While the profile initiation process is quite formal, please know that we are here to help you through this process. Our team is passionate about supporting nonprofits and their leaders. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our team at givingmatters@cfmt.org if you have any questions!
Eligibility Criteria:
- Nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) PC status
- Based in and/or significantly serving Middle Tennesseans
Communities of faith, public schools, and governmental organizations are not eligible to be profiled, although PTO organizations, fundraising bodies, and some programs operated through communities of faith are eligible. If you are unsure about your organization's eligibility, please contact us at givingmatters@cfmt.org.
Profile Initiation Process:
Publishing a GivingMatters.com profile is a two-step, online, organization-led process. After those two steps are completed, there is also an annual update component that must be completed by the organization to maintain a "Reviewed" Status. If a profile remains out-of-date for three or more years, your organization's profile may be archived.
Step One: Profile Initiation
Organizations will need to submit a list of documents to initiate their GivingMatters profile. These documents can be sent to our team by email at givingmatters@cfmt.org. These specific documents were selected because our foundation partners shared with us that these documents were most important to their grantmaking! That means that you need only update here and they likely won't ask you for them again in their grant applications!
The documents we need are as follows:
- IRS Letter of Determination (confirming your status as a registered 501(c)3) public charity. Organizations with letters issued January 1, 2014 may find a copy of their letter here.
- A copy of your current TN State Charitable Solicitations Permit (or exemption letter). To obtain your document, you may login to the State's site, choose My Completed Documents > the Eyeball Icon to view and download a copy.
- Form 990, 990EZ, or 990N - Three Previous Fiscal Years
- Financial Audit - Three previous fiscal years (for organizations with revenues over $500k)
- A current organizational budget. For your convenience, a minimum template document is linked here, if helpful.
- A copy of your signed organizational Bylaws
- A signed Profile Acknowledgement form. The form is linked here.
- A completed Nonprofit Information form. The form is linked here.
Once you have collected these documents, please send them to our GivingMatters team at givingmatters@cfmt.org. When all necessary documents are received, our team will review your documents and initiate your profile. At that time, you will be issued a username and password via email, along with instructions to walk you through the next step.
If documents are not available electronically, they may be faxed or mailed to:
Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Attention: GivingMatters, 3421 Belmont Blvd Nashville, TN 37215. Fax: 615.327.2746.
Step Two: Profile Completion
Once your profile has been initiated, your organization will receive further instruction about how to login to the administrative portal and review all of the items our team has built out during the profile initiation process. At that time, you will also complete the self-entry portion included within the Required Fields Checklist.
While this part likely should take you no more than an hour to complete, we allow 8 weeks in order to complete the self-entry process. Let us know when your profile is complete, and we will review, provide feedback, and get your profile published on the public side of the site!
Note: If your organization is initiating a profile because of a potential grantmaking opportunity, you will want to oblige by the deadlines set forth within that opportunity. While a current GivingMatters.com profile is a requirement for many funding opportunities, the profile does not replace any grant applications. To be eligible for funding opportunities, organizations must still complete all other grant application requirements.
Expiration Date?
Each published profile will be assigned an "Expiration Date." While this language might sound "final," it simply represents the start of the annual update process.
- We allow 90 days after the expiration date to complete all required Annual Updates.
- After that time period, your organization will no longer have a "Reviewed" status & its Donate Now button will be removed. (There are some exceptions for organizations who are under current Charitable Solicitations permit extensions!) Please feel encouraged to update your profile with the required updates at anytime to regain that status.
The expiration date for each organization typically aligns with the due dates for Charitable Solicitations permit with the State of Tennessee and the IRS submission of the Form 990's (6 months after fiscal yearend).
Just Remember: The GivingMatters team will send an email reminding each of your organization's profile managers that it is time to begin the Annual Update process. That email will include both the Annual Update Checklist and the NPO User Guide.
We can't wait to learn, collaborate with, and share all the things we learn about YOU! As always, if you have any questions along the way, please give us a call at 615.321.4939 or email us at givingmatters@cfmt.org.