How do I make a donation?
Making a donation on ShoppingCause.com is easy. ShoppingCause.com Web site features a Giving Cart - a "shopping cart" that enables you to make a single donation or donate through shopping with variety of retailers all in one visit.
To make a donation, you first need to find an organization you want to support in the ShoppingCause.com database. To do this, go to the home page, and use the search tools provided; you may search by keyword, location, or organization name.
Once you identify an organization that you would like to support, click the Donate Now button or go to shop now. On the following page, enter the information requested, including the donation amount, your donation preferences, your donation designation (optional), and your donation dedication (optional). When completed, click the Give Now button.
Enter your billing information, as requested, and click Continue. On the following page, review your donation and billing information. If any of it is incorrect, click Change. If it is correct, click Complete Donation.
How does the ShoppingCause.com System work?
Once you locate a charity that you would like to give to, click the Donate Now button and follow the step-by-step instructions provided. When you make a donation through the ShoppingCause.com Giving System, you can be certain that your charitable donation is 100% tax deductible and the organization of choice is a legitimate charity that is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service and in good standing.
ShoppingCause.com will confirm that your recommended charity is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions and will process and distribute your donation to the charity you have selected.
As required by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), ShoppingCause.com has exclusive legal control over any donation processed on our website. In the rare event that a charity you have recommended does not satisfy ShoppingCause.com criteria for receiving donations. ShoppingCause.comwill select an alternate charity to receive your donation funds.
Like any tax-deductible charitable contribution, any contribution using the ShoppingCause.com System cannot be canceled or returned once it has been completed.
How does the money get to the organization of my choice?
ShoppingCause.com works through VeriSign to get payments from your credit card, PayPal, and/or bank accounts. If the charity you recommended has provided its electronic funds transfer (EFT) information to ShoppingCause.com, your donation will be electronically transmitted through our secure servers to the charity's bank account. If the charity has not provided EFT information, ShoppingCause.com will mail a check directly to the charity.
I found a charity without a Donate Now button. Why?
If the charity you want to support does not have a Donate Now button in its listing, the charity has asked to be removed from the ShoppingCause.com System. If you would still like to make a donation to any organization that is not part of the ShoppingCause.com System, you can contact the organization directly using the mailing address listed in the description, or by visiting their Web site directly (if a Web site address is provided).
Can I cancel a donation?
Tax-deductible charitable contributions made on the ShoppingCause.com website are irrevocable. If there are extenuating circumstances, please contact our customer service immediately and we will review your case individually.
In the event that the funds have already been disbursed to the charity you specified, you will need to contact the charity directly to request a refund. ShoppingCause.com cannot guarantee that a charity will refund your donation. The decision to refund a donation is entirely at the discretion of the charity. If customer service indicates that your donation has already been disbursed, you can locate the contact information for the charity by searching for it using our Donation Search.
Why does my bank statement or credit card/PayPal statement show ShoppingCause.com's name instead of the charity (or charities) I donated to?
Although your donation goes directly to the charity or charities you choose, the donation is initially received and then processed by ShoppingCause.com. Consequently, checking account statements and credit card/PayPal statements show ShoppingCause.com's name, instead of the name of the organization that ultimately receives the donation.
Do charities that receive contributions through ShoppingCause.com have access to donor information collected on the site?
Yes - unless you designate your donation as anonymous.
ShoppingCause.com is interested in strengthening the relationship between nonprofits and donors, so we tell nonprofits who has donated to them, unless you ask to remain anonymous - an option provided during the donation process. Aside from passing this information to the nonprofit, ShoppingCause.com does not use, share, sell or otherwise disclose donor information to anyone. For more information, read ShoppingCause.com comprehensive privacy policy.
Who pays for the donation processing fees?
If you pay by credit card/PayPal, it's your choice: you can pay the 4.75% tax-deductible processing fee by adding it to your transaction or you can choose to have it deducted from your donation. This fee is used to pay banks, credit card companies and other administrative costs. If you pay by online check, the $10 flat fee (or $5 per donation for transactions with two or more donations) will be deducted from your donation. ShoppingCause.com does not profit from fees.
