Higher education fundraising professionals work hard every day to generate the revenue that keeps their schools running. By doing so, they offer a better educational experience to students, provide scholarships and financial aid, fund research projects, and more.
Since fundraising is so essential, higher education professionals need to stay up-to-date on new trends and best practices. That’s where fundraising conferences come in. These events provide a venue for you to develop your fundraising skills and discover cutting-edge knowledge.
To help you decide on which conferences to attend, we’ve put together a list of the top higher education fundraising conferences. No matter which conference you decide on, you’re sure to come away with a wealth of knowledge you can use to grow the wealth of your higher education organization.
1. Academic Impressions
Date: Year-Round
Location: Varies
Academic Impressions is dedicated to providing leadership, personal development, and skills-based training opportunities to higher education faculty and staff members. As part of their goal, they regularly offer training opportunities and conferences to members and non-members alike. Many of these events occur virtually, making Academic Impressions’ offerings a great choice for higher education professionals who prefer not to travel.
Training sessions and conferences offered by Academic Impressions focus on a range of topics relevant to higher education professionals. Aside from fundraising, they also cover academic leadership, faculty success, academic planning, enrollment management, and more.
2. AFP Icon
Date: April 7-9, 2024
Location: Toronto, Ontario
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is a member-based group that empowers individuals and organizations to practice ethical fundraising. AFP Icon is their annual fundraising conference and one of the biggest around with over 3,000 attendees each year. This conference offers fundraising training to professionals from all types of organizations, providing an opportunity to network and build relationships with other prestigious nonprofits in addition to attending educational workshops.
From executive coaching to affinity group meetings to speed networking, AFP Icon is sure to boost your knowledge of fundraising.
At this conference, higher education fundraising professionals can attend speaker sessions and workshops focused on various topics related to nonprofit education organizations. Regardless of your experience level or the type of higher education institution you belong to, you can find a track that you will benefit from, such as fundraising, alumni relations, development, communications and marketing, professional development, and more.
4. CASE Drive
Date: March 25-27, 2025
Location: Washington, DC
Also hosted by CASE, Drive is an annual conference that creates a focused learning and networking experience for higher education institutions and other nonprofits that work with data and analytics. If you wish to improve your knowledge of collecting, managing, and analyzing donor data for fundraising, Drive is a valuable conference to attend.
In today’s constantly developing technological landscape, this conference empowers you to stay ahead of evolving data tools and gain insights into harnessing the power of data to improve fundraising and other aspects of your operations.
5. Elevate: A Conference for Fundraising Events
Date: March 12-13, 2025
Location: Portland, Oregon and online
Elevate is a collaborative community of industry experts and thought leaders dedicated to creating a learning hub for individuals who want to expand their knowledge of fundraising events. Elevate’s annual conference serves as a masterclass in fundraising events, bringing together nonprofit and fundraising professionals from a variety of sectors to network, share resources, and learn about best practices.
By being held in a hybrid format, this conference provides the flexibility of attending at a location of your preference. You can either go in person to the venue in Portland, Oregon or attend virtually from another location. Either way, you’re sure to pick up tips on storytelling and fundraising strategy that will help you elevate the donor experience at your higher education organization’s fundraising events.
6. Fundraising Day in New York
Date: June 14, 2024
Location: New York, New York
Another conference hosted by the AFP, Fundraising Day in New York is a one-day fundraising conference. Whether you’re a newcomer to the fundraising industry or a seasoned veteran, you’re sure to benefit from this conference’s diverse range of sessions, including ones on the most current trends and developments. Plus, these sessions are presented by respected leaders and experts in the fundraising industry.
At Fundraising Day in New York, you’ll connect with a community of dedicated fundraisers who are eager to share their knowledge, form new connections, and advance their fundraising expertise.
7. NASPA Annual Conference
Date: March 9-13, 2024
Location: Seattle, Washington
NASPA is an association for student affairs administrators in higher education, supporting a network of 15,000 professionals and over 1,200 institutions across the globe. They’re dedicated to helping colleges and universities fulfill the promise of higher education by placing students at the center of their work.
At the NASPA Annual Conference, you’ll participate in professional development workshops that will inspire you and your work. Attend educational sessions and connect with exhibitors to aid in your professional development and your organization’s fundraising efforts. If you’re a first-time attendee, participate in the Mentor Program to connect with experienced professionals who can serve as a resource for networking and conference navigation.
8. One Day Development
Date: June 21, 2024
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Hosted by Academic Advancement Partners, One Day Development is a conference for professionals who work in higher education fundraising. These individuals are encouraged to attend alongside deans and provosts, as the focus of the conference is on major donors.
This conference features speakers who are experts in academic fundraising and storytelling, some of whom currently serve on the fundraising committees of higher education organizations. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to network with other higher education fundraising professionals.
9. Planet Philanthropy
Date: June 3-5, 2024
Location: Orlando, Florida
Planet Philanthropy is a premier fundraising conference in Florida. Hosted by the Florida Caucus of AFP, it attracts fundraising professionals from all over the United States and Puerto Rico. Over 300 nonprofit leaders attend this conference to learn about the latest and greatest fundraising news and strategies.
Planet Philanthropy addresses topics ranging from grant writing to leveraging AI to assessing legacy pipelines. On top of keynote speeches and workshops, Planet Philanthropy also offers a social event that you can attend for fun or to network with other professionals.
10. RNL Advancement Innovation Summit
Date: March 23, 2023
Location: Online
Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) is an organization dedicated to making colleges, universities, and other nonprofit organizations successful and vibrant. RNL does this by helping these organizations learn how to build lifelong relationships with donors at their Advancement Innovation Summit.
Although RNL hosts a plethora of events, including the RNL National Conference, if your focus is on higher education fundraising, the Advancement Innovation Summit is the conference you should attend. At this event, you’ll learn key insights into maximizing donor engagement, increasing fundraising results, and providing a better donor experience. From annual giving to alumni relations to legacy gifts, this conference will help you build a fundraising strategy that works.
This conference offers two days of learning, networking, and inspiration. At it, you’ll participate in roundtable discussions and presentations focused on advancing and enhancing annual giving operations and solicitations. Their topics range from giving days to CRM conversions to crowdfunding, covering valuable fundraising insights sure to help your annual giving strategy.
Fundraising with Matching Gifts
If you’re looking for a quick way to augment your higher education organization’s fundraising, matching gifts provide a great opportunity for you to double the donations you receive. This is how matching gifts work:
An individual, such as an alumni, donates to your organization.
The individual checks if they’re eligible for a gift match from their employer.
This individual submits a matching gift request to their employer.
The employer reviews the request and verifies the donation.
The employer matches the individual’s donation to your organization.
The greatest barrier to obtaining matching gifts funding is awareness. After all, it’s estimated that over $4 billion in matching gift funds goes unclaimed every year. To leverage this source of funding, promote educational content about matching gifts through your marketing channels.
Additionally, you may want to purchase a dedicated matching gifts software solution. The right tool will allow you to embed a matching gift database that donors can use to check their matching gift eligibility. These platforms also allow you to send automated emails to encourage donors to fill out a matching gift request with their employer and create reports to determine if you are making the most of matching gifts. Plus, some solutions include auto-submission features, simplifying the matching gift process even further for donors through automation.
Additional Resources
If your organization has been looking to improve your fundraising strategy, higher education fundraising conferences are great opportunities for you and the other professionals on your team. Through these events, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the best ways to fundraise, empowering you to generate more fundraising revenue for your organization.
If you’re interested in learning more about higher education fundraising, check out these resources:
8 Types of Planned Gifts Your Nonprofit Should Know.Higher education organizations should be prepared to receive planned and legacy gifts. This guide covers the top types of planned gifts you should know about.
Whether someone is celebrating a birthday or needs a pick-me-up, greeting cards show you care. As technology advances, we can bring this joy into the digital space via eCard websites.
Nonprofits, in particular, can sell branded charity eCards to raise money, encourage supporters to send personalized cards to spread awareness, or send greeting cards directly to supporters to show appreciation.
However, you shouldn’t just pick any eCard software. Your organization needs special features like the ability to embed eCards into your website or bulk discounts to stay within your budget.
To narrow down your options, this guide will help your team make smart buying decisions when selecting an eCard website. We’ll cover the following:
If you’re ready to take advantage of all the great benefits eCards offer, let’s get started on our journey. Alternatively, go ahead and launch your efforts forward with our favorite platform!
What eCard Websites Are and How They Work
Before getting too deep into your search, learn the fundamentals of these platforms. Simply put, eCard websites are online platforms that enable users to design and send electronic greeting cards. These websites typically offer pre-designed templates, graphics, and customization options, allowing users to personalize digital cards for different occasions.
For nonprofits, you can sell cards to raise money or send them to supporters during key times to let them know you’re thinking about them.
When leveraging eCard software, here’s how the process typically looks:
Select a website: Choose a site that suits your needs based on features and pricing. We’ll explore specific features to keep an eye out for later. For now, consider features like easy design tools and fundraising capabilities.
Design your eCards: To get a jump start on your project, browse through the platform’s eCard templates. These are typically organized into occasions like birthdays, holidays, and appreciation. Alternatively, design from scratch to make the design completely your own.
Customize the eCard: Personalize each eCard with your own text, images, animations, or videos. You can also adjust other visual elements like fonts and colors to match your branding.
Add the eCards to your website or online store: Think through whether you’ll give greeting cards in exchange for donations. If so, Fundraising Letters’ charity eCards guide explains that depending on your platform, you have a few ways to sell them. Use them as integrated donation forms, offer them on your donation confirmation page, or add them to your online store. From here, your supporters can buy your eCards.
That’s the gist of how these platforms work. Now, let’s take a closer look at the nonprofit-specific benefits of these websites.
Why You Should Leverage eCard Sites
For one, eCard websites provide a convenient, eco-friendly alternative to traditional paper greeting cards. Not to mention, they offer more design options, customization features, and delivery tracking options than direct mail.
Beyond convenience and creative control, online greeting cards have so many great uses for nonprofits. Here’s a quick overview of how you can leverage eCard sites to amplify your work:
Fundraise in a unique way by selling eCards or offering them in exchange for donations.
Celebrate holidays and show supporters you’re thinking of them on important occasions.
Announce upcoming events and initiatives to increase participation.
Boost peer referrals to spread the word about your cause.
In short, the best eCard websites make it easy for organizations to fundraise, expand brand awareness, or express appreciation for volunteers and donors through digital cards. Think carefully through your approach, and you’ll make up whatever you invest in your platform in the form of fundraising dollars or supporter engagement.
How To Choose The Right eCard Website
Before spending your hard-earned fundraising dollars on a website, make sure you know what you’re looking for. Your chosen platform should equip you with everything you need to design branded eCards that stimulate brand awareness and push your fundraising forward.
Let’s dive into some of the key features nonprofit leaders should prioritize.
User-Friendly Design Tools
Chances are, you’re not a nonprofit graphic design pro. With the right nonprofit eCard software, you don’t have to be!
Consider each eCard site’s ease of use and design capabilities when narrowing down your options. Here are some key features that indicate whether a site’s design tools will be intuitive:
Templates to kickstart the design process
The ability to incorporate custom branding by uploading your own graphics
Plenty of colors and fonts to make your design your own
Drag-and-drop functionality to simplify the design process
A library filled with photos and graphics
Each eCard’s design is imperative, so ensure your nonprofit will have no problem creating ones that capture your brand and its cause.
Integrated Fundraising Capabilities
As a nonprofit leader, you’re constantly thinking about how to raise money to support your work. As we touched on, charity eCards are a fantastic way to do that, so make sure the eCard website you choose has integrated fundraising abilities.
