Donor Stewardship- Engaging + Retaining Support Effectively

Donor Stewardship: How to Retain Support Effectively

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A retention crisis is quietly undermining the hard work of donor stewardship teams across the country. According to recent reports, the percentage of organizations prioritizing donor retention has dropped sharply. While this trend is troubling, it also reveals a powerful, often-overlooked opportunity: the chance to secure your organization’s financial future and stand out from your peers by mastering truly effective donor stewardship.

With the average donor retention rate hovering at a challenging 40%, the key to unlocking sustainable growth isn’t simply finding new supporters, but building authentic, lasting relationships with the people who already believe in your mission. This journey begins with understanding what modern donor care truly entails and developing a proactive, personal plan. For that reason, we’ll help you dive into donor stewardship by reviewing the following topics:

With a better understanding of donor stewardship and a dedicated plan, you can make stewardship an ongoing, iterative process at your organization and consistently build enduring donor relationships.Download our free matching gifts guide to learn more about this donor stewardship strategy.

What is donor stewardship?

Donor stewardship is the process of extending a relationship beyond the donor’s gift. The ultimate goal of donor stewardship is to encourage them to give again by building a deeper connection. Developing that sense of loyalty will make your fundraising efforts more seamless in the future because you’ll have a strong supporter base to tap into.

For stewardship to be effective, nonprofits must form mutually beneficial relationships with their donors. While nonprofits receive financial support, donors get to feel good about the impact they’ve made and join a community of people passionate about your cause. To build these relationships, nonprofits implement stewardship strategies that keep donors informed about the impact of their gifts and offer additional engagement opportunities.

The relationship between donor stewardship and retention

Donor retention is the percentage of donors who return to contribute to your organization after their initial gift. You can calculate your donor retention rate by dividing the number of donors who gave again this year by the number of donors who contributed last year, then multiplying that number by 100.

In recent years, donor retention has been declining, with an overall rate of 42.6%, down 3.5% from the previous year. There are costs associated with acquiring new donors, and when your donor retention rate is low, your organization has to continually maximize the time, effort, and resources it invests in donor acquisition.

Donor stewardship helps your organization conserve resources and build a more reliable donor pool. You need regular communication to remind donors of your cause and the vital role their support plays. With a dedicated donor stewardship plan, you can stay in touch with donors and ultimately retain them.

Additionally, retained donors are more valuable to your organization because they give more, more often, and are more likely to engage with your nonprofit in other ways. Given that 94% of recurring donors prefer to give to their causes of choice monthly, stewarding these donors helps you build a consistent community of supporters rather than a sporadic, constantly shifting list of one-time donors.

Lastly, you already have data on previous donors in your database or a constituent relationship management (CRM) platform. You can use this information to re-engage and steward these relationships, as you now know more about their interests and preferences. With a data-driven stewardship approach, you can meet donors where they are and personalize your communications to retain their support.

How donor stewardship fits into the cultivation cycle

Donor cultivation is the process of acquiring new donors and strengthening relationships with them. While donor stewardship is the last step in the cultivation cycle, it’s essential to understand each step in the process and how it informs your stewardship efforts:

The donor stewardship cycle, as outlined in the text below.

1. Identification

The first step in the donor cultivation cycle is to identify potential donors. This step may involve reviewing your CRM for supporters who may be interested in donating, identifying previous or lapsed donors, or conducting outreach to entirely new supporters.

Some strategies for identifying prospective donors include:

  • Prospect research. When you’re looking for potential major donors, conducting prospect research can help you determine supporters’ giving capacity and willingness to contribute. That way, you can focus your outreach on those who are most likely to make a significant contribution.
  • Existing connections. Current supporters and stakeholders in your organization can help you identify people in their networks who may be interested in contributing to your cause. Ask your board members, major donors, and staff if they have any connections they can leverage.
  • Surveys. Sometimes the best way to identify if someone would be interested in giving is to ask them. Send surveys to your supporter base asking them if they’re open to making a monetary contribution and what type of gift they would like to make.

In this stage, it’s crucial to emphasize your nonprofit’s mission and let potential donors know the impact their contributions could make.

2. Qualification

Now that you’ve identified potential donors, it’s time to narrow down that list further to prioritize those with the highest giving likelihood. Some factors you may assess to determine the most qualified potential donors are:

  • Previous engagement. Potential donors may have interacted with your organization in ways other than donating, such as attending an event, volunteering, following your social media accounts, or signing up for your newsletter. These interactions demonstrate potential donors’ interest in your nonprofit and may indicate their likelihood to donate.
  • Wealth markers. Identifying potential donors’ capacity to give is especially useful for determining who may become a major donor. These wealth indicators may include real estate ownership, stock holdings, and business affiliations.
  • Affinity markers. Just because someone has the capacity to give doesn’t mean they’re interested in contributing. Affinity markers, such as political involvement and prior support for other charitable causes, help you assess the alignment between a potential donor’s values and your organization’s mission.

While some of this information may be stored in your CRM or found in public records, it can be helpful to work with a fundraising consultant or data provider who can acquire this data for you.

3. Cultivation

The cultivation step involves laying the foundation for a long-term relationship with prospects. Before soliciting a donation, introduce potential donors to your organization and invite them to get involved with:

  • Educational materials. Allow prospects to learn more about your mission and work by providing them with educational materials. Send them introductory pamphlets, videos of your beneficiaries, and summaries of your services so they can become more familiar with your organization.
  • Volunteer opportunities. When prospects volunteer with your nonprofit, they’ll receive hands-on experience with your cause. As a result, they may develop a connection to your mission and be more open to donating.
  • Events. An event is a perfect opportunity for prospects to meet current donors and find out why they support your cause. Consider inviting prospects to your next fundraising or advocacy event so they can become immersed in your community and determine if they’d like to become more involved.

Personalizing your communications with prospects is also a powerful way to build relationships with them. Use data from your CRM to better understand your prospects and tailor your communications accordingly. For example, if a prospect recently volunteered with your nonprofit, thank them for their support and follow up with additional volunteer opportunities they may be interested in.

4. Solicitation

After getting to know potential donors and informing them about your organization, you can begin soliciting donations. When making your initial asks, keep these tips in mind:

Be specific.

Using the data you’ve gathered about your prospects, suggest a specific donation amount that aligns with their giving capacity. You should also be clear about what that amount of money will allow your nonprofit to accomplish. For example, an animal shelter might specify that a $100 donation allows it to restock its pet food supply for one week.

Appeal to prospects’ emotions.

Don’t be afraid to use emotionally charged language to show prospects why they should care about your cause and how they have the power to make an impact. Including a testimonial from a beneficiary or current donor can help make a prospect’s potential impact more tangible.

Mention matching gift opportunities.

Did you know that 84% of people say they’re more likely to donate if a match is offered, and 1 in 3 donors claim they’d give a larger gift if matching is applied to their donation? Informing prospects about matching gift opportunities in your ask can motivate them to donate and help you raise even more for your cause. Matching gifts occur when a company matches its employees’ donations to a nonprofit, usually at a 1:1 ratio. As a result, your nonprofit can double its donation revenue. Learn best practices for promoting matching gifts in the video below:

As the video states, raising awareness for matching gifts is key. Once potential donors know about the power of matching gifts, you can make the process easier by researching their eligibility or providing a matching gift database where they can easily find their employer’s matching gift policies.

If a prospect says “no” to your first ask, that doesn’t mean you’ve failed to garner their support. Continue cultivating a relationship with this individual until it’s appropriate to make another donation request. Even if they don’t end up contributing monetarily, they can still become an active member of your community by volunteering, attending events, and engaging with your content online.

5. Stewardship

You should begin the donor stewardship process immediately after a prospect becomes a donor. Follow these steps to kick off your stewardship efforts:

  • Thank donors for their support. Show donors your appreciation for their contributions. To quickly and efficiently thank donors, automate a thank-you eCard to be sent to each donor right after they submit their donation. For larger gifts, you may send a handwritten thank-you note or call major donors to demonstrate your appreciation.
  • Recognize your donors. Larger gifts may also warrant public recognition of your donors through plaques, donor appreciation events, or invitations to your nonprofit’s giving society. You can also recognize mid-level donors by creating social media or newsletter spotlights.
  • Report on their impact. No matter the size of their donation, donors want to know that your organization is using their funds responsibly. Update donors on the specific initiatives you’ve allocated their donations toward, whether that’s a new program, supplies, a fundraising event, or something else entirely.

While these steps are a great start to donor stewardship, you’ll need a dedicated stewardship plan to sustain your donor relationships effectively.

What to know about the donor pyramid

The donor pyramid is a visual representation of different donor giving levels. Since first-time donors are likely your largest donor group, they occupy the bottom of the pyramid, whereas the few major donors you have reside at the top. When you understand which category of the pyramid each donor fits into, you can better steward them up the pyramid and increase their support.

The main categories of the donor pyramid include:

The donor pyramid, a useful tool for donor stewardship, outlined in the text below.

Prospective donors

Some organizations include prospective donors at the bottom of the pyramid to represent all potential giving opportunities. You may omit this group or narrow it down to those who have shown interest in your cause but haven’t yet contributed monetarily, such as volunteers, social media followers, or newsletter subscribers.

First-time donors

Most nonprofits place first-time donors at the bottom of the pyramid. While these supporters have demonstrated interest in your mission, it’s crucial to follow up with them immediately after their initial gift to show your appreciation and share the impact of their contribution.

Recurring donors

Recurring donors may give monthly, quarterly, annually, or on a varying basis. including directly through their payroll. You may create different segments for each of these groups and develop stewardship strategies depending on giving frequency.

Planned donors

Planned donors pledge gifts to be contributed to nonprofits upon their death. These bequests are typically sizable donations, so it’s important to show your appreciation for planned donors’ contributions.

Major donors

The top of the pyramid comprises major donors who make the most significant gifts to your organization. Depending on your nonprofit’s size and typical donation amounts, you may define your major gift threshold differently from other organizations.

To build your nonprofit’s donor pyramid, draw on supporter insights from your donor database. This information will help you determine which categories to include, roughly how many donors are in each tier, and how best to steward each group toward higher levels of the pyramid or toward larger commitments at their current tier.

Beyond the thank-you: active vs. passive stewardship

The most successful nonprofits are shifting their mindset from passive to active stewardship. Passive stewardship is reactive: the basic thank-you letter, the standard tax receipt, and the generic newsletter that follows a gift. This is compliance, not relationship building. While necessary, passive stewardship often leaves the donor feeling like a transaction has closed. Active stewardship, on the other hand, is proactive, ongoing, personalized, and seeks to honor the donor’s value to the mission beyond their wallet. It treats the relationship not as finished, but as just beginning.

Active stewardship focuses on creating unexpected, high-value, and deeply personal moments of appreciation. It involves leveraging data to anticipate a donor’s needs or potential for deeper involvement, and to reach out before you ever need to ask for another gift. The goal of this approach is to make the donor feel like a respected partner and a true difference-maker, which is the most powerful incentive for continued giving.

