Frequently Asked Questions

What is giveBIG?
Why is giveBIG a good opportunity for our community?
What is BetterGiving?
Who can participate?
Where is giveBIG taking place?
How does it work?
How much of the donation will go to the nonprofit?
What if I can’t find my favorite nonprofit on the website?
Is there a limit to the amount an organization can receive from the match pool?
Do I need a login to make a contribution on your website?
Can I make my donation over the phone?
Is there a fee charged for the online credit card gifts?
Will processing fees be matched?
How will the donations be reported on my credit card statement?
What methods of payment are accepted?

WHAT is giveBIG?

giveBIG is an online networking and giving event that provides nonprofits the opportunity to gain exposure to and start relationships with new donors, and for people in the San Diego region to come together to raise as much money as possible for local nonprofits within a 36-hour period. The online event will take place from 7 AM PST Wednesday, Dec.14th - 7 PM PST Thursday, December 15th. The San Diego Foundation has committed an initial monetary pool to be used to incentivize donations via BetterGiving during this period.

WHY is giveBIG a good opportunity for our community?

In July 2010, The San Diego Foundation launched BetterGiving as a way to broadly share knowledge about local nonprofits’ needs and the vital services they provide in the San Diego region. Our goal is to make philanthropy accessible, fun and easy for the entire San Diego community.

Today, BetterGiving provides in-depth information for more than 300 local nonprofits; a number that continues to grow daily. Donors are using the site to better inform their giving, by matching their passions with the needs of the community. Local foundations are using it to conduct due diligence on their grantmaking. Encouraged by this support, we are excited to offer a very special opportunity for nonprofits and their supporters – giveBIG.

giveBIG is a time-limited donation period designed to expand and increase giving to local nonprofits that provide vital services that help to sustain our community. Other metropolitan areas that have held similar events have risen well over $500,000 in a single day; giveBIG is our chance to do this for the San Diego region!

WHAT is BetterGiving?

BetterGiving is a powerful online resource to inform, empower and enrich charitable giving in the region, benefiting donors, nonprofits and the community at large, for effective philanthropy in San Diego County. Its main objective is to help donors and the community better understand nonprofit organizations strengths and needs and connect donors with organizations they care about most. The underlying database provides information about local nonprofits, including financial, governance and programmatic details, allowing nonprofits the opportunity to tell their story and illustrate their work and best practices.

WHO can participate?

Nonprofits
Any 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a published and up-to-date portrait on BetterGiving is eligible to participate in giveBIG.

Nonprofits that serve the San Diego region and are not currently on BetterGiving may be eligible if they submit completed portraits to The San Diego Foundation by November 7, 2011. Following review of the portraits, the executive director of each nonprofit must submit final approval to publish by November 28, 2011. For eligibility requirements, go to www.giveBIGsandiego.org

Donors
This event is open to the public. Anyone who wishes to participate will be able to make a secure donation by debit or credit card on our giveBIG webpage (for more information please visit our BetterGiving page at www.giveBIGsandiego.org)

WHERE is giveBIG taking place?

giveBIG is an online event where most of the activity will take place via our giveBIG website created by KIMBIA. News and updates will be posted regularly to social media sites: http://www.facebook.com/TSDF1 and http://twitter.com/#!/sd_fdn. Within the timeframe of the event, credit card donations will be able to be made at your convenience via the giveBIG donation website. Please also check your favorite local nonprofits to determine whether they are using social media or holding special events to promote their own participation in giveBIG.

HOW does it work?

Donations
Any individual or business may donate. All donations must be made via debit or credit card through the giveBIG website. No gifts from checks, cash or stock will be accepted for the giveBIG event.

*NOTE: If you have a fund at the Foundation, you may make a grant, but it will not be eligible for matching funds.

All donations are tax deductible and irrevocable (donations will not be refunded) and will be for the unrestricted use of your chosen charity. Please note that BetterGiving is a program of The San Diego Foundation. Therefore, your credit card statement will read: (XXX charity) via BetterGivingSD.org/TSDF.
Minimum gift: $25
Maximum gift: $10,000 for match funds. For gifts greater than $10,000, only the first $10,000 will be considered for matching funds.

HOW much of the donation will go to the nonprofit?

All donations will be paid to the chosen charity net of credit card transaction and processing fees paid to vendors. The full transaction fee is estimated at 6%. The San Diego Foundation, which administers the BetterGiving website, takes no fees and supports the giveBIG event as a community service at no additional charge.

WHAT if I can’t find my favorite nonprofit on the website?

If you can’t find them on www.bettergivingsd.org, it is likely that they do not currently have a BetterGiving portrait. They can’t participate in giveBIG this time, but you should encourage them to contact us so we can get a portrait started for them so they can participate in possible future giveBIG events and receive online contributions through the BetterGiving website year round. We did extensive outreach to let local nonprofits know about giveBIG, giving them time to sign up. We certainly were not trying to limit those participating. We will have hundreds of other wonderful organizations searchable by category that may also fit your needs, so please take a look and consider giving to one.

IS there a limit to the amount an organization can receive from the match pool?

Yes. The Foundation will match, on a pro-rated basis, the total of donations made during the 36-hour period. However, only amounts between $25-$10,000 will count towards the match. For any single gift greater than $10,000, only the first $10,000 will be considered for matching funds.

DO I need a login to make a contribution on your website?

No, you do not need a login to make a donation on our site.

CAN I make my donation over the phone?

If you have a smart phone that allows you to make a credit card donation, then yes. Our website does not have text donation capabilities.

IS there a fee charged for the online credit card gifts?

The online gift processing fee and check distribution fee will be 6%, which is standard for the industry. This fee, which is charged by the online payment vendor KIMBIA and check processing company Fairway Payments, will be deducted from each contribution. The San Diego Foundation does not collect any fees associated with contributions made through our website.

WILL processing fees be matched?

Credit card gifts will be eligible for the match pool to the value of actual donations prior to deduction for the fees. So, the answer is yes, the processing fees will be counted toward the match.

HOW will the donations be reported on my credit card statement?

WHAT methods of payment are accepted?

Donations made by credit card (Visa, Mastercard and AMEX) via KIMBIA (our online donations provider) through The San Diego Foundation’s giveBIG website will qualify for the match pool.