Donation Frequently Asked Questions

Are donations tax deductible?

Your gift is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the law. The Miami Valley Down Syndrome Association is a registered 501(c)(3) organization (Tax ID 31-1179236).

Where do I get donation collection envelopes?

The Miami Valley Down Syndrome Association office has donation collection envelopes that can be mailed to you. Contact us at office@mvdsa.org or 937-576-0779.

Who should MVDSA Rally in the Valley checks be made payable to?

For tax purposes, please make all checks payable to Miami Valley Down Syndrome Association or MVDSA. Checks should not be written to Rally in the Valley teams, team captains, or individual participants. Please ask donors to indicate which walk team they are supporting and your name on the memo section of the check.

What if people want to give me cash?

Try to encourage online donations – Online donations are made directly to your team web page and are instantly attributed to your walker and/or MVDSA Rally in the Valley team fundraising goal. No additional steps are necessary. For offline donations -- it is safest and best for record keeping that offline donations are made by check (or money order). If you are given cash, please keep a record of the donor’s name, date and amount and, if you are able, convert the cash to a check or money order. We will credit the donors for their generosity. If this is not possible, you can always bring the cash donations to the MVDSA office or to the walk. Please do not mail cash.

Do I have to send in my donations? Can I bring them with me to the walk? What if my donors don’t want to donate online? Where do I send the checks?

While online registrations and donations are preferable, offline donations may be made as well. All offline (check or cash) donations should be submitted to the MVDSA office for processing. While you can always bring your donations to the walk, it is preferable that you mail them in as soon as you can to the address below, so your team can receive credit in a timely fashion.

Miami Valley Down Syndrome Association

(Insert Rally in the Valley Team Name)

8448 North Dixie Drive

Dayton, Ohio 45414

How long will it take before the checks I mailed show up on my page?

All offline Rally in the Valley donations will be deposited, processed and posted to your webpage as soon as possible. Please allow at least two weeks for donations to appear on your page.

How will my donation to MVDSA appear on my credit card statement?

Depending on the credit card, it might be listed as MVDSA Rally in the Valley, MVDSA, Miami Valley Down Syndrome Association, or Authorize.net.

I think my company matches gifts. How do I get this started?

Every company handles its own matching gift program differently. Please contact your company’s Human Resources Department for instructions on how to double your donation or fundraising efforts through matching gifts. Send your matching gift forms to the MVDSA Office.

I submitted a form for matching gifts but do not see the donation on my page. Where is it?

The Miami Valley Down Syndrome Association cannot post a matching gift until the corporation involved approves it. Unfortunately, corporations match gifts on a different timetable during the year. If you have questions regarding your matching gift, please contact your company to see if the donation has indeed been matched. If it has, please contact MVDSA at 937-576-0779 or office@mvdsa.org, and we will do everything we can to ensure that the donation appears on your page. 

I think my company might like to get involved in a different way. How do we do that?

There are fabulous sponsorship opportunities available. Please contact Natasha Taylor at office@mvdsa.org, or 937-576-0779 for more information. You can also take a look at our sponsorship opportunities on https://www.ds-stride.org/rallyinthevalley! Companies can also form their own teams to help fundraise and take part in the walk! Contact us with any questions!