{"id":8580,"date":"2017-06-28T14:32:40","date_gmt":"2017-06-28T21:32:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodshop.com\/blog\/?p=8580"},"modified":"2021-05-11T10:56:08","modified_gmt":"2021-05-11T10:56:08","slug":"corporate-matching-gifts-the-vital-tool-to-double-donations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.goodsearchcorp.com\/corporate-matching-gifts-the-vital-tool-to-double-donations\/","title":{"rendered":"Corporate Matching Gifts: The Vital Tool To Double Donations"},"content":{"rendered":"

If your nonprofit isn\u2019t concerned with matching gifts, then you should be! Matching gift programs are win-win-win situations for everyone involved.<\/span><\/p>\n

To make sure we\u2019re all on the same page, matching gift programs are created by companies to <\/span>demonstrate their philanthropy to organizations that employees are passionate about<\/span><\/a>. When an employee gives, they can have their gifts matched based on a ratio decided by the company. <\/span><\/p>\n

As a result, your nonprofit will receive double\u2014and sometimes triple\u2014the donations! <\/b><\/p>\n

Interested in learning how your organization can use these programs to your advantage? You\u2019re in luck! We\u2019ll answer five common questions surrounding matched giving:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. What are matching gifts?<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Why don\u2019t more donors submit matching gift requests?<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Who should you promote matching gifts to?<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. How do you promote matching gifts?<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. What are the top matching gift tools?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Let\u2019s get started!<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Goodsearch_CorporateMatchingGifts_Heading_Image1.jpg\"<\/p>\n

    1. What are matching gifts?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    As we mentioned earlier, matching gifts are corporate programs that match employee donations to eligible organizations. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Corporations benefit from matching gifts<\/a> because they can demonstrate their philanthropic side and encourage employees to do the same. Employees also benefit from these programs because <\/span>their gifts can go twice as far.<\/span><\/a> Even if a supporter can only give $25, they know that amount will make a significant contribution once combined with their company\u2019s gift. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Lastly, matched giving can help organizations reach fundraising goals faster and get the funds they need to further their mission. <\/span><\/p>\n

    For a more detailed understanding of matching gifts, we\u2019ve broken down this section into two important categories: <\/span><\/p>\n

    The Matching Gift Process<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

    To better understanding how matching gifts works, here is how the process usually goes:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Goodsearch_CorporateMatchingGifts_Process_Image.png\"Step one: <\/b>Sally Donor starts the process by contributing to her favorite organization, foundation, or school. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Step two: <\/b>After the donation is complete, she will submit a matching gift request with proof of her donation to her employer. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Step three: <\/b>The company will check the donation to see if it matches their guidelines and requirements. Typically, the organization has to align with the corporation’s core values, and most companies don\u2019t match gifts to religious organizations. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step four: <\/b>If the company determines that the donation and organization are eligible, the nonprofit will be sent a donation for the same amount of the initial donation (or more!). Generally, companies match gifts at a 1:1 ratio, but some corporations have even higher ratios. <\/span><\/p>\n

    That\u2019s it! In just four easy steps your organization can double its funds in no time. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Requirements, Eligibility, and More<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

    Most companies have a matching gift limit or minimum donation size that will be matched by the corporation. <\/span><\/p>\n

    This minimum is usually around $25 or $50, but some companies (like Apple) will match donations as low as $1. Discover more information on giving programs with <\/span>360MatchPro\u2019s list of top matching gift companies<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Another point to remember is that most companies have deadlines on when employees can submit a matching gift request. The deadline can be anything from the end of the calendar year to a set number of months after the date of the donation. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Your organization needs to be aware of these submission deadlines so you can notify past and recent contributors as many of them are still eligible to make a request.<\/b><\/p>\n

    In summary, <\/b>matching gifts are beneficial for everyone involved and programs often have guidelines and requirements that nonprofits <\/span>need <\/span><\/i>to be aware of.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Goodsearch_CorporateMatchingGifts_Heading_Image2.jpg\"<\/h2>\n

    2. Why don\u2019t more donors submit matching gift requests?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    With over 18 million people working for companies that offer matching gift programs, <\/span>it might be surprising to hear that the average employee participation rate is only 9%<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The most common reason for this lack of participation is that most donors don\u2019t know about their company\u2019s matching gift program, and if they do, they don\u2019t know how to submit a request. <\/b><\/p>\n

    Additionally, organizations struggle to promote matching gifts because they\u2019re not familiar with the various programs. Gaps in knowledge on the guidelines, requirements, and submission process make it difficult for organizations to effectively communicate and promote matching gifts. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Think about it from the donor\u2019s perspective: <\/span>when the marketing isn\u2019t effective or clear, donors are more likely to skip the matching gift process because they assume that it\u2019s complicated and not worth their time.<\/b> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Nonprofits work hard to find <\/span>fundraising software<\/span><\/a> that makes giving as simple and quick as possible, and the same ideas should be communicated when donors are encouraged to submit a matching gift request. <\/span><\/p>\n

    In summary, <\/b>millions of employees can take advantage of their company\u2019s matching gift program, but few do because they\u2019re not familiar with the process. It\u2019s up to your organization to guide donors and show them that submitting a request is a lot easier than they think. <\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Goodsearch_CorporateMatchingGifts_Heading_Image3.jpg\"<\/h2>\n

    3. Who should you promote matching gifts to? <\/span><\/h2>\n

    To make the most of matched giving, your organization needs to understand who you should market to and the best way to reach out to these groups. <\/span><\/p>\n

    We\u2019ll cover four different groups: <\/span><\/p>\n

    Current Donors<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

    Your supporters that give regularly\u2014once a month, once a week, or once a year\u2014are the people that care most about your campaign. <\/span>As such, your donors will be more receptive to learning other ways they can support your cause and make their donations go twice as far. <\/b><\/p>\n

    Don\u2019t forget about past donors as well! As most programs allow submissions for donations made in the past year, you can reach out to donors letting them know that they only have a limited time to match their gifts. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Small, Local Companies<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

    Most people think of large corporations that match millions of dollars a year as the only type of business that organizes giving programs. That\u2019s not the case! In fact, many small businesses start their own programs or partner with local organizations to match gifts from employees and beyond. <\/span><\/p>\n

    With the right connections, you can reach out to owners and CEOs to talk about how they can implement a matching gift program. <\/b><\/p>\n

    Additionally, the following companies can help businesses create and manage giving programs:<\/span><\/p>\n