Donation Guide

Impact of Donations

The money you raise at Walk MS funds groundbreaking research like developing new disease-modifying therapies to stop disease progression. 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

There is no fundraising minimum to participate in Walk MS however, participants raise $250, on average. The more you raise, the bigger your impact! Check out the prizes, clubs and rewards you can earn or join for your fundraising efforts.

Tracking Donations

The fastest way to process donations is through the check deposit feature on the new DonorDrive app or by encouraging your supporters to donate online. If you must mail a physical check, please read the Checks & Receipts section on this page for details.

Please note: It may take up to 5 weeks to process mailed donations during peak event times. If more than 5 weeks have passed since you submitted your donations, or you have additional questions about your fundraising total, please contact FundraisingSupport@nmss.org.

Fundraising Deadline

You can turn in donations until September 30 to qualify for Gold or Silver Fundraising Clubs. To learn more about fundraising clubs, prizes, rankings and team benefits, visit the prizes, clubs and rewards page.

Reward Points Redemption

Participants earn one point for each dollar they raise through Walk MS Rewards, and you can redeem your points on the Walk MS Rewards site. For more information, visit the Prizes, Clubs and Rewards page. 

If you register for Walk MS by January 31, 2024 your points from 2023 will roll over. If you do not register for Walk MS by January 31, 2024 your points will expire.

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 name. If it's made out to you, please endorse the check payable to the National MS Society. Please write your name, event and event year on the memo line of every check you turn in (e.g., "Craig Edward, Walk MS: Indianapolis 2024") – whether through the app or mail.

Electronically Deposit a Check Donation

Download the NEW DonorDrive app on your iOS or Android device. When you receive a check donation, upload it to your Fundraising Center. To access the feature in the app, tap on “Deposit a Check”.

Note: The previous app will not function for 2024 events, so you must download the DonorDrive app. 

Typically, your fundraising total will quickly update after uploading the check however, some checks may take up to 5 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 check.

Mailing Donations

Please mail your Walk MS donations to your local office PO Box. 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, Walk MS: Denver 2024"). 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 email 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.

Matching Gifts Overview

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.
   
   See if your employer will match your donation!
   
   Matching Gift and Volunteer Grant information provided by
   
2. Request a Matching Gift
3. Talk to your employer about their matching gift process. Generally, your human resources department is a great place to start.
4. Send a Matching Gift Form. Refer to the instructions on the matching gift form from your employer. If you need to mail or email the form to us, please use the following information (please include 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, 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.