their fiscal
sponsor. Please note that the intention of QGiving is to help you find
organizations that are primarily LGBT-focused. Therefore, many wonderful
LGBT-supportive organizations (for example, many groups focused on HIV/AIDS)
are not included.
Why is a second
organization listed below some of the groups?
LGBT
projects that are fiscally sponsored by another nonprofit also list the name of
their fiscal sponsor. Fiscal sponsors – which are themselves 501(c)3 charities
- help smaller organizations by accepting tax-deductible donations on their
behalf, filing tax forms, etc.
Who is
JustGive.org?
Dedicated to creating tools and services to make charitable giving part of our
everyday lives, JustGive is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to
increase charitable giving by connecting people with the charities and causes
they care most about. JustGive
is operating QGiving to offer you the convenience of searching this unique
database of nonprofits and directly donating online. Learn more about
JustGive.org.
FAQs - Donor Info
How and when does my donation get to the charity of my choice?
First, Cybersource will process your donation through your credit card
company immediately after you enter your information. Donation checks are
processed by the 10th of the month following the month the donation was made
through QGiving. For instance, if you make a donation through QGiving on March
8th, JustGive processes checks by April 10th. The confirmation you receive at
the end of your donation is sufficient to serve as a receipt for tax purposes.
Please keep it for your records.
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Is my donation safe and secure?
Absolutely. JustGive and QGiving's website security is provided by Secure Sockets Layer
(SSL), a recognized authentication and encryption software. In other words, the
site becomes locked while you are giving us your credit card information and
unlocks only when you leave the secured area, and your credit card number is
“encrypted” so it is unreadable to anyone outside the transaction process. For
more information, please read our
Privacy & Security
Statement.
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Will you protect my privacy?
JustGive.org guarantees that they will not sell, rent, or trade your personal
information to anyone outside JustGive and Horizons Foundation. In addition, we offer you the option of
donating anonymously so that the charity to which you donate will not receive
information about you without your permission. Please read more in our Privacy
& Security Statement.
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Will I receive a confirmation that my donation has been
processed?
Certainly. Once your donation has been processed, JustGive will send you a
receipt via email. All donations made through QGiving also appear in your
account. To view donations for any given year, simply log into your account.
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What are the advantages of donating online?
Most of us have the best intentions of doing something for charity but
often hesitate because we don't have the time, knowledge, or trust to give to a
specific cause, QGiving bridges the gap between having the desire to help and
actually making a difference. By donating online through us, you reduce the
enormous fundraising costs for charities and reduce the amount of paper waste
that adds to environmental destruction. We also provide you with an account of
your Donation History, allowing you to keep track of your donations throughout
the year -- especially helpful at tax time!
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How much of my donation goes to my charity?
3% is deducted from all donations made through QGiving to cover JustGive’s
cost of transactions. These costs include credit card fees and those for
stamps, envelopes, and checks. JustGive and Horizons Foundation do NOT
absorb ANY of this 3% but use it to pay for these processing fees that we have
no control over. Horizons Foundation does not charge anything for QGiving.
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Why does my credit card statement
list “JUSTGIVE” rather than the organization I donated to?
JustGive.org processes the donations on behalf of Horizons and the
organizations in QGiving.
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Can I make a donation on the phone if I don't want to
donate online?
We urge you to take advantage of the convenience, safety, and simplicity of
giving online. To maximize the benefits to the nonprofits, we are processing
only online donations at this time.
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Can I make an anonymous donation?
Absolutely. Horizons and JustGive are committed to protecting your privacy, and
QGiving offers you the option of donating anonymously. This means the charity
knows your donation amount but does not receive your name or any other contact
information about you. Read more about user privacy rights in our
Privacy & Security
Statement.
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Can I make a donation as a gift for or in memory of someone
else?
Yes! And it's our most popular feature! Simply include your gift
recipient's email address (if they have one) and add a personal gift message.
Your recipient is notified automatically via e-Card. (If your recipient does
not have email, simply submit
your email address. Once you
receive the notification email, just print it out and give it to your
recipient.)
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What are my payment options?
You may donate using your Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express card.