In other words, you should be able to offer online greeting cards in exchange for donations. For this approach, we recommended looking for eCard software that enables you to set suggested giving amounts. Alternatively, you might be able to add them as fundraising products in an online store.
You may even be able to tap into advanced features like tribute donations, where supporters can donate on behalf of a loved one and send an eCard letting them know.
Multi-Language Support
Especially if your work spans multiple countries, you should choose a platform that allows you to change the translation of your eCards.
That way, everyone can enjoy your eCards, no matter where they’re located in the world!
Reporting and Insights
Ensure you can track sender and recipient email addresses to know who’s sending and receiving eCards. This is a fantastic way to measure supporter engagement and build a pipeline of likely supporters.
Senders may also be able to enable read receipts. That way, there’s no question as to whether the recipient opened their eCard.
Fair Pricing and Subscription Models
Nonprofits must be thoughtful about how they spend their money. As with any software you purchase, choose an eCard website within your budget.
These types of sites typically follow one of two pricing models:
Pay for a set number of eCards either all at once for a specific time span or individually.
Purchase unlimited eCards for a certain time span, which is more economical if you want to send several to power fundraising and donor relationships.
Choose the model that’s right for your organization based on how many eCards you’ll send.
The Best eCard Website: eCardWidget
Without further ado, we present our favorite eCard platform: eCardWidget. This highly versatile platform makes it incredibly easy to boost audience engagement, build brand loyalty, and add an interactive element to your online presence.
Designed for organizational use, eCardWidget comes equipped with all the features you need to fundraise, spread the word about projects, or let donors know you’re thinking about them on important occasions.
Once you’ve perfected your designs with the user-friendly designer, organize your eCards into campaigns like donation eCards for Valentine’s Day or volunteer thank-you eCards. Then, easily embed the widget into your website or fundraising store. From here, your team can send custom greeting cards to supporters or enable supporters to send them to loved ones. Either way, you’ll have plenty of sending options, including email, social media, and text messages.
When you get started with eCardWidget, you’ll gain access to plenty of useful features, including:
Fundraising capabilities: With eCardWidget, you can turn eCards into a regular part of your fundraising. Sell eCards in your fundraising store or embed the widget into your donation confirmation page to provide an instant give-back with every gift. You can create suggested giving amounts and even enable tribute donations, making a donation to your organization the perfect gift for birthdays and holidays!
User-friendly design tools: Gain complete design control with plenty of customization options. Choose from dozens of templates to get started. Then, use the drag-and-drop tools to incorporate different fonts, colors, and your own images.
eCard statistics: Get powerful insights into who’s sending and receiving emails with reporting. Get copied on all eCards sent through the widget. This feature is great for kickstarting relationships or seeing which supporters are most engaged.
Why We Love This eCard Site
Designing and selling eCards has never been easier. They’ve really thought of everything with this eCard website! Between easy implementation and mobile responsiveness, you’ll have whatever you need to design interactive greeting cards that spark joy and bolster brand awareness.
eCardWidget Pricing: Get started with a free plan, which offers up to 4 eCards and 15 emails per month. All the paid plans offer unlimited eCards and start at just $30 per month.
Other Top eCard Software for Organizations
While eCardWidget checks off all our boxes, there are some other great platforms out there. To give you a sense of your options, here are 10 other top eCard sites that work for nonprofits.
eCard Website 2) Smilebox
If your nonprofit sells fundraising products, this eCard website might be the solution for you.
Smilebox enables users to create animated eCards when they purchase a gift from your online store. At checkout, they’ll be asked if their purchase is a gift. If they select “yes,” they’ll be prompted to create a personalized card to send alongside it. They can also schedule a time to send it, correlating it with the gift’s estimated delivery date.
Sitebox’s Pricing: Request a demo to receive pricing information for this platform.
eCard Website 3) Open Me
Looking for a collaborative approach to eCards? Try out Open Me. This eCard site allows you to send thoughtful digital greeting cards via Facebook and email. You can send them directly to supporters, but our favorite feature is the ability to create group eCards.
With this feature, choose an eCard, sign it with a personal note, and share it with anyone else before it’s sent to the recipient. You’ll be able to select the send date, click the ‘Invite to Sign’ button, and select your delivery method. Thanks to this unique feature, this eCard site is perfect for sending eCards from your team to beneficiaries, supporters, and stakeholders.
This eCard website features eCards designed by artists around the globe, giving you a hand-curated boutique of different styles. When you explore the site, you’ll notice that each eCard includes the artist’s name, so you can find ones whose styles speak to you.
Open Me’s Pricing: Send unlimited eCards for free via Facebook or email by signing up.
eCard Website 4) Evite
Known for virtual event invitations, Evite now offers eCard templates you can customize with text, images, and other visual elements. Whether you want to get ahead of things or a special occasion sneaks up on you, you can use scheduled sending or instant sharing.
Great for spreading event awareness or sending just-because eCards, Evite makes it easy to design custom cards or choose from its premade selection of cards. Customize each design by adding a message or attaching a photo or video.
Your thoughtful words are what will stand out to supporters you send these eCards to. Evite makes it easy to add a message to the front of the card or flip it over to write a longer message on the other side. If you’re at a loss for words, check out the suggested message options that’ll help craft the perfect message. Plus, you can choose from different fonts and adjust the text size to make your eCard look exactly how you want it to.
Evite’s Pricing: Either choose the free version, which includes ads on eCards, or upgrade to a paid account, starting at $15.99 for up to 15 cards. Paid accounts are priced based on how many recipients will receive your cards.
eCard Website 5) Hallmark eCards
We couldn’t leave the company that revolutionized the greeting card business off this list. Since 1910, Hallmark has empowered people to convey their emotions through thoughtful cards. Over a century later, they’re bringing that tradition into the virtual space with its video eCards.
Upload your photos and videos to create a memorable, one-of-a-kind video greeting card. Then, instantly share it via text or email. You also have the option to send a real card, which they can scan with their phone to play your video. How innovative!
With tons of designs to personalize, you can create eCards to send to supporters for any occasion, whether you’re looking for a silly card, a serious design, or something in between.
Hallmark is ideal for nonprofits that want to send highly personalized eCards, making this platform a great source for volunteer or donor appreciation gifts. As explained in re:Charity’s donor appreciation gift guide, greeting cards can be personalized with custom messages, perfect for highlighting an individual supporter’s impact.
Hallmark’s Pricing: Purchase video eCards individually. Most video eCards cost $4.99 and $5.99 depending on whether you purchase a physical card too.
eCard Website 6) Paperless Post
Similar to Evite, Paperless Post is known for its invitation services, but it also offers a selection of greeting cards, too. Featuring world-class brands like Rifle Paper Co. and Kate Spade, Paperless Post has a range of beautifully-designed eCard templates for events and special occasions.
Browse the selection to find your favorite designs. Then, make each eCard your own by customizing everything from the text and images to the virtual envelope lining and stamps. Your supporters will appreciate the extra effort you put into customizing your cards!
The user-friendly interface enables you to easily choose from various themes, styles, and layouts to match your nonprofit’s aesthetics — whether you’re sending event invites or holiday greetings. You can even add animated elements to make your eCards more engaging and memorable. Then, send your eCards to recipients via email, text, or shareable link.
Keep an eye on delivery statuses and gather RSVPs for events thanks to Paperless Post’s tracking and RSVP management features. That way, you’ll know whether your eCards are being delivered and can accurately gauge attendance for nonprofit events.
Paperless Post’s Pricing: Most cards are free for up to 50 emails. To send more than that, you’ll pay a flat fee of $20 for up to 15,000 recipients. Purchase eCards with credits called Coins, starting at $0.12 per coin each depending on how many you buy. Each eCard displays a “starting at” number of coins, which indicates the starting pricing. The final price includes any additional Premium elements you opt to include, like the envelope, liner, stamp, or backdrop.
eCard Website 7) Adobe Creative Cloud Express
For a do-it-yourself approach to your charity eCards, check out Adobe Creative Cloud Express. Design custom eCards that feature your organizations branding — even on the go thanks to the mobile app.
If you’re limited on graphic design experience, select from a wide array of online templates to get started. Then, handpick graphics from their libraries or upload your own photos, icons, and graphics. The platform supports high-resolution graphics and offers precise control over your details, so you can create impactful charity eCards.
Once you’ve perfected your design, hit the download button to save your project and instantly share your eCard across virtual platforms.
You gain complete creative freedom with Adobe’s extensive customization options. Because of its flexible design tools, you can personalize every aspect of your eCards including colors, typography, illustrations, and animations.
Adobe’s Pricing: Adobe is a great free option, but paid premium plans unlock features like the option to auto-apply your nonprofit’s logo, fonts, and colors. Note that verified nonprofits can receive Adobe Express Premium for free as part of the company’s commitment to CSR.
eCard Website 8) Canva
Canva is a well-known graphic design platform that offers a wide range of features, making it well-suited for designing eCards. Its popularity stems from how quickly users can create designs, which applies to designing eCards too.
With this design site, you gain access to a library of more than 420,000 templates, 75 million images, 3.5 million graphic elements, and 3,000 fonts. With countless customizability options, you can create designs perfect for celebrating any occasion with supporters or inviting people to your events.
Note that Canva doesn’t offer an eCard-sending service. Instead, you’ll need to share your eCards directly from the platform or download your designs to use across other channels. Alternatively, go the snail mail route by designing physical cards.
If you want to take a collaborative approach to your eCards, Canva is a solid choice. This eCard website enables collaboration among team members, allowing multiple users to pitch in on the design process.
Canva’s Pricing: Canva’s premium design tools are free for verified nonprofits.
eCard Website 9) Jacquie Lawson
If you love the idea of art-inspired eCards, Jacquie Lawson may be the eCard website for you!
Whether you want watercolor creations or colorful celebratory designs, you’ll have plenty of options. Purchase a membership, then send as many eCards as you want for the duration of your membership.
You’ll also get everything you need from a professionally-run eCard site: an address book, birthday reminders, and a helpline on top of the unique, artfully-drawn designs.
Break out of the traditional eCard realm with Jacquie Lawson. This eCard website offers beautiful, artful designs you can’t get anywhere else. These visually-compelling cards are ideal for propelling your nonprofit’s relationships forward, especially if the unique look correlates with your brand.
Jacquie Lawson’s Pricing: Become a member for the equivalent of four traditional paper cards per year. Monthly plans are $9, annual plans are $30, and 2-year plans are $45.
eCard Website 10) Acme Ecards
Put plenty of thought into your eCard strategy with Acme Ecards. Formerly known as Ecard Mint, this eCard website works to reimagine your nonprofit marketing ideas with bespoke cards designed to grow your brand
Communicate your strategy and digital marketing goals to their team. Then, let them curate your eCard collection by designing animated eCards based on supporter data and history. They’ll handle your email campaigns for you, making every email feel personal to recipients.
For cards fully tailored to your recipients, Acme Ecards is a reliable solution. Humanize your email marketing by letting them take charge of your card designs. They’ll pull from their wide range of pre-designed greeting cards which can be rebranded and worked into any campaign. In no time, you’ll have on-brand bespoke eCards that make your outreach stand out in supporters’ inboxes.
Acme Ecards’ Pricing: Acme’s pricing starts at $90 for first-time customers. Pricing tiers increase primarily based on the number of individuals on your contact list. This site offers discounts for nonprofits, so contact their sales team to learn more.
eCard Website 11) Postable
Postable offers a different take on eCards. While the experience is virtual on your end, recipients will receive a physical card in the mail. Browse their massive collection or create your own unique designs. That means you can fully infuse your nonprofit’s brand. Then, they’ll handwrite the address and eCard’s note for you. They even help curate your online address book, making sending your cards incredibly easy.
