Where do funds raised go?
The Children’s Heart Foundation is able to fund the most promising congenital heart defect research thanks to our volunteers, donors, and WalkStars who raise critical funds each year to support our mission. We put donated funds right to work, through the leadership of our esteemed Medical Advisory Council (MAC), including medical doctors, PhDs and lay reviewers. The Children’s Heart Foundation conducts calls for grant applications each year, which are then reviewed and scored, and considered for funding award; we also fund other scientific collaboration and CHD research fellowship. Learn more here.

How can I donate to a registered individual or team?
You can donate to an individual, a team or a general event donation for any Walk. Click the Donate link at the top of any page to search by individual or team. If you have trouble, contact us at 847-634-6474 for assistance.

How should checks or money orders be made out, and where should they be mailed?
Please make all checks and money orders payable to The Children's Heart Foundation and mail to:

The Children's Heart Foundation
5 Revere Drive, One Northbrook Place, Suite 200
Northbrook, IL 60062

If possible, please complete our offline donation form, which can be found here, and include it with your check or money order; you may also use the check memo line to indicate to which walker and/or team the donation should be credited. If a donation check has been written out to you personally, you may endorse the back of the check and mail it in with a completed donation form. We do not recommend you send cash donations in the mail; instead, deposit the cash into your checking account and then send a personal check from your account.

How quickly can I expect an online donation to post to a participant's fundraising account?
Any donation made online should post immediately. If an online donation does not post within 30 minutes, please contact us.

Can I enter a check online?
You can't formally enter a check online, but you can enter it as an offline donation at your Participant Center, which we then confirm and officially credit when we receive your check. The status of the check will be pending until the check is received.

What happens if I select "cover processing fees?"
If you check this checkbox, you will be charged the amount indicated next to the checkbox. This amount will also be visible to The Children's Heart Foundation. However, on the fundraising page, your intended initial donation amount will be displayed.

Are donations tax-deductible?
All monetary donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

For Canadian donations made online with a credit card, will the amount entered be in U.S. dollars?
Yes. For Canadian donations made online with a credit card, the amount entered in the online donation form will be in U.S. dollars.

How can I receive a receipt for my donation?
All online donations which include an email address will automatically receive a donation receipt via email. For donors who mail their donation, please include an email address to receive a receipt once your donation is received.

What is The Children’s Heart Foundation’s Tax ID number?
A Tax ID number identifies The Children’s Heart Foundation as a 501(c)(3) non-profit Organization. The Children’s Heart Foundation’s Tax ID number is 36-4077528.

Are the websites open all year to make donations even after the Walk ends?
Websites remain open till December 31 for additional donations online. 

I’m interested to provide entertainment, food, refreshments, or donated items at a Walk. Who should I contact?
Thank you! Please email us at WalkForCHDResearch@childrensheartfoundation.org to share more information about the contribution you’d like to make.

Fundraising FAQs

How quickly can I expect an online donation to post to my page?
Any donation made online should post immediately. If your donation does not post within 30 minutes, please contact The Children’s Heart Foundation.

If we don’t fundraise enough to reach our individual or team fundraising goal, will we have to pay the difference?
Individuals or teams are not required to reach default goals or those which they set. However, for Congenital Heart Walks at select locations such as zoos or theme parks, where a minimum fundraising or self-donation requirement is indicated, that minimum must be met to gain entry into the event.

Where can I find a list of the people who have donated to me?
Log in to your Participant Center with your email and password to visit your page. You will then be able to access a list of all of your donors as well as a list of all donors to your team’s page.

How can I send a thank you email to my donors?
Login to your Participant Center and click on the "emails" tab. There you can send Thank You emails to your donors!

Are event shirts available for purchase?
We offer shirts to be earned by each walker who fundraises or self-donates $75 or more, but like our other fundraising incentives, they are not available for purchase.

