Frequently Asked Questions - Willamette Week's 2011 Give!Guide

What is Willamette Week's Give!Guide?
What are the Give!Guide's goals?
Why the focus on the 35-and-under age group?
Why should I give through the Give!Guide?
What is the minimum donation?
When do I have to complete my donation?
Are contributions tax deductible?
Can I give a donation in someone else's name?
How are donations tracked?
Can I have my donation matched if my company has corporate matching?
What if the organization I donate to is affiliated with the Oregon Cultural Trust?
Can I opt out of receiving the thank you items?
Can I opt out of receiving mail from the organizations I donate to?
How are the organizations selected to be in the Give!Guide?
How do I get an organization into the Give!Guide?
What is the Skidmore Prize?
How do I nominate someone for a Skidmore Prize?

Please contact us if you do not see your question answered here.

What is Willamette Week's Give!Guide?
It's a publication, accompanied by a website, whose primary goal is to facilitate year-end giving to a cross-section of Portland-area non-profit organizations. WW's Give!Guide is inserted in all 80,000 copies of Willamette Week, and functions much like a catalog. Donors can select one, two or multiple organizations and make a donation online in a single, easy transaction.

What are the Give!Guide's goals?
They're threefold:

to encourage people age 18-35 to get involved in philanthropy; and
to attract new donors and/or volunteers to these causes; and
to provide publicity and exposure for a variety of local non-profits.

Why the focus on the 35-and-under age group?
One of the goals of the Give!Guide is to encourage people age 18-35 to get involved in philanthropy. If young people begin supporting non-profit organizations at a young age, even at smaller levels, they are likely to continue to give as they get older, and the amount of their support is likely to grow with their incomes.

Why should I give through the Give!Guide?
There are a number of special benefits – both to you as a donor and for the organizations you donate to.

For example: Anyone who gives $10-499 will receive a postcard loaded with coupons good for discounts and freebies all over town.

In addition to those goodies, the first 1,000 or so donors of $100-$499 will receive a Chinook Book app.

But wait, there’s more!

Donors of $500 to $999 will receive home delivery of a wine from A to Z Wineworks, a nice bag of Stumptown Coffee, Widmer beer and a Chinook Book app, and more.

Donors of $1,000 to $2,499 will receive a bottle of pinot noir from Rex Hill Vineyards, a packadge of Bob's Red Mill Honey Oats Granola, a nice bag of Stumptown Coffee, Widmer beer and a Chinook Book app, and more.

And donors of $2,500 will get a bottle of sparkling wine, some especially fine Rex Hill pinot, Moonstruck Chocolates, Stam dog treats, Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut oats, the Chinook Book app, and a visit with one of WW’s owners on your doorstep when either Mark Zusman or Richard Meeker makes your personal delivery.

What is the minimum donation?
The minimum donation is $10.

When do I have to complete my donation?
As soon as possible! The deadline for all donations is midnight, December 31st, but by giving early, you will enable the organizations you support to better compete for the prizes they may receive (for highest total donations, or most donations from people 35 and under). If they feel they are in the running to win, they will work even harder. Also, donating early will get you your thank you gifts sooner.

Are contributions tax deductible?
Yes. All participating organizations have 501(c) 3 status. Donors will receive an automatic, email receipt for each Give!Guide contribution. The organization(s) you donate to will send you an official tax deductible receipt in January.

Can I give a donation in someone else's name?
Yes. Simply check the appropriate box on the shopping cart page and provide the name of that person.

How are donations tracked?
Donations made through the Give!Guide website are tracked by organization as soon as the Give!Guide transaction is made. The Give!Guide website also will report which organizations are leading in specific categories - total donations and most donors under 35.

Can I have my donation matched if my company has corporate matching?
Yes, if your company has a corporate matching program. Please check with your company and follow their procedures. If your company makes the donation through the Give!Guide website, the match will count toward the organization totals for the prizes for greatest total donations and most donations from people 35 and under.

What if the organization I donate to is affiliated with the Oregon Cultural Trust?
If the organization you donate to is affiliated with the Oregon Cultural Trust, you can make a donation of a matching amount (up to $500 for an individual; $1,000 for a couple; and $2,500 for a company) to the Oregon Cultural Trust, and receive a credit on your taxes for that amount. The Trust has an ad in the guide and a place on the website. You'll be notified by email that you've donated to an OCT affiliate.

Can I opt out of receiving the thank you items?
Yes! Simply check the appropriate box on the shopping cart page.

Can I opt out of receiving mail from the organizations I donate to?
Yes! Simply check the appropriate box on the shopping cart page. The organizations receiving the donations will mail a tax deductible receipt, but have agreed not to send any further mail.

How are the organizations selected to be in the Give!Guide?
Organizations are selected by Willamette Week. All must have 501(c)3 status or status-pending, and must have a focus on the Portland area. We try to include a range of organizations in the categories of Animals, Arts, Community, Education, Environment, Social Action, Health & Wellness, and Youth. We also strive to include both large and small organizations, and to include organizations new to the Give!Guide each year.

How do I get an organization into the Give!Guide?
If you are interested in getting an organization into the Give!Guide, please use the Contact Us link to send an email. Space is limited, so this is not a guarantee of participation.

What is the Skidmore Prize?
The Skidmore Prize program is a community-involvement initiative. The Skidmore Prize is intended to recognize and encourage long-term commitment to the non-profit sector and to inspire others to get involved. Winners are selected via an application and interview process from the following categories: Animals, the Arts, Community, Education, the Environment, Social Action, Health & Wellness, and Youth. Skidmore Prize winners receive a one-time cash grant in recognition of their achievements.

How do I nominate someone for a Skidmore Prize?
Skidmore Prize nominations are accepted in the summer prior to the Give!Guide release. For more information on Skidmore Prize criteria and selection process, please go to wweek.com/skidmoreprize. A call for nominations usually appears in July in Willamette Week’s Best of Portland issue.