Frequently Asked Questions
Visa Giving Gateway
Charities
Donations
Recurring Donations
My Visa Card
Charity Specific
Visa Giving Gateway
Q. What is Visa Giving Gateway?
Visa Giving Gateway is a web portal made available by Visa and powered by Blackbaud that brings together donors like you and IRS qualified §501(c)(3) publicly supported charities that are described in §§509(a)(1) and 509(a)(2) (with certain exceptions). Visa Giving Gateway allows you to make donations with the convenience and security of using your Visa card. Donations made at Visa Giving Gateway are made to Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. (RCF). RCF, in substantially all cases, distributes the amounts donated (less an administrative fee) to the charities recommended by the donors. RCF has exclusive legal control over all donations. Visa is not soliciting charitable donations nor making charitable grants in connection with Visa Giving Gateway. Back to top.
Q. Who is Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc.?
Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. (RCF) is a §501(c)(3), 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1(A)vi) publically supported charity which was formed to offer donors flexibility and “advisory” control over their charitable giving. RCF is a Sponsoring Organization that hosts Donor-Advised Funds and Charitable Gift Annuities, and works in tandem with financial planning professionals and potential donors to create the ideal environment that meets charitable planning needs. RCF maintains the Donor-Advised Fund for Visa Giving Gateway and is responsible for approving, accepting and disbursing donations, made through Visa Giving Gateway. RCF is soliciting contributions and will, in substantially all cases, pay the amount of each contribution it receives from a donor (less an administrative fee) to the charity recommended by the donor. RCF has retained Blackbaud to power Visa Giving Gateway; Blackbaud does not solicit contributions nor provide fundraising counsel to nonprofits. Back to top.
Q. Why did Visa develop Visa Giving Gateway?
Today, many charities do not have the ability to accept Visa electronic payments, so Visa devised Visa Giving Gateway as a solution to expand acceptance so that more charities could benefit from Visa card acceptance. Visa Giving Gateway gives IRS qualified §501(c)(3) publicly supported charities that are described in §§509(a)(1) and 509(a)(2) (with certain exceptions) the ability to receive donations through Visa cards, while giving cardholders the opportunity to make donations with the ease, convenience and security of using their Visa cards. Back to top.
Q. What are the benefits of using Visa Giving Gateway to donate?
Visa Giving Gateway provides Visa cardholders with access to nearly 1 million IRS qualified §501(c)(3) publicly supported charities that are described in §§509(a)(1) and 509(a)(2) (with certain exceptions) – providing Visa cardholders with the ability to donate to the charities and causes that they care about most through the Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. Visa Giving Gateway allows donors to make donations with the ease, convenience and security of using their Visa cards. Additionally, donations to charities are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. An additional benefit of using Visa Giving Gateway is that when Visa cardholders make donations through Visa Giving Gateway, a receipt will automatically be generated for their tax records. What’s more, Visa cardholders who use Visa Giving Gateway have the ability to generate a donation summary that provides a “Giving History” for their tax records of when and how much they donated. Please refer to “Donations” Question 6 for more information. Back to top.
Q. What are the benefits of giving with my Visa Card?
Donating with your Visa card is just like using your Visa card for your everyday purchases – it provides the ease and security of using Visa cards and is more convenient than checks. You can use your Visa card to make a one-time donation. When you donate through the Visa Giving Gateway, you will automatically receive a receipt for your tax records. Additionally, since many Visa cards earn reward points, by using your Visa to donate, you may earn points while supporting the charities and causes that you care about most. Please refer to “Donations” Question 6 for more information.Back to top.
Q. Who is Blackbaud?
Nonprofit organizations around the world use Blackbaud solutions to increase donations, reduce fundraising costs, improve communications with their constituents, better manage their finances, and market their missions. Founded in 1981, Blackbaud is now the leading provider of software and services designed specifically for nonprofits. Blackbaud Visa Giving Gateway is powered by Blackbaud technology. Renaissance Charitable Foundation, Inc. (RCF), has partnered with Blackbaud to perform certain obligations which include the processing of donations made through the Visa Giving Gateway on RCF’s behalf. Back to top.
Q. What is a Donor Advised Fund? How does it work?
A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable giving account offered by a sponsoring organization that is designed as an accessible, simple, vehicle for charitable giving. The DAF account is maintained by Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. (RCF), an IRS qualified §501(c)(3) publicly supported charity in good standing. RCF, through Blackbaud, will process your donation and in substantially all cases distribute all of the amounts donated (less an administrative fee) to your recommended charity through Visa Giving Gateway.
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Q. What if I forgot my username and password, how do I login?
