Welcome to OC Nonprofit Central!
Powered by the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF), OC Nonprofit Central is your gateway to increased visibility and funding opportunities. This online database is designed to elevate your nonprofit's exposure, enhance productivity, and ensure transparency to effectively communicate your impact to new audiences.
Benefits of Joining OC Nonprofit Central
OC Nonprofit Central will help you:
Increase Awareness: Reach potential donors, new audiences, and grantmakers.Tell Your Story: Articulate your mission and make a compelling case for support.Community Engagement: Help the public understand the need for your services and your results.Drive Donations: Facilitate online contributions effectively.Grant & Giving Day Participation: Maintain an up-to-date profile to participate in OCCF competitive grant programs and Giving Days.Eligibility Criteria
To create a profile, organizations must:
Be designated as an IRS 501(c)(3) Public Charity.Serve or be headquartered in Orange County, California.File an IRS Form 990 or 990EZ.If you file a 990N, are fiscally sponsored, a local chapter of a national organization, or not required to file a 990, you must complete the OCCF financial input template. Email ocnonprofitcentral@oc-cf.org to request one.Note: Organizations with a Private Foundation designation are currently not eligible.
How does an organization get started on a profile?
Click here to register for a profile.
Registration: Required Information
Organization NameContact Name, Email, and Phone NumberFederal Employer Identification Number (EIN)/Tax ID#IRS 501(c)(3) Determination LetterArea your organization servesType of tax-deductible organization501(c)(3) Public Charityreligious organizationlocal chapter or affiliate of a larger organization that is a 501(c)(3) Public Charityfiscally sponsored organizationDBA (Doing Business As) Name, if applicableThe OCCF team reviews applications within two weeks, after which they will either approve your organization to start your profile, request additional documentation, or deny your request. Once you have been moved to "Pending," you can start customizing your profile.
How do I complete my profile?
In the menu bar, click “Login” to complete your profile. As you fill out your profile, please keep in mind that there are some required fields you'll need to complete in order to have an approved and public facing profile. Once you submit your profile for review, OCCF staff will review and publish your profile or request additional information.
How soon should I complete my profile?
New organizations are asked to complete their profile within 3-4 weeks of starting the process and if not approved within 6 months, the registration process must be restarted. Completing your profile may take up to 4-6 hours.
How will donations be processed?
Donations are processed via ACH transfer through Givsum, requiring a checking account eligible for ACH transactions. Incorrect bank details will result in Givsum contacting your organization. Unresolved issues after 30 days will lead to refunded donations.
When will my organization receive its funds?
Funds are received within 1-3 business days via direct deposit from Stripe. Reconcile these deposits with your Donation Report on your Admin Dashboard. Payouts are labeled "Givsum" on bank statements.
How can my organization see who has donated?
Organization managers will be able to view and export a CSV with their donor information from the Donations Report page.
Is there a fee to participate in OC Nonprofit Central?
There is no fee to participate in OC Nonprofit Central, but a 5% + $0.30 transaction fee applies to each donation. Donors can opt to cover these fees.
Is OCCF taking a fee?
No. OCCF takes no fees from contributions; fees are assessed by payment companies and vendors, totaling approximately 5%.
Q. Who is Givsum?
Givsum is our technology platform partner, offering tools for fundraising, donor engagement, and volunteer management. Learn more at https://www.givsum.com/.
Q. What are AB 488 Requirements and how does it affect my organization’s ability to accept online donations through Nonprofit Central?
Nonprofits are held to a high standard of government regulation and public scrutiny. And that is with good reason! Eligible 501(c) nonprofits are exempt from federal corporate taxes and have access to public funding. These benefits are not typically available to for-profit businesses, so laws are in place to protect the public and ensure nonprofits do not abuse their financial advantages. The IRS and states all have requirements for nonprofits.
CA AB 488 Requirements for online fundraising in the state of California
Effective in 2024, the state of California issued a new set of regulations regarding online charitable fundraising that impacts nonprofits using online fundraising platforms and any charitable solicitation activities within the state.
California Gov. Code Section 12599.9, and a recently issued set of regulations at Cal. Code Regs., tit. 11 §§ 314-323, impose a series of special new requirements for online charitable fundraising.
Among other requirements, California requires that charitable organizations soliciting donations or receiving funds from California residents not just maintain their tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3), but also not be listed on any “may not operate” list issued by the California Attorney General (“AG”) or the California Franchise Tax Board (“FTB”) (collectively, “good standing”).
Consistent with OCCF’s legal obligations, for any nonprofits soliciting donations through Nonprofit Central and through our Giving Days, we will confirm charitable organization status by checking the California AG, FTB, and IRS databases. If a nonprofit is not in good standing, the donation function will be discontinued until the nonprofit provides proof of being back in good standing.
To ensure AB 488 compliance, these profile fields are required:
California State Exemption NumberStatus of IRS Required Filing including 990s (current or out of date)Status of CA required filings including form RRF-1 (current or out of date)Date for RRF-1 filed (will need to be updated each year)What Your Organization Can Do to Ensure Compliance:
Monitor your organization’s good standing status and ensure that you are submitting the required filings to remain in good standing. We suggest that you check all three databases, even if you believe there is no reason to be out of good standing on any of these lists.
CA Attorney General Registry VerificationCA Franchise Tax Board Entity Status Letter | FTB.ca.govIRS Tax Exempt Organization Search | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)We encourage you to consult with your own legal counsel and contact the applicable government agency directly if you have specific questions about compliance.