How to Use Challenge Grants as a Creative Stewardship Tool

One of the highest-impact strategies in active stewardship is the strategic use of Challenge Grants. A challenge grant is a large, pre-secured gift from an individual, foundation, or corporation that is usually contingent upon your organization raising a specific amount from other sources within a defined time period. Rather than simply using this grant as a fundraising hook for mass outreach, savvy fundraisers leverage the challenge grant as an unparalleled stewardship opportunity for the major donor who provided it.

Here’s an example from Charity Navigator:

Donor stewardship via challenge match example

Instead of seeing the major donor’s contribution as a mere transaction, you position them as the Lead Partner and the hero of the resulting campaign. This strategy honors the donor by giving them public credit (if they desire) for inspiring hundreds of smaller gifts. It re-engages them not with an ask, but with a celebration of their power to multiply others’ generosity. This is a creative, high-impact stewardship touchpoint because it shifts the focus from their past gift to the future impact they are actively helping to create. This active acknowledgment deepens their loyalty and strengthens their bond with your organization far more effectively than a standard thank-you ever could.

When to steward your nonprofit’s donors: A helpful timeline

Timing a stewardship touchpoint is just as critical as the message itself, transforming a routine communication into a high-impact relationship builder. By identifying the specific moments when your donors naturally think about your mission, their giving history, or their overall philanthropic capacity, your organization can foster deep loyalty and set the stage for sustained support without issuing an immediate ask.

In an active stewardship model, there are several crucial times when a personalized, non-solicitation outreach will yield the best results. These include:

Immediately After a Contribution Is Made

The first 48 hours after a donation are arguably the most vital period for stewardship. This is when the donor’s sense of generosity and connection to your mission is at its peak, and your response must be swift, warm, and highly personalized. While automated thank-you emails are essential for acknowledging the gift immediately, they should be supplemented with a more tailored follow-up tailored to the gift size or donor segment.

For major donors, a personal call from a board member or executive director within one business day signals that their support is deeply valued at the highest level. For all supporters, the initial thank-you must not only confirm the transaction but also connect their specific dollar amount to a tangible outcome, closing the loop on their generosity and fulfilling the initial promise of their gift. Plus, it’s a great time to mention the matching gift opportunity!

Following Attendance at an Event or Volunteer Shift

Any instance of engagement, monetary or otherwise, should trigger a stewardship follow-up. When a donor attends a mission-focused event, such as a facility tour or workshop, or when a supporter volunteers their time, focused communication is necessary. For event attendees, this might be a follow-up email with photos or a short video recap that highlights the specific impact of the programs they learned about. For volunteers, a personalized thank-you note from a beneficiary or a staff member directly acknowledging the value of their time is priceless.

Time is often considered more valuable than money, and stewarding an individual’s time and talent is critical for nurturing a relationship that can lead to deeper financial support or a sustained volunteer commitment. This immediate, mission-centered follow-up ensures the positive feeling of their engagement is preserved and linked back to your cause.

During Key Relationship Milestones

Relationship milestones provide perfect, non-ask reasons to reach out and celebrate the donor’s enduring partnership with your cause. These are organic, predictable points on the calendar that can be leveraged for deeper engagement.

Consider recognizing the annual anniversary of their very first gift, using that occasion to send a retrospective impact report detailing all they have helped accomplish since joining your community. Celebrating their birthday or sending a personalized note when they move up a giving tier are also excellent opportunities to demonstrate that you see them as an individual. These milestone communications reinforce the long-term value of their loyalty and commitment, making the donor feel like a cherished member of an exclusive inner circle.

When You Get a Data Update

In the era of active stewardship, utilizing advanced data tools to monitor changes in a donor’s profile is a powerful, non-intrusive way to initiate relevant outreach. When you receive an update from your prospect screening tools or data enrichment services that indicates a change in a donor’s life, particularly their employment data (such as moving to a new company, receiving a major promotion, or reaching C-suite status), this is a prime opportunity for a relationship-focused touchpoint.

Instead of immediately soliciting a larger gift, your team should send a congratulatory message celebrating their professional achievement. This gesture is purely relational, demonstrating genuine interest in their success. Crucially, this updated employment information is invaluable for internal use: it allows you to refresh your donor profiles, uncover potential workplace giving opportunities, such as corporate matching gift programs or volunteer grants, at their new employer, and segment them for relevant, corporate-centric communications down the line. Leveraging this data transforms a passive record into an active insight, positioning your nonprofit to maximize future support when the time is right.

Creating a comprehensive donor stewardship plan: 5 steps

A systematic approach to donor stewardship ensures no donor gets left behind and that your team knows exactly how to uphold donor relationships. To create a donor stewardship plan, follow these essential steps:Steps for creating a donor stewardship plan, as outlined in the text below.

1. Determine your donor stewardship goals.

The beginning of any plan should start with goal creation, and donor stewardship is no different. Goals developed using the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) goal framework make it easier to measure the success of your stewardship plan.

For example, your nonprofit may want to grow its recurring giving program. Here’s how your team could incorporate each element of the SMART goal framework into your objectives:The SMART goals framework, which can be useful for creating a donor stewardship plan, outlined in the text below.

  • Specific. Our fundraising team will reach out to first-time donors to introduce them to the recurring donor program and demonstrate how recurring gifts will maximize their impact.
  • Measurable. Our goal is to convert 20% of first-time donors into recurring donors.
  • Achievable. Given that 57% of donors are enrolled in a recurring giving program and that 10% of last year’s first-time donors became recurring donors, this is a challenging yet realistic goal.
  • Relevant. Growing our recurring donor program will enable us to build a more consistent revenue stream for our nonprofit, empowering us to better serve our beneficiaries and fulfill our mission.
  • Time-Bound. Our goal is to convert these donors to recurring donors by the end of the year. We will start communicating with first-time donors next week and track monthly progress.

Other common goals may include increasing your donor retention rate, bolstering your major gift fundraising, or improving your post-event outreach. No matter your goals, setting clear objectives helps your team stay on track and establish progress benchmarks, so you can make adjustments as needed.

2. Segment your donors.

While reaching out to each donor individually would be ideal for stewardship, it’s often unfeasible. When you segment your donors into relevant groups, you can personalize the donor stewardship process more efficiently.

Common ways to segment donors include grouping by:

  • Donation amount
  • Donation frequency
  • Donation recency
  • Engagement level
  • Communication preferences
  • Demographics

Then you can reach out to each group with communications and engagement opportunities that will resonate with them. For example, you may create a special newsletter for monthly donors that informs them about upcoming events and volunteer outings.

3. Develop an outreach cadence.

Using your segments, create an automated outreach cadence that keeps donors’ shared characteristics in mind. New donors should receive more in-depth information about your organization and mission that they may not have received in the initial cultivation process. Then you can automate more targeted communications to your segments to streamline donor stewardship.

By integrating your email marketing software with your donor database, you can create personalized campaigns based on donors’ interests and current stewardship stages. For instance, during the cultivation stage, you may send prospects within a ten-mile radius of your organization’s headquarters information about in-person events and engagement opportunities in their community.

Top Tip: Automating High-Value Touchpoints

Beyond scheduled campaigns, the most efficient and scalable forms of active donor stewardship involve automated systems that deliver immediate, high-value information. A prime example is implementing automated corporate matching gift alerts through Double the Donation. When a donor makes a contribution, they are immediately prompted to check their eligibility for a matching gift, and follow-up emails are automatically sent based on the employment data they provide.

This approach positions Double the Donation’s matching gift alerts as an incredible, automated stewardship touchpoint for three reasons:

  • First, it maximizes the donor’s impact without an extra gift, instantly doubling the value of their support and making them feel powerful.
  • Second, it’s a value-add service that costs the donor nothing but a few minutes of their time, increasing their positive experience with your brand.
  • Third, it generates hundreds or thousands of dollars in “free” revenue for your organization.

Corporate matching gift program email example as part of donor stewardship

This is a donor stewardship win-win: the supporter feels appreciated for their amplified impact, and your nonprofit benefits from the increased revenue, all driven by a hands-off, automated system. It transforms a simple donation acknowledgment into a valuable financial partnership opportunity.

4. Offer additional engagement opportunities.

To maintain relationships with donors, you’ll need to offer engagement opportunities other than simply donating. While you may already have general fundraising events and volunteer opportunities planned, take the time to develop additional opportunities for donors to engage with your cause, such as:

  • Cause-related workshops and speaker sessions
  • Meetings with beneficiaries
  • Tours of your facility
  • Exclusive major donor events
  • Fundraising event planning committees

When you share activities with your donors that are unaccompanied by a donation ask, you prove to donors that you’re committed to providing them with a positive experience with your nonprofit. Through a variety of engagement opportunities, you can build a strong community of supporters and advocates for your cause.

5. Collect feedback.

You can (and should) measure progress using the key performance indicators (KPIs) and goals you identified early on in the stewardship process. However, qualitative data, such as donor feedback, can give you insight into what your donors enjoy about your stewardship efforts and what your team could improve.

Send regular surveys to your donors to gather feedback about your donor stewardship plan. The questions you may ask include:

  • How often would you like our nonprofit to communicate with you?
  • Is our current communication frequency too little, too much, or just right?
  • What engagement opportunities have you most enjoyed?
  • What additional engagement opportunities would you like to see offered?
  • What thoughts can you share about the matching gift process from your perspective?
  • Is there anything else our nonprofit can do to improve your experience with us?

Analyze your team’s responses with donors to identify insights you can apply to your donor stewardship plan. For donors with multiple ideas or many points of feedback, consider calling them to learn more about their experience and gain a deeper understanding of the efficacy of your stewardship efforts.

Wrapping Up & Further Reading

With a comprehensive, active donor stewardship plan in hand, your nonprofit can build strong donor relationships, increase donor retention, and earn more funds for your cause. Whether you’re trying to grow your recurring donor program, acquire more challenge match leaders, increase corporate matching gift participation, or follow up with event attendees more effectively, a dedicated plan will help you reach your goals and steward donors to higher levels of the donor pyramid.

To learn more about key elements of the donor stewardship process, check out these additional resources:

Click through to discover how Double the Donation can help you make the most of your donor stewardship efforts and raise more from matching gifts.

Prospect Research-A Nonprofit’s Key to Better Fundraising

Prospect Research: A Nonprofit’s Key to Better Fundraising

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If your nonprofit is looking for a way to maximize its fundraising efforts, there’s one avenue you might not be paying enough attention to: prospect research.

Regardless of your organization’s size, gathering the right donor data via prospect research can have a huge impact on your nonprofit’s revenue. These funds can help you serve your mission, fund important projects, and work toward your goals.

In this guide, we’ll outline several important pieces of information you’ll need to successfully leverage prospect research, including:

From learning the basics to soliciting your first prospects, a thorough understanding of prospect research can be a game-changer for your organization. Let’s get started!

The Basics of Prospect Research

What Is Prospect Research?

Prospect research is a process performed by a nonprofit’s development team to gather data about donors, volunteers, and other supporters. The process analyzes each individual’s giving capacity, motivations, and affinity for the cause. It helps determine an individual’s ability and desire to support that specific cause, as well as how to appeal to their interests.

Key factors nonprofits look for during prospect research include past giving, wealth markers, business affiliations, and philanthropic tendencies. Nonprofits can also use software or turn to prospect research companies to gather this data.