Click on the blue member login button at the top right corner of the page, then choose the link "Forgotten Username or Password" under the box for username and password. If you have forgotten your password you will be prompted to enter your username and once this is successful an email containing your information will be sent to the email address for your account. If you have forgotten your username, enter your email address in the "Forgotten Username" section. Your username will be emailed to you.Back to top.
Q. Where can I see details about my past donations?
In order to see details about your past donations, you must create an account on Visa Giving Gateway and be signed in at the time of your donation. Click on "Register Now" at the top of the screen and follow the steps to create a "My Giving Gateway" account. If you already have an account, click on the option entitled “My Giving Gateway” on the top of the screen. If you aren’t already signed in, then you will be prompted to enter your username and password. Once you are successfully logged in, you will have an option to view your Donation History, where you will find details about your past donations.Back to top.
Q. Who do I call for more information or if I need assistance?
You can contact a Customer Support Representative toll-free at 1-877-801-7249. Customer Support Representatives are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you would like to share feedback about any aspect of your experience at the Visa Giving Gateway, please email us at VisaGivingGatewayFeedback@blackbaud.com. Your satisfaction is important to us. Back to top.
Charities
Q. How do I select a charity to benefit from my donation?
Selecting a charity is quick and easy. Just use the “Find a charity to support” search tool on the “Home Page”. You can search for a charity based on a charity name, by keywords, by category, by location, or through a mix of any of the four search functions, e.g. category and location or keywords and category. Once you have identified your search criteria, just click on the “Search” button and we will provide you with a summary page with your charity search results. Back to top.
Q. What does it mean to be a 501(c)(3) organization?
Contributions to a §501(c)(3) organization are deductible by the donor within the limits of the Internal Revenue Code. A §501(c)(3) organization meets the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code to be tax-exempt under §501(c)(3). The organization must not operate for the benefit of private interests, such as the creator or the creator's family, shareholders of the organization, other designated individuals, or persons controlled directly or indirectly by such private interests. In addition, the organization may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates. Please see the IRS website relating to charities. Back to top.
Q. Who provides the information on the charities?
Visa Giving Gateway contains information provided on a charity’s Form 990 tax return with the IRS and, in some instances, supplemental information provided by the charity. Back to top.
Q. How many charities are represented?
Nearly 1 million IRS qualified §501(c)(3) publicly supported charities that are described in §§509(a)(1) and 509(a)(2) that file a Form 990 tax return with the IRS (with certain exceptions) appear in Visa Giving Gateway. Churches, some religious organizations, city and state governments, public schools and certain other nonprofits are not included in the database because they are not required to apply for an exemption or file a Form 990. In addition, private non-operating foundations and publicly supported charities sub-classified as §509(a)(3) and 509(a)(4) are excluded from Visa Giving Gateway.Back to top.
Q. Have these charities been reviewed or screened?
The IRS requires charities like Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. (RCF) to ensure organizations receiving funds from a Donor-Advised Fund are operating as §501(c)(3) publically supported charity. RCF verifies if a charity recommended to receive a donation is still valid by confirming its inclusion within the IRS list, but does not otherwise review or screen charities. Information listed in charity profiles reflect the information in the charity’s Form 990 tax return with the IRS and, in some instances, supplemental information provided by the charity. Visa Giving Gateway is simply a tool for you to make informed decisions about who you donate your money to, ensuring you choose charities that match your philanthropic interests and values.Back to top.
Q. Does Visa endorse the charities listed on this site?
No. Visa does not endorse any charity. Back to top.
Q. My charity does not show up in the search results, why?
Try refining your search or searching under alternative names. If you still can’t find the charity of your choice, then it is possible the charity is not qualified as a §501(c)(3) publicly supported charity that is described in §§509(a)(1) and 509(a)(2) or the charity doesn’t appear for another reason. Please refer to “Charities” Question 4. You can contact a Customer Support Representative toll-free at 1-877-801-7249 for more information. You can also contact the charity directly to inquire about their tax-exempt status.Back to top.
Q. Can I make a donation to a local chapter or affiliate of a national organization?
If the local chapter or affiliate is an IRS qualified §501(c)(3) publicly supported charity that is described in §§509(a)(1) and 509(a)(2) (with certain exceptions), then you should be able to make a donation through Visa Giving Gateway. If you aren’t able to locate the charity in the search results, then you may choose to make a donation to the national organization or contact your local charity directly. You can also contact a Customer Support Representative toll-free at 1-877-801-7249 for more information. Back to top.
Donations
Q. Is there a minimum or maximum donation amount?
There is no minimum or maximum donation amount. For convenience, donations through Visa Giving Gateway are set as whole dollars.Back to top.
