| Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) |
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For ShopForMyCause.com Fundraising Website
GENERAL
What is ShopForMyCause.com?
ShopForMyCause.com is site dedicated to helping DTFC fundraise. The concept is simple - you shop at your favorite online stores and by adding an extra click through ShopForMyCause.com, a percentage of your purchase is granted to your designated cause as a “GiveBack” or donation. Can you give me an example of how it works?
Let's say you are ready to buy those 4 airline tickets to Disney World, and you like to use Priceline.com for getting deals on airlines because you can use their popular “name your own price” feature. Instead of going directly to the Priceline website, you would visit the ShopForMyCause.com website and click through to Priceline to make your purchase. Let’s say in this example the 4 tickets cost you $1,000 (what a good deal). Because Priceline has a GiveBack of 1.5%, DTFC would receive $15.00 from the purchase, no questions asked. The transaction was the same as before, directly through Priceline, and did not cost any more or less than usual - the only difference is that your organization benefits from the transaction. GiveBack funds are deposited directly to DTFC bank account on a monthly basis.
Do I need to register to use ShopForMyCause.com?
No. All you need to do is shop at your favorite online stores by clicking through ShopForMyCause.com, and you will “GiveBack” a percentage of your purchase to DTFC. What can I purchase through ShopForMyCause.com? ShopForMyCause.com
offers shopping for everything from sporting gear to travel. You can purchase soccer cleats or book your flight and hotel to the next big sporting event. You can send gifts to or subscribe to magazines and DVD services. We have hundreds of online stores, and plan to be adding hundreds more in the weeks and months to come. Does it cost me more to shop through ShopForMyCause.com?
No, it does not cost you more to shop through ShopForMyCause.com. You might even save money by taking advantage of the special deals offered on the site! What should I tell my friends and family that would like to make purchases through ShopForMyCause.com?
The best way to alert your friends and family about ShopForMyCause.com is to send them an email with your Cause link. They can also go directly to www.ShopForMyCause.com and select the “Causes” tab. Once selected, they must search for AND select the exact name of your Cause (once a Cause is selected, it will appear in the upper right of the ShopForMyCause.com home page). This will insure your Cause receives the appropriate GiveBack for their purchases. Do you charge Causes to participate?
No. There are no fees to participate as a Cause. SHOPPING & DONATIONS When I shop through ShopForMyCause.com, am I purchasing from ShopForMyCause.com or the Store?
The Store (a.k.a. Merchant). When you click through ShopForMyCause.com, we pass a special code to the store that tells them you came from ShopForMyCause.com. Once you arrive at their site, shop as you normally do. The GiveBack amount(s) will be automatically credited to your Cause. What if I forget to go through ShopForMyCause.com when I make a purchase?
In order for your Cause to receive GiveBack donations, you must first visit ShopForMyCause.com and be sure that your Cause name is displayed in the upper right-hand corner of the Home Page. This is how GiveBack donations are tracked, calculated and paid to the correct Cause. What if I have an email coupon from an online store I shop at frequently, will I still GiveBack to my Cause by using it?
No. In order to successfully make a purchase where a GiveBack donation is made to your Cause, you must start at the ShopForMyCause.com website. We have a range of special deals including coupons and offers that may be similar to what you see in your own email. What is a coupon code?
Some online stores use coupon codes to provide you with special discounts. When you see a coupon code, we suggest you write it down before clicking through to the store's site. When you check out, the storewill ask you for the code. You’ll need to enter the code to receive the discount. What should I do if I have a problem with an order I placed from one of your stores?
After you click through ShopForMyCause.com, all shopping transactions occur on the store's site. If you experience an issue with an order, you will needto contact the store directly as you normally would. Some of the stores listed on ShopForMyCause.com have physical (brick and mortar) store locations; are purchases made in these stores eligible for GiveBack donations too?
