FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
For Sponsees
I am a 4th year medical student and identify as a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color) trainee. How do I get added to the MGWL master list?
Please fill out the submission form, provide a link to your Amazon wishlist and/or your Venmo/Cash App information for direct donation. Upon verification of identity as a medical student, your response will stay on the master list.
I am a first-generation medical student but do not identify as a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color) trainee. Can I be added to the sponsee list and be eligible for the GoFundMe campaigns?
The mission of this movement is to support BIPOC trainees, a historically disadvantaged group with a different journey to medicine, who are more likely to have a disproportionate burden of debt accrued prior to or during their medical training secondary to the ever-widening racial wealth gap. Therefore, only trainees who identify as BIPOC are eligible for addition to the sponsee list and for crowdfunding initiatives. This is consistent with our mission to increase equity and diversity among practicing doctors.
How do I create/share an Amazon wishlist and allow sponsors to ship items to my address?
Instructions for creating an Amazon wishlist are available here. Additionally, there is a tutorial on the @medgradwishlist social media pages. You will also need to enable third-party shipments for your list when you set it up. This means that sponsors will be able to select your address (shown as "sponsee's gift registry address") for shipping but the address itself will not be visible to sponsors.
What items should I add to my Amazon wishlist?
Think about what items will be useful for your current needs and/or transition to employment. These may be scrubs, comfortable shoes, compression socks, office supplies, household items, furniture, etc. Add these items to your Amazon wishlist and don’t forget to add small items or gift cards in varied increments since sponsors may want to sponsor multiple sponsees. Please ensure a shipping address is added to your list so that sponsors will be able to select your address for shipping; it will not be shown publicly.
Can you add my Venmo or Cash App accounts to the spreadsheet?
Yes, please add these to your submission form and they will be visible in the sponsee list since some sponsors prefer to send direct donations rather than supporting other companies.
How are sponsees selected for the GoFundMe (GFM) crowdfunding campaigns?
Sponsees are chosen through a random lottery system after they enter a specific giveaway with the proper entry parameters.
I am a PGY1 resident and will be moving on to a PGY2. Am I eligible for the public Amazon Wishlist and the GoFundMe campaigns?
Graduating MS4 students will be prioritized for sponsorship through the GoFundMe campaigns as they likely have the greatest financial need.
I have received multiple items off my wishlist and want to be removed in order to make sure that my colleagues also receive items. What should I do?
Thank you for thinking of your colleagues and making space for everyone to be sponsored! You can either email us medgradwishlist@gmail.com or direct message us on Twitter (@MedGradWishlist).
I have a fellow trainee who has misrepresented themselves on the sponsee list or on Twitter. How are these issues handled?
Please inform us via direct message on Twitter or via email ASAP. We take dishonesty and unprofessionalism very seriously and will remove the trainee from the sponsee list immediately. The trainee will be notified of removal via email and will not be permitted to partake in the movement in the future. These trainees are free to promote their lists individually.
What if my identity cannot be verified online? What should I send for verifying my eligibility?
Please send us a document stating both your medical school's name and your name together so that your enrollment can be verified.
I am an International Medical Graduate (IMG) in a country that Amazon does not ship to. Am I still able to participate?
Yes, you are! However, you will be limited to cash payments via Venmo, Cashapp, Zelle, etc. We apologize for the inconvenience. You are welcome to utilize other registry sites available in your region.
I am a graduating 4th year medical student who did not participate in the Match or did not Match into any program this year? Am I still eligible to participate?
Yes, you are! However, we limit participation to once a year. If you plan to participate in the Match next year, you are not permitted to re-enter #MGWL again. We want to make space for the incoming class so that everyone can be helped along in their journey.
For Sponsors
Are you a 501(c)(3) designated non-profit?
Not yet, but we be pursuing this option in the future.
Are my donations tax-deductible?
At this time, donations are not tax-deductible.
How is sponsee eligibility confirmed in order to ensure matriculation through a school/college of Medicine and/or a training program?
The MedGradWishList team individually verify all sponsees through school website searches and ID procurement, if necessary. Sponsees must self-select their eligibility as identifying as a BIPOC student within the enrollment form. The MedGradWishList team will release the sponsee’s Amazon wishlist once enrollment is confirmed.
How can I donate to a general fund for MedGradWishList?
You may donate to the MedGradwishlist Venmo: @MedGradWishlist. Please keep in mind that all donations are subject to a fee of 1.9% + $0.10 of the total sum. GoFundMe (GFM) takes $0.30 off each donation with a 2.9% transaction fee for withdrawals. GFM will be used for larger ticket items such as laptops and tablets.
I noticed a trainee has misrepresented themselves on the public sponsee list or on Twitter. How are these issues handled?
Please inform us via direct message on Twitter or via email ASAP. We take dishonesty and unprofessionalism very seriously and will remove the trainee from the sponsee list immediately. The trainee will be notified of removal via email and will not be permitted to partake in the movement in the future.
Why have I not heard from the trainee I have gifted?
Amazon Wishlist gifts do not have a return label. Donors are able to list their contact information on the accompanying note once a gift is purchased if they would like to hear from their sponsee upon receipt of their gift. Amazon also allows you to send a thank you note once an item is received. Additionally, we have a "Thank You" page as well as a "Share Your Thoughts" page where words of gratitude are shared from sponsees to their sponsors. It is worth noting that donations are given unconditionally in hopes of improving the lives and journeys of the recipients.
We would like to acknowledge #PharmGradWishlist's efforts in synthesizing and developing a 'Frequently Asked Questions' section that we based our own on. We are mutual aid movements with the same mission in our respective fields and we thank them for their work in preparing underrepresented clinical pharmacy graduates in order to diversify our interdisciplinary healthcare workforce. Please find their FAQ, here.