Q. Can I make an anonymous donation?
Unless you check the box “Please share my name and donation amount with the charity", your donation will be treated as anonymous and your personal information will not be shared with your designated charity. Back to top.
Q. Can I give in honor of or in memory of someone?
Yes, if you would like to give in honor of or in memory of someone, then check the box labeled “Is this a dedication or gift in memory of someone?” You will be prompted to create an eCard to send to the recipient of the dedicated donation. Back to top.
Q. If I give a donation in honor of or in memory of someone, is the recipient information shared with the charity?
No, recipient information is not shared with the recommended charity. Back to top.
Q. Can I specify what the donation should be used for?
Donations made via Visa Giving Gateway are for general operations of the charity and cannot be designated for a specific purpose.Back to top.
Q. Is my donation tax deductible?
Your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Please note the receipt of points may reduce the amount deductible by a donor by the fair market value of the points. Please print a copy of your receipt or your acknowledgement email for tax purposes. Please consult your tax advisor with respect to the amount and timing of your deduction.Back to top.
Q. Can I cancel my donation?
Like any tax-deductible contribution, your donation is non-refundable. However, if you feel the donation was made in error then please contact a Customer Support Representative toll-free at 1-877-801-7249. Customer Support Representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Back to top.
Q. What is the administrative fee and how does it apply?
Visa Giving Gateway allows donors to make tax-deductible gifts to Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. (RCF), a publicly supported charity as defined in §501(c)(3), 509(a)(1) and 170 (b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code. RCF will in substantially all cases, use the proceeds (less an administrative fee) to make distributions to the charities recommended by donors. RCF will deduct the administrative fee of 3.75% + $0.25 per donation to cover administrative, processing and other costs and fees incurred with managing and processing online donations and disbursement to the recommended charities. Your full donation, which includes the administrative fee, is tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Please refer to “Donations” Question 6 for further explanation of tax deductions.Back to top.
Q. Will I have to pay a fee to donate through Visa giving Gateway?
No. Visa cardholders will not have to pay a fee to use their Visa cards to donate through Visa Giving Gateway.Back to top.
Q. How will I receive a receipt for tax purposes?
Visa Giving Gateway provides an official acknowledgment to the email address you supplied. This email receipt comes from Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. (RCF) and includes details of your donation. Additionally, should you choose to register as a Visa Giving Gateway user, your information regarding past donations will be available under “Giving History” on the website.Back to top.
Q. What happens if I want a follow-up report from the charity on how the funds were used?
You can contact the charity directly and request additional information on how they generally use donation funds.Back to top.
Q. Why does my giving receipt show Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. in addition to my recommended charity?
Donations made at Visa Giving Gateway are made to the Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. (RCF), a §501(c)3, 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1) (A)(vi) publicly supported charity who deposits them into a Donor-Advised Fund account of RCF. RCF is the charity of record allowing your donation to be tax-deductible. RCF will then, in substantially all cases, contribute the amounts donated (less an administrative fee) to your recommended charity. Back to top.
Q. I received my Visa statement and the transaction description reads “RCF*VISAGIVING.COM”. Is that my charity donation?
Yes, “RCF*VISAGIVING.COM” on your Visa statement is the donation you made through Visa Giving Gateway. “RCF*VISAGIVING.COM” is the merchant ID for Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. for donations made through Visa Giving Gateway. Back to top.
Q. When and how does my donation get to my recommended charity?
Donations made at Visa Giving Gateway are made to Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. (RCF), a §501(c)(3), 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1) (A)(vi) publicly supported charity, that will collect and process your donation and in substantially all cases distribute the amounts donated (less an administrative fee) to your recommended charity. Like any tax-deductible contribution, your donation is non-refundable. If your recommended charity cannot or does not accept the donation, including, without limitation, if the recommended charity is no longer recognized by the IRS as a publicly supported charity, or is not in good standing with federal regulators, RCF will attempt to contact you via email for an alternate recommendation. If you do not respond to this email within 30 days, or if RCF cannot contact you via email, RCF will select another charity that RCF believes meets high public standards and whose mission is similar to the charity that you originally recommended or a “Featured Charity”. Back to top.
Q. How much of my donation will go to my recommended charity?
An administrative fee of 3.75% +$0.25 will be deducted from the donation by Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. (RCF). For example if you were to donate $100.00, the administrative fee would be $3.75 + $0.25 = $4.00. If the recommended charity is eligible to receive your donation, it will receive the donation amount of $96.00 ($100.00 - $4.00). Your full donation, which includes the administrative fee, is tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Please refer to “Donations” Questions 6. Back to top.
