Thank you very much for your interest in the Verizon Velocity fund raising program. Unfortunately we are unable to verify that your organization is a registered 501(c), tax-exempt nonprofit.

Verizon works with GuideStar (www.guidestar.org) to verify an organization’s nonprofit status. GuideStar's information is 100% compliant with IRS guidelines for verifying charitable status and is updated from the IRS Master Business File on a monthly basis. If you recently registered with the IRS, there is a chance that your organization has not yet been included in the IRS Business Master File.

Please follow the directions below to register your nonprofit with GuideStar. Once registered, you can participate in Velocity. You also make it easier for your nonprofit to receive donations in general.

Once you have provided the correct documentation, GuideStar will add your organization to their database within 5 working days. At this time, you will need to re-enter your Velocity registration.

NOTE: We realize that for federal income tax purposes, the IRS treats churches (the IRS includes temples, mosques, and shrines in the definition of "churches"), their integrated auxiliaries, and conventions or associations of churches as exempt organizations. Because these organizations are not required to apply to the IRS for tax-exempt status, many do not appear in the GuideStar database.

If your organization is registered with the IRS
If the IRS has determined that your organization is exempt under Section 501(c)(3), please forward a copy of your IRS letter of determination, the letter the IRS sent stating that your organization’s application for tax exemption (IRS Form 1023) was approved. Fax the document to (757) 229-8912; please be sure to include contact information with the fax.

If your organization is NOT registered with IRS
GuideStar will gladly add a church, temple, mosque, shrine, integrated auxiliary, or convention or association of churches to the database if the organization sends the following documentation to GuideStar. Note: You must provide all three of the items listed below--year established, EIN issuance letter or other documentation, and proof of faith-based or tax-exempt status--to be added to GuideStar's database. Fax the documents to (757) 229-8912; please be sure to include contact information with the fax.

1. Year established.
2. EIN (Employer Identification Number) issuance letter received from the IRS. If you do not have an EIN issuance letter, you can substitute a document that your organization has received from the IRS that shows your EIN, such as a payroll tax coupon book.
3. Proof of faith-based or tax-exempt status
   • If your organization is a church or religious school, fax one of the following documents:
     1. Letter of determination from the IRS confirming exempt designation. This is a requirement for ministries. Ministries must have an IRS letter of determination in order to be listed.
     2. A denominational listing (i.e., Kenedy Directory, Lutheran Directory, state letter for churches).
     3. Listing on a National Church Directory Web site (i.e., The National Presbyterian Church Directory, Baptist General Conference Churches , Unitarian Universalist Association).
   • If your organization is an independent (non-denominational) church, you must provide a state registration letter proving the state recognizes your organization as a church.
   • If none of the above is available, you must provide the Sales & Use tax exemption issued to your organization by the state.

If you are a government entity (including public or private schools)
An organization that wants to be added to the GuideStar database and has not registered with the IRS because it is a government entity (i.e. City of San Bernardino, LimeStone County Commission, public school districts, military programs) must provide both of the following items to GuideStar:

1. A copy of the EIN issuance letter.
2. Statement on letterhead stating the organization is a government entity.

GuideStar will verify the information in a follow-up phone call. The organization will not be added to GuideStar until a GuideStar staff member has verified that the organization is a government entity.