12 Nonprofits That Know How to Maximize Fundraising Matches

Fundraising matches are one of the most effective tools nonprofits can use to amplify donations and increase engagement. Whether through corporate matching gift programs or challenge grant opportunities, these initiatives help nonprofits raise more funds while motivating donors to give generously. By tapping into matching gift opportunities, organizations can leverage their donor base, attract new supporters, and multiply the impact of every dollar donated.

In this article, we’ll explore 12 nonprofits that have successfully maximized fundraising matches. These include:

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Match
The Nature Conservancy Match Fund
United Way Giving Tuesday Now Match
Pencils of Promise Match Day
DonorsChoose 2X Match Offer
American Red Cross March Matching Madness
Jane Goodall Institute Birthday Match
Elephant Baby Matching Gift Program
Oregon Zoo Triple Match Campaign
Harp 365 Matching Gift
UWC-USA Alumni Matching Gift Challenge
Blood Cancer United Corporate Matching Gifts

From viral campaigns to strategic partnerships, these organizations have turned fundraising matches into major revenue drivers. As you read through these examples, you’ll discover innovative strategies you can apply to your own nonprofit’s fundraising campaigns. Let’s jump in!

1. ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Match

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge continues to be one of the most successful fundraising campaigns in recent memory, especially when it comes to matching gifts. In honor of the 10-year anniversary of the viral challenge, John Russo, who has been living with ALS since 2013, generously pledged to match donations up to $25,000. This match was promoted alongside a campaign encouraging people to take the Ice Bucket Challenge and donate to the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), with each donation doubled during August.

What nonprofits can learn: The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Match is a prime example of how an impactful, viral campaign can be supercharged by a matching gift. It highlights the power of aligning matching gift opportunities with widely recognized events, creating both a sense of urgency and a deeper connection to the cause.

2. The Nature Conservancy Match Fund

The Nature Conservancy created a compelling Match Fund campaign to encourage monthly donations. For every dollar donated, it would be added to their Matching Gift Fund, effectively doubling the impact of monthly donations. This program was promoted as a way for donors to contribute toward conservation efforts, including fighting climate change and protecting endangered species, all while maximizing the impact of their gift.

What nonprofits can learn: The Nature Conservancy’s Match Fund demonstrates that creating a matching opportunity for regular, ongoing donations (such as monthly contributions) can provide a steady flow of funds while also building long-term donor relationships. This type of campaign fosters donor commitment by motivating them to double their contributions over time.

3. United Way Giving Tuesday Now Match

United Way of Central Florida capitalized on Giving Tuesday Now by offering a $50,000 challenge grant, matching dollar-for-dollar donations to their United Community Relief Fund. This match was part of the larger effort to respond to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting local nonprofits and residents impacted by the crisis.

What nonprofits can learn: The United Way’s Giving Tuesday Now Match highlights the importance of aligning with global giving events like Giving Tuesday. By offering a matching gift during a widely recognized fundraising day, the campaign could tap into the surge of generosity that characterizes these events, driving both engagement and higher donation volumes.

4. Pencils of Promise Match Day

Pencils of Promise ran a successful Match Day campaign, offering to match all donations made on that day to support their education programs. The campaign was framed as a challenge to donors, with the promise of matching gifts raising funds for school construction and educational initiatives in underserved regions.

What nonprofits can learn: Pencils of Promise used a time-limited matching campaign (Match Day) to create urgency and drive higher donations. The strategy emphasizes the effectiveness of one-day events, where donors are motivated to give during a specific time frame to maximize their impact.

5. DonorsChoose 2X Match Offer

DonorsChoose, an organization that connects donors with classroom projects in need of funding, offered a 2X match on donations to fund teachers’ classroom supplies. The campaign was successful in its outreach, significantly increasing donations to support educators.

