General
Questions
- Who can participate
in the program?
- Do I have to live in the Miami
Valley to use the program?
- Are there any age
restrictions regarding membership?
Giving Questions
- I
gave through the Combined Federal Campaign for years. Why can
I no longer give through the CFC?
- Is there a
minimum/maximum amount required for my annual donation to be processed?
- I've
recently encountered some financial hardships. Can I cancel
the pledges I made through FORGE?
- My new employer
runs a United Way workplace campaign. Can my gift through
FORGE count towards my employer's campaign?
- How
much of my donation is spent on overhead?
Tax-Related Questions
- When
will I get a tax receipt for my gift?
- How do I
claim gifts as a deduction?
- I paid my
pledge through automatic deductions from my bank / credit union
account. How do I claim this gift on my taxes?
- If
my gift is paid by check, does the date on the check always satisfy IRS
rules on when I can claim the deduction?
- I
designated my gift to an agency other than United Way of the
Greater
Dayton Area. Do I need a separate receipt from the agency?
General Questions
1. Who can participate in the
program?
Anyone who retired from service in the
federal government, including but not limited to the military and the
United States Postal Service.
2. Do I have to live in the Miami
Valley to use the program?
No! As long
as you are a retiree, you can sign up. Access is limited only
by an internet connection.
3. Are there any age restrictions
regarding membership?
No! Whether you retired
after 20 years, 30 years or more, you can become a member at any time.
Giving Questions
1. I gave to my favorite
charities through the Combined Federal Campaign for
years. Why can I no longer give through the CFC?
The
Office of Personnel Management simply does not have the resources to
coordinate giving on a national level. Realizing that many
federal retirees wanted to continue giving their charitable gifts,
United Way of the Greater Dayton Area was the first organization to
offer this program in the country.
2. Is there a minimum/maximum
amount for my annual donation?
No, although if
you plan on giving to an organization other than United Way of the
Greater Dayton Area, we ask that you give at least $24 to minimize
processing costs and maximize dollars going directly to the agencies.
3. I've recently encountered some
financial hardships. Can I cancel the pledges I made through
FORGE?
Yes. Payments already received
for your pledge cannot be returned.
4. My new employer runs a United
Way workplace campaign. Can my gift through FORGE count
towards my employer's campaign?
Your gift can
count towards total dollars raised by the company, but not by the
company campaign. Please make sure your campaign coordinator
knows about your FORGE donations to make certain that they are counted
accurately, and that your employer gets the credit for having such
charitable employees!
5. How much of my donation is
spent on overhead?
16% of all
donations processed by United Way of the Greater Dayton Area are spent
on administrative and fundraising costs. United
Way’s administrative
costs are among the lowest in the community – well below the
Better
Business Bureau guidelines of not more than 35% for fundraising and 50%
for total overhead.
Tax-Related Questions
1. When will I get a
tax receipt for my gift?
Receipts
for cash, check or stock gifts over $250 will be mailed January of the
year following the donation in time for your year-end tax preparation.
2. How do I
claim gifts as a deduction?
A copy of your canceled check,
your credit card statement, or your stock broker statement showing
payment to United Way of the Greater Dayton Area is needed.
Alternately, for gifts over $250, we will provide a separate receipt.
3. I paid my pledge
through automatic deductions from my bank / credit union account. How
do I claim this gift on my taxes?
To
claim this deduction, you will need both your year-end bank / credit
union statement documenting the donation and either a print out of your
ePledge confirmation, a copy of your thank-you card/letter from us or a
tax notice from United Way of the Greater Dayton Area.
4. If my gift is paid
by check, does the date on the check always satisfy IRS rules on when I
can claim the deduction?
No. If the payment is
made late in the year, the United Way uses the post mark date to
determine for which tax year the substantiation letter will be sent.
Otherwise, the canceled check date would be sufficient proof of the
applicable tax year (please save your canceled check or bank
statement). As an added convenience to you, the United Way has the
ability to receive a gift up until Midnight on 12/31. Please call (937)
225-3164 to make arrangements.
5. I designated my gift
to an agency other than United Way of the Greater Dayton Area.
Do I need a separate receipt from the agency?
No.
The IRS only recognizes the charitable organization to which the
dollars are paid directly. A receipt from the designated agency will
NOT be accepted by the IRS. If you've received a document from the
designated agency, this is simply an acknowledgment of your pledge.
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