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Fundraising Overview
Impact of Donations
The money you raise at Challenge Walk MS funds groundbreaking research that gets us closer to a cure. Your fundraising also supports Society programs and services that ensure people with MS have access to the resources they need to live their best lives right now. Learn more.
Fundraising Minimums
Challenge Walk MS participants must turn in at least $1,500 by the day of the event in Cape Cod and Door County, and at least $2,500 by the day of the event in Southern California, in order to participate. The more you raise, the bigger your impact! By reaching certain fundraising levels, you become a fundraising superstar and can receive exclusive prizes and benefits.
All walkers must be at least 12 years of age on or before event day – no exceptions. Youth walkers must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult (at least 21 years of age) at all times.
One parent/adult may be responsible for no more than 3 youth walkers.
There is a fundraising minimum of $750 for youth walkers in Cape Cod and Door County and $1,500 for youth walkers in Southern California.
Tracking Donations
It may take up to 4 weeks to process 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 at 855-372-1331 or by email at FundraisingSupport@nmss.org.
For the fastest processing of your donations, encourage people to donate online. If you receive checks, the DonorDrive app is a powerful tool that will help you fundraise for all Society events. Download it today to keep track of donations, send emails, deposit checks and more – all from the palm of your hand.
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Deadlines
Deadline for Mailing Donations
The last day to mail in donations and have them count toward the fundraising minimum is 30 days before the event date to ensure proper pre-event accounting. After this date, if you have not yet reached your minimum, please bring any donations with you when you pick up your packet. If you have met your minimum, you may mail in any additional donations you receive at any time.
Pro tip: Quickly and easily upload your checks by uploading them into your DonorDrive app!
The DonorDrive app is a powerful tool that will help you fundraise for all Society events. Download it today to keep track of donations, send emails, deposit checks and more — all from the palm of your hand.
Didn’t Meet Your Fundraising Minimum by Event Day
If you have not turned in the minimum donation by the event, the National MS Society will discuss payment options with you, including charging the balance on a credit card.
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Checks & Receipts
Addressing Checks
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 be sure to write your name, event, and event year on the memo line of every check you turn in (e.g., Jane Doe, Challenge Walk MS: Cape Cod 2025) – whether through the app or mail.
Electronically Deposit a Check Donation
The DonorDrive app is a powerful tool that will help you fundraise for all Society events. Download it today to keep track of donations, send emails, deposit checks and more — all from the palm of your hand.
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 checks.
Mailing Donations
Pro tip: The quickest way to deposit a check is by uploading it in your DonorDrive app!
If you choose to mail your check rather than upload it, please mail your Challenge Walk MS donations to your local office. Find your local office address here.
Checks should be made out to the National MS Society and include your name, event, and year on the memo line of each check (e.g., "John Martinez, Challenge Walk MS: Cape Cod 2023"). If possible, please include a completed Donation Tracking form when sending your donations.
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.
Event Weekend Donations
Please note that donations will be accepted in-person during event weekend. You may also submit donations through the event website and the Challenge Walk MS app.
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Matching Gifts Guide
The Basics
A matching gift is a financial contribution from a donor's employer that usually matches the donor's original gift dollar-for-dollar, although some are higher. You can significantly increase your fundraising by asking your donors to apply for matching gifts if their employer offers them and doing the same yourself.
How Matching Gifts Work
Donors must submit the appropriate information to their company to qualify for a matching gift. The company may reach out to the Society 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. 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, 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 provided by your company. If you need to mail or email the form to the Society, please use the following information (please include the participant's name and event with your matching gift form):
Email:
MatchingGifts@nmss.orgMailing Address:
National MS Society
Attn: Matching Gifts
733 Third Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10017Our 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, you will still 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.