The registration form asked for my t-shirt size. Do all registrants receive a t-shirt?
No. Shirts are earned by each walker who fundraises or self-donates $75 or more. We ask for t-shirt size during the registration process so we can have it ready for those fundraisers who have earned this incentive. Fundraising incentives can be earned for up to 30 days after each Walk ends. With shipping to U.S. addresses only). For more information, you can email our team at: WalkForCHDResearch@childrensheartfoundation.org.

Can I fundraise for my team through Facebook Fundraisers?
Yes! Visit your Participant Center and look for the blue boxes that link to Facebook to set up a Facebook fundraiser that links directly to your page! All funds raised will be credited to your fundraising page. You can learn how to set one up here. Please contact us at WalkForCHDResearch@childrensheartfoundation.org if you have questions.

Can funds be transferred to my Congenital Heart Walk team page if I set up a general or birthday Facebook fundraiser? No. If you did not set up your Facebook fundraiser through your participation center using the steps described in the document linked above, we could not honor the funds raised on Facebook. There is not enough information given to the organization from Facebook to accurately transfer those funds. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Registration FAQs

​​​​​​​How can I add my children or other family members to my registration under my email address, and can they still have their own pages?
When you register yourself, before completing the registration click on the "Register Another Person" button. You can add other registrations here, and each registration will have their own fundraising page as well as a unique username and password (even if they are sharing email addresses)

Is there a limit for how many people are allowed on a team?
No, there is no limit to the number of team members you may have! How can I get help editing my registration information, or shirt size, or delete a second account I created, or otherwise need help setting up my fundraising page. These actions can be completed in your Participant Center. But if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email us at WalkForCHDResearch@childrensheartfoundation.org for assistance.

Can I register at the event?
Yes. We accept onsite registrations, and donations. All guests are required to register, as participation includes completion of our Event Liability Waiver.

Event FAQs

Is parking free?
Parking at some events may include parking fees. Please see the Event Details page of each event for more information about parking including any fees.

How can inquire about setting up a walk and/or fundraiser in my area?
Click here to submit your information. 

Do team captains/leaders need to be at the Walk when the venue opens?
All guests should arrive in the one-hour registration period for each Congenital Heart Walk listed on the Event Details page. For some Walk sites, registration must promptly close at the indicated time based on venue requirements.

For Walks at zoos or theme parks, must each individual guest meet the fundraising/donation minimum?
Yes. Each individual over the age of 2 is required to fundraise or donate at least the minimum fundraising amount indicated for your event.

Are we allowed to bring signs to place along the walk route in honor of our Warrior?
Please feel free to bring pictures of your Heart Warrior or Heart Angel, and we will provide locations where they may be displayed.

Are strollers permitted? Coolers?
Yes, strollers are always permitted. Coolers with non-alcoholic beverages and food are permitted, unless otherwise prohibited by the venue.

Are there course maps for each walk route?
Yes. Please see the Event Details page for walk route information.

How long after the Walks are the pictures posted online?
We post event pictures as soon as possible. In some cases, professional photography services are generously donated and prepared with care, and we gratefully post these photos as soon as they are received.

What happens if the weather is calling for rain on Walk Day?
Our events are rain or shine. However, events may be postponed, delayed or canceled in the case of severe and dangerous weather. In cases where severe or dangerous weather is a possibility, we will communicate to Walkers across digital channels.

How long is each walk?
Most Walks are approximately 1 mile. Specific information about each Walk’s length can be found at the Event Details page for that Walk.

Will there be food and drinks available at the Walk?
Our events include complimentary refreshments, typically including water, fruit and snacks. In some cases, additional or different refreshments may be available, and some events include food trucks from which guests can purchase refreshments.

Other FAQs

I’m a #CHDWarrior or know one! How can I share my #CHDStory?
We would be grateful to receive your #CHDStory! Click here to share your story. 

Is the Walk affiliated with any church?
No. The Children’s Heart Foundation and its events are non-secular.

I’d like to volunteer for a Walk! Who should I contact regarding this?
Thank you! Please click on the Volunteer tab for more information and to link to volunteer registration.

How can I contact you if I have other questions or need further assistance?
Please contact us at 847-634-6474, or WalkForCHDResearch@childrensheartfoundation.org if we can further assist you.