Choose a Charity.net

"FAQs" (Frequently Asked Questions)

For the customer/shopper:
1. What is Choose a Charity.net?
Simply put, Choose a Charity.net is a fundraising management company. Choose a Charity.net stimulates revenue for merchant members by encouraging the community to shop locally, in turn assisting the nonprofit world in their fund-raising efforts.
2. How does it work?
Non-profit organizations receive Choose a Charity.net key tags for distribution to members, supporters and donors, etc. The key tag holders are encouraged to shop at participating merchants. All participating merchants pledge 5% donation of sale, to the sponsored Non Profit through the Choose a Charity.net program.
3. Does it cost more to shop through Choose a Charity.net? Do I have to pay membership fees or anything extra?
No. Prices and services are the exact same you've come to expect from your favorite retail sources. No extra fees or memberships are required.
4. Are the purchases I make on Choose a Charity.net tax deductible?
No. The money that goes to your favorite cause is a sales commission from your shopping, therefore is not considered a direct donation and is not tax deductible.
5. My favorite non-profit organization is not listed here. Can I donate to them anyway?
Not until we list them on our site, but we would love to have you tell us about them! Feel free to use the "Contact Us" button, at the bottom of our page and tell us about the organization you would like to support. We will do our best to add them to the site providing they meet our criteria for inclusion.
6. How long will it take the charities to receive their money from Choose a Charity.net?
Checks are sent to charities on a quarterly basis, 90 days in arrears. The 90 days allow retailers time to report final sales and account for merchandise returns. Choose a Charity.net does not issue checks for under $50. Any charity with a balance below $50 will have the balance carried forward quarterly until $50 accrues.
General advice:
The Choose A Charity.net objective is for participating merchants who offer to donate a portion of sales.

With so many cause-related marketing programs out there, how can you be sure your money is going
where it should? In order to determine if a cause-related program or promotion is one that you would
like to support (or is worthy of your support), it is important to ask a few key questions. Become a
savvy consumer. Review Choose A Charity.net's 5 questions to Ask and learn how to identify cause
marketing programs you can feel good about.

5 questions

1. Is this company committed?
Read the product packaging and promotional materials or display abd visit the company Web site to
make sure the company is credible and committed to the cause.

2. How is the program structured?
Transparency is key. Is the company clearly stating how much money is raised and how much will be
going to charity? For example, if it's a donation per purchase, ask how much of purchase price goes to
charity - is it two percent or 10 percent - or some other amount? If there is a minimum contribution
guaranteed by the company, what is the amount? Is there a maximum donation that will be made by the
company?

3. Who does the program benefit?
Does it support a well-managed, reputable non-profit or fund? Again, we recommend that consumers
read Web sites. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance is one resource for information on
non-profit organizations if you are unsure (visit www.give.org).

4. How will the organization that benefits use my money?
It should be abundantly clear where the monies go. What organization will they support? Will the dollars
generated go to research, education, community programs or all of the above?

5. Is the program meaningful to me?
Is the program supporting a cause you believe in or have been touched by? Based on details of the
program and the potential for dollars to be raised does the program make sense to you? Selecting the
right you.