Wealth Screening vs. Prospect Research

You may have heard the term wealth screening in conjunction with prospect research. While the two terms are often used interchangeably, wealth screening is only one component of prospect research.

Wealth screening analyzes a donor’s financial profile, including real estate and stock holdings, as well as political giving. While it’s an essential part of prospect research, this only indicates an individual’s ability to give.

Prospect research goes a step further and uses both wealth and philanthropic indicators to determine a donor’s willingness and capacity to give. This provides nonprofits with a complete picture of each donor and helps make more informed solicitations. We’ll explore the complete range of data you should collect in the next section.

Who Uses Prospect Research?

A variety of organizations use prospect research to boost revenue and drive more meaningful relationships. These include:

  • Educational institutions: Thorough research can pinpoint alumni and parents with a strong financial capacity and a history of philanthropy. Educational institutions can then tailor fundraising appeals to promote scholarships, facilities upgrades, and special programs.
  • Healthcare organizations: Prospect research helps identify donors with personal connections to specific medical causes or who have previously donated to health-related initiatives. This allows these organizations to focus on potential donors likely to fund state-of-the-art equipment or patient care facilities.
  • Arts and cultural organizations: Arts organizations can identify patrons with a keen interest in the arts and a history of supporting cultural initiatives. This information is crucial for targeting campaigns for exhibitions, performances, and educational workshops.
  • Environmental groups: These organizations can identify donors who are passionate about conservation, climate change, or specific regional environmental issues. Effective prospect research can lead to targeted campaigns that resonate deeply with donors’ values, driving funding for crucial projects and advocacy efforts.
  • Faith-based organizations: Prospect research helps identify individuals who have shown generosity to religious or spiritual causes, enabling faith-based organizations, such as churches, to personalize solicitations for funding new facilities and mission work.
  • Advocacy groups: Prospect research helps uncover supporters who are financially capable and deeply committed to specific causes like civil rights, education reform, or health policy. This insight helps mobilize resources for lobbying and public awareness campaigns.
  • Greek organizations: Fraternities and sororities can use prospect research to connect with alumni who have fond memories of their membership and might be interested in funding scholarships and chapter house renovations.

Prospect research can help all of these organizations (plus others!) become more focused in their outreach.

The Value of Thorough Prospect Research

40% of B2B salespeople say prospecting is the most challenging part of the sales process. When it comes to fundraising, nonprofits experience that same exact pain point. Prospect research can be incredibly helpful in sourcing and qualifying leads to avoid wasting time pursuing individuals without the affinity or capacity to give.

Beyond time savings, here are the most important benefits of researching supporters:

  • Improved Fundraising Efficiency: Prospect research helps nonprofits identify the most promising donors, focusing efforts on those who are most likely to contribute.
  • Tailored Appeals and Marketing: By understanding potential donors’ giving capacity, nonprofits can tailor asks to different supporter segments based on individual wealth indicators and giving history.
  • Better Supporter Relationships: Comprehensive prospect research enables nonprofits to understand supporters’ interests and passions, enabling personalized communication that resonates with each individual’s values and helps retain support.
  • Strategic Planning: Insights into supporters’ capabilities and preferences help nonprofits plan their projects more effectively.
  • Finding Your Next Challenge Match Leader: While many nonprofits view prospect research simply as a way to fill a pipeline with individual donors, the most strategic organizations use it to find partners. The ultimate win is identifying a high-capacity donor who is willing to leverage their gift as a Challenge Match to inspire other donors as well.
  • More Reliable Data: Prospect research helps nonprofits gather comprehensive, accurate data on potential donors, including phone numbers, demographics, wealth indicators, and philanthropic interests. Reliable data is crucial for making informed decisions and staying connected with supporters.

Benefits of Prospect Research

Prospect research is essential for nonprofits looking to optimize their fundraising initiatives and build lasting relationships. Make sure you’re working with reliable tools and companies to gather supporter data, and you’ll set your team up for success.

Employment Data: the Most Powerful Piece of Modern Fundraising Intelligence

While real estate and stock holdings have traditionally been the “gold standard” of wealth screening, employment data has emerged as the single most valuable data point in modern fundraising.

Why? Because knowing where a donor works provides a dual layer of financial intelligence that no other data point can offer:

  • It Reveals Immediate Capacity: Job titles and employers are direct proxies for income and disposable assets. A Director at a Fortune 500 company or a Partner at a major law firm signals immediate major gift potential without needing to dig through property tax records.
  • It Unlocks Corporate Wallets: This is the hidden value. Employment data tells you exactly which donors are eligible for matching gifts, volunteer grants, and even sponsorship programs. When you identify a donor who works for a workplace giving company, you are effectively identifying a donor whose gift can be instantly doubled or tripled, with even greater partnership potential down the road.

In today’s landscape, employment data is the bridge between individual giving and corporate philanthropy. By prioritizing employment information in your prospect research, you aren’t just assessing a donor’s personal checkbook; you are assessing their ability to direct corporate funds to your mission.

Other Data Points To Gather During Prospect Research

Since prospect research involves collecting both wealth and philanthropic indicators, it’s important to understand the common data points under each umbrella.

Collect this personal donor data when conducting prospect research on supporters.

1) Philanthropic Indicators

Philanthropic indicators represent an individual’s willingness to give to your organization. These include:

Philanthropic indicators are a key type of data to gather during your nonprofit's prospect research.

Previous Donations to Your Nonprofit

Past giving is the best indicator of future giving because it means the supporter is interested in your cause and has already contributed. Prospect research helps uncover prior donations so your organization can reach out again.

Donations to Other Organizations

If your donors are philanthropically minded, they probably aren’t only giving to your nonprofit. Let prospect research unveil past giving to organizations with causes similar to yours.

Nonprofit Involvement

Giving isn’t the only indicator of an individual’s philanthropic mindset. With prospect research, you can identify other forms of nonprofit involvement, such as advocacy, volunteerism, and board membership.

Personal Information

Collecting personal data will give you a more holistic understanding of each donor and how to connect with them on a deeper level. Craft more targeted appeals and deliver those appeals successfully by gathering this donor data:

  • Full and preferred name and title
  • Gender
  • Marital status
  • Contact information, like email addresses, phone numbers, and postal addresses
  • Hobbies and interests
  • Dates of birth

Much of this information can be collected online or through data appending services, helping you identify ideal prospects.

2) Wealth Indicators

Wealth indicators represent an individual’s ability to give to your organization. These include:

Gather these wealth indicators during prospect research.

Real Estate Ownership

The quality and quantity of real estate someone owns are wealth indicators your fundraising team should pay attention to. Individuals with notable real estate have large giving capacities that you can capitalize on in your nonprofit’s fundraising initiatives.

Business Affiliations

Prospect research can help you detect existing business connections among your donors. This research includes details about a donor’s career, such as salary estimates, which can indicate wealth and ability to give. You may also discover information about a donor’s employer’s corporate giving program, which can provide insights into potential matching gift opportunities.

Stock Ownership/SEC Transactions

Knowing about a contributor’s stock ownership can give you even more insight into their wealth and capacity to donate to your organization.

Political Contributions

Chances are that an individual who has made sizable donations to a political campaign also has the giving capacity to donate major gifts to your nonprofit. By using prospect research to target this group, you can focus on winning over prospects with the potential to make generous contributions.

Primary Uses of Prospect Research

Prospect research can impact several areas of your mission. Let’s explore common ways nonprofits use the data they gather.

Major Giving

Prospect research is the perfect tool for identifying major gift prospects hidden in your existing donor database. It can help you uncover past giving and involvement and track giving patterns that may predict major giving.

For instance, you might have a faithful donor whose contributions have steadily increased over the past five years. With prospect research, you can examine that donor’s history and figure out the best strategy to ask for a major donation.

Capital Campaigns

A capital campaign is a long-term fundraising effort that’s usually tied to a large project, such as the construction of a new building or the development of an endowment.

Capital campaigns typically rely on a set number of major gifts during the “quiet phase” before fundraising is opened to everyone in the “public phase.” Prospect research can help uncover ideal donors for both the quiet and public phases.

Challenge Matches

A challenge match (wherein a major donor pledges a large sum contingent on the nonprofit raising an equal amount from other supporters) creates urgency and excitement. Prospect research can be vital for identifying a lead donor for this strategy by uncovering individuals who not only have high financial capacity but also a leadership profile and deep affinity for the cause.

Identifying these “Challenge Match Leaders” is a powerful way to turn a single major gift into a revenue multiplier for your entire campaign, far exceeding the value of a standard one-time donation.

Annual Giving

Annual giving is what keeps your organization’s wheels turning. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to complete your day-to-day operations.

While your organization likely already asks all supporters to contribute to your annual fund, you can now search for new annual donors via prospect research tools. In addition, you’re more likely to uncover potential supporters by looking into someone’s past giving to organizations that align with your own.

Corporate Giving Opportunities

Prospect research is instrumental in identifying and understanding potential corporate partners whose philanthropic interests align with your nonprofit’s mission. Collecting employer data also helps pinpoint untapped opportunities. Examples include:

  • Matching gifts: Many companies match their employees’ donations to eligible nonprofits. Knowing where your supporters work can help you identify match-eligible donors, so you can follow up and double those individuals’ contributions.
  • Volunteer grants: Businesses also provide volunteer grants to nonprofits where their employees volunteer regularly. Prospect research can help pinpoint these opportunities.
  • Volunteer Time Off: Tons of companies offer their employees bonus PTO to participate in volunteer activities with organizations like ours. Use prospect research to identify volunteers (or prospects) who work for companies with these programs.
  • In-Kind Donations: Companies can provide non-monetary support in the form of goods or services. Prospect research helps identify potential donors who can offer in-kind contributions relevant to your nonprofit’s needs, such as technology, office supplies, or professional services.

Once you identify these opportunities, your nonprofit can reach out to supporters who are eligible to participate in their companies’ corporate giving programs.

Planned Giving

Identify donors who are in a position to make significant long-term commitments, such as bequests, trusts, or annuities.

Researching a donor’s financial background and giving history enables your nonprofit to tailor conversations about legacy opportunities that resonate on a personal level, helping you secure future funding and ensure the donor’s lifelong engagement with your mission.

How Matching Gifts and Prospect Research Work Together

Matching gifts and prospect research are both powerful strategies that, when combined, can significantly enhance your fundraising efforts.

As mentioned, prospect research helps identify donors who are affiliated with companies that offer matching gift programs, potentially doubling their donations without requiring extra effort from the donors themselves. This synergy not only boosts your fundraising capacity but also deepens donor engagement, as donors feel their contributions have a greater impact.

Matching gifts can have a huge impact on your prospect research and donation amounts.

Here are some key ways that matching gifts and prospect research can work together to dramatically increase your fundraising success:

  • A matching gift search tool can help you identify corporate and individual prospects from a list of people who have already made matching gifts to your nonprofit.
  • Matching gifts can encourage prospects to give more to your organization by inspiring them to double their impact. In fact, one in three donors is more likely to donate if a match is offered.
  • Prospect research and matching gifts can grow your corporate engagement efforts by pinpointing companies with generous programs.
  • Focusing on individuals with matching gift potential doubles the value of that donor’s potential support.

