A: All gifts are important to Wartburg College, but only gifts that are unrestricted are included and count toward the McCoy Matching Gift Challenge. Gifts to the Annual Fund are critically important to Wartburg and needed each year to support the college’s operating budget. Because they are unrestricted, they can be used where the need is greatest. Mike and Marge McCoy realize the importance of these gifts and that is why they are using their generous challenge gift to increase support for the Annual Fund.

Q: I am a Wartburg parent, but not an alum. Can my gift be matched by the McCoy Challenge?

A: Absolutely! All gifts, from Wartburg parents, friends, and alums help us reach this year’s goal of raising $1.1 million in unrestricted gifts.

Q: I know that the McCoy Challenge will match all new and increased gifts to the Annual Fund, but what does that really mean?

A: The purpose of the McCoy Challenge is to encourage those who are already giving to give more, and to encourage those who are not giving to start giving. Giving is recorded and recognized on a fiscal year basis. If you gave $100 to the Annual Fund last fiscal year (June 1, 2008 to May 31, 2009) and you gave $200 to the Annual Fund this fiscal year (June 1, 2009 to May 31, 2010), you have increased your giving by $100 and that increase will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the McCoy Challenge. If you did not make a gift to the Annual Fund last fiscal year and you make a $200 Annual Fund gift this fiscal year, this is considered a new gift and all $200 will be matched by the McCoy Challenge.

Q: My company also matches gifts to charitable organizations. Will the McCoy Challenge even match gifts made through a company matching gift program?

A: The McCoy Challenge matches all new and increased gifts to the Annual Fund, even those made by corporations either directly or through a matching gifts program. So, your personal gift can potentially be matched by both your employer and the McCoy Challenge.

Q: When do pledges need to be paid to qualify for the McCoy Challenge?

A: The deadline is May 31, 2010, the end of Wartburg’s fiscal year. To meet the goals of the McCoy Challenge, all of this year’s pledges must be paid by year-end. We start a new giving year on June 1, 2010.

Q: I want to make a gift and help Wartburg meet the McCoy Challenge. How do I do this?

A: One easy way is to make your gift online at http://www.wartburg.edu/give. Wartburg has a secured site for accepting credit card gifts and many people are choosing to support Wartburg in this way. You can also give using a credit card by calling us at 866-219-9115. If you prefer to send a check, simply make it out to Wartburg College (you may want to write Annual Fund in the “memo” section of your check) and send it to the Development Office, Wartburg College, 100 Wartburg Blvd., P.O. Box 1003, Waverly, IA 50677.

Q: I think it is wonderful that Wartburg can benefit from this challenge gift, and I would like to personally thank the McCoy’s for their generosity. How can I send them a message?

A: It is certainly appropriate to extend thanks to the McCoys and we would encourage anyone in the Wartburg family who is interested to do so. One way is to send a thank you message to development.office@wartburg.edu and we will forward your message to them. Another way is to write them a note and send it to: Mike and Marge McCoy, c/o Development Office, Wartburg College, 100 Wartburg Blvd., P.O. Box 1003, Waverly, IA 50677.

Q: I have a question about the McCoy Challenge that is not included here. What do I do?

A: Please call the Annual Fund Office at 1-866-219-9115 or 319-352-8490.