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Frequently Asked Questions

Maryland Charity Campaign Frequently Asked Questions

1. WHEN DOES THE MARYLAND CHARITY CAMPAIGN (MCC) TAKE PLACE?
The 2024 MCC runs from October 7 to December 13, 2024.

2. WHY SHOULD I CONTRIBUTE THROUGH THE MCC?
The MCC is a convenient, cost-efficient method to donate through the ease of payroll or pension deduction, credit or debit card, or electronic check! The MCC also:

  • Is accountable: All participating charities have been pre-screened by the Office of the Secretary of State to ensure that they are trustworthy and meet the requirements to participate.
  • Makes a difference: The community can see the tangible commitment of State employees and retirees and know that their altruism is making an impact across Maryland and beyond.
  • Creates an opportunity: State employees and retirees may contribute to charitable organizations in a uniform process through one annual campaign.
  • Gives donors the power: Donors choose the amount and the charity or charities to receive their gifts thus providing donors the opportunity to contribute to one that touches their hearts.
  • Is tax deductible: All funds given to charities through the MCC are tax deductible. Please check with your tax advisor for further information.
  • Is easy: Donors can choose how to give: through payroll or pension deduction, a one-time credit or debit card contribution, or a one-time gift by electronic check.

Read more reasons why you should give on this page.

3. ARE PAYROLL DEDUCTION DONATIONS TAKEN FROM PAYCHECKS PRE- OR POST-TAX DEDUCTION?
All payroll deductions are done post-tax deduction, meaning that your taxes are taken out of your paycheck before your donation is deducted. In other words, your donations are deducted after your taxes are deducted.

4. WHAT HAPPENS TO UNDESIGNATED CONTRIBUTIONS?
Undesignated contributions are distributed among MCC-participating charities based upon the percentage of the designated funds they receive. If a donor does not designate a charity to receive their donations, meaning a designation is not specified, those funds will be treated as undesignated. Charity write-ins are not permitted; every charity is pre-vetted.

5. WHAT HAPPENS IF A CHARITY I WANT TO GIVE TO ISN’T LISTED?
The Office of the Secretary of State vets every participating charity to determine its eligibility to participate in the MCC. Only those charities listed have been approved to participate in the MCC. Charities that are not listed may not have applied or may not be eligible to participate. You may direct your favorite charity to question and answer #23 regarding applying in the future.

6. HOW DOES A CHARITY BECOME PART OF THE MCC?
Each charity must apply annually and meet the criteria set forth in the Executive Order.

7. IF I CHANGE JOBS WITHIN THE STATE GOVERNMENT, WILL MY PAYROLL DEDUCTION CONTINUE?
Yes. If you transfer, please contact America’s Charities at mcc@charities.org or call 571-458-1072.

8. HOW MUCH MONEY DID THE MCC RAISE LAST YEAR?
In 2023, more than 6,000 Maryland employees and retirees raised close to $2 million – $1,907,945 to be exact – through the MCC for over 900 worthy causes.

9. WHO ADMINISTERS THE MCC?
The Office of the Secretary of State administers the MCC.

10. WHO PROCESSES MY DONATIONS?
America’s Charities, as the Operating Agency, processes all donations.

11. WHAT IS THE MCC’S ADMINISTRATIVE FEE?
The administrative fee for the MCC’s Operating Agency is a flat amount established in the contract with the State. The fee is based on a percentage of the actual amount raised in the 2023 Campaign, but cannot exceed 11.48%, of the prior year’s dollars raised, in other words, it cannot exceed $228,767.

12. DOES THE MCC SET A QUOTA ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO LARGER CHARITIES OR REDIRECT CONTRIBUTIONS TO SMALLER CHARITIES?
No. No quotas for contributions exist for charities of any size, large or small. All contributions designated to eligible charities go to those charities. Undesignated dollars are distributed among the charities based upon a percentage of the designated funds they receive.

13. HOW DOES MY CHARITY RECEIVE ITS CONTRIBUTION?
After the Campaign ends, donations are distributed to charities quarterly either by check or bank transfer.

14. WHAT TAX INFORMATION DO DONORS NEED TO KNOW?
Donors should consult their accountant or tax advisor to answer questions about tax benefits.

15. HOW DO DONORS SIGN UP TO GIVE ONLINE?
Donors begin the donation process by visiting https://mcc.maryland.gov and clicking “Give Now.” Once donors land on the MCC online giving portal, sign in following the directions outlined in this guide: https://mcc.ac-engage.org/files/5941260/f163900/Ways_to_Donate_Guide.pdf

Within the pages of the Guide, donors will find comprehensive instructions on how to log in, as well as how to give by payroll deduction, credit card, debit card, or electronic check.

If you need assistance with creating or accessing your account, complete the form at https://impact.ac/loginhelpMCC to contact the MCC Help Desk and get an answer within 24 hours.

16. WHAT SECURITY MEASURES ARE IN PLACE?
Protecting personal information is critical, and security is our top priority. In addition to complying with the State of Maryland’s rigorous security requirements, America’s Charities’ Engage platform uses industry-leading security measures to keep your personal information secure and prevent any data from being compromised. This includes Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology, data encryption, and single sign-on.

17. HOW CAN DONORS ACCESS THEIR PREVIOUS PLEDGE HISTORY?
Donors can view their 2023 MCC pledge history on the giving portal:

  • Donors should log into the giving portal and click the “Your Giving History” link, located on the home page. 

18. WHAT HAPPENS TO DONORS’ GIFTS IF A CHARITY THEY PLEDGED TO CLOSES?
In the event that a charity closes, the donor will be contacted to determine if the pledge should be re-designated, canceled, or reassigned as undesignated. If the gift is reassigned as undesignated, it will be distributed proportionately to all of the charities that received contributions in the Campaign. See #4 for more details.

19. HOW DO DONORSSEARCH FOR A CHARITY?
There are three ways to find a participating charity:

  • Click the Charity Search button on the MCC site: https://mcc.maryland.gov/. The donor can search for a charity by name, Employer Identification Number (EIN), zip code, or county.
  • The donor can log into their online giving account, which can be accessed at https://mcc.ac-engage.org. 
  • The Giving Guide, downloadable from the MCC website homepage, includes a Charity Directory with information on all of the charities that have been approved to participate in the MCC for the current Campaign year.

20. HOW DO DONORS GIVE ONLINE?
For detailed screenshots and steps, please refer to pages 7-11 of the Giving Guide, which is also available on the MCC homepage. Detailed steps can also be accessed on the portal by clicking the “How to Give Online” navigation menu link.  

21. HOW DO DONORS MAKE CHANGES TO RETIREE PENSION DEDUCTIONS?
If the donor is a retiree and wishes to make changes to their pension deductions, they must contact mcc@charities.org to request their changes.

22. HOW DO CHARITIES ACCESS PLEDGE REPORTS?
Charities should visit the MCC charity page, https://mcc.maryland.gov/charities/, for information about pledge reports.

23. HOW DO CHARITIES PARTICIPATE IN FUTURE CAMPAIGNS?
Charities that wish to be notified when the next year’s Campaign application is available should complete the 2025 MCC Charity Application Request Form, which can be found on the MCC charity page. 
Applications to participate in the MCC are uploaded to the SOS website in December of each calendar year. The Office of the Secretary of State emails the criteria, instructions, and the application to every charity registered with the Office every December.

24. MY QUESTION IS NOT LISTED. WHAT DO I DO NOW?
If you don’t see the answer to your question above, please contact the MCC Help Desk by email: mcc@charities.org, phone: 571-458-1072, or website: www.charities.org/support