Frequently Asked Questions from Donors
Q. What is Mohawk Valley Gives?
Mohawk Valley Gives is a dynamic, community-driven event dedicated to supporting local nonprofits in Herkimer, Oneida and Otsego counties. Powered by the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties and UpMobility Foundation, this celebration of generosity empowers individuals, businesses, and nonprofits to come together and make a meaningful impact. Participants can donate to a wide range of nonprofits, fostering a spirit of collaboration and community engagement. With exciting challenges and incentives, Mohawk Valley Gives not only raises vital funds but also strengthens connections within our community, showcasing the incredible work of our local nonprofits. In 2025, Mohawk Valley Gives will begin at 12AM Monday, September 15, and end at 9PM on Friday, September 19, 2025.
Q. Who is the host of Mohawk Valley Gives?
Mohawk Valley Gives is hosted by the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties and UpMobility Foundation.
Q. How does it work?
During Mohawk Valley Gives, donors may visit https://www.givemv.org to make secure donations to their favorite local nonprofit organizations. The minimum donation is $5 for a credit card donation and $100 for an ACH (automated clearing house) transfer; there is no maximum limit on the donation amount. Donors can give to a maximum of 10 organizations in one “checkout” process and will receive separate electronic receipts from each organization.
Q. When will Mohawk Valley Gives take place?
Mohawk Valley Gives will take place from 12AM Monday, September 15, and end at 9PM on Friday, September 19, 2025. All event-related donations are made through https://www.givemv.org during that period.
Q. Why is the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, and UpMobility Foundation hosting Mohawk Valley Gives for local nonprofit organizations?
We are invested in bringing awareness to the organizations that make our community a vibrant place for us to live, work, and play. Local nonprofit organizations play a huge role in all our lives, and we are deeply dedicated to supporting the good work that they do.
Mohawk Valley Gives aims to:
- Raise the level of knowledge about nonprofit organizations in our communities and highlight their positive impact on our well-being.
- Support the operating needs of nonprofit organizations that serve Herkimer, Oneida and Otsego counties.
- Grow the base of engaged donors in the Mohawk Valley facilitating new relationships with our nonprofit organizations.
Q. What organizations can I support during Mohawk Valley Gives?
Hundreds of nonprofit organizations serving Herkimer, Oneida and Otsego counties are represented on https://www.givemv.org. Each organization must provide proof of 501(c)(3) status or be fiscally sponsored. Only organizations with a valid 501 (c)(3) status can fundraise on the GiveGab/Bonterra platform. As always, we encourage you to do your own due diligence as you consider your charitable giving.
Q. Do I get anything in exchange for my donation?
Mohawk Valley Gives and/or the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties will not accept quid pro quo contributions, i.e. charitable donations in exchange for goods/services. All contributions to Mohawk Valley Gives and/or the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties must be fully tax deductible as allowed by law.
In the event a participating nonprofit organization accepts a donation partly as a contribution and partly for goods or services, a written disclosure statement must be provided to the donor by the recipient organization. Failure to make the required disclosure may result in a penalty to the organization. All participating nonprofit organizations maintain responsibility for their individual compliance with all IRS Guidelines for charitable contributions at all times (www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/charitable-contributions-quid-pro-quo-contributions).
Q. Does approval to participate in Mohawk Valley Gives mean that the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties and UpMobility Foundation endorses each participating nonprofit’s mission and programs?
The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties and UpMobility Foundation are proud to support thousands of donors as they come together to give to their favorite nonprofits or to new causes near to their hearts. We encourage you to find organizations that align with your passions and values.
While the charitable status of every nonprofit that participates in Mohawk Valley Gives is verified, Mohawk Valley Gives does not screen or select organizations on the basis of their charitable purposes or their missions. Because one of the core values of the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties and the UpMobility Foundation is inclusion, eligibility for participation in Mohawk Valley Gives is based on providing services in the counties we represent and an organization’s status as a recognized Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity or fiscally sponsored entity. Therefore, approval of an organization’s participation does not constitute an endorsement of the organization or its mission by Mohawk Valley Gives or any of our partners.
Each nonprofit page provides the organization’s mission, but not necessarily detailed information on all its programs. For your additional research, each nonprofit page also includes a link to its website to provide you with more detailed information on the organization’s mission and use of its funds.
Q. Can I become a fundraiser for my favorite nonprofit?
Of course! Individuals can create their own fundraiser, picking their own fundraising goal for a chosen nonprofit and encourage others to donate through their fundraising page. Get started here: https://www.givemv.org.
Q. Can a business become a fundraiser?
Of course! Any company, local business, corporation, or any for-profit entity that wishes to can encourage their employees to give generously to the causes they care about. For more information about ways your business can get involved please contact the Mohawk Valley Gives team by emailing hello@givemv.org.
