Matching Gifts FAQ

Answers to the most-asked questions by organizations like yours

UNDERSTANDING MATCHING GIFTS

What companies match donations?

Thousands of companies offer matching gift programs to support employee philanthropy. Major employers like Apple, Microsoft, Google, Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, Home Depot, and Deloitte all match donations made by their employees to eligible nonprofits and schools. Each company sets its own match ratio, minimum and maximum amounts, and submission deadlines.

You can use Double the Donation’s matching gift and workplace giving database to quickly search for companies with active programs and see details about each policy. This makes it easy to identify match-eligible donors and connect them with their next steps.

PROMOTING & LEVERAGING MATCHING GIFTS

How can we get more donors involved in matching gifts?

Many donors don’t know that their employers will match their donations, so awareness is key. Here’s how your nonprofit can promote matching gifts across multiple channels:

Add a matching gift search tool to your donation form and confirmation page.
Send personalized post-donation emails with matching gift reminders.
Create a dedicated matching gift page on your website to educate supporters.

Tools like Double the Donation’s product matching gift page help nonprofits automatically identify eligible donors and send them company-specific next steps to double their impact.

How do matching gifts fit into a year-end fundraising strategy?

Matching gifts can significantly boost your year-end fundraising results by encouraging donors to give more and helping their donations go further during the giving season.

Since many companies set December 31 as the deadline to submit a matching gift request, year-end appeals are a great time to remind donors to check their eligibility.

Add matching gift language to your email campaigns, Giving Tuesday promotions, and donation pages to create urgency. With Double the Donation’s fundraising tools, your nonprofit can automatically identify match-eligible donors and send reminders before deadlines pass, helping you close the year strong.

How can my nonprofit increase the number of matching gifts we get each year?

Many donors don’t know about their company’s matching gift program, their eligibility, and how to submit matching gift requests until you tell them directly.

Your nonprofit can increase matching gift submissions by making the process obvious, easy, and automated.

Start by adding a “matching gift search” field on your donation page, confirmation screen, and thank-you email to prompt donors immediately.
Collect employer information (e.g., add an “Employer Name” field) so you can identify match-eligible donors using tools like Double the Donation’s database.
Finally, automate follow-ups. Use Double the Donation’s platform to send donor-specific next steps, track submission status, and reduce manual staff time while boosting conversions.

How can we use matching gifts to engage corporate sponsors?

You don’t need a formal relationship with companies to receive matching gifts.

Many companies offer open-choice matching gift programs where employees pick any nonprofit or school of their choosing.

With Double the Donation, you can use donor employment data from the matching gift database to identify which companies your supporters work for and then approach those companies about broader partnership or sponsorship opportunities.

Simply embed the matching gift database on your website to showcase corporate supporters and use Double the Donation’s email automation to deliver tailored thank-you messages and sponsorship-level communications.

What’s the best way to educate donors about matching gift programs?

The best way to educate donors about matching gifts is to make information easy to find and simple to act on.

Create a dedicated matching gift page on your website that explains how corporate donation-matching works. Then, embed a company search tool like Double the Donation to let donors instantly check if their employer offers the program and find next steps. Finally, send follow-up emails within 24 hours of a donation.

When your nonprofit keeps matching gift opportunities visible across multiple touchpoints, supporters are far more likely to double their impact.

How do you ask companies to match donations to your nonprofit specifically?

When reaching out to a company about exclusive or one-off matching gifts, focus on offering value instead of just making a request. Share how matching donations benefits their employees, strengthens community ties, and boosts brand visibility.

If you already have donors who work there, use insights from Double the Donation’s employer data to make a warm introduction. You can ask those donors to connect you with their HR or CSR contacts, as this is often the easiest way to leverage your existing relationships and build trust within a target company.

How do we integrate matching gifts into our regular fundraising communications?

Integrating matching gifts into your ongoing fundraising is easier than you might think.

Start by adding a matching gift search field on your online donation form so donors can instantly see if their employer offers a match.

Then, mention matching gifts in your email newsletters, event materials, and social posts to keep awareness high year-round.

With Double the Donation’s automation tools, your organization can send personalized reminders and thank-you notes without extra manual effort. Over time, donors will start expecting to see matching gift info alongside every giving opportunity, which means more doubled donations for you.

MATCHING GIFT WORKFLOWS

How do I find out if a donor’s company offers matching gifts?

The simplest way to find out if a donor’s company offers matching gifts is to use a matching gift search tool. With Double the Donation’s platform, you’ll have access to a comprehensive, regularly updated database that includes details on thousands of employers and their giving programs, covering matching gifts, volunteer grants, payroll giving, and other corporate philanthropy initiatives.

Donors can enter their employer’s name to see eligibility guidelines, match ratios, submission links, and deadlines. This makes it easy for nonprofits to identify matching opportunities and help donors take the next step toward doubling their impact.

You can also search a donor company’s website or use curated lists of matching gift companies to source information.

How can we make matching gifts more visible on our donation forms?

You can highlight matching gifts on your donation form, where donors make their gifts.

Start by adding an employer search field, with a short prompt or label that provides your donors context (e.g., “See if your company will match your donation”).
Use tools like Double the Donation’s matching gift plugin to provide donors with company-specific matching gift details (i.e,. eligibility guidelines, match ratios) and step-by-step instructions for submitting a match.
Then use your confirmation page to nudge them again with a call to action (e.g., “Double your gift in just a few clicks”). Small reminders like these can inspire donors to take action right away.

How do we identify matching gift opportunities without spending too much time?

If your team spends hours manually searching for matching gift opportunities, automation can be a game-changer. With Double the Donation’s matching gift fundraising tool, your organization can automatically detect match-eligible donors through employer data and trigger personalized follow-up emails.

The software also syncs with your CRM and donation platform to flag opportunities as they come in. This lets your staff focus on relationships instead of research, while still uncovering every possible match.

How should we follow up with donors after they’ve submitted a matching gift request?

Following up after a donor submits a match is your chance to strengthen the relationship. Use Double the Donation’s tracking tools to monitor each donor’s match status in real time, and thank your donors if they let you know they submitted a match.

You can also share impact updates (like how many meals or scholarships their doubled gift helped fund) to show the tangible results. Simple, timely communication builds trust and often inspires donors to give again.

How do we make it easier for donors to submit a matching gift request?

Embed Double the Donation’s company search tool on your donation and thank-you pages so donors can access their employer’s submission link right away. Double the Donation’s platform guides donors through their company’s online process and provides them with actionable next steps after they populate the form.

By removing extra steps, you make it almost effortless for donors to turn one gift into two.

How do I remind donors to submit matching gift requests?

Gentle reminders go a long way toward turning eligible gifts into matched gifts. Send a personalized follow-up email within a day or two of each donation, including the donor’s company name and direct link to their matching form. With Double the Donation’s automated email tool, you can send these reminders automatically whenever an eligible gift is detected. By keeping matching gifts top-of-mind without adding manual work, you’ll see more submissions and more revenue for your cause.

Matching gift faqs - simplifying the matching gift process

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