FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

100 Businesses Who Care was inspired by a group co-founded by Amy Whipple, Barbara Donohoe and Linda Chayka called “100 Women Who Care – Greater Rochester Area.” Since its inception in 2013, the group has gifted over $250,000 to 14 local non-profit organizations. The group currently has 255 members. The founding members began planning and establishing the infrastructure for 100 Businesses Who Care in early 2016. The founding members strongly believe that the efficient giving model will successfully translate and will gain support from the business community. The Advisory Board was chosen and their first meeting was held in November 2016.

501(c)(3) is defined as “exemptions apply to corporations, and any community chest, fund or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, educational purposes, to foster national or international amateur sports competition, promote the arts, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.” However, for the purposes of 100 Businesses Who Care, all groups up for consideration must be located in Southeast Michigan or funds must be earmarked to stay local if a national organization is pitched. For more information please visit the IRS Web site.

A check presentation will be scheduled shortly after the meeting and all of the member donations have been collected. The presenter and other members are welcome to attend the check presentation. The winning organization must send each donor a one-time thank you/tax acknowledgement. In addition, a representative from the winning organization must attend the following meeting to share with the group how the funds have been used.

NOTE: Any sponsored non-profit is not allowed to create, sell or distribute a list with your contact information. They are not allowed to solicit you for further contributions. If this were to happen, the organization would no longer be considered at future meetings.

100 Businesses Who Care is a 100% volunteer facilitated group. We are not a 501(c)(3) and do not have any legal entity or bank account associated with the group. We simply serve, in a volunteer capacity, to support the group, get the word out, and fulfill the administrative role of keeping the group organized and efficient.

Any business owner, business leader or individual contributor who is willing to make a $500 bi-annual donation may join 100 Businesses Who Care. In addition, multiple people from one company may join as individual contributors. Each member has the option of putting a non-profit name in the hat to be pitched and each member is allowed to cast one vote.

Membership to 100 (or more, hopefully) Businesses Who Care is open to ALL types of businesses, men, and women. Additionally, non-profits are welcome to join and designate a member of their team to attend the meetings. However, the non-profits do have to acknowledge that they will be making a financial contribution to other non-profits. Membership is a “reoccurring” commitment until the member notifies one of the founding members of his/her desire to drop out of the group.

Membership is a “reoccurring” commitment until the member notifies one of the founding members of his/her desire to drop out of the group.

Businesses can engage their workforce in this exciting initiative. Employees may fundraise to cover the $500 donation (jeans days, can drive, bake sale, etc.) to contribute widespread support. In addition, the business could inspire the employees to become involved in collaboratively deciding on a charity to be pitched. Contests and challenges may be developed to engage the employees in the process. The “member” may choose to designate an employee to try to pitch an organization. Employees also have the opportunity to serve as “Ambassadors” and can help spread the word about this extraordinary initiative to other individuals and businesses in the community.

Of course, you can! In order to vote, he/she will need to complete a commitment form (online or in person) prior to the start of the meeting.

In order to be considered at a meeting, the organization must be located in Southeast Michigan. It must be a non-profit organization recognized as a 501(c)(3) that serves surrounding local communities. If a national organization is pitched, the presenter should explain how the money will be earmarked or designated to make a local impact.

If a member presents and his/her organization is not chosen, she/he is eligible to put a non-profit name in the drawing at future meetings. An organization may randomly be selected from the hat to be pitched multiple times until it wins. Once an organization wins the cumulative funding at a meeting, it is not eligible to win again for a 5-year period of time. The member is still eligible to submit the name of another non-profit at future meetings.

In the case of a two-way tie, the membership will be provided with the names of the two charities and a second vote will be taken. If the second vote results in another tie, we will randomly pick one of the two non-profit’s names out of a hat. In the case of a three-way tie, we will randomly pick one of the three names out of a hat.

A business owner or leader who has signed the commitment form has the option of putting one name of a local non-profit along with his/her name into the box upon arrival for a random drawing. At random, three organizations will be selected from the box. The members who nominated charities will be asked to come up and give a 5-minute presentation as to why their organization should receive the donation. A 5-minute question and answer period follows. Members should carefully review the Guidelines and Requirements to Pitch prior to the meeting. The selected speaker must give the presentation and is not allowed to designate another person in attendance to give the pitch.

A business owner or leader may bring one employee from his/her company to attend the meeting. The “member” may designate the employee with the opportunity to pitch his/her favorite organization or a non-profit selected by the other employees of the company. However, only one vote may be cast by the business owner/leader.

The member’s name who is randomly drawn must be prepared to give the pitch. He/she may not elect someone else in the audience or an employee from the non-profit to give the pitch. A member may elect to have an employee in his/her organization attend the meeting and put his/her name in the hat for the opportunity to pitch. Only one nomination/vote is allowed per member.

The goal of the 100 Businesses Who Care is to make a large donation on behalf of the whole group. Our goal with this endeavor is to give $50,000+ dollars (assuming 100 participants) at one time to make a large impact in our community, with each member’s donation being part of the larger donation.

Please plan on bringing a $500 blank check (from the company sponsor or individual contributor) to the bi-annual meetings. All checks will be collected and recorded. If you are not able to attend, we will send instructions with the winning organization name and a mailing address to a 100 Businesses Who Care representative. Please promptly send your check as we are not able to present the cumulative funds until 100% have been received. The sooner the winning organization receives the funding, the sooner they can positively impact the lives of those they support.

Yes, your contribution is 100% tax deductible since it is a requirement that all pitched organizations are a 501(c)(3). Checks are written directly to the local organization NOT to 100 Businesses Who Care. 100 Businesses Who Care is a 100% volunteer-driven effort that provides the infrastructure and administrative support to make the meetings possible. The tax acknowledgement letter will be sent to you directly from the organization that receives your contribution.

Yes, in many instances your employer may match your contribution dollar for dollar. Contact your employer to see if they have a matching contribution program.