If you would like to use a check or cash, please contact your favorite
charities directly. You will find contact information for charities in our
database. If you wish to donate with stock, you may want to consider opening a donor-advised fund.
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Can I make recurring or monthly credit card donations to my
favorite charity through you?
We look forward to offering this service in the near future. Though we do not
offer this on our website, we built this functionality into the
American Express
Donation Site. Using your American Express Card, you may make recurring
donations to any of the 1,000,000 nonprofits registered in the U.S.
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Is there a minimum donation amount?
We are happy to accept any gift of $5 or more.
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Are my donations 100% tax deductible?
Yes. All charities on our site – as well as Horizons Foundation and JustGive.org themselves – are tax-exempt and
your donation is fully deductible to the full amount allowed by law.
NOTE: Not all donations to nonprofits can be claimed as charitable
deductions, even if the organization is registered as a nonprofit. Check with
the IRS on whether or not an organization can receive charitable deductions.
CHARITABLE EVENTS: For a charitable event, only a portion of the
ticket value is deductible. The portion that is NOT deductible is the
value of the goods or services that you receive (e.g. dinner, entertainment,
etc.). The rest is deductible. For example, if you pay $150 for an event, and
the benefits received are worth $60, the tax-deductible amount is $90. The
charity hosting the event will be able to identify the exact value of the
benefits for each event.
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How do I view my Giving History?
Your Giving History is located in Your Account, which you can access by logging
in using the email address and password you chose during registration. Once in
the Your Account page, click on the link called “Giving History.”
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Can I make a donation to Horizons Foundation?
Donations are the cornerstone of our organization. By supporting Horizons, you
help LGBT organizations even more. To make a donation to us, please visit our donation page
Thank you.
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What if I have a problem making a donation?
If you have any problems or questions, please contact JustGive’s Customer
Service department at help@justgive.org, or call us
toll-free at 866-JUSTGIVE (587-8448).
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Can I cancel a donation?
All donations made through JustGive.org are not refundable. However, if for
some reason there is an error on your credit card, please contact JustGive at
1-866-JUSTGIVE (587-8448), and they will help solve the problem.
Can I donate goods through - or to - Horizons?
Horizons does not accept in-kind donations on behalf of other organizations.
However, you can donate items on behalf of Horizons (and many other LGBT
nonprofits) through Community
Thrift Store, 623 Valencia Street (near 17th Street), San Francisco.
When donating items on behalf of Horizons, please mention Code #57.
FAQs - Tax
Benefits
What
does it mean to be a 501(c)(3) organization?
For charities, this means that they can accept contributions and offer donors a
tax deduction for their gifts. For donors like you, this means your
contributions are fully tax-deductible to the amount allowed by law. The email
receipt you receive from JustGive.org does indeed meet all the IRS requirements
as a record of donation.
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What is my tax benefit for charitable contributions?
The chart below gives the deduction for a single person in each tax bracket
making a cash donation of $100. The instructions for the 1040 Form will help
determine the exact amount of your deduction, which will vary depending on your
tax bracket and whether you file as a single person or jointly.
|
Tax Bracket
|
Donation Amount
|
Benefit
|
Out-of-Pocket Cost
|
|
10%
|
$100
|
$10
|
$90
|
|
15%
|
$100
|
$15
|
$85
|
|
25%
|
$100
|
$25
|
$75
|
|
28%
|
$100
|
$28
|
$72
|
|
33%
|
$100
|
$33
|
$67
|
|
35%
|
$100
|
$35
|
$65
|
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What counts as a
charitable organization?
A charitable organization is generally defined as any nonprofit organization
that is incorporated and identified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization.
These organizations have been given tax-exempt status and can accept
contributions. Horizons Foundation itself is a registered 501(c)(3)
organization, as well as all of its QGiving charities.
NOTE: Not all donations to
nonprofits can be claimed as charitable deductions, even if the organization is
registered as a nonprofit. Check with the IRS on whether or not an organization
can receive charitable deductions.
