How can we help you today?

If you can’t find a specific charity on the app or web platform, you can submit a request to the Groundswell team to review and add to our charity database if it is eligible.

Many schools and houses of worship are eligible to receive tax-deductible donations, but because they are not required to report to the IRS in the same way the 501c3 charities are, they are not included in the IRS dataset that we populate our platform with.

Submit your request through Groundswell's web app

Step 1. Login to Groundswell

Step 2. On the right hand side of your homepage you see the "Take action" section

Step 3. Click "Can't find the charity you're looking for?"

Step 4. Complete the request form. 

Below are the things you'll need to be able to complete this request: 

1. Charity Name 
2. Charity EIN 
3. Charity Website 
4. Charity point of contact

Submit your request directly through the HepCenter

Submit a request to add a charity via our Help Center here.  If possible, please include the following information when you reach out:

1. Charity name
2. EIN (employer identification number)
3. Website

Please note: If you are looking to add a new charity to your companies approved list of match eligible charities (this doesn't apply to all companies), you can submit a request via the button found on the charity page on Groundswell. The request will be sent to your company’s Groundswell admin for review. Each company has a different internal review process to determine match eligible organizations.

Getting started with Groundswell is easy. Employees can follow the steps below to join their workplace giving program.

Step 1 - Join your company's giving program

First, your program admin will will send a Groundswell invitation to your work email address. Select the "Accept my invite" button. This step should be completed within 7 days, before the link expires.

Step 2: Create an account

Next, you can create an account with your email and password credentials. You can expect to receive an email to confirm these credentials.

Step 3: Download the Groundswell app OR visit Groundswell's web app 

Visit Groundswell's web app here and check out our web FAQs here. 

OR 

Download the Groundswell App, so you can login and finish setting up your account! Once you login you can, explore charities, and start giving! 

Video Instructions:

Struggling to Find a Charity in Groundswell? Here’s Your Complete Guide to Help you Find the Charities you Care About Most!

With over 1.5 million U.S.-based charities and 300,000 international charities in our database, chances are the organization you’re looking for is already available in Groundswell. To help you find the charities important to you, follow these tips to refine your search:

Tips for Finding Charities in Groundswell

1. Search Using the Charity’s Legal Name
   • Groundswell’s database is synced with the IRS records, so charities often appear under their official, registered names. Ensure you use the full legal name for accurate results.
   • For international charities, Groundswell leverages the database from our partner CAF America.
2. Avoid Special Characters in Names
   • Registered charity names typically exclude special characters (e.g., &, !). Remove these for better search accuracy.
3. Search by EIN (Employer Identification Number)
   • EINs are unique to each organization and guarantee accurate results. Input the EIN into Groundswell’s search bar, and if the charity appears, you can trust it’s the correct one!
   • Need help finding an EIN? Check the guidance below for tips on locating a charity’s EIN!
4. Use Filters to Narrow Results
   • For charities with common names (e.g., United Way), use location-based filters to refine your search:
     • Enter the charity name in the search bar and press Enter.
     • Filter results by location:
       • Select the country.
       • Choose the state.
     • You should now see the specific chapter or branch of the charity. Note - this is often the best way to find your local school PTA.

How to Find a Charity’s EIN

If you don’t have the EIN handy, here’s how to locate it:

1. Use a Search Engine
   • Search for the charity name + EIN. For example, type “Team Rubicon + EIN” into Google.
2. Check the Charity’s Website
   • Look in these common locations:
     • Footer of the website.
     • “About Us” section.
     • “Financials” or similar reporting sections.
3. Use Charity Navigator
   • Search for the charity on Charity Navigator. Most profiles include the EIN.

Still Can’t Find Your Charity?

If your charity isn’t showing up, you may need to request that it be added to Groundswell through our New Charity Request Form. Here are some reasons a charity might not appear:

1. It’s a Newly Registered Charity
   • Recently registered charities may take time to appear in the IRS and CAF America feed and in Groundswell.
2. It’s a Church or School
   • Many churches and schools are not required to register with the IRS, but they have an “inherent” tax exempt status, so most donations to them tax-deductible. So if you can’t find them in Groundswell, we need to vet and then manually add them.
3. It’s Not an Eligible 501(c)(3) Organization
   • Only 501(c)(3) organizations that are in good standing with the IRS and eligible to receive tax-deductible donations are eligible for inclusion in Groundswell’s database.
     • There are some charities that may have a “tax exempt” status but donations to them are not always tax-deductible for the donor.

What Happens Next?

Each new charity request undergoes a vetting process. If the charity meets eligibility requirements, it will be added to the database. Otherwise, Groundswell won’t be able to include it.

By following these steps, you’ll ensure a smoother process and a higher chance of finding or successfully adding the charity you’re looking for!

