Guidance for donors
Donors should see the how to donate page for instructions on how to send a check. This page is for project members.
Check requirements
Checks must be made out to “Raft Foundation” or “Raft Foundation Inc.” with nothing else on the “pay to the order of” line in order to be deposited. It must also be properly signed and dated by the donor. Otherwise our bank will not deposit the check.
Depositing checks
Although we greatly prefer bank transfer donations, we are happy to receive donations via check. There are two methods by which we do this:
- The donor sends the check to you (i.e., a Project Lead), we give you the proper permissions in our bank account, and you deposit the check yourself (preferred, see instructions below)
- The donor sends the check to our official mailing address), and then once per week we mail checks from there to the home of one of our staff members, who then deposits it (both slower and more expensive for us, but the only option if they will not send the check to a Project Lead)
In both cases, either a project lead or the donor should fill out the form at donate.raft.foundation.
Preferred process
- The donor writes a check (meeting the above requirements), fills out the form at donate.raft.foundation, and mails it to a Project Lead
- Alternatively, the Project Lead completes the donation form
- Raft is notified automatically by email and, if necessary, invites Project Lead to Mercury
- Project Lead downloads the Mercury mobile app (iOS, Play) or goes to the Mercury website and deposits the check
- To endorse the check: sign the back and then, below your signature, write Raft Foundation Inc. and For mobile deposit only
- Mercury will approve the deposit in 4-5 business days, and a 1-3 business days after that the funds should be reflected in Open Collective