Electing to contribute directly to a charity (through their own website) does not mean that you avoid paying processing fees; all charities incur fees with processing donations. ShoppingCause.com is explicit in explaining the fees and we give you the opportunity to cover them within the transaction. Even when you do not elect to cover the processing fee, using our website still saves your favorite charity money because our processing fees are extremely low. Many charities have to pay more to credit card companies.
Can I send gift certificates through your system?
No. At this time, ShoppingCause.com does not offer gift certificates on giving options. We hope to offer this service soon.
If you are interested in charitable gift ideas, visit our Gift Basket page, where you can buy different Gift Baskets by interest area (example: the Feed the Hungry Gift Basket supports organizations fighting to end hunger).
Remember: any donations you make through ShoppingCause.com may be dedicated to a recipient, and come with a free card that you can either print out, or send to your recipient via e-mail. To find a charity, visit our Donate page.
Does the charity I donate to in someone's memory/honor send a card?
ShoppingCause.com cannot guarantee that the charity to which you donate in someone else's memory or honor will send a card. If you want to be sure that a card is sent with your donation, ShoppingCause.com recommends you send a card through our Giving System.
As you make your donation in memory or in honor of someone else, you will be given the opportunity to send a gift card or to print out a gift card.
How do I enable cookies in my web browser?
See the instructions below on how to enable cookies in Internet Explorer and Netscape. If you are an AOL user, click here for instructions.
Internet Explorer 6.x (Windows):
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Select the Internet Options option from the Tools menu.
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Click on the Privacy tab and then click the Advanced button.
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In the Advanced Privacy Settings window, check the box marked Override automatic cookie handling, and then select one of the choices presented.
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Click the OK button to close the window.
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Click the OK button to finish.
Internet Explorer 5.x (Windows):
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Select the Internet Options option from the Tools menu.
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Click on the Security tab and then on Custom Level...
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Scroll down to the Cookies option, and select one of the choices presented.
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Click the OK button to finish.
Internet Explorer 5.x (Mac):
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Select the Preferences option from the Edit menu.
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Select the Receiving Files option and then select Cookies.
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Next to When receiving cookies:, select the desired level of cookie acceptance.
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Click the OK button to finish.
Internet Explorer 4.5 (Mac):
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Select the Preferences option from the Edit menu.
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Select the Receiving Files option and then select Cookies.
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In the list, select the cookie whose setting you want to change.
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Click the Accept Cookie button. The actual text on the button will change depending on the state of the cookie that you have selected.
Internet Explorer 4.x (Windows):
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Select the Internet Options option from the View menu.
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Click on the Advanced tab and scroll down to the Security option, and select Cookies.
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Click on the appropriate radio button to enable or disable cookies. You can also select to be prompted each time a cookie is delivered to your computer.
Netscape 7.x (Windows & Mac):
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Select Preferences from the Edit menu.
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Select the Privacy & Security category in the Preferences window. You can do this by double-clicking on Privacy & Security.
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A list of options will display. Select the Cookies subcategory.
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Select one of the options below:
Netscape 6.x (Windows & Mac):
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Select Preferences from the Edit menu.
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Open the Privacy & Security category in the Preferences window. You can do this by double-clicking on Privacy & Security.
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A list of options will drop down. Select the Cookies subcategory.
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Select the option labeled Enable all cookies on the right.
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If you wish to be warned before a cookie is stored, check the box beside Warn me before storing a cookie.
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Click the OK button to finish.
What are cookies?
A cookie is a small amount of information sent from a web site to your web browser for future use. This information is sent from your web browser back to that web site whenever you revisit it. Cookies are commonly used to store a user's preferences, such as web site options. ShoppingCause.com uses cookies to store your shopping cart contents and also to make it easier for you to access your profile.
Why am I getting an error when I try to make a donation?