To manage this strategy effectively, consider using specialized tools like  Double the Donation Matching. This software simplifies tracking and verifying matching gift eligibility and submissions, ensuring you make the most of every donation opportunity.

How to Research Donors and Other Constituents

Once you’ve decided to perform prospect research, you might be wondering where you should start. Here are the general steps you can take to gather supporter data.

Follow these steps to complete the prospect research process.

1) Choose your prospect research method.

Your first step is to plan how you’ll approach your research process by asking yourself about your fundraising goals, current strategies, and timeline. Once you understand what you need out of your research, choose one of these methods:

  • Do It Yourself: For smaller or newer nonprofits with tighter budgets, a do-it-yourself prospect screening approach is a good option. Use free or low-cost prospect research tools to examine donors’ giving and philanthropic histories.
  • Prospect Research Consultants: Prospect research consulting firms are extremely valuable resources for nonprofits. They offer advice and comprehensive screenings for nonprofits of all shapes and sizes.
  • Prospect Screening Companies: Every prospect screening company is different, but most compare your donors against a variety of databases to create a comprehensive profile for each supporter. This will help your organization track, sort, and evaluate all of your supporters.

Make sure you know exactly which data you need to collect and how quickly you need to collect it, so you can pick the right method.

2) Form a prospect research team.

If you’ll conduct prospect research in-house, you’ll need to build an effective prospect research team of individuals with complementary skills. The following roles are critical to your team’s success:

  • Director: This individual leads the team, sets strategic goals, and ensures alignment with your nonprofit’s broader objectives. They oversee the entire research process and ensure the team has the necessary tools to conduct research.
  • Prospect Researcher: This team member is responsible for gathering data about potential and current supporters. They’re tasked with creating detailed profiles by digging into donor data using various sources, such as databases, public records, and social media.
  • Data Analyst: A data analyst focuses on interpreting data and trends from donor databases and external sources. They help the team understand giving patterns and identify potential high-value donors.
  • Development Officer: This individual uses insights from prospect research to cultivate and maintain donor relationships. They are typically involved in direct fundraising efforts and use data-driven strategies to approach potential donors, secure donations, and nurture ongoing donor relationships.
  • Legal/Compliance Officer: Given the sensitive nature of handling personal data, having someone knowledgeable about legal and ethical standards is crucial. This team member ensures that all prospect research activities comply with privacy laws and ethical fundraising practices.

Each role focuses on a specific aspect of the prospect research process, contributing to a comprehensive approach. While the structure of your team may vary, this suggested structure supports targeted fundraising efforts and helps build a robust foundation for long-term supporter engagement.

3) Clean up your data.

Before conducting prospect research, clean up your data to ensure the process runs smoothly and yields more accurate results. A few ways to maintain proper data hygiene include:

  • Identifying and removing duplicate records within your database
  • Standardizing data entries to maintain consistency across your database, such as by using uniform formats for dates, addresses, phone numbers, and names
  • Identifying and removing outdated or irrelevant information that no longer serves your fundraising strategies
  • Removing lapsed donors from your records
  • Scanning your database for typos

Your data doesn’t need to be perfect, but cleaning it up as much as possible will optimize your system for prospect research.

4) Check for accuracy.

Once you’ve actually conducted prospect research, verify the accuracy of the data gathered. This step involves cross-referencing information from multiple sources to confirm details such as contact information, philanthropic history, and financial capacity. Some prospect research companies will have an accuracy-check process, such as manually verifying appended emails and phone numbers.

Ensuring data accuracy helps prevent miscommunication and fosters trust by demonstrating diligence and respect for each prospect’s information. It also optimizes the efficiency of subsequent outreach efforts by reducing the time spent on addressing inaccurate or outdated information.

5) Analyze and make a plan for leveraging your new data.

After integrating the new data into your CRM, be sure to sift through the results to identify the most promising prospects by analyzing factors such as giving capacity, alignment with your nonprofit’s mission, and likelihood of giving. Based on this analysis, create a detailed plan for how to best use this data for outreach.

This plan should outline who to approach, the best ways to reach out to them, and the right time to do so. It involves deciding whether to meet someone in person, invite them to a special event, send them a personalized letter, or connect through online platforms based on their preferences and past donations.

During this stage, you’ll want to segment your supporters based on shared characteristics.

These may include:

  • Donation Level: Group donors based on the amount they contribute, such as major, mid-level, and low-level donors. This allows for tailored communication strategies that recognize the level of support.
  • Workplace Giving Eligibility: Targeting donors who qualify for matching gifts, volunteer programs, or payroll giving is a great way to make the most of your supporters’ uncovered connections. Be sure to use the information you’ve gathered (such as employer name and program guidelines) to further personalize your outreach.
  • Donation Frequency: Identify who gives regularly versus those who donate sporadically. Regular givers can be approached for recurring giving programs, while sporadic givers can be encouraged to give more consistently.
  • Geographic Location: Segmenting donors by location can help organize local events, understand regional interests, and tailor communications that resonate with local community values or needs.
  • Interests: By understanding what specific projects or aspects of the organization’s work a donor supports, nonprofits can tailor outreach to reflect donors’ interests.
  • Type of Support: Differentiate between types of supporters such as volunteers, advocates, corporate sponsors, and individual donors.
  • Demographics: Segmenting based on demographics helps choose messages and outreach strategies that are more likely to resonate with different groups.
  • Communication Preferences: Some supporters may prefer digital communication, while others might value traditional mail or personal calls. Segmenting by communication preference ensures supporters receive information in the way that is most accessible and engaging to them.

An effective plan ensures your team knows exactly what steps to take to engage each prospect, turning potential interest into actual support. From here, put your plan into action and start reaching out!

Types of Prospect Research Tools and Software

While the prospect research process may sound daunting, there are several prospect screening companies and platforms that nonprofits and educational institutions can use. Let’s explore a few recommended services and tools.

Data Enhancement

Also called data appending companies, data enhancement services improve the quality and depth of existing donor databases by pulling additional information, such as:

An example profile showing how prospect research services can fill in missing donor details

  • Contact information like email addresses, postal addresses, and phone numbers
  • Demographics like ages, birthdates, and geographic location
  • Employer data like company names and role titles

These services leverage external data sources to fill in gaps and update outdated information within your database. This ensures your nonprofit has accurate, comprehensive profiles for each prospect.

Prospect Research Database

Prospect research databases are specialized tools that provide access to a wealth of information on potential donors, including personal backgrounds, giving histories, wealth assessments, and affiliations.

These databases compile data from multiple public and proprietary sources, allowing fundraisers to quickly gather detailed insights about prospective donors’ capacity and propensity to give. Using this type of prospect research tool helps nonprofits identify and prioritize high-potential prospects.

Corporate Giving and Prospecting Software

Corporate giving software is designed to help nonprofits identify potential corporate donors. This type of software typically includes features for researching matching gift programs and volunteer grant information. Here are two types of tools that are most helpful:

  • Matching gift databases contain information on companies that offer matching gift programs. They store requirements for employee eligibility, nonprofit eligibility, and donation amounts. Plus, they provide relevant submission information such as available forms and deadlines.

An example of a matching gift search tool in action, showing how this tool can support prospect research

  • Volunteer grant databases provide details on companies that offer grants to nonprofits where their employees volunteer. This prospect research tool stores records of individual companies’ programs, including volunteer hours, employee and nonprofit requirements, and instructions, along with links to application forms and deadlines.

Additionally, corporate prospecting software like Double the Donation leverages existing donor data to uncover hidden corporate potential. By uploading your current donor list for a quick employer append screening, the platform instantly identifies which of your supporters are eligible for workplace giving opportunities that can significantly grow your organization’s revenue. This transforms your standard donor list into a high-value prospect list, allowing your team to prioritize outreach to donors whose contributions can be immediately doubled, maximizing both individual donor value and overall fundraising efficiency before a major gift ask is even made.

These prospect research tools can help your nonprofit identify donors and volunteers eligible for their companies’ philanthropic programs. Plus, they can help you identify companies that offer generous corporate giving initiatives, which can open the door to strategic partnerships.

Donor News Alert Services

Donor news alert services are platforms that monitor and report news about prospective donors. Your nonprofit can use a platform like this to stay informed about donor activities that signal a willingness or ability to give. Even more importantly, these insights help nonprofits build deep, meaningful relationships with their donors, which may yield significant gifts in the future.

For example, these platforms monitor obituary data, meaning they can notify your nonprofit when a prospect or donor’s loved one passes away. Your fundraising team can then reach out with heartfelt condolences on behalf of your organization. Prospects will likely appreciate this personal outreach and attention to detail, and may be more willing to support your organization in the future.

Insightful Philanthropy is our recommended donor news alert service for its extensive information sourcing and timely notifications. This platform relies on 14,000 news and information sources from more than 200+ countries, and even taps into historical donor data from up to 40 years ago to give nonprofits a complete picture of their prospects.

Your Nonprofit’s CRM

Your nonprofit’s CRM is a fundamental tool for managing donor interactions and tracking engagement history. It stores critical data such as donation records, event attendance, volunteer activity, and communication preferences, which can be leveraged to build stronger relationships with supporters.

Effective use of a CRM helps personalize donor interactions and streamline fundraising activities, making it easier to cultivate and steward donor relationships.

SEC Investment Records

SEC investment records provide information about the investment activities of individuals and institutions, which can be particularly valuable in assessing the financial capacity of potential major donors.

By examining public filings such as insider trading reports and stock holdings, nonprofits can gauge prospects’ wealth level and philanthropic capacity. This is especially useful for identifying high-net-worth individuals and understanding their investment behaviors.

Predictive Modeling Solutions

Predictive modeling solutions use statistical techniques and algorithms to analyze historical data and predict future donor behaviors. These tools help nonprofits anticipate which prospects are most likely to donate, their expected donation amounts, and optimal times for solicitation.

Wealth Screening Tools

These tools help nonprofits assess potential donors’ financial capacity by analyzing data points such as real estate ownership, stock holdings, past charitable contributions, and other publicly available financial information. That way, you can focus on prospects with the means and propensity to give significantly.

As a top recommended prospect research service, DonorSearch blends philanthropic and wealth metrics so your organization can make informed decisions about prospects and plan effective outreach. Plus, the company offers a few choices of tools when it comes to conducting prospect research:

  • Charitable giving database. DonorSearch’s charitable giving database is comprehensive and constantly growing, housing tons of useful philanthropic data.
  • DSGiving search tool. DSGiving is a free prospect research tool that offers access to a smaller-scale version of DonorSearch’s philanthropic and political contributions data. Simply type in an individual’s name, state of residence, and gift type, and the tool will pull useful data.

DonorSearch helps your nonprofit learn more about your donors and create comprehensive donor profiles. Because the tools analyze philanthropic and wealth indicators, they yield more qualified leads for nonprofits to pursue.

Fueling Your Prospect Research With Double the Donation

Double the Donation is a leading fundraising tool for nonprofits, providing a range of matching gift solutions. Our complete automation platform can give your nonprofit the ability to maximize donations with matching gifts, volunteer grants, payroll giving, and more without lifting a finger.