In January 2023, the state of California’s Assembly Bill 488 (AB-488) went into effect. Included in this bill is a provision that prohibits platforms like Groundswell from distributing funds on behalf of our users to California-based charities or charities registered to raise funds in California identified as “delinquent” by the California AG’s office. Delinquency means that the charity is not in good standing with the State of California due to failure to submit both California-specific reports as well as standard IRS reports. Note: the law also applies to charities that may be based in other states, but are registered with the State of California to conduct fundraising activities in California.

What this means for making donations on Groundswell: Groundswell runs its dataset of nonprofits on the platform against the list of charities currently with a “delinquent” status. While users can still donate to a charity that may be on the delinquent list, Groundswell will hold those donations and only send to the charity when it is back in good standing with the State of California. We check against the list whenever it is updated by the Attorney General’s office, and allow donations to be processed once the charity no longer has a delinquent status. The donations will be held for 90 days, and if after that time the charity is still in a delinquent status with the State of California, we will return the funds to the user.

As a Donor-Advised Fund, the Groundswell Charitable Foundation must comply with this requirement - which means we legally cannot disburse funds to any California-based charity or charity that is registered to raise funds in California that has not submitted all necessary forms to the Attorney General’s office.

If a charity wishes to find out more information about its status with the State of California, they can go to the CA Attorney General's website, or contact the Delinquency Program directly using the link here. It can take approximately 30-90 days to process forms and supporting documentation to remove a charity from the delinquent list.

Groundswell's 2023 tax receipts were emailed to you on February 1, 2024. This downloadable PDF receipt will include the total amount of funds that you contributed into your Groundswell account throughout 2023. It will not include matches or gift(s) that were provided by your employer. 

If you are looking for your receipt be sure to check the email your Groundswell account is associated with (the email you login with), your spam folder and search for the subject "Your 2023 Groundswell tax receipt." 

Donation disbursement - timing and processing

Groundswell processes individual donations within 48 hours of the donation date via ACH through a partnership with PayPal Grants. Through this partnership, Groundswell sends donations quickly and securely to the more than 300,000 charities that have been confirmed by PayPal to receive donations electronically. Each individual donation is acknowledged with the donor name, unless the donor has opted to donate anonymously. Donation notes are also transmitted for charities to review in their PayPal Grants Portal.

While Groundswell prioritizes sending payments to charities via ACH, in some cases we will issue paper checks if the charity is not a PayPal Confirmed Charity. The donation checks are processed within 48 hours of the donation date, and sent to the charity’s mailing address on file with the IRS. Delivery times vary based on USPS. Each individual donation is acknowledged with the user’s name, unless the user has opted to donate anonymously, along with donation notes.

Which charities can I give to on Groundswell?

The Groundswell app includes 1.5 million+ charities. These are all certified 501(c)3 organizations in good standing with the IRS that are eligible to receive tax-deductible donations. For organizations not listed in the IRS’s database but eligible to receive tax-deductible donations (such as some houses of worship, schools, or fiscally-sponsored organizations), Groundswell staff conduct due-diligence to ensure that the organization meets the IRS’s standards for tax-deductible donations. Groundswell does not process donations to organizations denoted as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Using the Groundswell app or web platform, you can search for charities you’re already familiar with, or you can discover new charities to support. If you can't find the charity you're looking for, send us a request at support@groundswell.io

How much can I donate to charity?

A minimum amount of $5 is required for each donation transaction. There’s no maximum limit, you can be as charitable as you like!

What are recurring donations?

Recurring donations enable you to consistently support your favorite charities, so they can continue their important work. Charities rely on regular donors to plan for the future and more accurately forecast their fundraising efforts.

How much can I contribute to my Groundswell account?

When it comes to both contributing funds to your personal account and donating to charities, a minimum amount of $1 is required for each transaction. There’s no maximum limit; you can be as charitable as you like!

What are recurring contributions?

Recurring contributions allow you to consistently fund your Groundswell account on a monthly basis.

Setting up a recurring contribution is a great way to save money for future donations. Whether you’ve got an annual giving goal in mind, or something occurs, like a natural disaster or a social justice issue, and you’d like to meet the moment with a donation to charity, recurring contributions can help you get there.

Can I contribute stock to my Groundswell account?

Yes! You can contribute stock to your Groundswell account. You can follow the prompts in the mobile app or email conceirge@groundswell.io for assistance in making your stock contribution.

How does Groundswell calculate its exchange rate?

Groundswell uses Open Exchange rate to generate the preview in your local currency. This exchange rate may differ from the rate used by your bank. Please contact your bank for further information regarding their specific rates.

Does Groundswell charge fees for contributions?

Groundswell does not assess contribution fees. There are no fees on ACH (bank account) contributions. However, for contributions made with a debit or credit card, our payment processor, Stripe, charges a variable card processing fee. This fee is tax-deductible.

Does Groundswell charge fees for contributions made internationally?

Groundswell does not charge any additional fees for contributions made by users outside of the US. However, a foreign transaction fee may be charged by your bank. Please contact your bank for further information.

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