FAQ
General Questions
Q. What is the Giving Challenge?
The Giving Challenge is an online giving event that provides nonprofits the opportunity to gain exposure to—and build relationships with—new donors, and for people in our region to come together to raise as much money as possible for local nonprofits. To learn more about the history of the Giving Challenge, click here.
Q. When is the next Giving Challenge?
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has announced that it will host its 10th online giving day from noon to noon, April 15-16, 2026. Learn more from this press release.
Q. Which organizations are eligible to participate in the Giving Challenge?
501(c)(3) public charities who serve in one or more of the following counties: Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and/or DeSoto and that have demonstrated transparency with an updated profile in The Giving Partner (www.thegivingpartner.org).
Q. How can I stay up to date on what's happening with future Giving Challenges?
Details will be communicated on www.GivingChallenge.org and through the Community Foundation's monthly Nonprofit Newsletter. Sign up for Nonprofit News here.
Q. I have questions – who can answer them?
The Giving Challenge has partnered with the giving day platform, GiveGab/Bonterra. On the GivingChallenge.org website, click on the blue chat bubble at the bottom right-hand corner of any page and enter your email address and your question for the GiveGab/Bonterra tech support team. You can also email your Giving Challenge question to the Community Foundation of Sarasota County team at GivingChallenge@CFSarasota.org.
For Nonprofit Organizations
Q. When does registration for nonprofit organizations open for the 2026 Giving Challenge?
2026 Giving Challenge registration for nonprofit organizations opens on Tuesday, Sept 2, 2025. Learn more about how to best prepare here.
Visit the Key Dates page to stay informed on other relevant Giving Challenge dates to mark on your calendar. Details on the registration process will be communicated on www.GivingChallenge.org and through the Community Foundation's monthly Nonprofit Newsletter. Sign up for Nonprofit News here.
Q. When does registration for nonprofit organizations close for the 2026 Giving Challenge?
The deadline for nonprofit organizations to register to participate in the 2026 Giving Challenge is Noon EST Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Visit the Key Dates page to stay informed on other relevant Giving Challenge dates to mark on your calendar.
Q. How do I participate in the 2026 Giving Challenge?
Visit the Registration Preparation page which details key action steps your organization can begin to take today to prepare for participating in the 2026 Giving Challenge.
Q. Which organizations are eligible to participate in the Giving Challenge?
501(c)(3) public charities who serve in one or more of the following counties: Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and/or DeSoto county and that have demonstrated transparency with an updated profile in The Giving Partner (www.thegivingpartner.org) by the applicable deadline below.
- Deadline for NEW profiles in The Giving Partner to be Submitted: 5:00pm Fri, Oct 31, 2025
- Deadline for updates to Existing profiles in The Giving Partner to be Submitted: 12:00pm Wed, Dec 31, 2025
Questions regarding The Giving Partner or your nonprofit organization's profile in The Giving Partner? Contact the GiveGab/Bonterra support team by clicking on the blue chat bubble at the bottom right-hand corner of The Giving Partner or Giving Challenge webpage and enter your email address and your question, or the Community Foundation of Sarasota County team via email at Nonprofits@CFSarasota.org.
Q. How can I stay up to date on what's happening with the 2026 Giving Challenge?
Details will be communicated on www.GivingChallenge.org and through the Community Foundation's monthly Nonprofit Newsletter. Sign up for Nonprofit News here.
Nonprofit leaders and volunteers can join the Facebook group The Giving Partner Huddle for additional updates and reminders about future Giving Challenges. Click here to join the Facebook group.
Q. How will donations be distributed to nonprofit organizations?
Each online donation made to a participating nonprofit organization will be disbursed directly from The Community Foundation of Sarasota County via a check by July 1, 2026.
For Donors
Q. Who can donate?
Anyone with a credit card or debit card and access to the internet may donate. Donations through the Giving Challenge online portal to charitable nonprofit organizations are 100% tax-deductible.
Q. Can I make donations via a mobile device?
Yes! Simply visit www.GivingChallenge.org on your mobile device during the 24 hours of the Giving Challenge – Wednesday, April 15, 2026 12:00 PM through Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 11:59:59 AM.
Q. Is there a minimum donation?
Donations of $25 or more are accepted on www.GivingChallenge.org and are 100% tax-deductible.
Q. Will I receive a receipt for tax purposes?
Yes. You will automatically receive an emailed receipt acknowledging your gift after you make an online donation. The email will come from "Notifications@GiveGab.com." The charge description on your credit card will be "GIVINGCHALLENGE2026."
Q. Are there fees involved?
The online gift processing fee for donations made on www.GivingChallenge.org with a credit or debit card is approximately 5%, standard for Give Day events across the country. This fee, which is charged by the online payment vendor GiveGab and credit card processing company, was deducted from each contribution. You could have chosen to round up your donation to cover these fees during the checkout process.