CHARITABLE
EVENTS:
For a charitable event, only a portion of the ticket value is deductible. The
portion that is NOT deductible is the value of the goods or services that you
receive (e.g. dinner, entertainment, etc.). The rest is deductible. For
example, if you pay $150 for an event, and the benefits received are worth $60,
the tax-deductible amount is $90. The charity hosting the event will be able to
identify the exact value of the benefits for each event.
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How
can I take a deduction for my donation?
To claim a deduction, you will need to fill out a 1040 Form, which is available
through the IRS website, and itemize your
deductions on Schedule A. If you fill out the short form or take standard
deductions, you cannot claim your contributions.
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Do I need a receipt
for donations I make?
The IRS doesn't require receipts for cash donations under $250, but you should
keep donation information on file. Cash contributions of $250 and over require
an acknowledgement that must be sent to the IRS with your tax returns. Every
time you make a donation through QGiving, that donation is recorded in your
Giving History by the year, a feature that makes itemizing your taxes simple
and convenient.
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Do I need any
acknowledgement for donations under $250?
Though the IRS doesn’t require receipts for donations
under $250, it is a good idea to keep this information on file. Be sure to keep
the canceled check, credit card statement, or email receipt from the
organization to which you donate. Always note the donation amount, the date of
the contribution, and the name of the charity.
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For donations over $250, what information does the receipt need?
The receipt needs to record the donation amount, the date the donation was
made, and the name of the charity, as well as a written acknowledgement from
the organization of any property or services that you may have received in
return for your donation and an estimate of their value. The IRS should
acknowledge an email receipt as an acceptable record of donation, but to be
certain, always consult your tax advisor.
When you donate on QGiving, your
email acknowledgement will provide the amount, transaction date, and the
charity name, all things the IRS wants you to keep a record of when you donate.
You will also have to submit your receipts to the IRS by the due date for tax
returns OR by the date you file your tax returns for the year in which you made
the donation, depending on which one comes first.
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Can I receive a tax
deduction for a donation to an overseas nonprofit organization?
If you want to take a deduction for your donation, be sure
to donate to a charity registered in the United States. That doesn't mean you
can't give to an organization that has an international scope. You just have to
make sure the charity is registered in the U.S. if you want to take the
deduction.
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Can I take a deduction for volunteering
my time and services?
You cannot deduct the value of time or services to a charitable organization,
but you can deduct any hard costs associated with that volunteering, such as
the gas or bus fare it costs to get there. For example, if you volunteer in a
charitable hospital and have to wear a uniform, you can deduct the cost of
buying and cleaning the uniform. Your friends at the IRS will let you deduct any out-of-pocket
expenses you acquire in the course of volunteering.
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Disclaimer: Horizons Foundation and JustGive do not warrant or guarantee the
accuracy, quality, completeness, or validity of any information provided. All
information has been obtained from sources believed by JustGive to be accurate
and reliable. Please consult your tax advisor or the IRS
publications on charitable giving for specific tax advice.
FAQs - Your
Account
Is my
donation information private?
JustGive.org guarantees that they will not sell,
rent, or trade your personal information to anyone outside JustGive.org and Horizons Foundation. In
addition, we offer you the option of donating anonymously so that the charity
to which you donate will not receive any information about you without your
permission. Please read more in our Privacy & Security
Statement.
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Can I view my Giving History?
Your Giving History is located in Your Account, which you
can access by logging in using the email address and password you chose during
registration.
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How do I
update my Personal Information?
To access your personal information in the Your
Account page, go to
Your Account and enter your email address and
password. Once you enter, click on Personal Information.
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What if I forget
my log-in email address and password?
Choose an email address you use frequently so you won’t forget it. If you
forget your password, simply enter your email address in the log-in
page and choose the button that says "I forgot my password! Please email
it to me." Your password will be sent to you immediately. If you have any
problems, please contact JustGive at help@justgive.org.
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Can I make
automatic monthly credit card donations to my favorite charities through QGiving?
We are looking forward to offering this service in
the near future. If you would like to be notified when it is up and running,
please submit your email address.
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FAQs - Nonprofits
Can my organization be
listed on QGiving?
QGiving includes LGBT-specific organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area,
including groups that are fiscally sponsored. Please note that the intention of
QGiving is to help you find organizations that are primarily LGBT-focused.
