FAQ
Q. What is Rock the Tower?
Rock the Tower is our 24-hour Day of Giving when alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends come together to show their overwhelming support of Converse. Gifts received during Rock the Tower will benefit scholarships, academic initiatives, athletic programs, and nearly every aspect of campus life to enhance the Converse student experience!
Q. When is it?
Rock the Tower will take place on Thursday, November 21, 2024.
Q. What is GiveGab?
GiveGab is a giving platform that helps nonprofits raise money, engage donors, and manage volunteers quickly and efficiently. GiveGab offers a full portfolio of simple and easy-to-use products that allow organizations to function in an efficient manner.
Q. Can I participate even though I didn’t graduate from Converse?
Of course - all are welcome! Parents, community partners, and friends are all encouraged to participate. Your gifts will be combined to support the transformational Converse student experience for the entire campus, and will help advance the university’s impact across our region.
Q. What forms of donations are accepted?
You can easily make your gift online, or by calling us at (864) 596-9009. You can also mail a gift by sending it to Converse University Institutional Advancement, 580 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302. For your gift to count towards our Rock the Tower total goals, be sure it is postmarked by November 21st - Don’t forget to let us know which fund you are supporting!
Q. Will I receive a receipt for tax purposes?
Yes. You will automatically receive an emailed receipt acknowledging your gift.
Q. Is there a minimum gift?
There is a $5 minimum donation. We have credit card processing fees and administrative costs to cover, but we’ve kept these as low as possible so that everyone can participate. Gifts of any amount make a difference and will be counted toward the Rock the Tower total.
Q. Where does my Giving Day gift go?
Supporters are encouraged to give to The Converse Fund, which will help ensure Converse’s legacy for future generations, while providing exceptional experiences for current students. The Converse Fund is also a key source of expendable income to address both emerging opportunities and unanticipated needs and challenges. You also have the opportunity to designate your gift to an area on campus you feel most passionate about.
Q. Will my gift – if made in advance of the Giving Day – help populate the leaderboards?
Yes! Gifts made in advance of Rock the Tower will be displayed on the leaderboard when the site goes live.
Q. Is my payment secure?
Absolutely! Rock the Tower is facilitated by GiveGab, a company that has partnered with Stripe, a PCI Service Provider Level 1 (the most stringent level of certification possible) to process all gifts made, read through Stripe's security documentation online.
Q. What are these credit card fees?
For secure, online gifts, GiveGab requires a 3.5% donation fee and a 2.5% credit card processing fee. You have the option to cover these fees, which will ensure that Converse receives the full amount of your amazing gift for Rock the Tower! Most donors choose to cover fees, but if you do not want to the fees will be deducted from your total gift amount.
Q. Is my Rock the Tower contribution tax deductible?
Yes, your gift is entirely tax deductible. You will receive an email confirmation that may serve as your receipt for tax purposes.
Q. How will the donation be reported on my credit card?
Gifts made online will appear on your credit card statement as “Converse University.”
Q. What if my favorite fund isn't listed as an option?
We’ve chosen an inclusive group of funds to highlight for Rock the Tower, and we hope you can find something that resonates with you and inspires you to help meet our Giving Day goals. If you would still like to make a gift to an area you have not found on this site, visit www.converse.edu/giving for more options of support.
Q. What if I already made a gift to Converse this year?
Thank you for being part of the Converse family! We appreciate your commitment and encourage you to make an additional gift of any size on November 21st. We are also grateful for any help you can offer to promote Rock the Tower to others. We have created sample email and social media posts to help you do this easily, which are located in our Ambassador Toolkit site.
Q. I've made my gift to Rock the Tower and I still want to help. What more can I do?
You are quite the Converse supporter! Please help us spread the word about #RocktheTower by sharing images and messages in our Social Media Toolkit on your social media accounts. Perhaps you might be interested in our ambassador program?
Q. Can I use my employer's matching gifts funds?
Yes! We strongly encourage you to take advantage of your employer's generosity to enhance the impact of your support for Converse. To see if your company offers this benefit or to learn more about your company's guidelines, visit our matching gift portal.
Q. Whom do I contact with questions about Rock the Tower?
You can reach us before Rock the Tower at giving@converse.edu or 864.577.2045. On November 21st, you can use the GiveGab help chat (with a real person!) located at the bottom right of our Rock the Tower homepage.