FAQs

What is Community Shares of Mid Ohio?

Community Shares of Mid Ohio, started in 1992, is a coalition of more than 60 diverse nonprofits making an impact in Columbus and Central Ohio. Through workplace giving campaigns, our donors help member charities complete their missions.

How do charities qualify for Community Shares funding?

Community Shares’ member charities must comply with a number of accountability requirements. They must provide programs and services to the community and show
that they have a demonstrated base of support and community involvement. Funded charities must be at least two years old; be recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization; submit annual financial information, including the IRS 990 and, if applicable, audits; be registered and file annually with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and be governed by a volunteer board of directors.

What if our employees don’t like some of your charities?

Community Shares is a diverse community of member charities. Not everyone is going to personally support all the causes represented by any given umbrella organization. This is why we offer and emphasize that donors can chose which organization(s) they specifically wish to support through their payroll contribution or donors can choose to support all charities. We highly encourage employee donors to choose the causes they care about most.

What if our employees don’t like some of your charities?

Community Shares is a diverse community of member charities. Not everyone is going to personally support all the causes represented by any given umbrella organization. This is why we offer and emphasize that donors can choose which organization(s) they specifically wish to support through their payroll contribution or donors can choose to support all charities. We highly encourage employee donors to choose the causes they care about most.

Won’t adding a Community Shares campaign take away funding from other federations?

Studies show that employers who offer choices in workplace giving see an increase in:

• Employee participation
• Total dollars raised

Why should I give through Community Shares instead of directly to the agency?

We do not want to discourage you from giving to agencies directly. Paycheck contribution is another way for you to support your community. Paycheck contributions work for many people because:

1. it’s an easy system that works
2. It may allow you to give more money because it is spread over a year’s time
3. It is an automatic process

What is your administrative fee?

The percentage of workplace donations retained by Community Shares is 23%. This amount is determined by the Community Shares Board of Trustees. We encourage you to call or visit Community Shares or any of our member charities if you have questions or concerns about administrative fees.

Are my donations tax-deductible?

Yes, all donations through paycheck contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Community Shares and all of its members MUST be tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations.
Plus there are other advantages to payroll contribution:

• You can track your annual donations using just one form.
• It’s a simple way to budget your donations each year.

Is there a minimum donation amount? How much can I give per paycheck?

The minimum donation is $1. You can give as much as you like since your total gift is collected over a per pay basis. Below is a list of average donation levels to show how small contributions can add up to larger donations to support Community Shares’ issues or causes. The scale is based on 26 pay periods. You may need to adjust the full donation amount based upon the number of pay periods at your workplace.

Can I direct my gift to a member charity? Can I choose more than one?

Yes! The Community Shares of Mid Ohio campaign is “donor-driven”—donors choose the charities they want to support with all or part of their gifts. You may choose one or more of our member charities. If you want to have your gift divided among all of our member charities, choose Community Shares of Mid Ohio and your gift will be spread among all the members.

How often are donations distributed to Community Shares of Mid Ohio member charities?

Community Shares of Mid Ohio distributes allocations quarterly to members based on the actual money that has been sent by workplaces. The amount given to each member charity varies from year to year based on donor designations, and the frequency that workplaces send checks to Community Shares.

What can a charity accomplish with my contribution?

Below are just a few examples of what Community Shares member charities are able to accomplish with paycheck contributions through workplace giving campaigns.

• $1 allows for lifesaving transport for a South Asian family fleeing domestic violence through ASHA Ray of Hope.
• $2 provides a scholarship to a blind or visually impaired student through The American Council of the Blind of Ohio.
• $3.75 allows for Heart of the City Foundation to provide legal services for a person who cannot afford them.
• $5 allows Kaleidoscope Youth Center to purchase nutritious food to provide a hot meal for Center youth.
• $7.50 will help Deaf Services Center to send a deaf or hard of hearing child to a summer camp.
• $10 enables ModCon Living to modify a bathroom, making it more accessible for a senior homeowner.
• $25 feeds moist cat food to the shelter cats for one day through Cat Welfare.
• $50 provides one month of birth control for one patient or 200 condoms for the health centers through Planned Parenthood.
• $50 allows LifeCare Alliance to provide five wellness checkups to low-income, under or un-insured individuals who have limited access to healthcare
• Additional information can be found in our brochure and on our website.