If you’re worried about eco-friendliness, it might ease your concerns to know that their cards and envelopes are 100% recycled.
Make your greeting cards even more personal by maintaining the traditional feel of direct mail. The design is fully your own, and you can even choose the handwritten font that each note and address uses.
Postable’s Pricing: An account is totally free. The cards vary in pricing depending on how many you send. Generally, 1-19 cards cost $3.99 each plus stamp fees, while 20 or more cards cost $3.29 plus stamp fees. This eCard site also offers discounted volume pricing, making it great for organizations.
Final Thoughts on eCard Websites
When it comes to fundraising and supercharging supporter relations, nothing quite matches up to eCards. Personalized and visually appealing eCards can strengthen your nonprofit communication and engagement in a snap — but only if you use the right eCard platform!
The right website can make eCards a viable fundraising and marketing avenue for your cause. Keep the key features we mentioned in mind, and you’ll be set to choose the site that best fits your organization’s needs.
While you make your decision, check out some of these helpful resources we hand-curated for you to continue learning:
Charity eCards: How to Create Cards That Make A Difference. Dive into the world of nonprofit eCards. In this guide from eCardWidget, you’ll learn more about what charity eCards are, how to create powerful designs, and how to leverage your newly-purchased eCard software.
20 Volunteer Appreciation Ideas To Foster Relationships. Nonprofit eCards are a wonderful way to say thanks to your generous volunteers. Explore this idea and several others in this guide from the graphic design experts at Kwala.
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/eCard-Websites_Feature-1.jpg3801000Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2024-04-02 20:00:402024-09-11 16:40:5410+ Best eCard Websites for Nonprofits to Raise More
Convincing an audience to take any kind of action requires making an effective pitch. Nonprofits know this all too well. When you rely on people’s donated support to push your work forward, you must be able to confidently explain to your donors what you need, why, and what the benefit will be.
A nonprofit case for support is at the root of how you make a compelling pitch to donors. It’s an essential part of running fundraising campaigns and effectively communicating your mission.
What’s more, a case for support can (and should) be an active tool for better fundraising—not just a pre-campaign task to get out of the way, but a real asset that will fuel your success.
So how do you create one? What should your case for support contain? What mistakes should you avoid? We’ve got you covered. This crash course will cover all the essentials, including:
A nonprofit case for support is the core set of reasons why donors should support a particular campaign, project, or organization’s work as a whole. It’s a fundamental fundraising framework or concept on which you can build your campaigns.
Cases can be developed for a wide variety of contexts and audiences, making them extremely flexible tools to guide the fundraising process in any situation. They essentially seek to answer the questions, “Why should someone care, and what are we asking them to do?”
It’s important to note that while this term is often used to describe a tangible document or other resource, the underlying set of arguments themselves comprise the case for support. We’ll take a look at some examples below.
While a case will be distilled into various printed and digital resources during a fundraising campaign, overly fixating on a specific document can ultimately limit a nonprofit’s vision and the overall effectiveness of its case.
Why are cases for support important?
Cases for support give your fundraising team a clear roadmap and talking points to use when promoting your campaigns or overall mission to donors.
When created and used well, a case for support will standardize your messaging and ensure that you communicate a clear, unified, and compelling vision to potential supporters. Then, with the scaffolding in place, your team can use it to create tailored variations, individualized pitches, and all kinds of helpful resources that will support the overall vision of your fundraising campaign.
When do nonprofits create and use cases for support?
Nonprofits develop cases for support in a range of different situations. They might be created to support:
They’re most commonly discussed in the context of capital campaigns as a critical early step in the campaign planning process.
But note that you’ll benefit from a case for support in any situation in which your team will need to make a clear pitch to donors to solicit support. As long as you understand what a case for support is and what it should accomplish, you can use its framework to support your goals.
Who in a nonprofit should create a case for support?
A case for support should be created by the fundraising or development team that will be directly involved in running that particular campaign. An overarching case for support for the organization’s work as a whole should also be owned by the fundraising team.
However, the overall development process should be collaborative. Gathering input and suggestions is an important part of developing a compelling case. Many organizations also seek the direct input of major donors when crafting their cases. Plus, you’ll usually need to secure leadership buy-in on the finalized case for support.
Essential Elements of an Effective Case for Support
A compelling case for support should cover a few essentials. By including these core talking points or sections, you’ll ensure that your team has the strong framework they need to make an effective fundraising pitch.
Objective. What will your campaign accomplish? Why are you fundraising? Be as specific as possible—concrete objectives will always be more compelling than vague or intangible ones because they allow donors to envision the real impact of success.
Fundraising goal. How much money are you seeking to raise to fund your objective? Again, specificity is key. Spell out your needs so that your team can better articulate them to prospects.
Connection to mission. Your mission should be clearly visible through all of your fundraising efforts. Even if it seems self-evident, take the time to define the exact ways that completing your objective will push your nonprofit’s mission forward.
The problem. What is the context behind your objective, or what problem are you intending to solve or alleviate? What steps have you taken to combat it in the past?
The impact. What will the impact of your success be in concrete terms? Projecting impact can be tricky, but it’s always worth doing. Think about how you’ll measure the success of your objective in relation to your mission and use those metrics or key performance indicators to help determine some concrete impact projections.
Call to action. Spur your prospective donor to action. Again, clearly spell out the relationship between your mission, objective, goal, needs, and impact.
You might think that these key talking points might sound like the sections of a grant proposal, and you’re not wrong.
However, keep in mind that, unlike a grant proposal, a case for support can be more flexible and adapted to your specific goals. There’s no one specific format to follow—this will be shaped by the specific fundraising context once you’ve established the core set of arguments and details listed above.
Developing a Case for Support: 9 Steps
You’re ready to develop your next case for support and drive your best fundraising results yet. How do you get started? We break it down into these key steps:
Form a team. A small group of fundraisers or development staff should oversee the case development process. Depending on the purpose or scope of the fundraising campaign, however, you may want to proactively involve a board member or other organizational leader. Organization-wide or capital campaign cases for support are instances when getting a broader leadership perspective early will be helpful.
Determine your case for support guidelines. What’s the context for this case for support? Is it for a particular campaign or initiative? Align your team on the context and purpose.
Draft your key elements. Work through the list of key elements of a case for support above and draft a few sentences for each. Brevity is key—a handful of highly impactful sentences will carry much more weight than rambling paragraphs. Besides, at this stage, you’re seeking to create a framework, not a completed structure!
Ensure coherence. Read your preliminary case for support closely to ensure that it clearly ties back to your organization’s mission. Do the key points you’ve made align with how the campaign is being discussed internally? Are there more compelling talking points or impact details that you might be able to provide?
Review and revise. Take some time as a team to review what you’ve developed. Proofread and look for weak spots in your argument where your claims or calls to action could be better supported. Make quick revisions as needed, but don’t get too bogged down in creating the perfect finished product just yet.
Test and refine. Next, seek feedback outside of your case for support committee. Other fundraisers, marketers, and leaders in your organization may have helpful perspectives. If you’re developing a case for support for a capital campaign, this is when you’ll gather direct donor feedback through a feasibility study. Make adjustments to your case and campaign plans as needed to ensure your strategy and argument are set up to succeed.
Secure buy-in. Present your finalized case for support to organizational and/or campaign leadership as needed. Get their feedback and approval to move forward with using the case as the basis for your fundraising messaging going forward.
Save and share. Save your case for support in a central, accessible digital location. Then, publicize it to your broader fundraising and marketing teams.
Distill into campaign materials. Over time, as your fundraising campaign progresses into new stages that target different audiences, use your case for support to guide the messaging in new campaign materials. Brochures, email appeals, letters, texts—everything related to your campaign or this particular fundraising push should be part of a coherent whole.
Expert Tips for a More Compelling Case for Support
Now that you understand the process and purpose of creating a case for support for your campaign, what are the tactical tips to keep in mind when actually drafting it? We’ve got some recommendations.
1. Make it impact-centric.
Your case for support should revolve around the positive impacts of your success. This is the ultimate reason for the campaign and its objective, so there should be a crystal-clear throughline from the ask to the objective to the impact.
Not only will this ensure coherent, compelling messaging across your campaign later, but it’s also increasingly thought of as a prerequisite by many donors. If donors are unclear on what exactly will happen with their gift and how it will go towards the problem at hand, it’ll be harder to secure their support. In fact, younger generations are much more likely to say they will not donate if they’re unsure what the charity will do with the money (37.8% of Gen Z donors vs. 15.2% of Mature age donors).
2. Gather compelling storytelling details.
While your core case for support should be concise, aim to embed compelling storytelling elements that will help make the ask and impact real to your donors. Help them understand and feel the urgency surrounding the problem that your campaign’s objective will solve.
While preparing a case for support, gather a range of storytelling details that you can use later when developing more fleshed-out and tailored variations for your campaign marketing materials. These could include:
Anecdotes and testimonials from constituents and donors (with their permission)
Photos of your nonprofit’s programs at work
Data to support your claims about the problem and your objective’s projected impact
Assembling this kind of “case for support kit” will be extremely helpful once it’s time to create campaign materials like web pages, brochures, email templates, and more—see the examples below for this strategy in action.
3. Boost your persuasion power with clear writing.
Persuasive writing is direct, clear, and evocative—set your fundraising materials up for success by baking these qualities into your case for support from the very start. Consider these best practices:
Keep sentences short and impactful. Write as specifically as possible to naturally keep things concise.
Avoid using too many adjectives and adverbs to describe things and problems. Let the details and the context speak for themselves and paint a picture for readers.
Be intentional and specific with your word choices. It’s easy in nonprofit work to get bogged down in vague generalities and jargon, but these will never give you the impact you need to make a convincing pitch to people who aren’t knee-deep in your mission all day.
Understand the power of passive and active voice. Active voice tends to be clearer and more impactful and should take precedence in your core case for support. Passive voice has its role and is more helpful for explaining complex thoughts and situations, but try to wait until you’re writing longer-form campaign materials to use it.
4. Understand your audience and context.
Actively think about who your case for support is speaking to and why they should care about your mission and ask.
For many cases for support, you’ll be writing to a general audience of supporters. In others, you’ll be targeting a more specific segment from the get-go, like
Draft your case for support with the interests and motivations of your audience in mind. For example, positive brand awareness is a prime motivator for corporate partners, so make sure your core case statements highlight the size of your audience and the public reach that your organization has. Tax incentives often motivate major and non-cash donors, so you can mention these when discussing the positive impacts (both for your mission and your donors) that your fundraising initiative will have.
Getting Specific: Using Data to Take Your Case for Support to the Next Level
Concrete details make for more effective pitches. When compiling a new case for support and any associated kits of details and stories, don’t forget the data.
For a case for support, this supporting data might include information like:
Details about other funding sources for the campaign or project
Information about your corporate partners
Your organization’s current matching gift revenue
Statistics about your volunteer program
Why gather this information? Depending on the audience and context of your case for support, being prepared with this data can be extremely helpful.
For example, major donors might want to know it to gauge your organization’s effectiveness before committing to a large gift. Foundations and sponsors might require this information. In very specific circumstances, like if you’re laying out the case to recruit sponsors for a special donation match challenge, information about the scope of your fundraising efforts will be integral to the agreement.
By having this data on hand and baked into the messaging guidelines of your case for support, you’ll be able to easily create detailed, custom pitches for your prospects.
You might already have much of this information in your CRM. For data specific to your grants or corporate philanthropy efforts, be sure to use dedicated grant management and corporate philanthropy tools that make it easy to generate reports and projections (and to raise more of these funds in general).