There is no fee for nonprofit organizations to participate in the Giving Challenge. The Community Foundation of Sarasota County takes no fees, over the years has granted nearly $1.3M to incentivize giving, and donates hundreds of hours of administrative support to make the event possible.
Q. As a donor, can I receive a benefit for giving?
Donations in the 2026 Giving Challenge may not be made in exchange for goods, services, memberships, dues, tickets or other services or benefits.
Q. Will my donation be matched?
To strengthen giving during the 2026 Giving Challenge (April 15-16), The Patterson Foundation (TPF) will provide a 1:1 match for all unique donations, up to $100 per donor, per organization made online with a credit or debit card.
There is no limit to the number of individual matches from unique donors a nonprofit organization can receive during the 2026 Giving Challenge.
Q. How can I make the most of The Patterson Foundation match?
In 2022, donors Joe and Mary Kay Henson maximized The Patterson Foundation’s match by donating $100 to each of the participating nonprofit organizations. The couple employed the strategy again in 2024, this time encouraging other donors to follow suit. Three additional donors ultimately joined the so-called “100 Percent Club” as a result. Donors who contributed $100 to all 724 nonprofits in 2024 include the Hensons, advisors to the Frank G. Berlin Foundation, trustees managing the H. Gladstone McKeon Trusts, and the advisor to the Sarah Greer Mayer Fund. Read more about this group and their unprecedented, combined impact on nonprofits during the 2024 Giving Challenge.
These gifts can be made through a Donor Advised Fund. Please contact the Philanthropy Team at philanthropy@cfsarasota.org to learn more about Donor Advised Funds.
Q. Can a donor give multiple times and qualify for The Patterson Foundation match?
A donor is defined as one individual. Individuals who are reimbursed by any funding source for making a donation are ineligible for matching. Nonprofit organizations are prohibited from donating to themselves.
Q. What forms of payment are accepted?
Credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express) or debit card donations received during the 24-hour period (Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. through Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 11:59:59 a.m.) online at www.GivingChallenge.org will apply to the rules of this online event. All donations are irrevocable (donations will not be refunded) and will be for the unrestricted use of your chosen nonprofit organization.
Q. Can I donate to multiple nonprofits in one transaction?
Yes! With the gift basket multi-give feature available for the 2026 Giving Challenge, donors have the opportunity to donate to up to ten nonprofit organizations in one transaction – entering their credit card information only one time. If you'd like to donate to more than 10 nonprofit organizations, simply repeat the process to begin a new gift basket transaction.
Q. Can I pre-schedule a donation for the 2026 Giving Challenge?
You cannot pre-schedule your Giving Challenge gift, but you may make a cash or check donation directly to a participating nonprofit before the Giving Challenge. However, in order for your donation to be counted towards The Patterson Foundation match and prize incentives awarded on the Giving Challenge it must be made during the 24-hour period (Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. through Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 11:59:59 a.m.).
Q. May I designate how a nonprofit uses my gift?
All donations made during the Giving Challenge are considered unrestricted gifts to the nonprofit organization. However, The Patterson Foundation Match funds must go toward efforts in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties.
Q. Is the site secure?
Secure donations for the Giving Challenge are provided through GiveGab to each donor entering their own credit card information directly on the giving site. Any third party who enters credit card information on behalf of a donor, by their actions of entering any such credit card information on behalf of a donor has signified their agreement with the sponsoring foundations and organizations of the Giving Challenge 1.) to assume all risk of loss and any liability associated with such transaction and 2.) to indemnify each of the sponsoring foundations and nonprofit organizations of the Giving Challenge against any and all risk of loss and any liability associated with such transaction.
Q. Who will receive my contact information?
The nonprofit organization(s) you choose to support will have access to your name, email and mailing address unless you check the box 'hide my name from this organization and the public' to remain anonymous.
Q. What is GiveGab?
GiveGab, which is becoming Bonterra, is a nonprofit giving platform that helps nonprofits raise money, engage donors and manage volunteers quickly and efficiently. GiveGab offers a full portfolio of simple and easy-to-use products that allows organizations to function in a more streamlined manner. The GiveGab platform is the host for both the Giving Challenge and The Giving Partner since 2020.
Q. Do I need to create an account with GiveGab?
No. You do not need to create an account to make a donation. The benefits of creating an account include having your tax receipts collected in one location, being able to track your donations, follow the charities you support, and engage in future volunteering and donations. Your tax receipt is emailed immediately upon processing your donation. To claim a donation as a deduction on U.S. taxes, you should retain the donation receipt as an official record.
Q. What if I can't find my favorite Nonprofit on the website?
If you can't find them on the site, they may not be participating in the Giving Challenge this year. After the event, please encourage the nonprofit to contact us at Nonprofits@CFSarasota.org so we can be sure they are ready for future Giving Challenges.