Q. How do you vet the organization initially and yearly to determine that the participating organization is actually and effectively providing charitable services to the Mohawk Valley population?
Information provided by organizations during the application process will be verified using Candid Guidestar. GiveGab/Bonterra, our technology partner, will also vet organizations to verify nonprofit status. Mohawk Valley Gives will not be extensively vetting organizations beyond meeting the basic participation requirements. In some cases, participation will remain in a pending status while we request and review additional follow-up documentation.
Mohawk Valley Gives reserves the right to deny participation to any organization that does not abide by the rules and spirit of the event.
Q. Will I receive a receipt at the time I make an online contribution?
Yes, a formal email tax acknowledgment from the event will be sent automatically as soon as the donation is made. The credit card statement will show a charge for each organization that you support. It will show the name of the organization that was donated to. Receipts will not be sent from Mohawk Valley Gives for offline gifts; organizations are responsible for receipting and acknowledging offline gifts.
Q. Are transactions secure?
Our technology partner, GiveGab/Bonterra has conducted many giving days for community foundations nationwide and is the recognized technology leader for match fundraising initiatives of this type. Credit card transactions are secure, backed by a PCI Level 1 secure service provider certification. For more info: http://info.givegab.com/givegab-legal-documentation.
The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties reserves the right to audit any gift for accuracy, integrity and suspicious activity.
Q. Is there a minimum and maximum donation amount?
The minimum donation amount is $5 for a credit card donation and $100 for an ACH (automated clearing house) transfer. There is no maximum amount that can be donated at a time and you can donate to up to 10 organizations in one “checkout” process!
Q. What percentage of each gift will the organization receive?
As with any credit card transaction, there are transaction fees assessed by the credit card companies. Additionally, all online donations are subject to a campaign management fee from GiveGab/Bonterra that covers technology and processing costs to execute the event.
GiveGab/Bonterra retains a 3.5% campaign management fee from all online donations. Stripe credit card processing fees are an additional 2.5% + $0.30 for MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express transactions. ACH transfers are subject to $3.00 flat fee.
You will be able to cover all transaction fees if you wish, which means more dollars back to your cause! You will receive a tax deduction on the full donation amount, including any covered fees. All online donations will be officially receipted for tax purposes automatically through GiveGab/Bonterra under the name of the nonprofit receiving the funds.
Q. Who will receive my contact information?
The organization(s) you choose to support, and the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties will have access to your name, address, phone number and email address. This information is used solely to send thank you messages, provide the option to receive future notifications, and to notify you of future activities.
Q. Do I need to create an account to make a donation?
No, you do not need to create an account to donate. The benefits of creating an account include having your tax receipts collected in one location, being able to track your donations, and follow the charities you support. Your tax receipt is emailed immediately upon processing your donation. To claim a donation as a deduction for tax purposes, you should retain the donation receipt as an official record.
Q. Can I make donations via a mobile device?
Yes! Simply visit https://www.givemv.org on your mobile device.
Q. I received an error while donating. How can I fix this and process my donation?
The GiveGab/Bonterra Customer Success team is here to help! Please use the blue chat bubble to reach out with any questions. You can also use this helpful support article about donation processing errors: Donation Processing Errors
Q. Can I pre-schedule a donation for Mohawk Valley Gives?
You cannot pre-schedule your Mohawk Valley Gives gift through https://www.givemv.org, but you may make an offline (check or cash) donation directly to a participating nonprofit before Mohawk Valley Gives, with the indication that you would like it to benefit their Mohawk Valley Gives campaign. For your donation to be counted toward prize incentives awarded for Mohawk Valley Gives, it must be made online between 12 AM September 19 and 8:59 PM on September 19, 2025.
Q. Are the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties and the UpMobility Foundation keeping any revenue from the project?
No, the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties and the UpMobility Foundation do not retain any portion of the donations made to participating organizations. All donations, minus processing fees accessed by credit card companies and GiveGab/Bonterra campaign administration fees, go directly to nonprofits.
Sponsorships and gifts made through the “Tip the Host” feature help offset expenses incurred by the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties allowing Mohawk Valley Gives to continue at no cost to participating organizations.
Q. Can a donation be refunded?
Refunds for donations made on GiveGab/Bonterra must be approved by an administrator from the original receiving organization and requested from GiveGab/Bonterra within four (4) business days of the original date of the donation. If approved, the full amount of the requested refund and donation processing fees will be pulled from the organization’s balance. Any donation refund request made outside of the four (4) business day refund window must be handled outside of the GiveGab/Bonterra platform between the organization and the donor directly.