Check out this video to learn more about how the right platform, like 360MatchPro, can not only unlock new revenue streams for your nonprofit but also equip you with the tools you need to build and report more thriving giving programs all around:
Watch Out! 5 Case for Support Pitfalls to Avoid
Creating a case for support should become second nature anytime your organization takes on a significant new fundraising campaign or launches a new giving program. What are the common mistakes to avoid along the way?
Mistake 1: Starting with a document or brochure.
Remember, a case for support is a set of persuasive arguments and details, not just a document. You’ll distill your case into a wide range of campaign materials like brochures, emails, web pages, and more, but jumping ahead to that stage might limit your vision and the case’s overall effectiveness.
Mistake 2: Not securing buy-in.
A case for support is a foundational fundraising resource—your organization should feel confident that the pitch it lays out aligns with your vision and goals for the campaign. If you don’t get sign-off from campaign or organizational leaders early, you might risk needing to backtrack later to update fundraising materials that were based on an outdated version of the case.
Mistake 3: Not testing your case for major campaigns.
A case for support allows you to test your pitch in the lead-up to a capital campaign. These kinds of major fundraising campaigns are big investments of your time and resources, and they have high stakes, so you need to ensure your messaging is as effective as possible early in the process. Use a feasibility study to introduce a small group of high-impact supporters to your campaign, ask for feedback on your case for support, and use their input to improve it before moving forward.
Mistake 4: Becoming too donor- or organization-centric.
The focus in a case for support should be on the positive impact that will be created when you achieve your campaign’s objective. Nonprofits often see advice about making donors the heroes of their pitches, but that’s not necessarily the goal in a case for support. You can emphasize their role in later messages that you create using the case for support. Similarly, avoid overly-centering your organization as the active player—it’s all about the objective and impact at this stage.
Mistake 5: Veering into scarcity-thinking.
Your case for support should convey a positive and ambitious but realistic vision for achieving your objective. Avoid limiting yourself (and using toned-down or pessimistic language) in your case for support since its core messages will make their way into all of your fundraising materials later. While you don’t want to positivity-whitewash the problem you’re tackling, which might downplay the urgency, you should still emphasize your strengths and come off as confident.
Nonprofit Case for Support Examples
Let’s take a look at some strong examples of case for support documents created by leading nonprofits. We’ll examine them from both sides:
This is the public-facing case for support for an ambitious 10-year initiative, The UNICEF and WHO Joint Programme on Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-being and Development of Children and Adolescents. This campaign seeks to raise $50 million in donation commitments to achieve its crystal-clear objective:
“By 2030, children and adolescents living in countries targeted under the Joint Programme will experience reduced suffering and improved mental health and psychosocial well-being and development.”
This is a “global” case for support document for the campaign, meaning it can serve as the single source of truth for fundraisers to create new campaign materials and have more targeted discussions with prospective donors. Its high quality also means it could easily be shared directly with prospects and news outlets as-is, too.
What this Case for Support Does Well
Includes extremely clear and impactful language
Repeats key phrases and vision statements across the entire document
Conveys true urgency without coming across as dark or dire
Emphasizes the impact of proposed solutions and provides statistics to back them up
Very clearly structured with headings that reinforce the purpose of the document
This is an internally-facing case for support written by the team at the Santa Monica Family YMCA to support an annual fundraising campaign.
This particular case document could be an extremely helpful example for your nonprofit. It gives us a direct glimpse into what a working case for support looks like and what kind of information yours should include.
We love how mission-centric this example is—every section clearly connects back to the organization’s mission of strengthening communities through supporting youth and fostering healthy living. With this resource in hand, it would be easy for YMCA fundraisers to craft compelling gift solicitations and promotional materials.
What this Case for Support Does Well
Begins by clarifying the purpose of the resource for YMCA staff
Clearly connects all sections back to the organization’s mission
Explains core programs and areas of operation in easily-repeatable language for use in more materials and donor discussions
Ends with a short library of constituent stories broken down by program—invaluable for fundraisers in the field!
Writing a case for support (for a campaign, event, or just for your fundraising efforts in general) is one of the most important things you can do to set your nonprofit up for success.
With an easy-to-use guide on how to talk about your objectives, needs, goals, and plans, your team will be able to tackle any fundraising challenge with ease. If you need to draft a case of support of your own, start by working through the “Essential Elements” explained above and following our recommended steps. You’ll be engaging your prospects, funders, and corporate partners with compelling fundraising pitches in no time.
To keep learning, explore these additional fundraising guides:
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/nonprofit-case-for-support-guide.png7502000Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2024-04-02 12:19:372024-04-02 12:19:37The Art of Persuasion: How to Build a Case for Support
Today, companies are diving deep into social good causes in large part due to the rise of corporate social responsibility (CSR), which reflects a company’s efforts toward improving society. One of the biggest programs to come from CSR is workplace giving.
Workplace giving programs are important to more organizations than just the companies that run them. Nonprofit organizations all over the world benefit from CSR initiatives, with workplace giving at the forefront, raising approximately $5 billion every year.
Both companies and nonprofits should focus on workplace giving to reap its unique benefits. That’s why we’re going to cover the following topics:
Workplace giving can have a huge impact on society as a whole, benefiting nonprofits all over the globe. But there’s more to it than that. Let’s get started.
1. What is workplace giving?
Workplace giving is a company-sponsored program that provides its employees with the opportunity to financially support nonprofit organizations.
Through workplace giving, employees can make charitable donations to the nonprofits they care about.
Workplace giving is an umbrella term, which means it can refer to multiple types of programs. Diversifying workplace giving can encourage greater employee participation. When you provide multiple ways to get involved, employees have the freedom to choose how they want to give and actively take part in the process as a result.
As part of workplace giving, companies can choose to:
Match donations.Corporate matching gift programs are a form of workplace giving in which companies financially match donations their employees make to nonprofits, essentially doubling employees’ donations.
Offer volunteer grants. For employees who might not be able to donate financially, they can still donate their time. Employees who volunteer on a regular basis with a nonprofit can submit a volunteer grant request to their employer. This means the nonprofit will receive a donation from the employer based on the number of hours the employee volunteered.
Payroll deductions. Payroll deductions are one of the most common types of workplace giving. Rather than employees going out of their way to make donations, payroll deductions automatically deduct a portion of their paychecks to donate to a charity of their choice. Payroll deductions are usually small but can quickly add up, allowing one nonprofit supported by an entire company to amass significant financial support.
Of these programs, corporate matching gifts are arguably the most effective and important giving channel to focus on as both a company and a nonprofit. Most companies match at a 1:1 ratio (a dollar for a dollar), but ratios can range from 0.5:1 to 4:1. Many companies also match donations to a wide range of organizations, with few restrictions.
Workplace giving can be enhanced by any of the programs we’ve already mentioned. But the most important thing to remember is that when companies offer multiple ways to give to charities, employee participation as a whole will rise.
2. Why workplace giving matters for companies
Beyond the social good workplace giving promotes all around, there are specific benefits for companies:
When it comes to employee engagement, a company’s employees tend to be happier working for companies that support generous giving initiatives, and companies with happy employees outperform their competition by 20%.
69% of employees feel a stronger sense of loyalty to their employer if they have a workplace giving program. This loyalty leads to higher retention, meaning less turnover and more time spent investing in experienced employees rather than training new ones.
Apart from internal benefits, companies also maintain a positive public image in the communities in which they operate. 84% of consumers state they have more trust in businesses that have charitable giving programs.
Your company has spent a lot of time and energy setting up its workplace giving program, and you can start reaping its benefits faster the easier employee participation is. After all, the more your employees take part in workplace giving, the happier they’ll be.
When an employer leverages a workplace giving platform equipped with auto-submission functionality, which recently came out of beta for all 360MatchPro users, it makes workplace giving participation easier than ever before. Not only is it quicker for employees to get involved, but it’s also simpler for companies to organize, establish, and maintain their programs.
Employers can spend less time tracking and reporting on employee giving and matching gift submissions, reducing the administrative workload it takes to manage workplace giving. And it’s all while making a larger impact on the causes their employees care about!
3. Why workplace giving matters for nonprofits
It’s obvious that workplace giving campaigns help nonprofits financially. But the benefits go deeper than that.
When companies emphasize corporate matching gifts and other workplace giving programs, nonprofits benefit tremendously. This is because:
Workplace giving builds stronger relationships between nonprofits and companies/employees. Even charitable employees can forget to give on occasion, but workplace giving makes interacting with nonprofits a routine part of their schedule, increasing interactions and strengthening their investment in the nonprofits they give to.
Long-term relationships between nonprofits and companies lead to ongoing partnerships. When multiple employees give to the same nonprofit, leadership may be inspired to take their support to the next level with corporate sponsorships for the nonprofit’s events and programs.
Nonprofits can better serve their constituents and their missions. Nonprofits also save time and resources by participating in workplace giving programs. They can receive gifts in a cost-efficient way without spending time soliciting donations. Instead, that time can go to doing good.
When companies do everything they can to encourage employees to participate in workplace giving programs, nonprofits gain more than just monetary support. They’ll become part of a larger community that helps them reach their goals.
How auto-submission helps
With higher participation rates by companies and their employees, auto-submission leads to greater revenue for the nonprofits on the receiving end of the relationship. More matching gifts are processed with auto-submission, meaning charitable organizations in need of support earn more revenue.
Not to mention, matching gift auto-submission directly addresses obstacles that nonprofit fundraisers have been facing for years! Common roadblocks, such as a lack of donor awareness of workplace giving programs and non-completed submission forms, are eliminated with auto-submission. Donors are more inclined to complete their end of the process when it’s as easy as a single click, and they’re also likely to keep giving and matching year after year.
4. Why workplace giving matters for employees
Workplace giving doesn’t just benefit companies and nonprofits. As previously mentioned, companies that participate in workplace giving maintain a higher employee engagement rate and lower turnover.
Let’s look at how workplace giving programs can further benefit employees specifically:
Employees give to reputable charities. One of the benefits of workplace giving—especially for employees—is that they can be certain they’re giving to reputable organizations. Generally, workplace giving programs screen the nonprofits that are allowed to participate. This means employees can rest assured their donations are going to a good cause.
Employees give in smaller increments. Employees who might not be able to donate a large sum at once can benefit from automatic payroll deductions. The smaller amounts deducted from each paycheck will add up over time, and, when paired with a matching gift from their employer, add up to make a real impact.
Employees make a larger impact overall. Even if employees are only able to donate in small increments, their gifts combine with those of thousands of employees across the country. These donations are also unrestricted, meaning nonprofits can use them however they see fit to continue fulfilling their mission.
There are many reasons why workplace giving matters, and for employees, being able to donate effectively to worthy causes is a big one.
How auto-submission helps
A nonprofit’s donors want to make a significant impact on their favorite organizations’ missions. Additionally, a company’s staff appreciates the opportunity to involve their employer in the causes they care about. Luckily, auto-submission makes every step in the process easier.
When an employee who qualifies for auto-submission gives to an organization equipped with Double the Donation’s tools, a matching gift request can be completed in mere seconds—no website redirects, separate login processes, or repetition of donation information.
This empowers more employees to get involved in their companies’ workplace giving programs that would have otherwise been deterred by a complicated process.
5. How can companies implement and maintain workplace giving programs?
For companies, reporting tools are crucial to their workplace giving programs’ success. If a company doesn’t have a set process in place for tracking matching gifts, volunteer grant requests, payroll deduction options, and other components of their giving programs, measuring what impact the company has made becomes challenging.