No. In order to successfully make a purchase where a GiveBack donation is made to your Cause, you must start at the ShopForMyCause.com website, and all purchases must be made online. What is the best way to find a store? What if I want to buy from a store not listed on ShopForMyCause.com?
If there is an online store or stores you use regularly that is not on our current list of stores, please email the name of your store(s) to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it so we can work towards adding them. How much of my purchase will be donated to my Cause?
GiveBack amounts for transactions are displayed prominently on the ShopForMyCause.com website in the store description area. Note that in some cases the GiveBack is a stated dollar amount instead of a percentage. Every store offers a different GiveBack and the policies and exceptions are documented there. How quickly are GiveBack donations made to a Cause?
ShopForMyCause.com donates aggregate GiveBack amounts to Causes on a monthly basis. Payments are made to the Cause approximately 90 days after the transaction occurs. This period allows stores to credit returns and remit payments to ShopForMyCause.com. For more information on our payment policy, see our Terms of Use. Can my Cause earn GiveBack donations on gift card purchases?
Typically not. In general, gift card purchases are excluded from earning GiveBack donations for your selected Cause. Can I track my purchases and GiveBack donations?
No. At this time, your Cause manages all GiveBack donations. Their designated administrator receives a report with the total transactions for their Cause and the aggregate GiveBacks paid. We plan to offer more personalized reporting in future versions. After I made a purchase through ShopForMyCause.com , the “Total GiveBacks Raised” on the Home Page did not update to reflect my purchase GiveBack amount. Why?
The “Total GiveBack Raised” amount displayed on the Home Page is not updated in real-time. It takes some time for the transactions to get properly tracked and accounted for in our systems. We display the totals as accurately as we can once we have the information to support it.
Are my purchases tax deductable?
No. Your purchase and associated GiveBack amounts are not tax deductable, but as always you may wish to consult with your tax professional. Who is eligible to become a Cause on ShopForMyCause.com?
At this time ShopForMyCause.com is available on a limited release to customers of League Sports Services LLC (dba SportsSignup). Are there fees to be listed as a Cause on ShopForMyCause.com?
No. If you don’t charge fees to participate, how does the site stay operational?
ShopForMyCause.com generates revenue by earning affiliate commissions from select online merchants, whereby a portion (as indicated by the GiveBackamount) is provided to the Cause. What agreements are associated with ShopForMyCause.com?
There are two agreements that are important to know about. The first is the agreement is the Service Agreement between the Cause and the owner of ShopForMyCause.com, League Sports Services LLC. This agreement covers use of the site, what constitutes a GiveBack, how and when the Cause is paid, etc. A Cause cannot be listed on the site without an authorized representative of the Cause assenting to the Service Agreement. The second is the agreement by end-users of the site, this is called the Terms of Use and can be found on the ShopForMyCause.com website. My organization isn't in the US. Can we participate?
No, ShopForMyCause.com is only available to organizations in the United States at this time. Does my organization need nonprofit status to participate?
No. Any organization that meets the criteria outlined in the Service Agreement can be listed as a Cause. Do we get taxed on commissions (total GiveBacks) received from ShopForMyCause.com?
As outlined in the Service Agreement, your organization will be expected to provide ShopForMyCause.com a completed IRS form W-9 if the total commissions in a calendar year exceed $600.00 (to facilitate filing of form 1099-MISC). As far as taxation goes, this is a question for your tax professional.
When does our Cause receive commissions from ShopForMyCause.com?
Commissions are paid for a given month three calendar months in arrears. For example, GiveBacks earned for the month of January are paid on or around May 1st. Payments will be shown as a line item on your SportsSignup activity statement. When does our Cause receive commissions from ShopForMyCause.com?
Commissions are paid for a given month three calendar months in arrears. For example, GiveBacks earned for the month of January are paid on or around May 1st. My question is not answered in this FAQ, how can I contact ShopForMyCause.com? Please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will be happy to assist you. |
