What is Raise the Region?
Raise the Region® is a powerful 30-hour online giving campaign that unites community members in supporting local nonprofits. This initiative is designed to highlight and empower the vital work of these organizations, enabling them to address the growing needs of North Central Pennsylvania and create more vibrant communities.
Organized by the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania, Raise the Region® fosters individual giving through a strategic and unified effort that benefits participating nonprofits. Generous support from Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships, including stretching donations and cash prizes, inspires charitable contributions and demonstrates the transformative impact of investing locally.
By participating in this focused campaign, nonprofits increase their online presence, raise awareness for their missions, and secure much-needed resources to strengthen communities and thrive throughout the year.
Raise the Region will take place from 6:00 PM on March 12, 2025, to 11:59 PM on March 13, 2025.
Why is Raise the Region a good opportunity for our community?
Raise the Region is a great opportunity for the community because it brings together local nonprofits, donors, and businesses to create a powerful collective impact. The event helps nonprofits raise much-needed funds that directly benefit the community by supporting programs and services that address local needs. It fosters a spirit of collaboration, as organizations work together to raise awareness, engage with supporters, and amplify their missions.
Additionally, Raise the Region encourages charitable giving through matching funds and prizes, maximizing the contributions made by individuals and local businesses. By leveraging social media and digital tools, it makes giving accessible and engaging for everyone, creating a sense of unity and pride in the region. This event not only supports local causes but also strengthens the community by highlighting the incredible work being done by nonprofits to improve the lives of individuals and families.
Which organizations can participate?
Eligibility Requirements for Raise the Region 2025 Participation
To participate in Raise the Region, nonprofit organizations must meet the following criteria:
Nonprofit Status
Geographic Location
Fund Usage
Previous Participation (if applicable)
Ineligible Organizations
Discretionary Determinations
For further clarification or questions, please contact FCFP at 570-321-1500.
What if my preferred organization is not listed?
If your organization is not listed to participate in Raise the Region, don't worry! We encourage you to reach out and let us know. Please send an email to EmilyB@fcfpartnership.org with your request, and we will make sure to contact your organization of choice to assist with the registration process in the future. We're here to help ensure as many local nonprofits as possible can be part of this exciting event!
Anyone can donate to Raise the Region®! Donations must be made through the website, www.RaiseTheRegion.org, to support participating nonprofit organizations. Contributions are tax-deductible and can only be processed via credit or debit card. Please note that donations are non-refundable and will be receipted by FCFP. A minimum contribution of $25.00 is required.
If you wish to donate via FCFP donor-advised funds, arrangements must be made with FCFP by March 7, 2025. Please call our office to discuss this opportunity. Gifts from donor-advised funds held by other institutions are not permitted.
Can I make donations via a mobile device?
Yes! Simply visit www.RaiseTheRegion.org on your mobile device.
Can I pre-schedule a donation for Raise the Region?
You cannot pre-schedule your Raise the Region gift. In order for your donation to be counted towards prize incentives awarded on Raise the Region it must be made between 6:00 pm on March 12, 2025 and 11:59 PM on March 13, 2025.
How much of my donation goes to the nonprofit?
FCFP retains a 2% gift for the costs of the giving day event and to support its mission. Mightycause retains a 3% campaign management fee from all donations. Credit Card processing fees are an additional 2.19% for all major credit cards + $0.29 per transaction. 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.
Does FCFP accept employer matching gifts for Raise the Region?
Employer-matched contributions made in conjunction with Raise the Region will be accepted, but will be used to support the Friends of the Foundation Fund at the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania.
Who will receive my contact information?
Your email address will be used to send electronic tax receipts for donations made through Raise the Region. Your name, email address, phone number and billing address will be shared with the organization(s) receiving your donation, unless you choose to give anonymously. In that case, FCFP will not share your information with the supported organization.
FCFP does not retain credit card information, and your personal data will never be shared or sold to third-party vendors.
Additionally, FCFP may send periodic email updates regarding their annual result reports, and special giving opportunities or events.
How will my credit card statement list my donation?
Your statement will list "Raise the Region FCFP" as the payment descriptor. Please note that due to character limits of online and/or paper statements, the payment descriptor may be abbreviated and appear shortened.
How will donations be distributed to nonprofit organizations?
Donations received on Raise the Region® day will be made to the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania, but will be granted back to your organization after incentive funds, stretch funds, and prize dollars (if any) are applied. The Community Foundation will strive to confirm and announce all incentive grant recipients within 5 business days, with grant checks distributed within 75 days of the event.
How will the prizes be awarded?
The incentive funds, stretching funds, and prize money will be included in the grant to each participating nonprofit. The stretching funds will be paid to each participating nonprofit according to that nonprofit's percentage of the total amount raised during Raise the Region® (example: nonprofit raised 10% of the overall amount raised, nonprofit receives 10% of the stretching funds).
When will prize recipients be announced?
The Raise the Region® website will feature a live leaderboard where nonprofits and donors can track donations by organization in real-time. The leaderboard will list nonprofits in the order of most gifts. You will also be able to view the amount raised per nonprofit, but this is not a factor in determining incentive prize winners.
Final grant prize distribution may differ from leaderboard results, as all gifts are subject to eligibility verification. The Community Foundation will strive to confirm and announce all incentive grant recipients within 5 business days, with grant checks distributed within 75 days of the event.
What happens if there is a tie for a prize?
In the event of a tie for incentive (bonus) prizes, that prize will be equally divided by the number of organizations in the tie. Incentive bonus prizes based on time, will be determined by one-hundredths of a second to determine a winner.
What is Mightycause?
FCFP contracts with Mightycause to provide the third-party giving day website platform for Raise the Region. Local donors and nonprofits are encouraged to communicate directly with the Community Foundation with any questions related to this platform relationship. For assistance using the Mightycause Platform for Raise the Region, visit support.mightycause.com or email support@mightycause.com.
Do I need to create an account with Mightycause?
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.
What is state charitable solicitation registration?
Nonprofits are held to a high standard of government regulation and public scrutiny. And that is with good reason! Eligible 501(c) nonprofits are exempt from federal corporate taxes and have access to public funding. These benefits are not typically available to for-profit businesses, so laws are in place to protect the public and ensure nonprofits do not abuse their financial advantages. The IRS and states all have requirements for nonprofits.
Why is state charitable solicitation registration compliance important?
While 501(c) nonprofits receive key financial benefits, the penalties for noncompliance can be serious. The IRS can revoke a nonprofit’s tax exemption and impose fines that can accrue daily. The states can administratively dissolve a nonprofit corporation and levy steep financial penalties. Perhaps worst of all, an organization can lose out on a grant or large donation because it has not kept itself in good standing.
Taking a proactive approach to compliance helps ensure the sustained success of the organization. The cost of staying compliant is small in comparison to the much larger costs of noncompliance. The saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” could not be more true in this context.
What are the key aspects of state charitable solicitation registration compliance?
The IRS provides tax exemptions to eligible nonprofits under IRC 501(c). Public charities and private foundations receive 501(c)(3) tax exemption. The IRS scrutinizes organizations when they apply for 501(c)(3) but also ensures that those organizations meet the ongoing obligations to remain eligible. Nonprofits must file a 990 tax form each year with the IRS to disclose their financial data for the year.
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.