Reporting enables your company to maintain transparency, which tends to be low among corporate philanthropy programs. As a result, only 1 in 10 consumers state that they trust corporate giving programs as compared to nonprofit programs.
That’s why many companies invest in workplace giving solutions to effectively track each task, their CSR initiatives, their goals, and any pending requests. There are many types of workplace giving platforms, so be sure to look for tools that meet your company’s needs.
More specifically, if you’re running a matching gift, volunteer grant, or payroll deduction program, below are key features to look for in your workplace giving solution:
Centralized employee donation tracking
Streamlined approval process for nonprofit types, donation matches, and volunteer grants
Volunteer event setup and management
Volunteer hour tracking
Payroll integration
When you choose workplace giving software that offers the tools you need to manage each component of your giving program, it’ll be much easier for your employees to get involved and for your company to track your overall CSR initiatives and progress.
How can companies offer the best workplace giving programs for employees?
According to corporate giving research, one of the largest considerations as to whether employees will participate in a workplace giving program revolves around how easy it is for them to get involved. For many donors, that idea is based heavily on the different ways that they’re able to give.
For example, our studies show the following:
96% of employees at companies with matching gift programs have a strong or very strong preference for their company to match donations made directly to a nonprofit (such as through the nonprofit’s website, peer-to-peer fundraising platform, or mail) rather than only matching donations through a workplace giving software platform.
This idea boils down to the fact that employees do not want to participate in an employee giving program that is restricted to gifts made through just their employer’s workplace giving platform. The more options a company has for employees to support the nonprofits they care about, the more likely they are to partake.
Along similar lines, if you want more employees to get involved with your matching gifts initiatives, adjust your requirements to offer low minimum donations, high maximums, and liberal submission deadlines, and expand the types—full-time, part-time, and retired—of employees who can have their gifts matched.
Once a match-eligible donation has been made, it’s equally (if not more) important that the match submission process is quick and easy. Again, this is where matching gift auto-submission—made available through Double the Donation in partnership with select workplace giving platforms—can come in handy.
How can companies actively promote workplace giving programs?
The best thing a company can do to promote workplace giving—and to help nonprofits in the process—is to educate their employees.
Feature your workplace giving programs in employee onboarding materials. More specifically, you should highlight:
Matching gift programs
Volunteer grant opportunities
Payroll deductions
Paid time off to volunteer
Other opportunities to support nonprofits
Educating your employees when you first launch your program and offering reminders throughout the year will keep your CSR initiatives at the forefront of your company culture.
Of course, it’s always a good practice to get employee feedback on your workplace giving programs. This will help you determine whether your program is accessible and effective. Send out surveys and allow employees to vote on the types of nonprofits or causes they want to support or even the types of workplace giving programs they want to see offered.
Additional workplace giving resources
If you’re interested in starting a workplace giving program, hopefully, this guide has served as a helpful start to learning more about employee giving opportunities and why workplace giving matters in the long run. Whether you’re part of a company or nonprofit, the benefits of taking part in workplace giving programs are endless.
To learn more about this extensive topic, we’ve compiled a few of our favorite resources below:
You likely have a number of matchable donations in your CRM at any given time. If you’re looking to revamp your strategy, you might wonder if gifts made last week, month, or quarter remain eligible for the giving programs. Fear not—many contributions from the past year (give or take) should still qualify for company matching. Now, you’re just waiting for your donors to complete their matching gift requests!
The problem is that many donors remain unaware of the matching gift opportunity entirely. When an individual has no idea their employer matches, they won’t take the necessary steps to request associated funding and secure additional revenue for your nonprofit.
That’s why educating your teamand your donors about the importance of matching gift requests is essential. And we’ve provided this expert guide to help you do so!
In this blog post, we’ll cover the following key topics:
A matching gift request is a submission made by a donor to their employer as part of the company’s matching gift program. The request aims to secure a corporate match for the individual’s donation to a nonprofit cause, making it an essential part of the matching gift process.
The Matching Gift Fundraising Process
A donor contributes to a nonprofit.
The donor determines if their gift qualifies for an employer match.
The donor completes a matching gift request from their employer.
The employer reviews the matching gift request and verifies the initial donation with the organization.
The employer approves the matching gift request and disburses match funding to the organization.
Though the request itself can vary from one company to the next, these forms generally source information on the employee, the recipient organization, and transaction details.
How Do Donors Complete Matching Gift Requests?
The actual task of submitting a matching gift request is going to fall on each individual donor. However, it helps to ensure your fundraising team is familiar with the process and prepared to assist donors in completing it.
Here’s how it generally works:
Step 1: A donor receives a link to their matching gift form.
After a donor contributes to a nonprofit, the organization should take proactive steps to encourage the individual to complete the matching gift request process. This might mean promoting matching gifts from the confirmation screen or in a separate email follow-up (as pictured below).
For the best results, the reminder should include an acknowledgment of the donor’s initial donation along with a direct link to their company forms.
Step 2: The donor logs into their company’s giving portal.
After the donor receives a link to their employer’s matching gift form, they should navigate to the company’s giving portal or corporate philanthropy platform. This site will generally house a range of corporate giving information, including the forms required for employees to complete their matching gift requests.
Once on the page, they’ll log in using credentials provided by their employer. Most online portals have contact information for the company’s program administrator, should a donor have difficulty accessing the platform on their own.
Step 3: The donor initiates a matching gift request.
Within the company’s giving portal (or externally, for companies that don’t use them), a donor should locate the option to initiate a matching gift request.
This may be presented as a specific form or an online application within the portal.
Step 4: The donor provides donation details on the online form.
The donor should now follow the instructions provided by the portal to complete their matching gift request form properly. They should expect to supply information about…
Themselves (i.e., employee ID number, corporate email address)
The organization they supported (there will typically be some kind of search field or dropdown menu from which to choose)
Their recent transaction details (gift format, amount, date, etc.)
Once approved, the company makes its own donation to the nonprofit, effectively doubling (or, in some cases, tripling) the impact of the original gift.
What to Know About Matching Gift Request Deadlines ⌛
Matching gift requests are not generally required to be submitted immediately following the initial giving transaction. However, nearly all companies establish some sort of deadline by which employee matching gift requests must be completed.
The dates themselves vary, generally coinciding with the calendar year (e.g., December of the year in which the donation was made; the end of the calendar year plus a grace period into the following one) or a set amount of time post-donation.
Top tip:Encouraging timely submissions from donors is integral to an optimized strategy. The more time passes after an individual’s donation, the less likely they are to complete the match. Not to mention, the sooner your nonprofit receives the extra funds, the sooner it can put those funds to good use.
See How Matching Gift Automation Can Help
Get a sneak peek of the industry-leading matching gift automation solution, 360MatchPro.
Familiarize yourself with the following types of program deadlines. Plus, review leading matching gift company guidelines to see when their employees’ matching gift requests are due!
Deadline #1: A Set Number of Days or Months Post-Donation
The first type of deadline is based on the amount of time elapsed since the individual completed their initial donation. While most companies offer flexible submission windows for matching gift requests, deadlines can range from 30 days to an entire year post-transaction.
Fannie Mae
Fannie Mae currently matches part-time and full-time employee donations up to $5,000. Unfortunately, some donors miss out on this funding opportunity, largely due to a lack of program awareness, which results in missed matching gift requests.
Match request deadline: Fannie Mae donors must submit their matching gift requests within 30 days of their donation date or by December 31st of each year (whichever is sooner).
Altria offers a generous matching gift program (up to $30,000 per employee per year) along with sizable volunteer grants (up to $500 after 25 hours of volunteering).
Match request deadline: Altria’s program administrator must receive all matching gift requests within 90 days of the donations being made.
Apple offers a generous matching gift program for full-time and part-time employees. Each year, team members are encouraged to request between $1 and $10,000 in matches from qualifying gifts!
Match request deadline: Employees should be sure to submit their matching gift requests swiftly, as Apple requires gifts to be registered within one month of the transaction date.
Microsoft matches between $1 and $15,000 per team member per year. Plus, employees can earn grants for their favorite organizations worth $25 for each hour they spend volunteering.
Match request deadline: Employees are welcome to request matching gifts for any qualifying donations made in the past 12 months!
Fast food corporation YUM Brands, including employees at Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell restaurants, matches gifts at a dollar-for-dollar rate up to $1,000 per associate per year.
Match request deadline: All YUM Brands employees should complete their matching gift requests within six months of their initial donations.
The other main type of matching gift request deadline is one that aligns with the calendar year (running from January 1st to December 31st). That means tons of companies set their deadlines at December 31st.
Here are a few examples:
AVON
AVON matches employee donations up to $15,000 per year. And the first $500 donated is matched at a 2:1 rate, thus tripling the initial donation value.
Match request deadline: AVON employees should mark their calendars! While the deadline indeed falls in December of each year, team members are required to complete their requests prior to December 11th rather than the standard 31st.
Freeport-McMoRan matches donations of up to $40,000 to a wide range of nonprofits. While the first $1,000 donated is matched at a 2:1 rate (thus tripling each initial dollar’s value), donations above $1,000 are matched dollar-for-dollar.
Match request deadline: While Freeport-McMoRan encourages employees to submit matching donation requests at the time of the initial donation, employees can submit matches until Dec. 31st of the year following the date of the donation.
SAP America gives charitably through the SAP Together Program. Within this initiative, SAP employees are incentivized to donate to nonprofits to unlock matching gifts for their favorite organizations.
Match request deadline: Matching gifts must be requested of the company by December 31st of the year in which the initial donation is made. However, donors should be encouraged to submit their matches as soon as possible due to a company-wide annual limit.
The last group of companies establishes their matching gift deadlines according to the calendar year as well. But they also tack on an additional month or so.
Boeing
Boeing offers a monetary match, a volunteer grant match, and a fundraising match. And while full-time and part-time employees qualify to have their gifts matched dollar-for-dollar, retirees of the company are eligible to request a 0.5:1 match.
Match request deadline: Boeing employees (or retirees) participating in any matching gift program must submit their matching gift requests by January 31st of the year following the one in which the initial contribution/volunteerism/event took place.
Each year, Verizon matches employee donations of up to $5,000 to the educational institutions of their choice. Meanwhile, all other nonprofits qualify for up to $1,000 in match funding, along with $750 grants for organizations with which employees volunteer.
Match request deadline: Matching gift requests must be entered into the electronic matching gift system before January 31st of the year following the date of the donation.
Adobe matches donations of up to $10,000 per employee per year. Additionally, employees can submit volunteer or “dollars for doers” grant requests worth $250 for every 10 hours they volunteer.
Match request deadline: All matching gift requests must be submitted by January 31st of the year following the one in which the gift was made, regardless of the donation date.
Coca-Cola generously matches employee gifts at a 2:1 ratio. That means for every $1 an employee contributes, Coke gives $2 up to a maximum corporate contribution of $20,000.
Match request deadline: All employee matching gift requests should be completed and returned to The Coca-Cola Company by February 28th of the following year.
Bank of America (including the investment management and wealth management division, Merrill Lynch) matches employee donations to nearly all nonprofit causes. Each year, team members can request between $24 and $5,000 worth of matches for personal donations of equal amounts.
Match request deadline: Employees must complete an application and have the recipient organization verify the gift. This information must be received by January 31st of the year following the date of the donation.
Fun fact: General Electric was the first company to implement an employee matching gift program in 1954. Today, it matches millions of dollars worth of gifts to approved charities around the world. Each team full or part-time team member is encouraged to request between $25 and $5,000 per year!
Match request deadline: General Electric offers one of the most extended matching gift program deadlines, with employees being able to request matches until April 15th(tax day!) of the year after their gifts were made.
