Questions and Answers
Below you will find answers to many common questions about OHIO Giving Day.
What is OHIO Giving Day?
OHIO Giving Day is a 24-hour campaign to inspire alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends to support the part of OHIO they care about most! In 2021, OHIO Giving Day will be celebrated on April 21.
How do I make a gift?
On April 21, make your gift on this site to a designated fund (givingday.ohio.edu) or visit the main Give to Ohio University online form to choose from hundreds of funds.
When can I make my gift to OHIO Giving Day?
The OHIO Giving Day platform will be active to transact online gifts between 12 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 21.
What if my preferred gift designation does not appear on the Giving Day website?
If you don’t see your preferred designation or fund from among those featured on givingday.ohio.edu, you can visit www.ohio.edu/give to transact a gift on April 21 to any Ohio University fund. All gifts on April 21 will be counted towards OHIO Giving Day!
What gifts count towards OHIO Giving Day?
All gifts transacted online between 12 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21 will count towards OHIO Giving Day. In addition, early gifts made via the Giving Day site will also be counted.
What are match gifts?
Several generous donors have pledged matching gifts for select funds on OHIO Giving Day. This means that gifts to those funds will be matched dollar-for-dollar to double the impact of your support until the match runs out.
What are challenge gifts?
Several generous donors have pledged challenge gifts for select funds on OHIO Giving Day. This means that once those funds reach a specific dollar total or donor count, the challenge gift will be unlocked and added to that fund’s total!
What is a Power Hour?
The Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees has come together to fund three Power Hours on Giving Day. All gifts up to a certain amount to any fund during the designated Power Hour timeframe will be matched. A Power Hour allows anyone to double their impact with a gift to any fund on Giving Day – but remember to give early in the hour to make sure your gift is matched!
How can I encourage others to make a gift?
Help spread the word about OHIO Giving Day and encourage others to make a gift by posting on social media using #OHIOGivingDay and sharing what cause or area you chose to support on April 21. Reach out to fellow Bobcats via email, direct message, text or phone call. Use OHIO Giving Day as a chance to reconnect with old friends, classmates, and roommates!
When will gifts from OHIO Giving Day be transferred and totals announced?
The gift tally that appears on givingday.ohio.edu will not include final totals until approximately two to three weeks after the campaign. Gifts will have come from multiple sources throughout the day, so it will take some time to finish entering all gifts. Once processing is finalized, gifts will be transferred to the appropriate Ohio University Foundation account, and final totals will be announced.
How can I contact Ohio University with a giving-related question?
Contact OHIO’s Office of Annual Giving by email at giving@ohio.edu or call 800.592.3863.
Where do gifts go?
Your gift will go to the fund or area you designate during the checkout process. The unrestricted gift rule will apply to all gifts made to current-use accounts on Giving Day. This means that 5 percent of all gifts up to $1 million will be directed to the Fund for OHIO (e.g. a $100 gift would result in $95 being directed to the non-endowed fund of the donor’s choice, and $5 being directed to The Fund for OHIO). The purpose of the rule is to enable The Ohio University Foundation to support its mission of securing philanthropy in support of Ohio University. The rule increases the impact of every gift by providing resources to address the opportunities of the future and to grow OHIO’s base of private support.
Is it safe to make my gift online?
Yes. Ohio University uses online gift transaction software that is Level 1 PCI Compliant. Donor information collected during OHIO Giving Day will be used by Ohio University and it will not be sold or shared with any third-party organizations.
Will my OHIO Giving Day gift be tax deductible?
Yes. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by the IRS. You will receive an email confirmation as your receipt for tax purposes. The CARES Act has been extended for 2021. This means that even if you do not itemize your taxes for 2021, you can still benefit from a charitable gift deduction this year. An individual can deduct up to $300 above the standard deduction for charitable contributions. Married couples can deduct $600 above the standard deduction for charitable contributions.
Is there a minimum gift amount?
Gifts of at least $5 are able to be transacted online here (givingday.ohio.edu), at bobcatsgive.ohio.edu, and on the Give to Ohio University online form.
Still have questions?
Contact us at giving@ohio.edu