Q. What happens if my recommended charity loses its §501(c)(3) status with the IRS? Will they still receive my donation?
If a charity loses its §501(c)(3) publicly supported charity status, then they will no longer appear in the search results, nor be eligible for future donations. If there are donations to Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. (RCF) which were recommended to such an ineligible charity that are yet to be disbursed, then RCF will attempt to contact you via email for an alternate recommendation. If you do not respond to this email within 30 days, or if RCF cannot contact you via email, RCF will select another charity that RCF believes meets high public standards and whose mission is similar to the charity that you originally recommended or a “featured charity”. Back to top.
Q. How will you protect my privacy?
At Visa, we endeavor to protect the security of your personal information and honor your choices for the personal information we collect. The security of your personal information is very important to us, and we are committed to protecting the personal information we collect. While we cannot guarantee absolute security of your personal information, Visa requires that Blackbaud use firewalls and Secure Socket Layers for sensitive personal information collected from you when it is being communicated. We also require that Blackbaud and Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. (RCF) restrict access to personal information to those employees, agents and service providers who need to know or access the information in order to provide you with Visa Giving Gateway. We also require Blackbaud maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with applicable federal privacy and data security laws and regulations to guard your personal information. Unfortunately, no transmissions or data available through the Internet can be 100% secure and, accordingly, we cannot guarantee or warrant the security of any personal information or other information you provide to us. As with any transmission over the Internet, such data may be accessed by unauthorized parties. You also have a significant role in protecting your personal information. It is difficult to see or edit your personal information without knowing your User ID and Password, so do not share these with others to help protect your personal information. For more information on privacy and data security, please review the Visa Giving Gateway Privacy Policy. Back to top.
Recurring Donations
Q. Can I set-up a recurring donation?
Yes, when you are making a donation you have the choice between a one-time gift or a recurring gift. If you choose a recurring gift, then you determine the schedule of your recurring donation. Your recurring donation can be either the 15th of each month, the last day of each month, or the last day of every three months. Back to top.
Q. Is there an additional cost for recurring donations?
No, recurring donations incur the same administrative fees as one-time donations. The administrative fee is processed each time the recurrence occurs.Back to top.
Q. How can I cancel my recurring donation?
Like any tax-deductible contribution, a donation that has already processed is non-refundable. However, if you would like to cancel future donations then please contact a Customer Support Representative toll-free at 1-877-801-7249. Customer Support Representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Back to top.
Q. Can I change the amount of my recurring donation?
If you would like to change the amount of future donations then please contact a Customer Support Representative toll-free at 1-877-801-7249. Customer Support Representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Back to top.
Q. Can I change the recommended charity for my recurring donation?
If you would like to change the recommended charity for future donations then please contact a Customer Support Representative toll-free at 1-877-801-7249. Customer Support Representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Back to top.
Q. What is the schedule of a recurring donation?
Your recurring donation can be either the 15th of each month, the last day of each month, or the last day of every three months. The start date for every three months is based on the month you setup your recurring donation. For example, a recurring donation that is setup on 12/28 for every three months will be processed on 12/31, 3/31/, 6/30, 9/30, etc.Back to top.
Q. Can I change the schedule of my recurring donation?
If you would like to change the schedule for future donations then please contact a Customer Support Representative toll-free at 1-877-801-7249. Customer Support Representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Back to top.
Q. Will I be notified if my recurring donation fails?
Yes, if for some reason your donation cannot be processed, then you will be contacted at the email address you supplied.Back to top.
Q. Will I be notified when my recurring donation processes?
Yes, each time your recurring donation is processed, Visa Giving Gateway will provide an official acknowledgment to the email address you supplied. This email receipt will come from Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. (RCF) and will include details of your donation. Additionally, should you choose to register as a Visa Giving Gateway user, your information regarding past donations will be available under “Donation History” on the website.Back to top.
Q. Will my recurring donation be visible on “My Giving Gateway”?
In order to see details about your recurring donation, you must create an account on Visa Giving Gateway and be signed in at the time of your donation. Click on “Register Now” at the top of the screen and follow the steps to create a “My Giving Gateway” account. If you already have an account, click on the option entitled “My Giving Gateway” on the top of the screen. If you aren’t already signed in, then you will be prompted to enter your username and password. Once you are successfully logged in, you will have an option to view your "Donation History", where you will find details about your recurring donations.Back to top.
Q. Can I have multiple recurring donations?
Yes, you can create as many recurring donations as you wish by selecting your favorite charities and completing the recurring donation process for each charity.Back to top.
