How/where to explain a d/b/a for 2 intertwined 501(c)3s on a website?

Keri Barnhart
Keri Barnhart
Seventh Anniversary Kudos 3 Participant Facilitator 1
in Organizational Best Practices General Discussions
We're in the process of completely revamping our website for the modern era and I'm looking for examples, suggestions, or ideas of how and where to indicate that our organization is a d/b/a for 2 separate 501(c)3s.


This isn't exactly the same as an organization with a separate foundation. Both of our units are intertwined, though due to the history of how the organization came to be as it is now, certain functions "live" with only one or the other, mostly mirroring the original social services provided by the original two organizations. (I don't pretend to understand the fine details of why it is like this, only that this is how it is.)


I want to put something on our website, possibly linked or infoboxed in multiple places, that explains the d/b/a and that there are 2 990s, etc., for essentially the same organization. We have 2 pages for Charity Navigator (and thus 2 Encompass ratings which are different) and when selecting the org in Matching Gift databases, our donors would have to know to select a specific EIN, that we aren't usually listed under our d/b/a.


I've not had much success in figuring out how other organizations do this, unless their secondary part is a foundation, which isn't quite the same. I know that I need to link and upload financials like the 990s in a place where prospective donors can find it - both on the page with donation information and in the About Us - Financials space. But I'm not sure what the best practice is for it, and would love examples, suggestions, or ideas from the crowd. What would you even call this subsection of a page, or the link in a menu drop-down so it's clear, and that most people don't need to bother with it?


Thanks in advance!

Comments

  • Dariel Dixon
    Dariel Dixon Community All-Star
    Seventh Anniversary Kudos 5 First Reply PowerUp Challenge #3 Gift Management
    That is a tough situation.  So your organization is acting as the fundraising arm as two separate but connected entities.  So for some giving types, the donor would have to specify which organization the gift is for.   WOW!  I know that can be tough.  But, I would imagine that would not be the case for most donations.  I think that it's necessary to note, as many people go to the website to find information for the organization before the gift comes in.  


    I don't have an example, but I'd think you want to put it as a helplet/pop-up or some type of message on the donation page, or if you have a page that explains the process of making a gift, put that information there.  But I don't know if it need to be too prominent, as it probably won't pertain to the wide majority of gifts that will come in.  Also, if there is a history of the organization on the website, that would go a long way of explaining why the gifts have to be separated in that way.


    I'm also assuming that you have to have different EIN numbers on your acknowledgement letters for those gifts that are different.  That does sound like it can get quite difficult.  But I'm sure it keeps you on your toes.

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