If you have received a server error while submitting a donation to cart, the most likely cause is that you do not have cookies enabled in your web browser. In order to make a donation through the ShoppingCause.com website, you must have cookies enabled.
For more information about how to enable cookies, click here.
If your donation failed after completing the transaction, it is likely that information provided, such as your zip code, expiration date or card security code (for Credit Cards) or name, driver's license state/number (for Online Checks) did not match exactly with what is on file at your bank.
For further assistance in troubleshooting, please contact customer service�with the details of your transaction, steps to replicate the error and browser/operating system information.
How is my check accepted over the Internet?
An Internet-based check transaction is similar to a paper check transaction except that Internet checks are processed electronically using the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system that banks use for electronic deposits and payments. This requires that you enter the numbers imprinted on the bottom of your paper check which are the bank routing (ABA) number and bank account number (combined they are also known as the MICR numbers, which stands for magnetic ink character recognition). Our check provider, TeleCheck, converts this information into an electronic item and then processes it through the ACH.
The fee for processing an online check donation is $10 for a single donation, or $5 per donation if multiple gifts are added to the giving cart. We require a minimum $200 for online check donations to make this option cost-effective for the recipient organization.
Who is TeleCheck?
TeleCheck, a subsidiary of First Data Corporation, is the world's leading provider of paper and electronic check services helping more than 342,000 retailers, financial institutions and other industry clients increase profitability, reduce risk and streamline operations. In 2001, TeleCheck authorized over 3.4 billion transactions worth more than $171 billion dollars. Network for Good and TeleCheck have partnered together to increase philanthropy by offering alternatives to credit card giving.
Are the funds immediately debited from my checking account?
No. The authorization for an online check donation is processed immediately, but it takes up to 5 business days for the funds to be removed from your account and the transaction to settle or clear. The amount of time is about the same amount of time as a paper check.
How will an Internet check transaction appear on my bank statement?
A complete description of the transaction will be included in your bank statement. This description will include most, if not all, of the following information: check number, merchant name, settlement date and check amount. This information appears on your statement where other electronic payments (such as direct payroll deposits and ATM transactions) are listed.
What happens if there is an error processing my check donation?
Consumers must provide notice of the dispute or error to their bank no later than 60 days after their bank sends a statement on which the possible error is first reflected. The bank is then responsible for reviewing the dispute or error
How will my checking account information be stored?
Your checking account information will not be stored with ShoppingCause.com and is only used for processing your donation. Your information is also used by TeleCheck for the purposes of processing your online check and anonymously retained for use in their positive and negative check database. At this time, ShoppingCause.com also does not offer recurring donations, but we hope to offer this functionality in the near future.
Why is the processing cost different for credit card donations and online check donations?
For credit card transactions, ShoppingCause.com is charged a variable percentage of the transaction by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover in addition to flat per transaction fees. For online checks, Network for Good is only charged flat per transaction fees, although these flat fees are considerably higher than through credit cards. Donors can choose to add or deduct the 4.75% of credit card transaction. The fees for online checks are automatically deducted; $10 for transactions containing 1 donation and $5 per donation for transactions containing more than 1 donation. Online checks are recommended for higher dollar donations.
Are the fees to process check donations the same as credit card/PayPal donations?
No, the fees for online check processing are a flat fee regardless of the size of your donation(s). For transactions containing 1 donation the cost is $10. For transactions contains more than 1 donation (if you are giving to more than one charity in your shopping cart) the cost is $5 per donation. These costs are deducted from your donation before it is paid to the recipient.
How do I locate the routing/account number on my check?
The routing number is always a 9 digit number and usually located between the symbols on your check. The account number is between 10 and 15 numbers and is usually located before the symbol on your check. Neither of these numbers includes your check number.
What Are Recurring Donations?
A recurring donation is a pre-authorized arrangement in which a donor authorizes ShoppingCause.com to make a donation against a specific credit card account, for a specified donation amount. Donors can set up monthly, quarterly or annual recurring donations.
At this time, recurring donations can only be processed using American Express, Visa and MasterCard.
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