Fequently Asked Questions

Q. Who is Gathering Change ?
A. We are a 501 (c)3 nonprofit grassroots charitable organization designed to help meet the immediate basic needs of citizens within our communities who cannot achieve this goal alone by gathering change from our homes, schools, businesses and faith communities.

Q. How does Gathering Change define basic needs?
A. As stated in our bylaws, we define basic needs as:

• Food (for food pantries etc)
• Clothing
• Fuel Assistance
• Educational Opportunities
• Love and Support

Q. What organizations will Gathering Change be supporting?
A. We will be supporting already established 501(c)3 non-profit organizations within our communities that have been created for charitable purposes. Because food pantries have been currently identified as exhibiting a critical need, our focus is to support them. Targeted food pantries include but are not exclusive to the fine organizations listed on our Who We Serve page.

Q. What makes Gathering Change different from other organizations?
A. There are several things that make Gathering Change different from other organizations:

• The funds raised in your town, stay in your town.
• We collect spare change in many unique ways.
• GCI gives everyone the opportunity to give.
• Every donation, large or small, has immediate impact in your community.
• No Salaries are taken from these collections.

Q. Can you give a little more information about Gathering Change collection parties?
A. The Gathering Change host opens her/his home during our yearly event in October to friends and neighbors who come together and share what they have collected to help those in need. It can be at any time of the day and it can be done in any way they want to. The main purpose of these parties is for the host to provide a gathering place, with refreshments, for neighbors and friends to bring their spare change.

Gathering Change will supply a postcard invitation, guesstimate receipts, you can download our info sheet to hand out to your guests, and a sign up sheet for those that would like to be contacted about upcoming events, and we also supply a thank you postcard. In addition, we even pick up the change and deposit it into the bank for distribution back to your community.

Q: When is the best time of year to collect change?
A: Hunger does not take a vacation, so any time of year would be great.  You may want to think about integrating a Gathering Change collection at your next gathering of family or friends, whether it be a birthday, anniversary, pizza party, holiday celebration or morning coffee. If hosting a party is not possible for you, check out How You Can Help page to see other ways to be part of Gathering Change.

Q. Do you have a Board of Directors and bylaws?
A. Yes we do. Please talk to us if you are interested in being part of our Board and what specific area you would like to work on. A copy of the bylaws will be made available to all officers and board members.

Q. How are you funded?

A. Administrative costs, which include phone, publicity, website, bank account, P.O. Box, etc. were started with personal funds, but we are now taking %15 of donations received to cover these costs. NO SALARIES ARE TAKEN FROM THESE COLLECTIONS.

Q. Will the money collected in my town stay in my town?
A. Our goal in the distribution of money collected is:

• to share it within the town in which it is collected
• to share it with a neighboring town that presents a critical need
• to share it with a neighboring town that services people in our town.

Q. When and how will the money be distributed?
A. The money will be distributed throughout the year as donations come in. Some food pantries request gift cards and others request cash so that they can purchase items to restock their shelves. For every $1 donated to our local fod pantries, they can turn around and purchase $4 worth of wholesale food items from the Food Bank.

Q. Are there other ways money will be collected?
A. Any group can find their own unique ways of gathering change during the collection week. Groups we hope to target that can be a great help include but are not exclusive to:

• High School students who need to fulfill their community service hours
• Elementary and Middle Schools
• Girl Scout/Boy Scout troops
• Faith Communities
• Businesses

Contact us so we can share with you what others have done in their communities.

Q: Is my donation tax deductible.
A: Yes. Gathering Change, Inc. is a nonprofit charitable organization. Your contributions are fully tax deductible to the extent of the law.

Q. Will you be getting a license in the towns you plan to collect in?
A. Yes, We have a Certificate of Solicitation Number from the Attorney General's office and we contact all Police Stations once a year to remind them about who we are and what our activities will be in their communities.

Q. Who will be counting the change?
A. The Saugus Bank on Route 1 has graciously offered to count any collected change free of charge with their coin counting machine, which we have nicknamed "Buddy". 

Q. Will I be able to make a direct donation at any time of the year?
A. In addition to bringing your change to the Saugus Bank for direct deposit, our website will explain how to make donations throughout the year.

Q. Do you take other forms of donation besides change?
A. Yes, except for Credit Card Donations. Click on our Donate Now Button as this will be changing soon. 

Q. Why did you decide to incorporate?
A. A corporation is a separate legal entity that allows a group of people to pool energy, time, and money for profit or nonprofit activities. It acquires legal existence after its founders comply with their state's incorporation procedures and formalities. The law treats a corporation as a separate person, distinct from the people who own, manage, or operate it. The corporation can enter into contracts, incur debts, and pay taxes. Corporations are either for profit (business corporations) or non-profits. Gathering Change, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization.