Impact of Donations
The money you raise at Bike MS funds groundbreaking research – like developing new disease-modifying therapies – to get us closer to a cure. Your fundraising also supports National Multiple Sclerosis Society resources, programs and services that give people affected by MS what they need to live their best lives. Learn more.
Fundraising Minimums
All rides have a fundraising minimum you must turn in by the day of the event in order to ride. But the more you raise, the bigger the impact, so we encourage you to aim high!
Check out the recognition, gifts and incentives you can get for your fundraising efforts.
Tracking Donations
For the fastest donations processing, encourage your supporters to donate online or use the Mobile Check Capture feature in the mobile app. If you must mail a physical check, please see the Checks & Receipts section of this page or contact Fundraising Support at 855-372-1331 or by email at FundraisingSupport@nmss.org.
It may take up to 4 weeks to process mailed donations during peak event times. If it's been less than 4 weeks since submitting your donations, please check your Fundraising Center later to see your fundraising total. If more than 4 weeks have passed since you submitted your donations, or you have additional questions about your fundraising total, please contact Fundraising Support.
Deadline for Mailing Donations
Mailed donations will count toward your overall fundraising total. However, there may be a processing delay if your donations are mailed within 15 business days of the event date. If you have not yet met the event’s fundraising minimum within this timeframe, we suggest you hold onto donations and turn them in at packet pick-up or check in on event day to ensure there are no issues with participating in the event.
Once you meet your minimum, you can mail in additional donations at any time.
Didn’t Meet Your Fundraising Minimum by Event Day
If you have not turned in the minimum donation by the start of the event, the National MS Society will discuss payment options with you, including charging the balance on a credit card.
Prize Redemption Timeframe
Prize redemption instructions will be provided via email following the prize deadline.
Addressing a Check
Checks must be made out to the “National MS Society.”
If you receive a check payable to your team, write "National MS Society" above your team's name. If it's made out to you, please endorse the check payable to the National MS Society. Please write your name, event, and year on the memo line of each check (e.g., "John Smith, Bike MS: Cape Cod Getaway, 2023").
Electronically Deposit a Check Donation
Download the new DonorDrive app to upload checks directly from your phone or tablet. Typically, your fundraising total will instantly update after uploading the check (some checks may take up to 3 business days). This is the quickest way for check donations to reflect in your fundraising account. After you upload the check, there is no need to mail the physical copy.
Mailing Donations
Mail your donations (made out to National MS Society) with a completed Donation Tracking Form to the P.O. Box address for your ride. Find your local office and P.O. Box mailing address here.
Please write your name, event, and year on the memo line of each check (e.g., "John Smith, Bike MS: Cape Cod Getaway, 2024").
Please contact Fundraising Support at 855-372-1331 if you need assistance.
Donor Receipts
Everyone who makes an online donation will receive an e-mail confirmation receipt for tax purposes. Donors who give $250 or more will receive a thank you letter and receipt by mail.
For donations less than $250, the IRS will accept the following as proof of a charitable donation: a canceled check, bank or credit union statement, or a credit card statement.
The Basics
A matching gift is a gift from a donor's employer that matches the donor's original gift, often dollar-for-dollar. You can significantly increase your fundraising by asking your donors to apply for matching gifts if their employer offers them.
How Matching Gifts Work
Donors must submit the appropriate information to their company regarding matching gifts. The company may reach out to us to confirm the donation was made and our staff will send confirmation to the donor's company.
Once we receive the matching gift check, we will credit the amount to your fundraising total. Please remember, this process may take some time depending on how frequently companies pay out charitable donations. However, if we have received the matching gift paperwork by the fundraising deadline, we will include the pending donation in your fundraising total.
Steps to Submitting a Matching Gift
1) Search for Employer’s Matching Gift Program
To find out if your employer has a matching gift program, search below, ask your human resources staff, or visit your company's intranet.
2) Request a Matching Gift
Talk to your employer about their matching gift process. Generally, your human resources department is a great place to start.
3) Send a Matching Gift Form
Refer to the instructions on the matching gift form. If you need to mail or email the form to us, please use the following information (please include the participant's name and event with your matching gift form):
Email:
MatchingGifts@nmss.org
Mailing Address:
National MS Society
Attn: Matching Gifts
733 Third Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
Our Tax ID# is 13-5661935.
Track Your Matching Gift
Check the "Progress" section of your Fundraising Center. It usually takes months before we receive matching gifts; however, even though they are not yet paid, you will receive credit for matching gifts for prize purposes – just make sure the gift shows as “pending” in your fundraising totals.
If the gift is not yet showing as “pending” on your fundraising totals, please save the confirmation provided by the company when you submitted the matching gift request and email MatchingGifts@nmss.org.
