Frequently Asked Questions

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Get answers to your questions about donating, the weekly raffles and prizes, and our partners America’s Charities and Penn Medicine below.

volunteers passing bags of donations into a car

FAQ Donating

Employees who contribute elsewhere may do so by checking the appropriate box on the online pledge.

All contributions made via payroll deduction will be deducted after taxes.

Penn's Way contributions made via payroll deduction will occur in following year and should, therefore, be considered deductions for that year’s taxes. Please consult your accountant or tax advisor regarding contributions made via check or credit card.
 

You can see what was deducted for Penn’s Way online as you would normally view your weekly or monthly paystub, with your PennKey and password.  Penn’s Way deductions are listed in after-tax deductions by the partner organization the donation was given. You can choose the period you are checking from the dropdown menu at the top of the page.

Please print a copy of the confirmation page and retain it for your records. If you have already closed the online form, simply login again and print the confirmation page.

Please print two copies of the confirmation page, and make your check payable to “Penn’s Way Campaign.” Attach your check payment to one copy of the confirmation, and send to Penn’s Way, Suite 310, 3451 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6205. Please keep the second copy of the confirmation page for your records.

We are no longer using paper pledge forms. If you have questions please email us. 

 You can find the list of agencies on the Financial Info page.

You can find your local contact on the Volunteers page.

Acceptable forms of payment are credit card, payroll deduction or check (payable to Penn’s Way Campaign). Note that credit card payments will be charged at the time the payment is entered. Payroll deductions begin with the 2024 calendar year payroll.  Penn’s Way will no longer accept cash donations.

Penn’s Workplace Giving Campaign, known as Penn’s Way, is a Donor Choice Campaign that has enjoyed a successful history at Penn and Penn Medicine for over 17 years. In 2023, a 100% matching gift program pilot was launched, which matches every donation dollar for dollar. This program honors Penn’s commitment to the community and supports the spirit of giving of our Faculty and Staff. All donations up to $50,000 per Penn donor are eligible for the match. Now when Penn and Penn Medicine employees donate to their favorite charities, they are doubling their impact.

FAQ Raffle

To qualify for the weekly raffle, online participation must be completed by midnight on Sunday for inclusion in a given week’s drawing that Monday morning.

No. Employees who contribute elsewhere should simply check the appropriate box on the online pledge form. All employees who participate will be eligible for the weekly prize raffle drawing.

Once you successfully complete your online pledge you are eligible for all subsequent weekly raffles.

 

Winners will be notified by email within one week of the raffle drawing. If email is not available, the winner is notified by phone, or through their supervisor. Additionally, all winners will be published on the Penn's Way website, and in The Almanac. Winners have until Friday, December 15, 2023 to claim their prize.

FAQ Partners

This question addresses the issue of overhead, known in fundraising as the "administrative rate." Options such as payroll deduction allow donors to stretch their charitable dollar further than if they made a one-time gift. Nonetheless, there are fees associated with your gift:

  • American Charities administers an 8% flat fee to each of the eight funds/federations that receive donations through the Penn’s Way campaign. For more information please call (215) 586-3299.
  • Gifts made to Penn Medicine organizations are administered by American Charities and, as such, are charged 8% administrative rate.

Although the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey is no longer a Penn’s Way partner, gifts of $24 or more can be designated to the United Way’s Impact fund. The United Way deducts an administrative fee of 12.5% from all donations (4.1% administration and 8.4% fundraising.) 

The minimum donation is $1/pay period. This would mean $26 for biweekly paid staff, $52 for weekly paid staff and $12 for monthly paid staff.

List of Organizations

Visit the Financial Information page for a list of participating agencies.