37122.com Civic Advantage:
Nonprofit Selection Criteria
These criteria ensure every dollar of the 3.7122% giveback goes to high-impact, trustworthy, hyper-local organizations that strengthen Wilson County and Mount Juliet. The goal is maximum community return while maintaining full transparency, legal compliance, and alignment with the platform's mission.
Eligibility Criteria
All six categories must be satisfied for initial approval. Click the category header to sort.
| Category | Required Criteria | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
Legal & Tax Status |
| Ensures tax-deductible status and legal integrity for the platform and donors |
Geographic Focus |
| Keeps every gift hyper-local — no national orgs or out-of-area chapters |
Mission Alignment | Must focus on one or more of these impact areas:
| Directly supports the community that powers 37122.com |
Financial Transparency |
| Builds trust — businesses and users can see exactly where the money goes |
Accountability & Ethics |
| Protects the platform's reputation and ensures ethical use of funds |
Operational Capacity |
| Ensures efficient, timely distribution of giveback funds |
Exclusions | The following are ineligible:
| Maintains neutrality and community-wide appeal |
- Current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status (IRS determination letter)
- Good standing with Tennessee Secretary of State
- No IRS revocation or sanctions in the last 5 years
- Primary operations or direct service area is Wilson County / 37122 ZIP code
- At least 70% of program spending benefits Wilson County residents
Must focus on one or more of these impact areas:
- Education & youth development
- Healthcare & wellness
- Environment, parks & sustainability
- Social services & family support
- Community infrastructure & public spaces
- Small-business grants, job creation & economic development
- Annual Form 990 or audited financials publicly available
- Administrative/overhead costs ≤ 25% of total budget (Guidestar/Charity Navigator standard)
- Clear, measurable impact metrics (e.g., students served, acres restored, jobs created)
- No recent (3+ years) legal or ethical violations
- Diverse board representation encouraged
- Non-discrimination policy (race, religion, gender, etc.)
- Willing to provide annual impact report to 37122.com
- Active programs with at least 1 full year of operation
- Ability to receive electronic funds (ACH/wire) and provide receipt confirmation
The following are ineligible:
- Political organizations or PACs
- Religious organizations requiring faith-based participation for services
- For-profit entities or private foundations
- Organizations with significant overlap/conflict of interest with platform leadership
Vetting & Approval Process
A structured, six-step process ensures every approved partner meets our standards before a single dollar is distributed.
Application
Nonprofit submits a simple online form including EIN, IRS determination letter, most recent Form 990, and a brief program description.
Initial Review
Our team verifies legal status, geographic focus, and mission alignment within 10 business days. Applicants are notified of completeness.
Due Diligence
We cross-check Guidestar, Charity Navigator, and Tennessee Secretary of State records. Financials are reviewed against our 25% overhead threshold.
Approval
Approved nonprofits are listed in the Civic Advantage directory, begin receiving quarterly distributions, and receive a verified partner badge.
Annual Recertification
Each January, vetted nonprofits submit a brief impact report and updated financials to maintain active status.
Removal Policy
Organizations that fail recertification, receive an IRS sanction, or violate our ethics policy are suspended immediately pending review.
How Funds Are Allocated
A transparent, three-part formula distributes quarterly giveback funds among all vetted nonprofits.
Weighted by demonstrated community need, population served, and funding gap relative to similar organizations.
Weighted by verified outcome metrics — students graduated, meals served, jobs created — submitted in the annual impact report.
Quarterly community vote selects one nonprofit for a special spotlight grant to highlight their work and grow awareness.
Full Transparency Guarantee
Every distribution is publicly logged in our quarterly Civic Advantage Impact Report, including exact dollar amounts, recipient names, and verified impact metrics. Businesses and community members can view reports at any time from the Civic Advantage dashboard.