What nonprofits can learn: The DonorsChoose 2X Match Offer demonstrates the effectiveness of a substantial match ratio in increasing donor enthusiasm. By offering a higher-than-average match (2X), DonorsChoose was able to multiply donations and create a larger pool of funds for teachers. This is a great strategy for nonprofits that want to generate excitement and boost contributions quickly.

6. American Red Cross March Matching Madness

The American Red Cross launched its “March Matching Madness” campaign, offering dollar-for-dollar matching for donations made in March. The campaign was designed to maximize contributions during Red Cross Month and raised significant funds to support the Red Cross’s disaster relief efforts.

What nonprofits can learn: The American Red Cross utilized a themed campaign to generate excitement and increase participation. By making the match part of a larger themed event, “March Matching Madness,” they created a fun and engaging way to encourage donations. Using a match alongside a time-sensitive event can create a sense of urgency and enthusiasm among donors.

7. Jane Goodall Institute Birthday Match

In honor of Jane Goodall’s 90th birthday, the Jane Goodall Institute launched a special matching gift campaign, offering to double every donation made to their efforts to protect wildlife. A generous matching gift of $90,000 was pledged to coincide with the celebration of her birthday, encouraging supporters to give and double their impact.

What nonprofits can learn: The Jane Goodall Institute effectively leveraged a personal milestone to drive donations by offering a matching gift to celebrate Jane’s 90th birthday. By connecting a significant event in their organization’s history to a matching gift, they created an emotional connection that encouraged donors to contribute to their cause.

8. Elephant Baby Matching Gift Program

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo launched an innovative Elephant Baby Matching Gift Program to support the care of two baby elephants that are expected to be born in the fall of 2024. This program helps fund essential modifications to the elephant exhibit to ensure it is safe for the newborn elephants and provides ongoing care, including medical support and feeding for both the baby elephants and their parents. To kick off the program, the zoo aims to raise between $75,000 and $100,000 in matching gifts, with every dollar donated matched up to $2, significantly increasing the total amount raised.

What nonprofits can learn: The Fresno Chaffee Zoo’s matching gift campaign cleverly ties the donation opportunity to the excitement surrounding the elephants’ birth. By launching the campaign around World Elephant Day, they tapped into an international event to raise awareness and drive donations. Their strategy of setting a targeted fundraising goal and using matching gifts to double the impact is an effective way to boost initial contributions and build momentum.

9. Oregon Zoo Triple Match Campaign

The Oregon Zoo Foundation launched an exciting Triple Match Campaign that allows donors to maximize their contributions and create a significantly greater impact on wildlife conservation efforts. Through this campaign, the zoo has partnered with corporations to offer a matching gift opportunity that not only doubles but triples the impact of a donation. For instance, a $10 gift can become $30, and a $100 gift can become $300, all supporting the care of animals at the zoo.

The best part? This triple match opportunity is not limited to special campaigns like Giving Tuesday. Any donation to the Oregon Zoo Foundation is eligible for matching, whether it’s a one-time donation or part of a recurring giving program. The zoo makes it easy for donors to participate by offering a lookup page to check whether their employer offers matching gifts.

Subject Line: 3X your impact for wildlife

Dear [Name],

Did you know your employer might match your donation? If you gave to our GivingTuesday campaign, your gift was already doubled — but a match from your employer could make 3X the impact!

That means your $10 becomes $30, and your $100 becomes $300 for the animals at the Oregon Zoo.
And this opportunity isn’t limited to GivingTuesday…

…any donation to the Oregon Zoo Foundation may be eligible for a match! Check our easy lookup page, or just reply to this email with your employer’s name, and I’ll help you find out!

Even if you’re retired, your former employer may still match your gift. And if your spouse’s employer offers matching gifts, that’s another way to increase your impact!

It’s easy to triple your gift:

Check our easy lookup page: oregonzoo.org/match or ask your employer about their matching process. (Or just reply to this email and I’ll look it up for you.)

Make a gift to the Oregon Zoo Foundation.

