Siouxland Big Give: Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my organization host a special event?

Yes! We encourage you to host an event on our Siouxland Big Give date. Try partnering with other participating nonprofits, ask board members and volunteers to assist as hosts to your nonprofit, or connect with a local business to raise awareness about the Siouxland Big Give and your organization's work in our community.

Does it cost anything to give on SiouxlandBigGive.org?

There is no fee to you as a donor. You will receive an immediate thank you and tax receipt for 100% of your donation. A 3% credit card transaction fee will be deducted from each credit card transaction. If you choose, you can opt to cover the credit card expense for the nonprofit you're supporting.

Does my organization need to send letters for their tax deductions?

No. The donor will immediately receive an email confirming the gift receipt from the Siouxland Community Foundation during the event. Note that all donations must be 100% tax deductible (no additional benefits to the donor can be given from the nonprofit in exchange for their gift). We strongly encourage you to acknowledge donations by following-up with donors to thank them and let them know how their gifts will fuel your mission. Please do NOT include any tax information or list the amount of the gift.

How can I help make the day a success for my organization and our community?

Once you have set up your organization profile at SiouxlandBigGive.org, you will have access to a toolkit for making the day a success for your organization. If you are not currently on social media, set up accounts for your organization now. The Siouxland Community Foundation will provide a communications toolkit to participating organizations to educate you on the giving platform and how to be successful through Siouxland Big Give Finally, get excited and have fun – this is your charitable holiday, a great big give-together!

Organizations must contact donors and are required to share social media posts for results.

How can I make a donation?

To participate in our Siouxland Big Give, there are several ways to give:

Schedule donations on this website two weeks in advance (Sept 21-Oct 4, 2021). Please note, scheduled donations will not post until October 5, 2021.
Make your donation on this website on October 5th, 2021 12:00 AM through 11:59 PM CST
On October 5, 2021, stop by one of our four Hy-Vee store locations - Sergeant Rd., Hamilton Blvd., Gordon Dr. or So. Sioux City.
Pick two! Schedule your planned gifts ahead of time, then give some boosts to your favorite nonprofits on October 5, 2021 as the day unfolds

Please note: Donations made via Venmo and at Hy-Vee giving sites will NOT be reflected in the live totals during the event. They will need to be processed before we can announce final numbers.

How can the community support the cost of Siouxland Big Give initiative?

The Siouxland Community Foundation (SCF) hosts the Siouxland Big Give as part of our mission of inspiring giving throughout the Siouxland area and celebrating the community’s nonprofits. SCF provides an opportunity for anyone in the community to support Siouxland Big Give by adding an optional donation during the checkout process that would go directly towards subsidizing the costs associated with the giving day.

During the checkout process, you will be asked if you would like to Donate to Siouxland Big Give. If you choose to donate, you can select an amount of your choosing for a one-time donation to the SCF. This donation will be added to your total. By supporting Siouxland Big Give you are helping us to support our region's wonderful nonprofit community!

How does my organization register to participate?

Registration closes on September 19, 2022. Organizations seeking to participate should go to "non-profit registration" and fill out the information PRIOR to that date. Once the profile is approved, a confirmation email will be sent. Organizations are not approved for participation until their profile is visible at SiouxlandBigGive.org.

How much of my donation goes to the nonprofit?

The nonprofit organization receives 100% of the gift, minus any applicable credit cards fees (unless the credit card fees were covered by the donor)!

How much of the donations go to my organization?

Your organization will receive at least 100% of the total donations received the day of the event (minus any applicable credit card fees) and 100% of any prize money obtained during the event. There are no fees deducted from donations made through Venmo, Cash, or SCF donor accounts.

How will I be recognized as a donor?

You will receive an immediate thank you and tax receipt from the Siouxland Community Foundation. Your chosen nonprofits may also send a thank you to let you know how your donation will make a difference. You can choose to make an anonymous donation if you prefer. Anonymous donors will receive a tax receipt, but will not receive a thank you from the nonprofit organization to which they contributed.

Is my gift safe and secure?

Yes. The SiouxlandBigGive.org website is supported by Apt Web Development, Inc., and is an SSL secured site. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. This link ensures that all data passed between the web server and browsers remain private and integral.

Is my gift tax deductible?

Donations through Siouxland Big Give are 100% tax deductible. Once your credit card donation is processed, you will receive an email confirming the deduction from the Siouxland Community Foundation. Please save this email for your records. By selecting a specific charity to receive your donation, your gift is restricted for that charity and will not be given to any other charity. You cannot designate your donation for a specific program at a nonprofit.

What are the minimum and maximum donation amounts?

The minimum online donation amount is $10. There is no maximum donation. Gifts less than $10 can be made at Hy-Vee Stores or via Venmo. We will only be able to issue receipts for gifts over $10 that include name, mailing address and email address. All gifts made on SiouxlandBigGive.org are non-refundable.

What if I can’t find my favorite nonprofit on the Siouxland Big Give site?

