Why donate through Santa Cruz Gives?
- Your dollars stay local, strengthening our county’s economy.
- Donations are increased through matching funds.
- No salaries, rent or overhead is paid to Santa Cruz Gives’ operations with donations.
- You can learn about, and support, many local nonprofits in one place.
- Organizations are vetted by an experienced committee.
- You’re part of a community, and can watch your donation make an impact in real-time.
- It’s easy: donations start at just $5, and you can give to multiple organizations in one transaction.
When does the campaign start and end?
Santa Cruz Gives begins on November 20, 2024, and ends at midnight on December 31, 2024.
How can I track the progress of my favorite nonprofit?
You can track the progress of your chosen nonprofits in real-time on the Santa Cruz Gives website.
Is there a minimum donation?
The minimum donation is $5 per organization.
How do I donate?
Donate online at SantaCruzGives.org, using major credit cards or e-checks. You may also donate cash, check, stocks, or give through donor-advised funds.
Can I mail a check?
Yes, make checks payable to Santa Cruz Gives and mail them to:
The Volunteer Center
Attention: Santa Cruz Gives
1740 17th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Please include a memo that lists:
-Name of the organization(s) you are donating to and the amount
-Donor name(s)
-Donor phone number and email address.
Can I donate cash?
Yes. Cash donations can be made at the Volunteer Center office in Santa Cruz during the hours listed below. Participating nonprofits can accept cash donations on behalf of Santa Cruz Gives.
If making a cash donation, be sure to include a memo detailing:
-Name of the organization(s) you are donating to
-Donor name(s)
-Donor phone number and email address.
Bring your cash or check donations to:
The Volunteer Center
1740 17th Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Cash drop-off hours
Do not leave cash in the dropbox!
Cash donations may be dropped off on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 1-3 p.m. as follows:
Nov. 25-29 (Closed Nov. 27-28 – checks may be dropped in the dropbox).
Dec 2 – 23 (Closed Dec. 24 – Jan. 6 – checks may be dropped in the dropbox).
Jan. 6-7, 2025 – Checks dated 12/31/24 or earlier may be mailed or delivered – all donations must be received by Jan 8th! Donations received after this date will be returned.
CHECKS ARE POSTED LATE DURING THE HOLIDAYS.
The Volunteer Center offices are closed Dec. 24 – Jan. 6. Checks and cash donations received during this time will be included in the campaign, but they will not be posted to the website until Jan. 15 or later. The Santa Cruz Gives home page will display the final numbers in late January after all checks have been processed.
Can I donate stock?
Yes. If you are interested in making such a gift, please contact Leslie Lee (engagement@scvolunteercenter.org) to make arrangements.
Can I make a donation on someone else’s behalf?
Yes, you can donate in honor or memory of someone, and they will receive an acknowledgment email.
Can I donate anonymously?
Yes, you can choose to donate anonymously, and your identity will not be shared with the nonprofit.
Are donations tax deductible?
Yes. Donors will receive an email receipt immediately after making an online donation that will include a tax ID number. Donors sending checks or making gifts of stock will receive a receipt by mail. Please note – you will receive a receipt from our fiscal sponsor, the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County.
How do I get a receipt for my donation?
Receipts are automatically generated for online donations. If you donate by check or stock, your receipt will be mailed to you.
Why does my credit card statement say “Volunteer Center?”
The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County is the fiscal sponsor of Santa Cruz Gives. All donations made through Santa Cruz Gives are processed by the Volunteer Center, which is why your credit card statement reflects their name. Rest assured, your donation will go to the nonprofit you designated through the Santa Cruz Gives campaign.
Who handles the money from donations?
The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, as the fiscal sponsor of Santa Cruz Gives, manages all donations. Funds are deposited into a dedicated bank account overseen by the Volunteer Center, and the donations are distributed to the participating nonprofit organizations in February.
In the shopping cart, there is an option to “add to the overall matching funds.” What does that mean?
Matching funds are a pool of funds distributed proportionally to nonprofits based on the percentage of total donations they receive. Donors can also add to this pool through the shopping cart.
How are matching funds applied?
Matching funds are distributed proportionally. For example, if a nonprofit receives 3% of total campaign donations, it will receive 3% of the matching funds.
CHALLENGE GRANTS
What is a challenge grant?
A Challenge Grant is an up-front grant to the nonprofit made by a major donor. These grants demonstrate support for a nonprofit, generally from philanthropists experienced at vetting organizations for effectiveness, thereby encouraging other donors to give by setting a goal for donors to match. A “thermometer” tracks progress toward the goal on the nonprofit’s profile page on this site, and challenge grantors are recognized by name if desired.
Challenge grants must be received by the Volunteer Center by NOON on Nov. 8.
Can an individual or business make a challenge grant?
Yes. They must be a minimum of $500 and made by November 8 – prior to the official launch of the campaign. If you are interested in making a challenge grant to one or more participating nonprofits, contact info@santacruzgives.org for details.
What are the three awards?
The nonprofits are eligible for three special awards to encourage participation:
$1,000 Most Donors
$1,000 Project of the Year
$1,000 Most Improved Campaign
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
Please email info@SantaCruzGives.org for further information.
APPLICATION FAQ FOR NONPROFITS
What is the application process?
Nonprofits with current 501(c)3 status in good standing (or have a qualified fiscal sponsor) AND who have a project benefitting Santa Cruz County are invited to apply to participate in Santa Cruz Gives:
Here are the steps:
- Review this FAQ in detail. If you have questions not answered here, contact info@santacruzgives.org.
- Submit applications by the deadline – September 6, 2024.
- Propose a project benefitting Santa Cruz County.
Selected nonprofits are notified around of September 25-27, each year.
How are organizations selected?
The Santa Cruz Gives committee selects from the eligible organizations that:
- submit applications by the deadline – September 6, 2024;
- are a nonprofit with current (nonprofits must be a 501(c)3 status;
- propose a project benefitting Santa Cruz County.
The following guidelines are used by the selection committee to choose participating organizations:
- A wide variety of community needs are represented (youth, seniors, food/nutrition, animals, education, environment, arts, disabilities, etc.);
- Diverse projects are included within each category (avoiding duplication);
- Benefitting multiple geographic communities in the county;
- Include small, medium, and large organizations;
- Presents a clear and specific project with a compelling appeal;
- Demonstrates potential for significant outreach via social media;
- Include emerging nonprofits that show promise.
Unfortunately, not all qualifying organizations that apply can be selected. Participation is limited in order to ensure a successful campaign for all.
Do you have any advice to help my nonprofit’s application stand out?
Yes!
The best advice we can offer is to look at the leaderboard on SantaCruzGives.org – identify the previous year’s successful nonprofits (look at total number of donors as well as total funds) – review individual nonprofit pages to get a sense of what the public responded to.
In addition, you’ll want to be sure you have:
- An inspiring mission statement
- A compelling Big Idea
- A clear and concise description of your work
- Willingness to engage your own donors and direct fundraising to Santa Cruz Gives – and if you’ve participated in Gives before, this was evident in your own campaign efforts.
WHO CAN I CONTACT IF I HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
Please email info@SantaCruzGives.org for further information.