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Donor frequently asked questions

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Potentially. The Blue Valley Educational Foundation (BVEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it is possible that all or a portion of your donation is tax deductible. Deductibility depends on the benefit(s) you or a family member received as a result of the donation. You will receive an automatic email confirmation immediately after you make your donation. Take this to your tax advisor to determine your gift's tax deductibility.

Is this a secure website?

DonateNow uses VeriSign to conduct the commerce portion of the site. VeriSign is an industry leader in setting standards for next-generation application security and Web services .

What are the Web browser requirements?

Internet Explorer 5.0 or newer
Netscape 5.0 or newer

Can I still make a donation with a check or cash?

Yes, you may pay by mail, to your teacher or in person at the BVEF office located at 15020 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS 66223. If you have any questions, you may call the Foundation's Business Manager at (913) 239-4053.

Do the teachers' requests go through an approval process before they are posted on-line?

All proposals must be approved by the staff person's principal or supervisor, executive director of Education Services and BVEF. The district's executive director of technology must also approve the project if it is a technology grant. They will confirm that the proposal fits with the district's mission and curriculum. If there are any uncertainties, BVEF staff will contact the teacher with follow-up questions.

How do I know that my donation went toward the project I chose?

The teacher is required to post an update on our Web site after the project is funded. On occasion, a grant proposal will not receive sufficient donations to be fully funded. If the grant proposal isn't funded for any reason, the Blue Valley Educational Foundation will transfer the funds to the building principal for use in the school.

Why is 10% of funding allocated to the BVEF endowment fund?

The endowment is critical to the future ability of BVEF to support the needs of the Blue Valley School District. It is reasonable for a small portion of all donations to be allocated for contribution to the endowment. The endowment benefits all schools within the district. The added tax benefit of contributing funds through the BVEF makes this a win-win for both the donor as well as BVSD.

What is the purpose of the 5% management fee?

The BVEF performs a great deal of work on each proposal, including conducting the approval process, PR, Web site maintenance and follow up. The 5% fee includes 2% as a maintenance fee and a 3% operational fee.