Frequently Asked Questions
What will my donation be used for?
Donations to the EWB-WWU project fund are used to help cover the material, logistics and travel costs of our team’s work with our EWB partner community. Money donated through this portal is never used to cover club operating or event expenses, nor is it used for our ongoing project in India, or our local projects in the Walla Walla area.
Money donated to our endowment is set aside in a special fund that is dedicated to ensuring the longevity and sustainability of our EWB chapter and its projects. The purpose of the endowment is to provide a steady revenue stream (from interest returns) that allows our team to continue reliably making long-term commitments to our partner communities, while reassuring our partners that we can make good on those commitments. Since our community commitments are for 5 years, while our fundraising efforts are usually done at the annual scale, the endowment helps ensure continuity across our longer-term partnerships.
What is the difference between donating to the endowment fund versus the project fund?
Both the endowment and the project fund are critically important to our EWB chapter's mission, although in different ways.
Our EWB chapter relies on donations to the project fund in order to cover yearly operating costs, including material, logistics and travel costs of our team’s work with our EWB partner community. Without a healthy project fund, our yearly project work will struggle.
Our endowment is designed to help alleviate dependence on year-to-year fundraising, ensuring the longevity and sustainability of our EWB chapter and its projects. Interest revenue from the endowment allows our team to continue reliably making long-term commitments to our partner communities, while reassuring our partners that we can make good on those commitments. In other words, the endowment exists to bolster the stability and responsibility of our development efforts.
Who will benefit from my gift?
Gifts to EWB-WWU have far-reaching impacts.. As a donor, you will be benefiting the communities served by our projects. More than that, you'll help give students an opportunity to develop academic, hands-on, and leadership skills as they serve those in need.
Where can I learn about the impact of my gift?
During trips to our partner communities, we try to keep the blog updated with news and information. We also give project reports during our annual EWB-WWU Gala. If you have more specific questions about a project, feel free to reach out to one of our current team members.
Are donations tax-deductable?
Yes, they are! If you donate through Walla Walla University, we will issue you a tax receipt.