Unfortunately, matching gift deadlines mean little if your organization isn’t informing donors about matching gifts first. After all, the vast majority of match-eligible employees (approximately 78%) have no idea their company even matches gifts.
How will a donor know to submit a request on time if they don’t know to submit one in the first place?
Luckily, marketing matching gifts to your donors is easier than ever (check out our free downloadable resource for more tips and tricks!). Proper software can help screen for match-eligible transactions, inform donors of their eligibility, and supply individuals with actionable information to initiate the process, too.
As the fundraising sector’s top matching gift tool, 360MatchPro identifies matching gift opportunities and triggers personalized marketing emails. It also integrates with nearly all of the leading fundraising solutions, allowing it to supercharge the donation process and make implementation and management quick and easy.
Watch the following 60-second overview video to learn more:
Streamlining Matching Gift Requests With Auto-Submission
Traditionally, an employee wanting to file a matching gift request had to determine their eligibility for a match before identifying and completing the correct forms for their employer. Then, as outlined above, the matching gift request process typically requires an individual to log into a separate portal. There, they supply donation data and submit their matching gift form.
But today, the matching gift request process is being transformed. And it’s beginning with a shift toward 360MatchPro’s groundbreaking auto-submission functionality! Now, companies that enable this option through their CSR platforms empower employees with a one-click request opportunity directly from their favorite organizations’ giving pages.
When requesting a match is as simple as selecting a checkbox on a confirmation screen, more donors will be inclined to do it—which is why auto-submission is such an invaluable tool.
Wrapping Up
Effectively navigating the world of matching gift requests can seem like a daunting task. But armed with the right knowledge and resources, donors can maximize the impact of their contributions to nonprofits like yours.
Keep in mind that as the fundraising organization, it’s your responsibility to ensure your audience is informed and encouraged to participate. And that means recognizing the potential for matching gifts and taking proactive steps to supply donors with company forms and guidelines.
Interested in learning more about effective matching gift fundraising practices? Check out these additional recommended resources:
Corporate Matching Gift Forms | The Ultimate Guide. From understanding the process to maximizing your submissions, this resource equips you with the knowledge to navigate and optimize matching gifts for your nonprofit.
In major election years, political campaigns are at the top of everyone’s minds. Your organization’s supporters receive political advertisements and donation appeals alongside those from your nonprofit, and donors may even wonder where your organization stands on key election issues.
While 501(c)(3) nonprofits are prohibited from participating in or supporting specific political campaigns, that doesn’t mean you should ignore them. Not only can election results impact your organization’s work in the future, but there are also plenty of lessons you can learn from political campaign strategies to improve your own fundraising and marketing campaigns.
We’ll cover five concepts that political campaign staff understand well and explore how you can apply them to your nonprofit’s strategies.
1. Time is of the Essence
Since every political campaign runs on a hard deadline, they understand the importance of urgency in every facet of their operations. Political campaign staff plot out detailed field plans, campaign timelines, and editorial calendars to ensure that every action contributes to the ultimate goal of winning the election. They hit the ground running, leveraging volunteers to speak with hundreds of voters at a time about supporting their candidate.
You can approach your fundraising campaigns with the same mindset to increase their momentum and drive results. Try infusing more urgency into your nonprofit’s campaigns by:
Writing urgent calls to action. The calls to action (CTAs) that you include in fundraising appeals, social media posts, and emails should convey the importance of your nonprofit’s work and empower supporters to act now. For instance, the CTA “Donate to save a turtle today!” inspires more urgency than “Donate here.”
Hosting a phonathon. Political campaigns use phone and text banking to connect with many voters in short time spans. Your nonprofit can do the same by hosting a phonathon in which volunteers call and connect with numerous donors in one day using a standardized script.
Leveraging automation to connect with donors immediately. Marketing automation tools can help you increase the speed at which you reach out to supporters and drive more action. By automatically sending emails or texts immediately after a donor gives, for example, you can quickly strengthen that relationship and inspire further involvement.
Additionally, make sure to frequently update donors on the progress of your campaigns, projects, and programs to show them that your nonprofit is working urgently to put their donations to good use.
2. Public Opinion is Paramount
Political campaign strategists spend plenty of time and resources researching the opinions of voters and crafting messages that will resonate with them. They understand that voters get a candidate elected, just like a nonprofit’s donors enable it to further its mission, and they prioritize voter opinion effectively.
Donors’ opinions, priorities, and concerns should play a central role in your nonprofit’s strategy development, guiding how you approach marketing and fundraising campaigns.
To better understand and speak to your audience’s motivations, send out periodic surveys to ask for their feedback directly. Ask questions like:
Why do you donate to our nonprofit?
What do you consider to be the most important aspects of our cause?
What other causes are you interested in?
What kinds of programs do you want to see from us in the future?
If you could change one thing about our organization, what would it be?
Along with asking your donors directly, take into account research on the opinions of the general public. For example, 77% of consumers want to purchase from companies with corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives like matching gift programs. With this in mind, your nonprofit might prioritize your matching gift fundraising campaigns to appeal to the public’s interest in CSR.
3. Volunteers are Drivers of Change
Similar to nonprofits, most political campaigns don’t have large teams and therefore have to rely on volunteers for major efforts like canvassing and phone banking.
Because these efforts are so critical to the success of political campaigns, campaign staff understand and value their volunteers’ power to enact change. Some campaigns even use distributed organizing tactics, giving leadership positions to select volunteers and empowering them to lead their own volunteer teams on behalf of the campaign.
Your nonprofit can take inspiration from these tactics by improving your volunteer program and empowering volunteers to act. Use the following strategies to do so:
Emphasize skill development. No matter what kind of volunteer opportunities you offer, they involve certain skills that volunteers get to develop when they participate. Highlight the opportunity to improve soft skills like leadership and communication along with relevant hard skills like gardening or teaching.
Host peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns. Let volunteers take the lead on fundraising by hosting a peer-to-peer campaign in which they raise money on behalf of your nonprofit. These campaigns give volunteers a chance to develop their fundraising skills and deepen their relationship with your nonprofit.
Show appreciation to volunteers often. Volunteers are more likely to stay involved with your organization when they feel like their participation is appreciated and makes a genuine difference to your mission. Appreciate volunteers by sending thank-you emails, giving them small gifts, and regularly asking for their feedback.
With a more empowered, involved volunteer force at your disposal, your nonprofit can start taking advantage of corporate volunteering programs, too. Invite volunteers to tap into their employers’ volunteer grant initiatives to make an even greater impact on your cause.
4. Digital Channels Make a Difference
Your nonprofit likely already uses a variety of digital communication channels to connect with donors and spread greater awareness of your nonprofit’s work. But are you leveraging these channels to their full extent?
For political campaigns, digital marketing and outreach is a top priority. They use digital tools like text banking software, canvassing apps, and social media outreach tools to get their message in front of voters across as many channels as possible. They also use a mix of paid and non-paid advertising methods to reach new online audiences.
Think about the digital channels your organization hasn’t yet explored and how they could give your fundraising campaigns a boost. You might try tapping into video marketing, for instance. Or, you could leverage free programs like the Google Ad Grant to try out search advertising. Take stock of the resources you have at your disposal, then choose a few new digital avenues to tap into.
5. Mobilization Requires Multiple Touchpoints
Political campaigns don’t stick to one canvassing or volunteer recruitment method — they use a combination of phone banking, door-to-door canvassing, text messages, social media advertising, email, and more. Campaign staff understand that one message or conversation isn’t enough to mobilize voters and volunteers.
The same is true for nonprofits. To truly inspire action from your supporters, you need a multi-channel fundraising strategy that provides plenty of touchpoints with current and prospective donors. This may include channels like email, text, social media, direct mail, your website, and more.
For the best results, segment your audience based on factors like their donation histories, past involvement, and communication preferences. Then, tailor your outreach and fundraising appeals to the interests of each group to make every touchpoint more meaningful.
Applying These Lessons to Matching Gift Fundraising
Political campaigns and nonprofits may seem different on the surface, but both aim to enact change by touching the hearts and minds of their supporters. This is especially true when it comes to matching gifts — by mobilizing your donors to request matching gifts from their employers, you’ll inspire them to double their impact on the causes they care about.
To apply these political campaign lessons to your matching gift fundraising strategy, try taking the following steps:
Use a matching gift automation tool to immediately follow up with match-eligible donors and instill urgency in your appeals.
Solicit feedback from donors who have requested matching gifts before and use their opinions to guide your matching gift fundraising strategy.
Promote matching gifts across all your online channels to create multiple digital touchpoints with match-eligible donors.
By incorporating these lessons into your organization’s next matching gift fundraising campaign, you can find new ways to engage supporters and mobilize them to act.
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/NGP-VAN_Double-the-Donation_Political-Campaign-Lessons-That-Nonprofits-Can-Learn-From_Feature.png5761536Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2024-03-15 19:12:242024-03-15 19:12:245 Political Campaign Lessons That Nonprofits Can Learn From
Digital fundraising is crucial in today’s nonprofit landscape. In the current software-driven fundraising era, nonprofits, schools, and other charitable institutions must reassess their fundraising arsenals.
If this description sounds like your situation, you may be considering enhancing your existing toolkit or buying new fundraising software. To assist you in this journey, we’ve crafted a comprehensive guide for navigating this process. We’ll cover:
Improve your understanding of how fundraising software impacts organizations like yours and learn what to consider when searching for new tools. From matching gift tools to peer-to-peer platforms, we’ll cover everything you need to elevate your fundraising efforts.
Types of Fundraising Software to Know
A nonprofit fundraising toolkit includes multiple platforms that together perform all the functions you need to reach out to supporters and secure donations. Some solutions are “all-in-one” platforms, while others focus on a few specific features and can integrate with external add-ons to expand their functionality.
What platforms to include in your fundraising toolkit depends on your nonprofit’s needs and goals. However, a few types of fundraising software solutions can be considered essential.
Online Donation Forms
One of the core components of your fundraising toolkit is your organization’s online donation forms. These resources allow nonprofits to collect donations online.
Donation forms have one of the most straightforward purposes of all fundraising software, but there are still many providers to choose from. You may even choose one with more features than the ones we just listed.
Equip volunteer fundraisers with customizable campaign pages
Add images and other fundraising updates
Spread the word with social sharing tools
Track fundraising progress toward goals
Prioritize an accessible and easy-to-use giving process
Integrate with other nonprofit solutions
Remember, for peer-to-peer fundraising, your system should be easy for both your team and your donors to use.
Matching Gift Software
Tons of workplace giving revenue gets left on the table each year—including $4 to $7 billion in unclaimed matching gifts alone. Luckily, nonprofits can leverage a matching gift platform to ensure their donors are tapping into these overlooked resources.
This type of fundraising software enables nonprofits to:
Leverage an autocompleting search tool to identify employment information
Trigger automated outreach to provide valuable matching gift program insights
Ensure no matching gift opportunity falls through the cracks with timely follow-up cadences
Integrate with other nonprofit solutions
When it comes to matching gift software, we have to recommend our state-of-the-art solution, 360MatchPro. What puts our matching gift database over the top is our partnerships with corporate giving software, enabling automatic submission of matching gift requests.
Payment Processors
To accept donations and other payments online, you’ll need payment processing software that facilitates transactions behind the scenes. This tool essentially mediates between the organization, the donor, and their financial institution.
An effective payment processor empowers nonprofit organizations to:
Process contributions for multiple payment methods
Offer a simple user interface
Produce ready-built and custom reports
Maintain high levels of payment security standards
Integrate with other nonprofit solutions
This fundraising tool is essential for facilitating donations, so choose a secure one that strengthens your donation process. Note that a donation form differentiates in that it collects other donor information and may use various payment processors to complete transactions.
