Challenge Grant FAQs
Eligible Gifts
Who is a private donor?
What types of gifts to our organization count toward meeting our Circle of Service Foundation challenge grant?
We generally match contributions solicited and collected after we notify an organization of the challenge grant award. We count only contributions from: (a) new private donors or (b) current private donors who increase their donations.
Who is a new donor?
You define a new donor as someone who has not made a donation to our organization during the prior two years. How do you define the prior two years?
Who is a current donor?
What counts as an increased donation from a current donor?
An increased donation refers to the additional amount that a current donor gives over and above the largest total annual amount the donor gave in the two years prior to the date we notify you of the challenge grant award. For current donors, only the increased amount counts toward the match.
Example 1: Donor A gave three donations to you totaling $100 in the year prior to the grant term, and then Donor A gives two donations to you totaling $150 during the grant term; the increased donation is $50.
Example 2: Donor B gave no donations in the one year prior to the grant term, but gave two donations to you totaling $200 in the year before that. Donor B then gives you one donation of $275 during the grant term. The increased donation is $75.
Do you match in-kind donations or fees for services?
Can we solicit all the funds from one donor to satisfy the challenge grant?
We already have a challenge grant from another donor. Can we count future gifts towards both our existing challenge grant and the COSF challenge grant? Can the COSF challenge grant be applied to meet our other challenge grant?
Timeframe
How long do we have to raise funds to fulfill the challenge grant, and when does the clock start?
Special Events
Can we count ticket prices or proceeds from raffle tickets, a silent auction or a live auction?
Will you match proceeds from a “paddle raise” in which the donor receives no goods or services?
Other Rules
Are there any other rules or restrictions?
The particular terms of your grant are set out in your grant terms letter. If your grant letter says something different from what is described here, the letter governs.