Here’s an overview of our solution:

  • Double the Donation Matching: Using Double the Donation’s matching gift fundraising software, organizations can uncover valuable matching gift prospects by collecting employer information within the donation process. From there, the solution screens for matching gift eligibility and populates the appropriate forms and guidelines for submitting a match. Plus, Double the Donation Matching offers a real-time employer appends add-on that instantly scans donor records and automatically supplies company information if available. Check out this video for a closer look:

  • Double the Donation’s Workplace Giving Insights: This powerful new module takes your donor list and provides in-depth prospect research data focused solely on corporate giving potential. It screens donors’ employer affiliations to reveal which companies offer matching gifts, volunteer grants, and other workplace giving programs, transforming a scattering of individual donors into a prioritized list of corporate revenue opportunities.

Want to learn more about how our cutting-edge technology can support your prospect research and drive greater fundraising results? Reach out to our team for a free demo to see the complete platform in action!

Wrapping Up

Prospect research is an invaluable strategy that equips nonprofits with the insights needed to target donors effectively. By harnessing the power of detailed data analysis and strategic donor segmentation, your organization can unlock new opportunities and maximize the impact of its fundraising efforts.

If you’re looking for more information about prospect research, check out the additional resources below:

Leverage Double the Donation for workplace giving prospect research and more.

The Best Nonprofit Conferences in 2026 and Beyond

The Best Nonprofit Conferences in 2026 and Beyond

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Year-End Fundraising and Matching Gifts

Year-End Fundraising and Matching Gifts: It’s Not Too Late!

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The holiday giving season is upon us. Luckily, it’s not too late to get started with matching gifts and year-end fundraising strategies before the clock strikes midnight and the ball drops on New Year’s Day.

As you likely know, the end-of-year fundraising season is a critical time for nonprofits of all shapes and sizes. What better way to maximize such an impactful opportunity than with matching gifts?

To recap, matching gifts are a form of corporate giving where companies agree to match their employees’ charitable donations. For nonprofits, these types of initiatives produce additional fundraising revenue, increased individual and corporate engagement, and more.

However, recent studies show that an estimated $4 to $7 billion in available matching gift funding goes unclaimed each year, essentially leaving tons of corporate donations on the table. And the #1 reason for this significant gap is a lack of knowledge concerning such programs!

This holiday fundraising season, set your organization up to make the most of matching gifts by increasing donor awareness. And Double the Donation is here to help! In this guide, we’ll cover the following key points:

⁠Ready to dive deeper into fundraising research and learn more about strategic donor appeals, retroactive outreach, automated email streams, and the software that can power it all? Let’s get started!

Sign on with matching gift tools before the end of the year.

The Correlation Between Matching Gifts and Year-End Giving Success

End-of-year fundraising and matching gifts are each vital components of a successful nonprofit funding strategy. And the two complement each other to produce a seamless and impactful engagement plan.

After all, more donations flowing during the holiday season means more potential for matching gifts. Meanwhile, promoting matching gift opportunities leads to more⁠ (and larger⁠) donations in the first place!

Correlation between year-end fundraising and matching gifts

Not to mention, donation-matching opportunities also provide a great way to differentiate your appeals and retain your organization at the forefront of donors’ minds.

Let’s take a closer look at some statistics that illustrate the power of year-end fundraising and matching gifts.

Year-end fundraising by the numbers infographic

  • 31% of total giving takes place in December.
  • 12% of annual donations are made in the last three days of the year.
  • 50% of nonprofits are majority-funded through year-end giving.
  • $48 billion is donated to nonprofits in the holiday giving season each year.
  • ⅓ of nonprofits incorporate two or more “touches” in their end-of-year appeals.
  • 52% larger first-time gifts are made during the end-of-year season.
  • 56% of donors are motivated by year-end tax deadlines.
  • 70% of year-end donors give through multiple channels.

Sources: Double the Donation and Nonprofit Hub

Matching gifts by the numbers infographic

  • 26 million individuals work for companies with matching gift programs.
  • 3-5x more funds are raised by campaigns that incorporate donation-matching.
  • 65% of Fortune 500 companies offer matching gifts.
  • 84% of donors are more likely to donate if a match is offered.
  • 1 in 3 donors would give more if matching is applied.
  • 51% increase in average gift size when matching gifts are mentioned in fundraising appeals.
  • 71% increase in average response rate when matching gifts are mentioned in fundraising appeals.
  • 75% donor engagement rate produced by a well-executed matching gift strategy.
  • $2.86 billion is donated by corporations through employee matching gift programs each year.
  • 61% increase in matching gift funds by organizations that use an automation tool.

Sources: Double the Donation

Since we know a significant amount of charitable giving takes place at the end of the year, your team has a significant opportunity to drive more matching gifts when you integrate the two ideas. Talk about a win-win!

Check out our other leading workplace giving strategies for end-of-year fundraising! Access the free, downloadable guide: What to Know About Workplace Giving & the Year-End Fundraising Season.

Top Strategies to Implement for Impactful EOY Gift-Matching

Now that you understand the importance of matching gifts and their relevance during the holiday fundraising season, you might wonder what actionable next steps you can take to get started. Luckily, these expert tips should help!

1. Set up matching gift software ASAP.

You might worry that it’s too late to get started with any new software this year⁠, but that’s simply not true. In fact, the end of the year is typically the time you rely on fundraising software the most. You already have a lot on your to-do list, and equipping your fundraising team with the best tools can provide the biggest impact with the least effort.

Matching gift software, for example, can significantly enhance matching gift results with minimal operational effort, allowing your team to raise more while retaining time and resources for other critical year-end efforts. Specifically, this type of solution empowers organizations by automating the processes involved with identifying match-eligible donors, triggering tailored matching gift follow-up messaging, and tracking matches to completion.

Luckily, implementing matching gift software can be quick, easy, and massively effective, making it essential as the end-of-year season approaches.

Check out this case study from a nonprofit that onboarded its matching gift software in mere hours:

The Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges was able to be fully onboarded with Double the Donation’s tools within 12 hours of buying⁠, all in time for an evening fundraising event on the same day! During this period, Metro YMCA of the Oranges integrated our matching gift tool with their online donation forms, configured automated matching gift follow-ups, and embedded the company search database in their website.This YMCA got set up with matching gifts in less than a day, which means it's not too late for your end-of-year and matching gift efforts.

In the following ten months, they identified more than $32,000 in match-eligible donations and maintained a 61% matching gift email open rate and a 9% click-through rate (each more than 3x higher than the average nonprofit).

YMCA case study success story infographic

The moral of the story? Tight turnaround times for software implementation are entirely possible when you need to get up and running quickly⁠, like when the end of the year is quickly approaching. However, it is a priority to dive into matching gifts as soon as possible to make the most of your tools as year-end giving ramps up.

Keep in mind that you also want to make the right decision when purchasing matching gift software for your team. We recommend prioritizing easy setup⁠ (including ready-built integrations with your existing solutions⁠), a positive user experience, and innovative functionality (like matching gift auto-submission).

Our top tip: Schedule a demo with the leading matching gift software provider to get started. Double the Donation is consistently rated as #1 in the industry; see for yourself with the 2-minute overview below!

2. Train your internal fundraising team on the matching gift opportunity.

We mentioned a lack of donor awareness regarding matching gifts as a leading reason for the underutilization of the programs. But often, the knowledge gap extends to an organization’s internal fundraising team, too. And unfortunately, this can lead to matching gift opportunities slipping through the cracks⁠, and available corporate funds ultimately going unclaimed. Thus, getting your staff on board with matching gifts leading up to the year-end fundraising season can go a long way.

The better equipped your team members are to share information about matching gifts, the more effective they’ll be in advocating for and inspiring program participation.

For this reason, Double the Donation provides a ton of educational resources designed to assist organizations in internal matching gift training⁠, including blog posts, webinars, downloadable resources, and more. But our top recommendation is our online Matching Gift Academy (which is even free for current clients).

And now is the perfect time to get your team started as holiday giving draws near!

3. Highlight the potential for matching gifts in end-of-year appeals.

You might have already drafted your year-end fundraising appeals, or you might be working on them right about now. Either way, consider incorporating a blurb about matching gifts!

As the statistics above illustrate, donors are more likely to give (and to give in larger amounts) when they know there’s a match available. Thus, matching gifts can be exactly what you need to coax on-the-fence supporters into becoming end-of-year donors for your cause. And it often starts directly within the donation request itself!

Picture this:

Jeff is an avid supporter of your organization, but it’s the end of the year, and he’s tight on funds. He considered skipping his year-end donation this year (thinking, “What good could my $50 really do, anyway?”). Then he was informed that his employer would match his gift at a 2:1 rate.

At this, he realized his initial gift could be worth over three times the value of his own contribution (which seems a lot more significant to Jeff⁠), and he made his donation. That’s $150 you wouldn’t have collected if not for matching gifts⁠, and there are a lot of “Jeff’s” in the world, too!

Meanwhile, imagine another donor planned to contribute a certain amount⁠; again, let’s say $50. When the donor learns about matching gifts, they’re inspired to increase their own donation amount (perhaps to $100). This, in turn, drives up the match value as well, producing even more revenue for your cause.

The best part? The way you market matching gift opportunities to supporters can be simple. Incorporate a reminder about matching gifts in your social media, email, text, and other appeals across your nonprofit website and more. Consider something like this: “Make your year-end donation go further this year with company gift-matching. See if you’re eligible here.”

Fun fact: Double the Donation offers pre-made and customizable social media graphics and messaging templates, allowing our clients to get a head start on effective promotions!

4. Reach out to match-eligible donors retroactively.

When you incorporate matching gift outreach into your end-of-year strategy, it doesn’t have to be solely focused on new donations, either. In fact, many gifts made throughout the year can still qualify for a match!

Each business that matches gifts establishes its own criteria and submission guidelines. While it varies from company to company, many employers (such as Freeport-McMoRan, William Blair & Company, Victory Capital, and more) grant employee matches through the end of the calendar year. So, for many of your match-eligible donors, their request window will be closing quickly.

That makes the end of the year a perfect opportunity to reach back out to these individuals, remind them about matching gifts, and encourage them to complete the request process with their employer. It’s a fantastic way to boost year-end revenue from existing donors without requiring them to reach back into their own wallets.

5. Familiarize your team with year-end-specific workplace giving programs.

Most businesses with matching gift programs agree to double the donations their employees make year-round. But sometimes, a company establishes a limited-time initiative that is live only at certain times of the year. And the most common timeframe includes year-end-specific matching gift (or other workplace giving) programs.

For example, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) offers a unique giving season match available to its thousands of employees worldwide. Running from mid-October through December each year, the company’s Annual Giving Campaign provides an excellent incentive for year-end charitable giving.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros offers its employees a generous donation stipend to contribute to their favorite nonprofits on Giving Tuesday, kicking off the holiday season. That’s in addition to the $1,000 year-long match and end-of-year giving programs!

If you identify donors in your orbit who work for companies with these types of short-term philanthropy efforts, be sure to address available opportunities with targeted, personalized communications this giving season.

6. Consider custom matching gift partnerships.

Unfortunately, some companies have yet to establish matching gift programs for their employees. But they might be willing to when presented with the opportunity⁠. In that case, we recommend reaching out to employers to propose custom (or “one-off”) matching gift initiatives.

