Frequently Asked Questions

One Call For All is built on a simple idea: making local charitable giving easier and more connected. Each year, we bring together multiple nonprofit fundraising efforts into a single community campaign—supporting many organizations through one shared effort, with 100% of donations going directly to the nonprofits you designate.

If you’re new to our model, you may have questions. We’ve gathered answers to some of the most common ones below to help you get started.

For Community Members

  • One Call For All is an “umbrella” organization (tax ID #91-0782393) that raises funds on behalf of other community nonprofits. We exist solely to collect and then pass along donations to other local charitable organizations (called our Partner Agencies), who apply to participate in our consolidated fundraising appeal (our annual Red Envelope campaign, focused on year-end giving). We consolidate and distribute 100% of donation dollars to our Partner Agencies as unrestricted operating funds. 

    We consider ourselves a Bainbridge Island tradition, as we’ve been doing this work since 1960, when pioneering volunteers started it all by going door to door. We’ve raised millions and millions of dollars along the way, and increased awareness for hundreds of different nonprofits, while also cultivating the simple worth of giving back to the community.

  • If it’s easier for you to donate directly to your favorite organizations, by all means, go ahead and do so – especially if you find yourself at one of their events, or have a sudden inspiration. That said, we think there are few distinct advantages to giving through One Call For All:

    • One-stop shopping: One Call For All allows you to give to multiple organizations with a single transaction

    • No transaction fees: 100% of your donation will be passed along to your chosen organization(s), as One Call For All will absorb the fees for processing the donation. There is no extra cost to you or the recipient organization.

    • Decreased administrative work: One Call For All takes care of donation processing and tax acknowledgements, removing such administrative tasks from your organization’s to-do list.

    • Increase your impact: Every donation of $20 or more will earn your chosen organization(s) a share of our Community Fund (a pool of common funds). In recent years, shares have been worth $4-5/each.

    • Being part of a larger community & philanthropic effort just feels good!

  • One Call For All is also a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so we raise funds, too. We receive donations from generous local sponsors, and community members who choose us as one of their many designated organizations. Our operating budget is lean, and funds go towards facilitating our annual Red Envelope campaign, including the cost of processing donations and distributing funds.

  • One Call For All accepts donations by cash, check, credit card (including ApplePay, GooglePay, and PayPal), or ACH (direct bank transfer). Additionally, we can accept gifts from your DAF, IRA (RMD or QCD), or brokerage/stock account (see next FAQ below). You can donate online here!

    If you prefer to do business via snail mail, fill out a hard copy of our Donation Form and mail it back to us at One Call For All, PO Box 10487, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.

  • While we can’t arrange for an account-to-account transfer of DAF, IRA, or brokerage funds directly on our website, you can indicate your intent-to-give and corresponding allocations (Partner Agency designations) via our online form (or snail mail us a Donation Form if you prefer). This will alert us that a donation is forthcoming. You can then send funds as noted below, and we’ll marry your dollars with your distribution wishes:

    • IRA (QCD or RMD) or DAF: Have your fund administrator or your financial advisor issue funds directly to One Call For All (either electronically or via paper check). This can be just a single transaction, with a comment indicating that it’s for the annual Red Envelope campaign.

    • Gift of stock or appreciated assets: Your broker will need to initiate a transfer to our account at JP Morgan Clearing Corp (account #74148650, DTC# 0352, customer name One Call For All, tax ID# 91-0782393). Proceeds will be calculated based on asset value the day it is received in our account.

    If any additional assistance is needed, please reach out to us at donations@onecallforall.org.

  • Yes. Your donation is technically to One Call For All (ourselves a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization), so we will furnish you with an appropriate tax receipt following your donation transaction. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

  • One Call For All does inform our Partner Agencies of donors who have chosen to give to them, so they will count you among their annual supporters. That said, if you prefer to give on the “down low,” One Call For All also offers you the option to donate in a way that does not reveal your identity to recipient organizations.

  • One Call For All raises unrestricted operating funds for our Partner Agencies. Funds are passed along without any restrictions for use. 

  • Yes, we conduct due diligence to ensure that all participating Partner Agencies in One Call For All’s Red Envelope campaign are vetted nonprofit organizations, in good standing with Washington’s Secretary of State and the IRS, who serve our local community in some way.

  • Yes! While the most active phase of our annual Red Envelope campaign is during the 4th quarter (year-end giving), we will gladly accept donations at any time.

  • Disbursements are made to Partner Agencies semi-annually, in January (following year-end giving), and then again in August for donations received thereafter plus shares of the Community Fund.

    That said, we make exceptions for particularly large donations, when organizations have hosted a fundraising event, or any time funds are needed sooner.

  • You can choose to donate one-time, or with recurring monthly or quarterly gifts. Monthly donations happen on the date of the original transaction, and then recur on the 15th of each subsequent month. Quarterly donations likewise begin on the date of the original transaction, then recur on the 15th of February, May, August, and November. (Lest you forget, you will receive a reminder email each cycle, alerting you of the upcoming transaction.)

For Community Organizations

  • Any prospective Partner Agency must:

    • Be and remain recognized as a tax-exempt charitable or social welfare organization by the IRS

    • Maintain a current registration with the Washington State Secretary of State’s (WA-SOS) Charities Division

    • Serve Bainbridge Island residents in some way

    • Fill out an annual application

    Additionally, Partner Agencies are expected to:

    • Actively participate in and promote the Red Envelope campaign

    • Refrain from sending island-wide direct solicitation by mail

    • Protect donor confidentiality

  • If you feel that your organization meets the above requirements, we encourage you to apply. Our application window is open in March of each year, for participation in the upcoming (Aug-July) annual campaign. Please reach out to Lisa (director@onecallforall.org) as application time approaches.

If you have additional questions, we’re happy to help. You can reach us through our Contact page or email us directly at info@onecallforall.org.