Donor Management Systems
When it comes to managing donors, there’s a lot for your team to keep track of. Ensure your fundraisers have the tools to improve operations through a robust donor data management system.
Also known as a CRM (or constituent relationship management tool), your donor database should allow your team to:
Maintain detailed supporter records with engagement histories
Add helpful notes within donor profiles
Segment your supporter base for targeted communications
Automate administrative tasks and donor outreach
Easily generate robust reports
Integrate with other nonprofit solutions
The best nonprofit CRMs simplify communication and strengthen relationships. By understanding your supporters better, you’ll be able to foster deeper connections with them.
Nonprofit Event Tools
Hosting a fundraising event is an effective way to bring in new supporters, boost donor engagement, and increase fundraising revenue. Nonprofit event software can streamline the entire experience including planning, hosting, and following up post-event.
Specifically, the best event fundraising tools make it easy to:
Craft online event pages and/or microsites to promote upcoming opportunities
Offer free or paid ticketing options
Organize engaging in-person, virtual, and hybrid experiences
Facilitate digital bidding at auction events
Collect additional donations beyond ticket sales
Integrate with other nonprofit solutions
Events are a fundamental part of donor engagement, so make sure you can bring your community together to support your cause with the right event software.
Donor Acknowledgment Software
Appreciating your donors is a critical component of nonprofit fundraising, especially if you’re looking to steward long-term relationships with them. Be sure you have some kind of donor recognition software in your fundraising toolkit.
While a regular email or thank-you letter can make do in a pinch, elevate your gratitude with unique and engaging acknowledgments—like eCards!
Your donor recognition software should empower your team to:
Brand messages to your nonprofit, including fonts, images, and colors
Send acknowledgments in seconds
Leverage multiple digital communication channels, including email and SMS
Customize communications to cultivate personal donor connections
Track digital thank-you notes to determine when supporters interact with your outreach
Acknowledging generosity is crucial for retaining support, so think of appreciation software as a tool for investing in earning future donations.
Factors to Consider When Buying Fundraising Software
As you explore various software options, we recommend making detailed notes on the following components of each platform:
Functionality
Fundraising software is a broad term that encompasses many different types of platforms and features. That said, make sure you’re buying software that has the functionalities your organization needs.
At the same time, consider what you can live without. For example, if your organization has awesome event fundraising ideas but isn’t so big on advocacy, forgo tools with advocacy features in favor of ones that have excellent event planning capabilities. Or perhaps you’re looking for a new nonprofit CRM, and you already have a donation platform you love. In that case, look for exclusively database solutions that don’t offer a built-in online giving tool.
Donor Experience
Your donors will typically be the end user of your fundraising software. For example, they’re the ones who fill out your nonprofit’s online donation forms, participate in peer-to-peer campaigns, and interact with your matching gift database search tool.
Prioritize fundraising software that makes the donor experience quick, easy, and painless. If a process is too long or complicated, even your most dedicated supporters may abandon their gifts. Alternatively, a seamless giving experience will keep donors coming back to support your cause time and time again.
Backend Ease of Use
Organizations should choose tech solutions with a level of complexity that is manageable and suitable for their team. For example, if your nonprofit employs developers, a custom-coded solution might make sense. On the other hand, if no one on your team is particularly technical, you’ll likely want to prioritize an off-the-shelf fundraising platform for ease of use.
A solution that’s too technical—and ultimately inaccessible—will complicate operations and discourage staff members from using it altogether. Remember, it’s not just the software but what you do with it that matters.
Scalability
As your internal fundraising team grows, will your software enable enough authorized users? Ensure all staff members who need to use your fundraising platform can. Not only that but when it comes to CRMs in particular, confirm that your potential platform can hold all your donor data with room to spare.
If you anticipate major growth in the near future, prioritize buying a platform that has room for expansion. This will allow your new tools to scale alongside your organization without requiring a software platform switch too quickly.
When choosing fundraising software, consider that low-cost solutions may quickly become inadequate, leading to the need for future upgrades and data migration. That’s why it’s wise to make a forward-thinking decision from the start.
Integrations
Even the most comprehensive software solutions might not have all the features your organization needs. You may have to integrate additional programs or systems to assist your operations.
Here are a few common scenarios when you might need integrations:
An organization might have niche needs, where they may prefer to add their own software solutions (e.g., a particular payment processor or email application) to complement their existing tools.
The software company you’re buying from doesn’t offer tools to facilitate all of your operations (e.g., corporate matching gifts), requiring you to integrate specialized fundraising software.
If you find that you require software integration, communicate your needs to your potential new vendor. That way, they can help determine the compatibility between different systems. Perhaps there’s a native, ready-built integration, in which case, great! On the other hand, if it’s difficult to integrate two solutions, reconsider your priorities or consider working with a nonprofit technology consultant who can develop a custom integration.
Cost
It’s important to go into any major purchase with a budget in mind, and fundraising software is no exception. Before evaluating specific platforms, decide how much your organization can spend. Consider base price, startup costs, and any additional ongoing fees.
The base price is the vendor’s list price on the platform you want to buy and will be what most of your investment goes toward. It encompasses the core functions of the platform but usually excludes expansions or optional add-ons.
Be sure to ask exactly what is included in the base price to make sure you receive all the capabilities you need. If the base price doesn’t include any of your organization’s necessary features, consider how much the excluded features cost to add on.
From there, you might run into additional hidden costs such as:
Staff training
Maintenance fees
Online donation processing fees
Future updates or add-ons
Going into the buying process with a clear budget will naturally limit your options, making the selection process easier. It also, of course, ensures that you won’t be spending more than you can afford.
Customizability
When buying fundraising software, you’re likely looking for a solution that can complement your organization’s operations with its out-of-the-box features. Even so, many platforms are customizable and can be further tailored to fit your cause.
Customizability is a sliding scale, and what level of customizability your nonprofit needs likely depends on your size, resources, and goals. For instance, enterprise-size nonprofits often require fully customizable solutions that are essentially built from the ground up, while small nonprofits may see required customization as an unnecessary strain on their time and budget.
In your search, you may find that software customization can apply to many different features, including:
Supporter profiles
Donation and sign-up forms
Email marketing templates
Reporting and tracking tools
With customizable features, you can mold your software to fit your organization’s unique needs better. Your fundraising software will feel custom-made, more effectively driving impact toward your overall goals.
Training and Ongoing Support
When you first get started with a new fundraising platform, your team will need to go through training or an onboarding process to become proficient with the new tools. The level of instruction can vary drastically from vendor to vendor, making it an important consideration in your search.
Here are a few general questions for your fundraising software company in regard to team-wide training:
How long is the training process?
How is training administered (e.g., virtual, on-site, etc.)?
What proficiency level does your training cater to?
What are the associated costs?
From there, consider ongoing support availability as well. After all, if your nonprofit hires new team members after your initial onboarding session, they’ll need to be trained, too.
Compare software support options by making the following inquiries before you purchase:
Do you offer IT support?
How do I get in contact with support if there’s a problem?
What’s your typical response time?
Remember, the better you and your team understand your software, the more functional it will be, so choose a provider that offers the support you need. With the right support level at your fingertips, your software will perform well for years.
When chatting with vendors, ask about the software’s flexibility in controlling user permissions, so you can select which users can access sensitive information.
When it comes to donor payment information, consider industry security standards in your search, such as the following protections:
PCI compliance: The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of requirements designed to ensure that credit card information is processed, stored, and transmitted securely. For fundraising software, it’s essential for protecting donor payment information.
Encryption and Tokenization: Encryption converts data into a coded format to prevent unauthorized access. Tokenization replaces sensitive data with unique identification symbols that retain all the essential information without compromising its security. Both are used to protect sensitive data like credit card numbers.
Password Security: Strong password security measures ensure access to fundraising software is guarded against unauthorized users. This includes requirements for complex passwords, regular password changes, and secure storage of passwords.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring two or more verification factors to access a resource, such as a database or online account. For instance, your fundraising system might require users to enter an emailed code after entering their login details. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
Confirm that donors’ data will be kept safe and sound within your fundraising platform, a ensure that supporters feel comfortable entering their payment information in the first place!
Questions to Ask Before Buying Fundraising Software
To ensure you find software that perfectly aligns with your needs, here are some recommended questions for your selection process!
How difficult are the initial setup and data transfer?
Because you buying fundraising software, account for the initial software setup and data transfer from your previous solution. Your nonprofit data is the key to strengthening donor relationships and optimizing fundraising efforts, so it’s essential that it translates to your new platform without issue.
First, determine that it’s possible to transfer your data to the new system in its proper format. Then, consider how you’ll prepare your data for this process. If it turns out that transferring your data from one system to another requires a lot of time and labor on your part, consider whether the software offers other benefits that make it worth the effort.
Does it have the integrations my organization needs?
Integrations are essential for an effective fundraising software ecosystem. Unintegrated software can result in time-consuming manual data migration and data silos. With integrations, however, your technology can function as a cohesive unit, rather than a collection of disparate tools.
Therefore, one of the most important questions when buying fundraising software is “Does it offer the integrations my team—and technology ecosystem—needs?”
For example, Double the Donation integrates with 70+ of the industry’s largest nonprofit technology providers, including donation platforms, peer-to-peer software, CRMs, corporate giving solutions, and more. If you use (or plan to use) Double the Donation’s matching gift software, we strongly recommend exploring the giving tools with which we partner.
How do I maintain effective use of my software over time?
The buying process doesn’t just end the minute your software is set up and your staff knows how to use it. For your software to keep running at its highest capacity, consider how you’ll maintain it over time.
Before deciding, ask if the software has any built-in features to keep your data clean and up-to-date. This is one instance where automation can make a big difference. Automated features like deduplication can help maintain a clean and accurate database, ensuring your records never become messy and out of hand.
Second, ensure that your maintenance support includes installing updates, or if it doesn’t, that these updates are fairly easy to install yourself. By keeping your software up-to-date, you’ll get much more life out of it and ensure it stays secure.
Key Steps for Buying Fundraising Software
As you navigate the fundraising software buying process, keep these key steps in mind.
1. Determine your fundraising goals, must-have features, and budget.
Start by determining what you want to achieve with a new platform. Perhaps you want to:
Boost matching gift revenue with software that identifies eligible donors, markets match opportunities, and streamlines the matching gift request process.
Increase donation page conversions by leveraging fundraising software with a user-friendly interface, customizable calls-to-action, and a seamless donation process.
Improve data flow from your donation form to your CRM by automating data entry and minimizing duplicate entries via deduplication.
Notice how each goal has correlating features that allow you to accomplish those objectives. Allocate your funds based on these goals, must-have features, and anticipated number of users.
The best advice we can give is not to overcomplicate the fundraising process when buying fundraising software. Your new software should make your organization’s current operations better. If your new solution overcomplicates things for your team and donors with unnecessary features, it’s probably not the one.
2. Create a list of potential vendors.
With so many fundraising software solutions available, it can be difficult to narrow down your options. To kickstart your research with trusted providers, we recommend heading over to Double the Donation’s partnerships hub to check out the range of innovative, best-in-class solutions that we work with.
Still too many choices? Use our software search tool to filter for different platform types, verticals served, and key functionality. In doing so, you can find the right tools and equip your team with Double the Donation’s matching gift solution to drive corporate giving revenue.
3. Check out the reviews.
You don’t have to go through the buying process alone. In fact, organizations that have previously used a particular fundraising software can be a huge help when it comes to deciding whether or not to buy. Because they’ve had experience with the product, they can attest firsthand to how it functions.