Why? Custom matches provide an easy way for businesses unfamiliar with matching gifts to get acquainted with the effort in a limited capacity.

If a company agrees to offer such a program, it’ll essentially encourage philanthropy by matching employee gifts made exclusively to your organization. And as custom matches typically occur in a defined time frame (e.g., a month), the giving season is a popular time for one to be organized.

Fun fact: Double the Donation now offers innovative functionality for nonprofits looking to facilitate these programs in their company database tool!

*As a note: This feature is designed specifically for fundraisers to manage matching gifts. If you’re a corporation that’s interested in creating a matching gift program, let us know, and we’ll share information about our corporate vendor partners.

7. Leverage automated end-of-year email streams.

Another significant roadblock in matching gifts is that nonprofit fundraising staff simply lack the time to manage and promote these efforts. In fact, Nonprofits Source reports that 80% of nonprofits struggle to establish workplace giving strategies with limited staff and resources.

Luckily, that’s where matching gift automation comes in!

Automated email streams enable nonprofits to configure and trigger customizable messages when an individual gives to your organization. This might include one dedicated to match-eligible donors, one for likely ineligible donors, and one for donors with unknown eligibility.

Doing so ensures that every donor receives matching gift outreach in a timely manner. And that no donation falls through the cracks, even when your team is juggling 100 different end-of-year tasks. Meanwhile, the time you would have spent issuing matching gift reminders can be reallocated to other fundraising and mission-related tasks.

Here’s an example of an email you might send:

Sample year-end matching gifts email

Year-end email streams can either take place directly following a giving season donation (typically within 24 hours of the initial gift) or retroactively, as detailed above. Both are excellent ways to encourage matching gift participation among donors and drive additional revenue for your cause.

Regardless, you’ll want to provide the donor with as much employer-specific information as is available. This should include donation minimums and maximums, match ratios, submission deadlines, and direct links to their company’s online request forms. And your automation system can gather all of that data so that you don’t have to!

How Automation Frees Up Fundraising Time in December

We know that the end of the year is a crucial time for nonprofit fundraisers, and matching gifts can seem like just another thing on your already full plate. But they don’t have to be! By automating the matching gift process from start to finish, your team can raise more without lifting a finger⁠, allowing you to free up invaluable fundraising time within the giving season.

Interested in learning how you can do so? Check out this free, on-demand webinar replay to see how Double the Donation’s automation platform can help you…

  • Eliminate manual employment data research.
  • Simplify the employment data collection process.
  • Cut time spent researching matching gift companies.
  • Reduce manual outreach efforts.
  • Track metrics in an easy-to-understand way.
  • Integrate into your existing fundraising tools.

With automation in place, you can spend less time managing the logistics of matching gifts and more time focusing on what truly matters: engaging with donors and maximizing your year-end fundraising efforts. By streamlining the process, you’ll not only save precious hours but also increase your chances of securing more matches, ultimately boosting your fundraising total. Plus, automated systems ensure that no match goes unnoticed, allowing your team to work smarter, not harder, this holiday season.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Matching gifts can significantly increase year-end revenue by doubling or even tripling individual donations. Highlighting match opportunities during peak giving season motivates donors to give more and ensures nonprofits capture additional corporate funding before deadlines.

Most unclaimed matching gifts are the result of low donor awareness. Many supporters don’t realize their employer offers a matching program or aren’t sure how to submit a request. Clear communication and reminder outreach can help nonprofits reclaim this missed revenue.

Nonprofits can integrate matching gifts by promoting match-eligible opportunities in email campaigns, donation pages, and thank-you messages. Fundraising tools such as Double the Donation can identify eligible donors, send timely reminders, and streamline match submission during the busiest fundraising period.

Diversifying revenue protects nonprofits from economic uncertainty by reducing reliance on any single funding source. This stability allows organizations to maintain programs, adapt quickly to changing conditions, and continue serving their communities even when traditional funding dips.

Nonprofits can meet changing donor expectations by prioritizing transparency, demonstrating measurable impact, and offering flexible giving options such as recurring gifts and workplace giving programs. Clear communication and donor-centric engagement help strengthen trust and long-term support.

Next Steps for Smart Year-End Fundraising and Matching Gifts

It’s not too late to launch effective matching gift strategies this year-end fundraising season. But it is time to get started now. After all, the longer you wait, the more potential matches you’re missing out on.

Prepare your team by incorporating these practices and investing in powerful and innovative matching gift tools. This allows you to maximize corporate donation-matching in the remainder of the year and into the new year, too.

Good luck, and happy holidays!

Are you looking for additional resources to continue growing your knowledge of all things matching gifts this year-end fundraising season? Check out these free guides to learn more:

Ultimate Matching Gifts Guide Strategies for Marketing Matching Gifts

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Donor-Advised Funds Are DAFs Eligible for Matching Gifts

Donor-Advised Funds: Are DAFs Eligible for Matching Gifts?

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In the world of charitable giving, Donor-Advised Funds (also known as DAFs) have become a popular tool for philanthropists, offering flexibility, tax advantages, and an easy way to manage donations. However, one question that often arises is whether donations made through DAFs are eligible for matching gift programs.

Matching gifts, a common practice among employers to amplify charitable contributions, are an effective way for donors to maximize their impact. But when it comes to DAFs, the rules and eligibility can be a bit murky. In this post, we’ll explore whether you can take advantage of matching gifts when receiving contributions through a Donor-Advised Fund and what your team should know to ensure your impact is maximized:

Navigating matching gifts with Donor-Advised Funds can be tricky, but understanding their nuances is crucial in maximizing your charitable giving potential. In the following sections, we’ll take a closer look at the eligibility requirements for matching gifts, highlight companies that do support DAF donations, and provide tips on how you can easily track and take advantage of these opportunities. Let’s begin!

What to Know About Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)

Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) have gained significant popularity in recent years as an efficient and flexible way to manage charitable giving. Essentially, a DAF is a philanthropic vehicle that allows donors to make charitable contributions, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to qualified charitable organizations over time. Think of it as a charitable savings account where you can deposit money, invest it for growth, and choose where and when to distribute funds.

Let’s take a closer look at the key features of DAFs:

Tax Advantages

When you contribute to a DAF, you can claim an immediate tax deduction for the full amount, even if you choose to distribute the funds to a charity at a later date. This allows you to benefit from tax savings right away, while still having the flexibility to decide on your charitable donations over time.

Investment Growth

Contributions to a DAF can be invested in a variety of investment options, which may allow your charitable dollars to grow over time. The interest or investment returns generated within the fund are not subject to taxes, meaning you can potentially give more to the charity of your choice as the value of the fund increases.

Flexibility in Giving

One of the most appealing aspects of DAFs is the ability to recommend grants to multiple charitable organizations over time. You can spread your donations across a variety of causes, or give larger gifts to a single charity. Plus, you can make recommendations on when and how those grants should be distributed.

Eligibility and Control

While DAFs are managed by a sponsoring organization (such as a community foundation or financial institution), the donor retains advisory control over how the funds are distributed. However, it’s important to note that the sponsoring organization is legally responsible for ensuring grants comply with IRS rules and that funds are used appropriately.

Anonymity

If you prefer to make anonymous donations, DAFs can be a great tool. While you can recommend a grant to a charity, the sponsoring organization can release the donation without revealing your identity, offering a layer of privacy.

While DAFs provide incredible flexibility and benefits, it’s important to understand the rules surrounding them, especially when it comes to matching gifts, as these funds can sometimes complicate eligibility for matching contributions. Let’s dive deeper into whether you can utilize matching gift programs when donating via a DAF.

Typical DAF Matching Gift Eligibility Requirements

All too often, nonprofits assume donor-advised funds are ineligible for corporate matches without even checking, which makes them miss out on vital fundraising opportunities. If your donors’ impact can potentially be doubled, why wouldn’t you look into it?

Nonprofit leaders who are unfamiliar with donor-advised funds often accept the donation for face value and don’t even consider that it might be eligible for a corporate match. While donor-advised funds aren’t always matched by employers, a lot of corporate giving programs do offer them!

As you’re probably already aware, matching gift guidelines vary by company. Some companies explicitly state their policies on donor-advised funds, while others ignore the subject completely, even in their complete guidelines.

Let’s take a look at some major companies’ matching gift guidelines for charitable donations from donor-advised funds below.

6 Companies that Match Employees’ Donor-Advised Funds

As your nonprofit starts incorporating donor-advised funds into its corporate giving strategy, it may be difficult to immediately recognize companies’ guidelines and restrictions surrounding these donations.

Take a look at the following examples of companies that directly address charitable gift funds. That way, you’ll know what to look for while researching your own donors’ employers.

1) Edwards Lifesciences

Donor-Advised-Funds Edwards Lifesciences Logo

Edwards Lifesciences matches donations up to $5,000 per full-time employee per year.

The company is also very clear regarding its donor-advised fund (DAF) matching policy:

“Edwards Foundation will match the tax-deductible portion of employee’s gifts made by cash, check and credit card. The Foundation will also match stock donations, as well as gifts coming out of an employee’s donor-advised fund (DAF).“

Learn more about Edwards Lifesciences’ matching gift program.

2) American Express

American Express matches donor-advised funds to eligible organizations.American Express not only matches employee donations (sometimes at a 2:1 ratio), but it also has very explicit and detailed matching gift guidelines.

This simplifies the donor-advised match process for nonprofits, for its charitable employees, and for the company itself.

Here’s what the company’s match policy says about donor-advised funds:

What is eligible?
“Contributions out of a charitable-gift, donor-advised, community-foundation, or family fund to an eligible nonprofit distributed from an established fund set up by the employee in his or her name.”

What is not eligible?
“Contributions earmarked to an already established or to establish an employee’s charitable-gift, donor-advised, community-foundation, or family fund.”

Learn more about American Express’ matching gift program.

3) Dow Chemical

Dow Chemical matches gifts from donor-advised funds to eligible organizations.

Dow Chemical offers a straightforward matching gift program that all employees and retirees can use to double their contributions to eligible nonprofits.

While Dow’s matching gift policy does have a few restrictions placed regarding the eligibility of certain organizations, matches that are eligible can range anywhere from $250 to $10,000, which can be matched at a 1:1 ratio.

Here’s what Dow Chemical’s guidelines say about giving from donor-advised funds and other charitable gift funds to eligible organizations:

“As long as the funds belong to a Dow employee/retiree and the funds are that person’s money alone, donations can be given through a donor-advised fund or other charitable gift fund. Employees/retirees will need to submit the matching gift form online after the donation has been made.”

Learn more about Dow’s matching gift program.

4) CarMax

CarMax is regularly recognized for having one of the top corporate employee giving programs. The company not only matches employee donations, but it also matches donations from dependents until they turn 26.CarMax has a giving program but will not match charitable donations from donor-advised funds.

The company will match up to $10,000 per associate per year. As with other well-designed giving programs, CarMax’s program encourages its employees to give back and strengthen the community.

When it comes to donor-advised funds, CarMax’s guidelines do have some restrictions regarding which gifts are eligible:

“Deferred gifts (annuities, charitable remainder trusts, etc.), bequests, insurance premiums that name the organization as a beneficiary, and gifts to and from donor-advised funds [are ineligible for a match].”