Q. What is the benefit of setting up a recurring donation?
Recurring donations allow you to donate on a regular basis to your favorite charities without having to complete the donation process each time you want to give. You just donate one time and setup a schedule for future donations. The scheduled donations are processed automatically and you are emailed your receipt for your tax records. Back to top.
My Visa Card
Q. Is donating with my Visa card different than using my Visa card to make a purchase?
Using your Visa card to donate to a charity is just like using your Visa card to make a purchase – which means you can enjoy the same benefits that you have come to know such as convenience, record keeping and security.Back to top.
Q. Will I receive rewards on my Visa card for my donation?
If you participate in a Visa card rewards program, by using your enrolled Visa card to donate you may earn points to help reward yourself while supporting the charities and causes that you care about most. To find out if you have a Visa card with rewards, if you are currently enrolled in a Visa card rewards program, if donations through Visa Giving Gateway qualify for points under the Visa card rewards program, or for any other matter related to a Visa card rewards program, please contact your financial institution that issued your Visa card. Please refer to "Donations" Question 6 relating to the possible impact of a reward on the amount of your deduction.Back to top.
Q. How do I obtain a Visa Card in order to make a donation?
Whatever your needs, Visa has the card that is right for you: Credit cards, Debit Cards and Prepaid Cards. To find the card that best fits your needs, you can go directly to the Visa Card Advisor. Or for your convenience just click on the “Don’t have a Visa card” link found on the “Donate to your Charity” page.Back to top.
Q. Is my Visa card information safe and secure?
You can feel confident about safety when you use your Visa card. Our multiple layers of security prevent, detect, and resolve unauthorized use of your card information. And if fraud should occur, you are never held liable for unauthorized charges. Visa takes proactive steps to ensure that your information is not used fraudulently, online or off. Our best-in-class systems detect fraud in real time, while you are shopping, so that action can be taken right away to minimize the impact. You’re 100% covered in the event your card information is used to commit fraud through Visa’s Zero Liability policy. In the rare event of card fraud, Visa will help you regain control of your account, as well as safeguard it for the future. Visa's Zero Liability policy covers U.S.–issued cards only and does not apply to ATM transactions, PIN transactions not processed by Visa, or certain commercial card transactions. Cardholders must notify their issuer promptly of any unauthorized use. Consult the issuer of your Visa card for additional details. For more information on Visa’s multiple layers of security go to http://usa.visa.com/personal/security/index.html.Back to top.
Q. What should I do if my Visa card is ever lost or stolen?
If your Visa card is ever lost or stolen, call Visa Global Customer Care Services at 1-800-VISA-911 (within the U.S. or Canada) for immediate assistance. A Visa representative will work with you to notify the appropriate parties and replace your card. Back to top.
Charity Specific
Q. I do not see my charity listed in your search function. How do I get added to the list?
Our list is generated from the IRS database IRS qualified §501(c)(3) publicly supported charities that are described in §§509(a)(1) and 509(a)(2) (with certain exceptions). If you are such an entity in good standing, but are not on our list, please contact us toll-free at 1-877-801-7249.Back to top.
Q. I don't want my charity listed on your search results, who do I contact to remove my charity?
Please contact Blackbaud Customer Support toll-free at 1-877-801-7249.Back to top.
Q. How often are donations distributed to charities?
To the extent Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. determines a donation may be made, funds will generally be distributed within seven business days after a distribution cycle. The first distribution cycle is the 1st through the 15th of a calendar month and the second distribution cycle is the 16th through the last day of the month. Back to top.
Q. How are funds distributed to charities?
Funds will be distributed via ACH. Please register your charity and ACH information with Blackbaud. In the event Blackbaud does not receive your ACH information, funds will be distributed via check Back to top.
Q. How do I register my charity with Blackbaud?
Please visit the Charity Information page to learn more about registering your charity with Blackbaud Back to top.
Q. How do I become a featured charity on Visa Giving Gateway?
Please contact Blackbaud Customer Support toll-free at 1-877-801-7249.Back to top.
Q. How do I get my charity logo and more information about my charity on your search page?
Please Visit the Charity Information page to learn more about customizing your charity page.Back to top.
Q. I would like to follow-up with the donor and send a thank you. Can I get the donor contact information?
Donors will be given the option to provide the charity they recommended their contact information in the near future. If donors do not choose to provide such information, we cannot share that information with you.Back to top.
Q. How can I directly accept donations through Visa payments?
Contact an acquirer to learn more about how to accept Visa payments. Visit Accepting Visa to sign up as a Visa merchant. Back to top.