While we encourage participation in Siouxland Big Give it is not required that nonprofits participate. If your favorite nonprofit does not have a profile on the Siouxland Big Give site, you cannot use SiouxlandBigGive.org to donate to them and they will not be eligible for prizes. We’re happy to assist you with your charitable giving outside of Siouxland Big Give Please email us at office@SiouxlandCommunityFoundation.org for more information.

What if I still have questions about Siouxland Gives?

Contact the Siouxland Community Foundation, at (712) 293-3303 or email office@SiouxlandCommunityFoundation.org.

What if the amount my nonprofit expected based on the initial Siouxland Big Give results does not match the final disbursement?

Although each nonprofit will be able to see their gifts in real time, please be aware that reconciliation must be completed and, even though gifts are considered nonrefundable, a donation can be revoked for a variety of reasons from the time of receipt to the time of disbursement. Therefore, donation reports cannot be considered final until the nonprofit receives the disbursement from the Siouxland Community Foundation. Participating organizations will have access to all donation information, with the exception of contact information of those donors who prefer to remain anonymous.

What is required for organizations to participate? Is there a fee?

Each year, an organization will need to enroll or re-activate their profile and agree to pay an annual participation fee of $50. Your organization should prepare to devote staff and/or volunteer time to promoting Siouxland Big Give among your donors and social networks. The Siouxland Community Foundation provides the website platform, community-wide marketing, and a communications toolkit to help you get started and be successful. We have seen a direct correlation between the time an organization puts in to the Siouxland Bive and the dollars an organization raises.

What is the Siouxland Big Give?

Siouxland Big Give is a 24-hour, online giving event organized annually by the Siouxland Community Foundation to grow philanthropy in the Siouxland area. The event will take place this year on Tuesday, October 5th, 2021. The minimum donation is $10 and there is no maximum. The goal is to inspire the community to come together for 24 hours to contribute as many charitable dollars as possible to support the work of local nonprofit organizations. Siouxland Big Give is based on other successful giving days hosted by community foundations across the country.

What organizations are eligible to participate?

An organization must be a 501(c)(3) public charity, recognized by the IRS as a qualified recipient of tax-deductible gifts, serving Siouxland.
Organization must be headquartered in an 80-mile radius of Sioux City and/or raising funds for services performed the Siouxland community.
One organization per tax identification number is eligible to participate with the exception of Siouxland Community Foundation not for profit funds.
Funds raised through Siouxland Big Give are used for services to support Siouxland.
The Siouxland Community Foundation has final discretion in approving organizations for participation.
No Parent-Teacher Organizations

What organizations are participating in Siouxland Gives?

Organizations that are headquartered or provide services in the Siouxland area are invited to register for Siouxland Big Give The Siouxland Community Foundation verifies that each participant is a 501(c)(3) public charity in compliance with IRS 990 requirements.

What's the benefit to participating in Siouxland Big Give?

Siouxland Big Give has the potential to be one of the largest giving days in the country. On this one day, more than 10,000 people are focused on the nonprofit community thanks to the efforts of our media sponsors, event sponsors, and the participating nonprofits. This community-wide celebration is the only day fully focused on the incredible work of local nonprofits in our region.

When will my organization receive their Siouxland Big Give donations?

You nonprofit will receive all donations and prize money in a single disbursement at a check presentation event in November. Once the Foundation announces the exact date, please plan to have a representative attend the event (one of your staff, board member, trusted volunteer). All disbursements will be made by check. Please be patient as our finance department performs a financial reconciliation on all transactions. To ensure accuracy, this process takes some time as the event continues to grow.

Who can make a donation on Siouxland Gives?

Anyone can donate to a nonprofit that has a profile on SiouxlandBigGive.org. You do not have to have an account with the Siouxland Community Foundation or live in the Siouxland area to donate.

Why give through SiouxlandBigGive.org?

We encourage the support of local nonprofits with year-round giving, but Siouxland Big Give was created as a charitable holiday. It’s our day to celebrate Siouxland’s spirit of generosity and support the work of nonprofits.

Why is there a fee on donations made through SiouxlandBigGive.org?

The Siouxland Community Foundation (SCF) is committed to transparency about the costs of online fundraising for Siouxland Big Give.

The fee taken out of each online donation through SiouxlandBigGive.org is a third-party merchant processing fee at a customary rate at 3%.

SCF leverages its own resources of staff time and finances to support and subsidize the majority of the cost of the giving day. To assist in covering these costs, nonprofits are required to pay a small, $50 participation fee to secure their spot, while helping underwrite the cost of marketing materials and the giving platform.

The Foundation works to ensure that Siouxland Big Give is a cost-effective and successful fundraising day for all nonprofits involved. Our fees are one of the lowest in the country for giving platforms.

Why should my organization participate?

Siouxland Big Give is your opportunity to:

Raise awareness about your organization
Grow your donations and receive prizes
Reach new donors
Build your online fundraising skills

Will my organization receive donor information for acknowledgments?

Yes, you will have access to donor information. We encourage you to reach out to your donors after the event and thank them for supporting them your organization.