Learn more about CarMax’s matching gift program.

5) Bank of America

Bank of America matches donations up to $5,000 but does not match gifts from donor-advised funds.Bank of America matches donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations up to $5,000 annually per employee. The company also provides grants when retirees and employees volunteer.

They’ll match donations anywhere from $25 to $5,000 at a 1:1 ratio, allowing employees to double their contributions to eligible nonprofits.

The company provides clear guidelines for matching gifts from donor-advised funds. Here’s what the company has to say:

“We do not match charitable gifts to private foundations, family or donor-advised funds, or gifts to political or fraternal organizations.”

Learn more about Bank of America’s matching gift program.

6) Chevron

Chevron offers matches for gifts made from donor-advised funds as long as they're directly funded by the employee.Chevron provides matching gifts to multiple types of nonprofit organizations, up to $10,000 per employee each year.

Both full-time employees and retirees are eligible for matches, but while retirees can request up to $3,000 in matches annually, current employees can request up to $10,000 in matches annually.

Here’s what Chevron’s Humankind Matching Gift Program guidelines say about donor-advised funds:

“Donor-advised funds must be directly funded by the employee, retiree, or director only, and the fund must maintain a separate account segregating the contributions of the donor. Contributions made by a qualified family foundation or donor-advised fund must be directed by the donor and made on his or her behalf.”

Learn more about Chevron’s matching gift program.

How a Matching Gift Database Can Help

For the most part, companies’ matching gift programs tend to be well-thought-out, but you’ll likely run into many companies where this isn’t the case. A lot of businesses offer matching gifts, but have a lot of restrictions regarding eligible organizations and contribution types.

It’s up to your organization to research all your donors’ employers’ guidelines. This can be a long, arduous process, but a matching gift database (like Double the Donation) can help.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Your nonprofit embeds the tool directly to your site or online donation page.
  2. To determine eligibility, corporate employees search their employers.
  3. The results (i.e., available forms, guidelines, restrictions, etc.) are shown instantly.

Growing DAF revenue and matching gifts with a corporate giving database

Double the Donation offers the world’s leading corporate giving database, providing information on programs such as matching gifts, volunteer grants, payroll giving, sponsorships, and other giving opportunities. Today, over 8,500 organizations use it because nonprofits and schools can’t afford to miss out on these valuable revenue opportunities.

You can pinpoint donors who are eligible for matching gifts, and by searching their employers, you can determine if their contributions are eligible based on factors like donation size or type (e.g., donor-advised funds). A matching gift database like this ensures that you maximize your donors’ impact!

Bonus: Donor-Advised Funds + Challenge Match Campaigns

In addition to corporate matching gifts, challenge match campaigns are a powerful way to boost donations, and when paired with Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs), they can significantly amplify your impact. Unlike employee matching gifts, challenge matches are typically initiated by individuals, organizations, or foundations to inspire others to donate by offering to match funds dollar-for-dollar, up to a specific limit.

Here’s how challenge match campaigns work with DAFs:

  • Empower donors to lead: If a donor has a DAF, they can initiate a challenge match, where they pledge to match donations made by others to your organization, helping to drive additional contributions.
  • Increase engagement: Challenge matches create excitement and urgency, motivating more people to participate in the campaign.
  • Maximize giving: The matching component encourages more donations, allowing the initial donor to significantly increase the overall impact of their DAF contributions.

While challenge match campaigns are distinct from employee matching gifts, they provide an excellent opportunity to expand the reach of your charitable efforts and maximize the effectiveness of Donor-Advised Funds in nonprofit fundraising. By combining both strategies, you can greatly enhance the support you receive for your cause.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Yes, some companies will match donations made through donor-advised funds, although policies vary by employer. Nonprofits should encourage donors to check their company’s specific guidelines to confirm DAF match eligibility and avoid leaving match revenue unclaimed.

Nonprofits can verify DAF match eligibility by reviewing employer matching gift policies or using a matching gift search tool. Encouraging donors to submit their match request, even if they’re unsure, helps ensure no potential corporate match is overlooked.

Companies such as Bank of America, CarMax, and Chevron are known to match DAF contributions. Because eligibility varies widely, nonprofits benefit from maintaining updated employer profiles and proactively checking match guidelines.

Yes, DAFs can absolutely be used as challenge match funds. Many donors prefer using their DAFs for matching challenges because it amplifies the impact of their gift and encourages broader community participation.

No. Most sponsoring organizations provide simple processes for recommending grants, making DAF-funded challenge matches straightforward to administer. With clear communication and documentation, nonprofits can steward these donors just as effectively as any other match provider.

Wrapping Up & Next Steps

For nonprofits, understanding the relationship between Donor-Advised Funds and matching gifts is essential in maximizing fundraising efforts and engaging donors effectively. While DAFs offer donors flexibility, tax benefits, and a streamlined way to manage their charitable contributions, they don’t always meet the criteria for matching gift programs offered by employers. This can create some challenges in fully leveraging corporate matching funds.

It’s important for nonprofits to be proactive in communicating with their donors about the potential limitations of DAFs when it comes to matching gifts, while also exploring alternative strategies, such as challenge match campaigns, to encourage more giving and amplify donor contributions. By clearly outlining DAF donation options and educating donors about how matching gifts work, nonprofits can create more opportunities for matching and maximize the impact of every donation.

Get started with employee matching gifts with Double the Donation.

How Children's Health Foundations Can Secure In-Kind Donations

How Children’s Health Foundations Can Secure In-Kind Donations

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Children’s health foundations play a vital role in supporting the well-being and development of children facing medical challenges. These organizations often rely on a variety of resources to fulfill their mission, and in-kind donations represent a powerful avenue to supplement traditional fundraising efforts. Unlike cash gifts, in-kind donations provide tangible goods or services that directly support program delivery, reduce operational costs, and enhance the experience of children and families served.

Securing in-kind donations requires a strategic approach tailored to the unique needs of these organizations. Children’s health foundations benefit immensely from contributions such as medical equipment, toys, and educational tools that improve care environments and patient outcomes. By understanding how to identify, request, and steward these gifts, development professionals can unlock new opportunities to advance their mission.

In this article, we will explore what in-kind donations are, the types most valuable to children’s health foundations, where to find potential donors, and best practices for making the ask. We will also introduce tools that can streamline the process, helping your team maximize impact through smarter fundraising strategies.

Table of Contents

  • What Are In-Kind Donations for Children’s Health Foundations?
  • Types of In-Kind Donations for Children’s Health Foundations
  • Where Children’s Health Foundations Should Look for In-Kind Support
  • How Children’s Health Foundations Should Make the In-Kind Donation Ask
  • Tools and Resources to Help Children’s Health Foundations Get Started

What Are In-Kind Donations for Children’s Health Foundations?

In-kind donations refer to non-cash gifts provided to a nonprofit organization. These can include physical items like equipment, supplies, or products, as well as services such as professional expertise, volunteer time, or event support. Unlike traditional monetary donations, in-kind gifts directly supply the resources needed to operate programs or maintain facilities without requiring the nonprofit to purchase them on its own.

For organizations across all sectors, in-kind donations offer a way to stretch limited budgets and access specialized goods or services that might otherwise be cost-prohibitive. They also foster partnerships with businesses and community members who want to contribute in ways beyond writing checks.

When it comes to children’s health foundations, in-kind donations take on particular significance. These organizations often require specialized medical equipment and supplies to support pediatric care, as well as items that create a welcoming and comforting environment for children and their families. By securing these gifts, Children’s Health Foundations can allocate more financial resources toward direct patient services and innovative programs. In-kind donations thus become a strategic asset that enhances both mission delivery and donor engagement.

How In-Kind Donations Complement Cash Gifts

While cash donations offer flexibility, in-kind gifts provide specificity and immediacy. For example, a donation of pediatric medical monitors from a healthcare technology company directly equips a clinic, whereas cash might be used to purchase such equipment later. Both forms of giving are essential, but in-kind donations often fill critical gaps and reduce procurement timelines.

Moreover, in-kind donations can deepen corporate relationships by aligning a company’s products or services with the nonprofit’s mission. This alignment fosters authentic partnerships that benefit both parties and ultimately improve outcomes for children served.

Types of In-Kind Donations for Children’s Health Foundations

Children’s Health Foundations can benefit from a diverse range of in-kind donations that support their programs and operations. Below are some specific examples that illustrate the breadth and impact of these gifts.

Medical Equipment and Supplies

Donations of pediatric medical equipment, such as monitors, wheelchairs, or specialized beds, are invaluable. These items directly enhance the quality of care and comfort for young patients. Additionally, supplies, including bandages, gloves, and sanitizers, help maintain a safe and hygienic environment, thereby reducing infection risks.

Toys and Games

Providing toys, games, and creative play materials helps children cope with stress and anxiety during medical treatments. Such donations can brighten hospital rooms and create positive distractions that support emotional healing.

Online Learning Tools

Educational software and digital learning platforms enable children to continue their studies while hospitalized or recovering at home. These tools support cognitive development and help maintain a sense of normalcy during challenging times.

Snacks and Nutritional Products

Healthy snacks and nutritional supplements can improve patient well-being and provide significant comfort. These items are especially important for children with dietary restrictions or those undergoing treatments that affect appetite.

Furniture and Facility Supplies

Comfortable furniture for waiting rooms, play areas, and patient rooms enhances the environment and the overall experience for families and staff. Meanwhile, donated cleaning supplies ensure that facilities remain safe and sanitary, which is critical in healthcare settings.

Professional Services and Skilled Volunteer Work

Beyond physical goods, services such as legal advice, marketing support, or transportation can be donated to build organizational capacity. Skilled volunteers can assist with event planning, IT support, or patient engagement initiatives, providing cost-saving benefits and expertise.

Where Children’s Health Foundations Should Look for In-Kind Support

Identifying potential sources of in-kind donations requires a strategic approach. As a result, children’s health foundations should begin by researching companies with corporate social responsibility programs that align with their mission of improving children’s health and well-being. Many businesses prioritize community impact and seek partnerships with nonprofits that reflect their values.

Below is a list of companies known for their in-kind giving programs that align well with the needs of children’s health foundations:

Clorox

Clorox often donates cleaning supplies and disinfectants, which are essential for maintaining sterile environments in healthcare settings. Their support helps children’s health foundations uphold high standards of hygiene and safety.

IKEA

IKEA provides furniture donations that create comfortable, child-friendly spaces in hospitals and clinics. Their products help transform clinical environments into welcoming areas for children and families.

Wayfair

Similarly, Wayfair offers a wide range of furniture and home goods that can be used to furnish patient rooms, waiting areas, and administrative offices. Their donations contribute to a more supportive atmosphere for care delivery.

Gerber

Gerber donates nutritional products and snacks tailored for infants and young children. These donations support the dietary needs of pediatric patients and promote healthy growth during treatment.

Danone

Danone provides specialized nutritional supplements and snacks that cater to children with medical dietary requirements. Their contributions enhance overall patient care and comfort.

Publix

Publix supports nonprofits through food donations, including healthy snacks and meal items. Their community engagement aligns with efforts to nourish children undergoing medical care.

Hasbro

Hasbro donates toys and games that help children cope with hospitalization and medical procedures. Their gifts foster joy and distraction, which are essential for emotional healing.

