Frequently asked questions

• What is NeighborShare?

  NeighborShare is a direct giving platform that empowers donors to help others make ends meet within an ecosystem of trust.
  
  We partner with reputable 501(c)(3) community organizations to identify and validate stories of need that would otherwise go unmet, providing a new path when other options have run out.

• How does NeighborShare work?

  1. NeighborShare partners with trusted nonprofits.
  2. Our partner nonprofits validate needs within the communities they serve. Each nonprofit posts profiles on our platform based on shared criteria: urgency and size of need, and if alternative resources are available (like government aid and food banks). Our platform can be a last resort.
  3. Donors select household(s) to support.
  4. Donations go directly to the sponsoring nonprofit and will be used to support a household in need. The sponsoring nonprofit hopes to help the household you select, but funds cannot be formally earmarked in order to protect the tax treatment of your donation. In certain cases, the nonprofit may choose to direct the funds to a similar household at their discretion (for example, if the initial household’s needs are already filled).

• How does The NeighborShare Fund work?

  Contributions to The NeighborShare Fund are distributed to our reputable 501(c)(3) partner organizations for specific families chosen by NeighborShare on behalf of donors. NeighborShare will provide you transparency into which families were helped with your contribution. Please see Is my contribution tax-deductible? below for more information.

• How does NeighborShare select and validate partner organizations?

  NeighborShare’s partner organizations are selected based on a set of vetting criteria including mission alignment, strength of their reputation and reach, and operational capability. Most are rated Silver or better by Guidestar’s Seal of Transparency rating system.

• How much of my donation goes directly to recipients?

  Stripe, the payment processor used on this site, charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. 100% of the rest of your donation goes to the partner nonprofit to support households in need.

• How are funds distributed to recipients?

  Each partner nonprofit decides how to distribute the funds based on their understanding of how best to serve their communities. For example, some will do so by writing checks directly to recipients; others may distribute debit/gift cards or pay households’ bills directly.

• I’m struggling and could use a hand. Could NeighborShare help me?

  If you are currently working with a nonprofit or other community organization, please tell them about us so we can add them as a partner. NeighborShare can’t guarantee that your needs will get met, but it’s free to use and we strive to help as many people as we can.

• I’m a non-profit, caseworker, teacher, clergyperson, or other trusted community member, and want to use NeighborShare. How do I get started?

  We’d love to have you as one of our partners! Please email Evan Meisler at evan@nbshare.org

• Do direct cash transfer programs really work?

  Yes! Research by organizations such as Innovations for Poverty Action and the World Bank have concluded that households in need, like all households, know best how to prioritize the needs of their own family.

• What if the family I want to help is already covered?

  Our partner nonprofits have taken care in sharing the stories of households in need and are committed to updating those stories as needs are fulfilled. If the household’s need is met through other means, however, the partner nonprofit will direct your donation to another household in need.

• How do I change or cancel my recurring donation to The NeighborShare Fund?

  Please go to My Account and follow the instructions there.

• Is my contribution tax-deductible?

  Donations to a specific household are direct contributions to our partner 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations and therefore your gift is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

  Know that NeighborShare is not a 501(c)(3) organization and donations to its Fund and Tips may not qualify as tax deductible charitable donations (see How does The NeighborShare Fund work? above). Note NeighborShare is in the process of applying for recognition as a 501(c)(3).

• I have a question not listed here.

  Please email Evan Meisler at evan@nbshare.org