Submit a matching request to your HR department.

Your employer will send the match directly to the foundation, creating an even bigger impact for wildlife! If you have any questions, please reach out. Together, we can make your support go even further for the animals we care about.

Thanks (X3),
Ashley Hardt

P.S. Over 26 million people in the U.S. are eligible for corporate matching gifts, but only 7% request one. If you’ve already submitted your request, thank you! I’ll let you know when it arrives.

What nonprofits can learn: The Oregon Zoo’s Triple Match Campaign effectively engages both current employees and retirees by promoting corporate matching gifts as a way to multiply donations. By actively encouraging donors to inquire about matching opportunities and by providing a personal touch, the zoo creates an environment where donors feel supported and motivated to increase their giving.

10. Harp 365 Matching Gift

Harp 365, the monthly giving program for the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh, ran a matching gift campaign in which donations made during June were matched dollar-for-dollar by Fetch Pet Insurance. This campaign encouraged supporters to contribute to Harp 365’s mission of supporting animal rescues, with every gift being matched to maximize the impact.

What nonprofits can learn: Harp 365’s matching gift campaign is a great example of leveraging corporate partnerships to double the impact of donations. By partnering with a relevant business (Fetch Pet Insurance), they not only received matched gifts but also built stronger corporate relationships. Using corporate sponsors to match donations can significantly increase the total funds raised.

11. UWC-USA Alumni Matching Gift Challenge

UWC-USA’s alumni were invited to participate in a matching gift challenge, with gifts of $1,000 or more matched up to $25,000. This challenge aimed to engage alumni in giving back to their alma mater, providing much-needed funds for student scholarships and other initiatives.

What nonprofits can learn: The UWC-USA alumni challenge is a perfect example of how to engage specific communities, like alumni, in matching gift campaigns. By offering an incentive for higher-level gifts and appealing directly to alumni, they maximized participation from their dedicated supporter base.

12. Blood Cancer United Corporate Matching Gifts

Blood Cancer United leveraged corporate matching gift programs to provide a seamless donor experience. They included a search tool on their donation form, allowing donors to easily check whether their employer would match their contributions, thereby doubling the impact of their donation.

What nonprofits can learn: Blood Cancer United’s use of a matching gift search tool directly on the donation form makes it easier for donors to identify and submit their employer’s match requests. This reduces barriers to participation and significantly increases the total funds raised through corporate matching gifts.

Wrapping Up & Next Steps

Fundraising matches are an invaluable tool for maximizing donations and increasing donor engagement. By drawing inspiration from these 10 nonprofits, you can create compelling match campaigns that amplify your fundraising results. Whether you utilize challenge grants, corporate matches, or time-sensitive opportunities, matching gifts provide a powerful way to multiply the impact of every donation.

If you’re looking to take your fundraising to the next level, start by assessing your potential matching gift opportunities and consider how they can enhance your upcoming campaigns. With the right strategy, you can build long-lasting relationships with donors and corporate partners while significantly boosting your funding efforts.

Interested in even more inspirational fundraising matches? Check out these additional resources to continue learning:

Examples & Insights from the Matching Gift Idea Exchange. Explore real-world examples and expert insights from the Matching Gift Idea Exchange, where nonprofit professionals share their most successful matching gift strategies. This blog post offers practical tips, best practices, and creative ideas for boosting matching gift revenue and enhancing donor engagement.
7 Challenge Match Success Stories: Effective Promotions. Learn from seven nonprofit campaigns that successfully utilized challenge matches to increase donations and engage supporters. In this blog post, you’ll discover how different organizations promoted their challenge matches, attracted new donors, and generated urgency and excitement around their fundraising.
Free Download: Corporate Matching Gift Case Studies. Dive into a collection of real-life case studies that showcase the impact of corporate matching gift programs on nonprofit fundraising. This free download provides a comprehensive look at how various nonprofits have leveraged corporate partnerships to maximize donations and engage employees.