Therefore, many wonderful LGBT-supportive organizations (for example, many
groups focused on HIV/AIDS) are not included.
First make sure you
are not already listed by typing in the name of your organization in our search
box the main QGiving homepage. Be sure to check your spelling, as the name of
your organization will appear exactly as it is listed with the IRS. If you are
not listed, please email QGiving@horizonsfoundation.org to inquire about being
added.
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Who is
JustGive.org?
Dedicated to creating tools and services to make charitable giving part of our
everyday lives, JustGive is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to
increase charitable giving by connecting people with the charities and causes
they care most about. JustGive
is operating QGiving to offer you the convenience of searching this unique
database of nonprofits and directly donating online. Learn more about
JustGive.org.
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Who is GuideStar?
GuideStar is an
initiative of Philanthropic Research, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity founded
in 1994. GuideStar's mission is to revolutionize philanthropy and philanthropic
practices through information. GuideStar provides the information about the
organizations (or their fiscal sponsors) listed in QGiving, making it easy for
individuals to find detailed information about charities that match their
interests.
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How do I update my
listing in Guidestar?
Update
your listing at Guidestar here. To update your listing in QGiving, you need to update
your Guidestar listing. Qgiving will periodically be updated from what is
submitted to Guidestar.
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How do fiscally sponsored projects update our listing in
QGiving?
Changes
to the listings for fiscally sponsored projects will be done periodically.
Please submit changes to QGiving@horizonsfoundation.org.
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How can I sign up for
a QGiving "Donate Now" button so I can fundraise online, and what
does it cost to use it?
The sign-up process is simple and can be done here. JustGive.org
deducts 3% of donations for processing/credit card costs; they do NOT absorb
ANY of this 3% but use it to pay for these processing fees that they have no
control over. Horizons charges nothing. There are no costs to use the button.
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Do we receive 100% of
donations made through QGiving?
JustGive.org deducts 3% of donations for processing/credit card costs.
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How long does it take
to receive donations?
Donations
are processed the month following the donation. If you have not received the
check by the end of the following month, please JustGive.org at andrea@justgive.org.
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Will
we be provided with donor information so we can acknowledge donations and thank
donors?
When
you receive your check from JustGive, it will include the information the donor
has indicated they would like sent to the nonprofit. Depending on the donor's
preference, you will receive the donor name, email address, and/or mailing
address, unless the donor chooses to remain anonymous. If you do not receive
their name and contact information, please do not contact Horizons or JustGive
for it, as we must respect the wishes of donors.
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Can
I use QGiving to process credit card accounts of donors who donate to our
organization separately and offline?
We
discourage this for a number of reasons:
- In the past, we have had several donors
dispute their credit card charges, which essentially means JustGive has
sent money to the nonprofit but is never given money by the donor. The
reason they dispute is because they see JUSTGIVE as a charge on their
credit card -- NOT the charity they intended to donate to. If they don't
know who JustGive is and what they do, the donors assume it is an error
and try to remove the charge. It adds to confusion and potential loss of
money for JustGive.
- Our service is meant to encourage giving and
inspire people to give more and more consistently by having access to our
service and their personal account that they can reference each year. The
important difference is that by you using our service as a backend
processing service, we are not encouraging, inspiring, or even
communicating with the donor.
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Can
I view a report of donations that have been made to our organization?
JustGive
is currently working on offering this service to nonprofits. In the meantime,
feel free to contact them if you would like us to send you a report for a given
time frame. They will be happy to honor such a request.
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Do
I need to send a donation receipt to the donor?
The
donors have already received electronic acknowledgments of their gifts from
JustGive to be used as a tax receipt, so it is not required that you send a tax
receipt to donors. You may do so if you like - if the donor provided their
contact info - but they have indeed received acknowledgment of their gift.
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Should
we add JustGive to our mailing list?
PLEASE
DO NOT add JustGive to your mailing list. We get hundreds of pieces of mail
each month from nonprofits, and most of them are addressed to the actual donor.
This creates a lot of work for JustGive and a lot of unnecessary cost to you -
not to mention it is a waste of paper. Thank you!
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