Donor FAQ's
Q. When is Embrace A Stream?
Embrace A Stream is on November 7-13, 2022.
Q. What is Embrace a Stream Challenge?
The Embrace A Stream Challenge is a week-long, online competition from November 7-13, 2022 to help bring critical funding to important local Trout Unlimited chapter projects in streams and schools across the country. Sponsored by Trout Unlimited, we are challenging all of our members and supporters to “Give Where You Fish” and ensure our coldwater resources get the help they need now more than ever. Whether you give to support a river in your own backyard, or choose to donate to a project across the country on a river you care about, every gift makes a difference and - even better - can help a local TU chapter unlock it's share of nearly $15,000 in additional prizes provided by Trout Unlimited!
Q. Who can donate?
Anyone may donate. Donations through the Embrace A Stream online portal to charitable nonprofit organizations are tax-deductible and cannot be refunded. Contributions may be made via credit and debit card only. Donations will be received and receipted by GiveGab.
Q. How does the competition work?
The Embrace A Stream Challenge is simple. Search for a TU chapter or project by name and make a donation of $10 or more to support the effort to improve rivers, educate youth and inspire communities around conservation. Your donation - made between 12:00 a.m. EST on Nov. 7 and 3 a.m. EST on Nov. 14 - will go directly to support that chapter and project, and can help unlock additional prize funds.
Q. What are the prizes that projects can win?
Prizes are based on the total number of gifts, and the total amount raised and are awarded, as well as daily prizes chosen at random from selected donations from a prize pool provided by Trout Unlimited:
- Matching Grants – Every chapter gets a one-to-one match for every dollar raised up to $500 raised
- Most Unique Donors – Prizes of $1,000 to $50 for five winners
- Most Money Raised – Prizes of $1,000 to $50 for five winners
- Daily Random Prizes – Each day, three random donations will be selected to unlock prizes of $50 - $250!
- One $50 prize for a donation of $10-$24.99
- One $100 prize for a donation of $25-$49.99
- One $250 prize for a donation over $50
You never know which donation will unlock a random prize, help earn a challenge award or meet the matching donation goal, so encourage all your friends, family and fishing buddies to "Give Where You Fish" and support local volunteer conservation!
Q. What is GiveGab?
GiveGab is a nonprofit giving platform that helps nonprofits to 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.
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. How were the Chapters/Projects chosen?
All of the chapters and projects featured in the Embrace A Stream Challenge first had to go through a rigorous process of review by the Embrace A Stream Committee, a group of 11 Trout Unlimited volunteers from across the country elected by their peers to review and approve grant applications through our Embrace A Stream grants program, which since starting in 1973 has funded more than 1,120 locally-driven TU chapter projects with over $4.9 million in direct funding and $17 million raised in matching funds and in-kind services. The chapters invited to participate in the Embrace A Stream Challenge have all received an Embrace A Stream grant in 2022.
Q. Can I donate to more than one Trout Unlimited Chapter/Project?
Yes! You can support as many chapters and projects as you would like. In fact, on the main page you can click the green "Add Gift" button to easily add multiple projects and donations before checking out.
Q. Can I donate with cash/check or another method?
While all donations to TU projects support our important conservation and education work at the local level. Only donations made by credit card, online through the official Embrace A Stream Challenge donation forms will count in the competition for the prizes.
Q. What if the Trout Unlimited Chapter raises more than it needs for the Project listed on the Embrace A Stream Challenge website?
Every donation made to a chapter or project will support great, local conservation and education work at the local level. If a chapter raises more than it needs to complete the project identified in this online competition, it will use the additional funds to support its ongoing and critical work of bringing Trout Unlimited's mission to its local community.
Q. Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes, your donation to any Trout Unlimited chapter in the Embrace A Stream Challenge is fully tax deductible. You will receive an email receipt upon completion of your donation listing the amount of your donation for your tax purposes.
Q. Can my Chapter donate to its own project using our Chapter Credit Card?
No, donations from a chapter to its own project will be ineligible for consideration in the awarding of prizes in the Embrace A Stream Challenge competition.
Q. Can I make donations via a mobile device?
Yes! Simply visit embraceastream.org on your mobile device.
Q. Can I pre-schedule a donation for Embrace A Stream?
You cannot pre-schedule your Embrace A Stream gift, but you may make a donation to a participating nonprofit before or after the Embrace A Stream. In order for your donation to be counted towards prize incentives awarded on Embrace A Stream it must be made between 12:00AM ET on November 7 and 3:00AM ET on November 14.
Q. What if my preferred Chapter is not listed?
If your chapter is not listed on www.embraceastream.org, it is not part of the Embrace A Stream Challenge. Only chapters which have received an Embrace A Stream grant from TU are eligible to participate. To support your local chapter, go to www.tu.org/chaptersearch to find your local chapter and contact the chapter president to make a donation.
Q. How much of my donation goes to the nonprofit?
GiveGab retains a 2% campaign management fee from all donations, capped at $20 per donation. Credit Card processing fees are an additional 2.5% + $0.30. You are given the option to cover the fees and if you choose this option, 100% of your online charitable gift will go to the receiving organization. All donations are final and cannot be refunded. Any donations processed outside of the Giving Day Period, through GiveGab.com, or subsequent recurring donations are subject to transaction fees outlined on the GiveGab.com pricing page: info.givegab.com/pricing.
Q. Who will receive my contact information?
The organization(s) you choose to support will have access to your name and email address. This information is used solely to send thank you messages, provide the option to receive future notifications, and to notify you of future activities.
Each state has their own set of requirements. Nonprofits are typically incorporated in a given state as a nonprofit corporation. The state in which the nonprofit has incorporated will impose requirements on the nonprofit, and those responsibilities typically span across multiple state agencies. Usually nonprofits must submit an annual filing to the corporations division of the secretary of state, maintain its license to fundraise (charitable solicitation registration), file for a state business license, and maintain state-level tax exemption with the revenue department. As nonprofits expand outside of the state or operate nationwide, they must comply with the same items in each other state as well.
In addition to IRS and state filing requirements, nonprofits must keep adequate records. Keeping accurate and complete records is critical in the event that an organization is audited. It is also common that board members or donors request information from the organization. Finally, records are necessary for submitting applications and renewal filings with various government agencies.
Q. How can I ensure my chapter receives it's donations?
In order for a chapter to receive it's donations via ACH transfer, GiveGab requires a checking account eligible to receive ACH transfers and withdrawals. Donations will be deposited within 24-48 hours after the first transfer is successful, which can take up to 7 business days.
If the chapter supplies the wrong type of bank account (such as a savings account), or the wrong account numbers, GiveGab will be in touch! After 30 days, if GiveGab hasn't heard from the chapter, they will send the funds to Trout Unlimited, Inc., the national parent organization to distribute them to the proper chapter(s) once the correct banking information is secured.