Build-A-Bear

Build-A-Bear offers stuffed animals and comfort items that provide emotional support to children facing health challenges. These donations create a sense of companionship and security.

Philips Healthcare

Philips Healthcare donates advanced medical equipment and technology that improve diagnostic and treatment capabilities. Their support directly enhances clinical outcomes for pediatric patients.

3M

3M provides medical supplies and safety products that help maintain infection control and patient safety. Their donations are critical to operational excellence in healthcare environments.

How Children’s Health Foundations Should Make the In-Kind Donation Ask

Making a thoughtful and strategic ask for in-kind donations is essential to building lasting partnerships with corporate donors. A well-crafted approach demonstrates professionalism, aligns the nonprofit’s needs with the company’s goals, and makes it easy for businesses to say yes.

Here’s how you can do so:

Start by personalizing outreach efforts. Research the company’s mission, past giving history, and values to tailor your message. Highlight how your organization’s work complements their CSR objectives and community impact priorities.

Clearly articulate what specific items or services you need and explain how these donations will be used to benefit children and families. Providing concrete examples helps donors understand the tangible impact of their support.

Communicate the benefits to the company, such as increased visibility through event recognition, enhanced community goodwill, opportunities for employee engagement, and potential tax incentives. Emphasizing mutual value strengthens the case for partnership.

Offer flexible giving options to accommodate different donor capacities. This might include physical product donations, gift cards, sponsorship of events, or provision of professional services. Flexibility increases the likelihood of securing support.

Finally, make it easy for donors to follow through by providing a detailed wish list, shipping instructions, and a dedicated contact person. Clear communication and responsiveness throughout the process foster trust and encourage repeat giving.

Tools and Resources to Help Children’s Health Foundations Get Started

Leveraging dedicated tools can significantly streamline the process of identifying and securing in-kind donations. Many companies have established donation programs with specific application procedures, but these opportunities are often scattered across multiple platforms and websites, making it difficult to track on your own.

Using a centralized resource saves time and effort by aggregating information about corporate giving programs, eligibility criteria, and application links. This enables children’s health organizations to quickly uncover companies whose CSR initiatives align with their missions.

For example, Double the Donation offers a comprehensive corporate giving program database that includes thousands of verified programs, covering in-kind donations, grants, and workplace giving. This platform empowers nonprofit professionals to identify high-value corporate partners and manage relationships effectively, giving them a competitive edge in securing critical resources.

Wrapping Up & Additional Resources

Securing in-kind donations is a strategic way for children’s health foundations to enhance their programs, reduce costs, and deepen community partnerships. By identifying specific needs, researching aligned corporate donors, and making thoughtful asks, nonprofits can unlock valuable resources that directly benefit children’s health and well-being.

Utilizing tools like Double the Donation’s corporate giving database streamlines the process, saving time and expanding access to high-impact opportunities. Taking these first steps empowers your team to build sustainable in-kind donation strategies that support your mission and amplify your impact.

Maximize Your In-Kind Donation Potential with Double the Donation

Corporate sponsorships and in-kind donations are critical to the success of nonprofit events and programs, but sourcing the right partners can be time-consuming and overwhelming. Double the Donation streamlines the entire process, helping your team find, secure, and manage corporate support with ease.

With our industry-leading corporate giving database, you can quickly identify companies that offer financial sponsorships, in-kind donations, and corporate grants, giving you a data-driven edge in building meaningful partnerships. Raise more with corporate grants and in-kind gifts; get a demo today!

Asking for Employer Info vs. Using Employer Appends: What to Know

Asking for Employer Info vs. Using Appends: What to Know

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Payroll Giving FAQ What Fundraisers Want to Know

Payroll Giving FAQ | What Fundraisers Want to Know

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Payroll giving is a powerful tool that allows employees to contribute to nonprofit causes directly from their paychecks. This method of giving not only simplifies the donation process for employees but also provides organizations with a steady stream of funding. In this comprehensive payroll giving FAQ, we’ll explore the ins and outs of payroll giving, addressing common questions and concerns that nonprofits may have.

These include:

Payroll giving doesn’t have to be complicated. By unveiling the truths behind these common inquiries, we hope to guide your team through the process of growing your revenue with the programs. Keep in mind that with the right tips and tools, there’s a lot of potential there that you don’t want to overlook.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in with the basics.

What Is Payroll Giving?

Payroll giving, also known as automatic payroll deductions, is a type of corporate giving program that enables employees to donate a portion of their salary to charitable organizations. This system allows for seamless contributions, making it easier for employees to support causes they care about without the need for manual transactions.

Payroll giving programs illustration

If you’re interested in learning more about payroll giving, we recommend checking out our deep dive into the topic: How to Earn More Payroll Donation Revenue (A Strategy Guide).

How Does Payroll Giving Work?

Payroll giving essentially functions through a partnership between employers, employees, nonprofits, and a Payroll Giving system that connects them.

Let’s take a look at a step-by-step breakdown of how the process actually works:

  1. Employer Sets Up a Scheme: First, an employer needs to register with a Payroll Giving agency. These agencies are approved organisations that handle the distribution of donations to charities. Once registered, the employer can offer the scheme to employees as part of their workplace benefits.
  2. Employee Chooses to Participate: Employees who want to give simply fill out a form—either online or through HR—stating how much they want to donate and which charity (or charities) they want to support. There’s no minimum amount, and donations can be changed or stopped at any time.
  3. Donations Are Deducted Automatically: The donation amount is deducted automatically from the employee’s gross salary, often before tax is calculated. This means the donor gets immediate tax relief, and the charity receives the full benefit.
  4. Payroll Giving Platform Distributes the Funds: The employer sends the collected donations to the Payroll Giving platform, which then distributes the money to the specified charities. This usually happens on a monthly basis, providing charities with a reliable income stream.
  5. Charities Receive the Full Donation: Once the Payroll Giving agency processes the donation, the chosen charities receive the full amount pledged by the employee.

In short, payroll giving is a hassle-free way for donors to support charitable causes with maximum impact and minimum effort—straight from their regular paycheck.

What Are the Benefits of Payroll Giving for Nonprofits?

Payroll giving offers a range of valuable advantages for nonprofits, making it a robust and sustainable fundraising tool.

Here’s how charitable organizations can reap the benefits from this type of giving:

  • Reliable, Regular Income
    One of the biggest advantages is consistency. Donations through payroll giving are deducted each pay cycle, meaning nonprofits receive a steady flow of funds they can count on month after month. This predictability helps with budgeting, planning, and sustaining long-term projects.
  • Low Administration Effort
    Because donations are processed through payroll giving platforms rather than typical donation pages, charities don’t need to manage individual donor transactions or paperwork. This reduces administrative costs and effort, allowing teams to focus more on their mission.
  • No Transaction Fees
    Unlike traditional donation methods, payroll giving typically incurs no transaction fees, meaning the full amount goes directly to the nonprofit.
  • Higher Value Donations
    Payroll Giving often results in higher-value donations compared to one-off gifts. Since the money is deducted automatically and regularly, donors are more likely to commit to giving more over time without feeling the financial pinch.
  • Engaged, Loyal Donor Base
    Payroll donors tend to be more consistent and long-term supporters. Their commitment often translates into deeper engagement, advocacy, and even involvement in other fundraising activities, too.
  • Access to Corporate Support
    Many employers offer matched giving, where they match or boost employees’ donations. This doubles the impact for the nonprofit and can lead to broader philanthropic engagement. Not to mention, having multiple payroll giving donors from the same company can signal to a nonprofit a potential corporate partnership opportunity!

For nonprofits looking to build sustainable revenue streams and deepen relationships with supporters, payroll giving is a smart, efficient, and scalable solution.

How Can Nonprofits Encourage Payroll Giving?

Encouraging Payroll Giving requires a strategic blend of awareness, partnership, and ongoing engagement. While the process is simple for employees, nonprofits need to take active steps to promote the option and make it easy for supporters to get involved. Here’s how:

1. Register as an Eligible Cause

Ensure your nonprofit is listed as an eligible organization within leading payroll giving platforms. This process may involve submitting documentation such as your financial records, proof of 501(c)(3) status, a mission overview, and more.

2. Raise Awareness

Inform your audience about the benefits of payroll giving through newsletters, social media, your website, and beyond. As you begin marketing payroll giving, be sure to highlight how easy it is to participate and the impact their contributions can make.

3. Offer Incentives

Consider providing incentives for employees who participate in payroll giving. This could include recognition in newsletters, exclusive updates on the impact of their donations, or special events for payroll givers.

Take this payroll giving FAQ further: Get Double the Donation's complete guide.

What Are the Tax Implications of Payroll Giving?

One of the standout features of payroll giving is its tax efficiency, making it beneficial not just for the charity but also for the donor. Here’s how the tax implications work:

Payroll giving donations are taken directly from an employee’s gross salary, before income tax is applied. This means the donor pays less tax overall, and the charity receives more of the intended donation upfront. There’s no need for the charity to reclaim tax, because it’s already accounted for in the process.

Additionally, unlike other tax-deductible donations, payroll giving doesn’t require the donor to complete a self-assessment tax return or any forms. The process is seamless, handled by the employer’s payroll department and the payroll giving platform.

What Are Some Common Challenges with Payroll Giving?

While payroll giving offers clear benefits for both donors and charities, it’s not without its challenges. Understanding these hurdles can help nonprofits and employers address them proactively and improve participation.

Here are some of the most common issues organizations may face:

Limited awareness among employees

Many employees may not be aware of their company’s payroll giving program. Nonprofits should work closely with companies to ensure that employees are informed about the opportunity to give.

Lack of promotion by nonprofits

Many nonprofits fail to actively promote payroll giving, either due to limited resources or a focus on other fundraising streams. As a result, supporters aren’t encouraged or reminded to consider giving through their payroll.

Administrative delays

The process involves multiple parties—employers, agencies, and charities—which can sometimes lead to delays in donations being processed and distributed. This may impact cash flow for nonprofits and cause confusion for donors.

Maintaining long-term engagement

Keeping payroll giving donors engaged over time can be challenging, especially since the giving process is automatic. Without regular updates and recognition, donors may feel disconnected from the impact of their support.

Wrapping Up & Next Steps

Payroll giving is a valuable avenue for nonprofits to secure funding and engage with donors. By understanding the mechanics of payroll giving and implementing effective strategies, nonprofits can enhance their fundraising efforts and build lasting relationships with supporters. For more information on payroll giving and how to implement it effectively, explore the additional resources and guides below:

Maximize Your Payroll Giving Potential with Double the Donation

Ready to transform your nonprofit’s approach to payroll giving? Double the Donation’s Payroll Giving Module is your key to unlocking a world of recurring support and corporate giving opportunities. With our comprehensive tools, you can effortlessly identify eligible donors, integrate a user-friendly plugin on your website, and access a wealth of resources to enhance your fundraising strategies.

Don’t miss out on the chance to drive more support and turn employment data into a goldmine of revenue opportunities. Get a demo now to learn how Double the Donation can complete your workplace giving strategy and help you capitalize on payroll giving.

Take this payroll giving FAQ further: Get a demo of Double the Donation.