Consult online reviews other organizations have provided about the software you’re evaluating. If you see certain patterns regarding the platform’s strengths or weaknesses, it’s fairly safe to expect a similar experience.
Additionally, try reaching out to your connections in the nonprofit sector. Fundraising professionals at organizations similar to yours may have insight into the software they considered, which solutions worked, and which sent up red flags for them.
4. Book demos.
Before making your final decision, see the tools in action. Most software vendors offer informational demos, allowing prospective clients to get a better idea of their product before buying.
Check the vendor’s website to see if they feature any pre-recorded demo videos. Some providers may require basic information about your nonprofit and how you intend to use the software first, then send an on-demand demo (or perhaps even a free trial) over email or through their site.
For those further along in the buying process, many vendors also offer live online demos upon request. These experiences are more personalized and can provide a closer look at how the software will work for your organization. From here, you can make your final decision and buy the fundraising software that’s the best fit for your organization!
5. Purchase your fundraising software.
Based on your demos, make your final decision and buy the fundraising software that’s the best fit for your organization! Work with your vendor to get the technology up and running. You can also work with a fundraising technology consultant to integrate the new tools into your processes.
Our Top Fundraising Tool Pick to Drive Engagement + Revenue
Following the tips on selecting the best fundraising software, you might be wondering what our top fundraising software recommendations are. To maximize donor contributions and fundraising efficiency, we suggest choosing 360MatchPro—our complete matching gift automation platform. It empowers you to identify corporate match opportunities, pinpoint your highest-value opportunities, and drive those matches to completion.
360MatchPro Overview
360MatchPro by Double the Donation enhances the matching gift process for nonprofits and their donors, increasing matching gift revenue. Our platform integrates seamlessly with a wide range of fundraising tools, such as donation forms, peer-to-peer software, and donor management systems.
Upon receiving a donation, donors who used their work email addresses for their gift are automatically evaluated by 360MatchPro to determine if they are eligible for a matching gift from their employer. If they are, the platform then sends tailored, company-specific instructions for submitting a matching gift request. If eligibility is uncertain, the software prompts donors to use an embedded company search tool to confirm their status and access real-time instructions.
Plus, 360MatchPro assists fundraisers in tracking incoming matches, providing valuable insights for forecasting match revenue, pushing stalled matches forward, and offering comprehensive reporting and analytics to assess success and identify areas for improvement in your matching gift strategy. Not to mention, our auto-submission feature is the latest advancement in matching gift technology and simplifies the donation process immensely. Watch this video for a rundown of how it works:
Studies indicate that employing a matching gift automation tool (like 360MatchPro) increases matching gift revenue for nonprofits by 61%! It even drives individual giving. 84% of survey participants indicated they’re more likely to donate if a match is offered, and 1 in 3 donors indicated they’d give a larger gift if matching is applied.
With our matching gift software, the process is entirely automated, saving your organization significant time and resources. Matching gifts have never been easier!
Examples of Fundraising Software In Action
When considering fundraising software, it can be useful to envision exactly what it can do for your nonprofit. Rather than relying on hypotheticals, try looking for case studies and examples of organizations that use the tools you’re considering.
To show off how the right software can elevate a nonprofit’s fundraising strategy, we’ve put together a few examples of top fundraising platforms in action:
Marietta College
*Uses GiveCampus and Double the Donation
Marietta College is a private liberal arts school consistently ranked among the top colleges in Ohio. Let’s look at the essential elements of Marietta College’s fundraising strategy and how its technology supports its goals.
Donation Page
Marietta College’s donation page is quick and easy to complete, prompting users to input basic gift details and contact information. There are also optional fields, including employer for matching gift programs, affiliation to the school, and class year, to provide additional insights for the institution.
Once the form is completed, the school’s fundraising software lets donors check out using Venmo, PayPal, Google Pay, debit/credit card, or bank transfer. Providing multiple payment methods enables organizations to meet donors where they are and drive more gifts to completion!
Confirmation Screen
After submitting their contribution, the donor is automatically rerouted to a gift confirmation screen. This web page thanks supporters for their generous contributions and provides detailed information about their employers’ matching gift programs, including eligibility criteria and how to complete their matches.
By telling donors how to pursue available matching gift opportunities, more matches are driven to completion, and more revenue is generated for the institution.
Follow-Up Email
A few minutes after finalizing their donations, Marietta College supporters receive customized email follow-ups in their inboxes. These messages include appreciation emails in addition to reminders about matching gift program availability, links to online submission portals, and actionable encouragement to complete their matching gift requests.
This keeps the college and its fundraising needs at the forefront of donors’ minds for longer and ultimately results in increased corporate matching revenue to help the school reach its goals.
African Impact Foundation
*Uses Fundraise Up and Double the Donation
The African Impact Foundation was established in 2008 to equip children in Southern and Eastern Africa with the education and skills to uncover pathways out of poverty. Here’s how the foundation collects donations using powerful fundraising tools.
Multi-Step Donation Page
The African Impact Foundation leverages a multi-step donation form with which donors can submit their gifts to the organization. On the first page, individuals can select their intended donation from suggested gift sizes or enter their own amount. Additionally, they can choose to give on a recurring basis, dedicate or designate their gift, or add optional comments. The fundraising software offers multiple opportunities throughout the giving process for donors to upgrade their donations.
On the next page, donors are encouraged to double their gift impact with a matching donation. They are provided access to a matching gift company search tool to name their employer to view guidelines and available forms. In the final step, donors can choose to cover their transaction costs and check out using a credit card, PayPal, or Google Pay.
Follow-Up Email
Using the employment information provided during the initial donation process, the African Impact Foundation’s fundraising software triggers automated matching gift follow-up emails, providing donors with company-specific program information and detailed next steps for submitting requests. They also use the follow-up email to thank donors and encourage them to get their gifts matched by their employing companies.
What’s Next?
With the right tools and resources in your team’s tech stack, you’ll be able to bring in more fundraising revenue without a hitch.
Interested in learning more about strategic nonprofit fundraising and the solutions available to your team? Check out these additional fundraising resources:
The Comprehensive Guide to Fundraising Technology. This free downloadable resource dives deeper into the topic of innovative fundraising technology, best practices for making software buying decisions, and more.
Best Corporate Volunteering Platforms: Features to Look For. Chances are, you rely on volunteers to champion your cause. Make sure you’re equipped with the right software to recruit passionate volunteers and create an unforgettable volunteer experience.
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Buying-Fundraising-Software_Feature.jpg3751000Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2024-03-06 08:00:342024-10-01 14:22:25How to Buy Fundraising Software That’s Right For Your Nonprofit
Matching gifts play a large role in many nonprofits’ fundraising strategies. These opportunities aren’t just limited to the United States, either. Organizations in Canada—and worldwide—can benefit from corporate philanthropy, too. Specifically, Canadian companies that match gifts supply a powerful opportunity for Canadian charities to maximize funds and engagement alike.
In this guide, we’ve selected a few standout programs that your team should be aware of. Plus, we’ll share expert-proven tips and tricks for making the most of the initiatives. This includes:
To learn more about Canadian companies that match gifts and matching gift databases that cover the Canadian matching gift market, read on!
But before we jump in, let’s cover the basics of matching gifts.
The Basics of Matching Gifts Across Any Market
What are matching gifts?
Matching gifts are a unique and widespread form of corporate philanthropy in which companies match donations their employees make to eligible nonprofits. Matching donations are typically made at a 1:1 ratio, but some companies match at a higher rate, such as 2:1, 3:1, or even 4:1.
This type of giving is particularly valuable because it essentially supplies free money for your nonprofit. However, they’re often overlooked by donors due to a lack of program awareness and by nonprofits lacking the necessary staff, resources, or time to pursue the opportunity.
Who qualifies for matching gifts?
Companies that match gifts typically implement a program policy with specific eligibility guidelines. In order for a donor to qualify, their donation and the organization to which they gave must adhere to the pre-determined criteria.
While the criteria will vary from one company to the next, one overarching stipulation is that receiving organizations are generally required to be registered charities in the region in which they operate. In Canada, that means a nonprofit registered under the nation’s Income Tax Act by the Charities Directorate of the Canada Revenue Agency.
Meanwhile, American nonprofits should be registered with the Internal Revenue Service and have received 501(c)(3) status.
Top Canadian Matching Gift Companies
With the 9th largest economy in the world, Canada headquarters many well-known companies with generous employee giving benefits. In fact, Canadian corporations have a long history of philanthropy—which is great news for the nonprofits that call Canada home.
Take a look at the following Canadian companies that match gifts, and find out if your donors work for the generous employers below:
1. BCE Inc.
Minimum donation amount: $1
Maximum donation amount: $1,000
Match ratio: 1:1
Employee eligibility: Full-time, part-time
Nonprofit eligibility: Select organizations, including United Way, Canadian higher education institutions, and the Canadian Mental Health Association
BCE Inc., formerly known as Bell Canada Enterprises, offers a focused matching gift program benefitting a few specific organizations as well as colleges and universities within the country. The company also offers individual and team volunteer grants, where employees or retirees donate their time throughout the year to earn substantial grants for their favorite nonprofits.
Specifically, employees who volunteer at least 50 hours in a year can acquire a grant amount of $500. Meanwhile, teams are required to volunteer a combined 500 hours within a year-long period to qualify for a $2,500 grant!
Nonprofit eligibility: Charitable organizations in Canada, the U.S., and Honduras
Headquartered in Montreal, Gildan Activewear matches nonprofit donations from both full- and part-time employees. The matching gift program is open to organizations in Canada, the United States, and Honduras.
In addition to matching donations, the Canada-based company also supplies volunteer grants and multiplies select fundraising collections by employees, too!
Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, health and human services, and more
Green Shield Canada matches gifts of up to $1,000 per full-time employee on an annual basis. The company’s matching gift program is inclusive of most schools and nonprofit organizations, including a variety of institutions ranging from K-12 schools to arts and cultural organizations.
Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more
The Royal Bank of Canada, also known as RBC, matches employee donations to nonprofit causes, and is inclusive of gifts made between $100 and $5,000 per year. A key perk of RBC’s matching gift program is that part-time employees and retirees alike are encouraged to participate with the standard 1:1 ratio.
Like many of these other organizations, RBC also offers dollars for doers grants for active volunteers! After volunteering for a minimum of 40 volunteer hours, the company will provide up to a $500 grant.
Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more
TC Energy offers two main types of employee giving programs. The first is its standard matching gift program, where the company will match up to $1,000 annually to most nonprofits. The program is open to all employees and retirees.
The second program is TC Energy’s Dollars for Doers program. Through this initiative, the company matches its employees’ volunteer hours with monetary grants. It’s easy for employees to get involved in the program, too, as there is only a one-hour minimum for volunteer hours in a calendar year!
Nonprofit eligibility: Any CRA-registered charities
AstraZeneca is an international Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company with a large corporate presence in Canada. The company, which participates generously in corporate philanthropy, also offers different employee giving programs across various markets.
In Canada, active AstraZeneca employees are encouraged to donate between $50 and $500 to the CRA-registered charity of their choice. After doing so, the company matches the gift to stretch its impact even further for the nonprofit cause!
AstraZeneca Canada offers multiple volunteer grant programs, too. Canadian employees or retirees who volunteer 40 hours with an organization can request a corresponding grant of $500. At the same time, the company provides $250 grants to organizations where employees serve as board members or coaches.
Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more
Enbridge Inc., a Canadian multinational pipeline and energy company, is renowned for its robust and multi-faceted CSR initiatives. This includes a generous matching gift program and a volunteer grant program designed to empower its employees to make a difference in the communities they serve.
These programs and more not only foster a culture of philanthropy within the company but also strengthen Enbridge’s commitment to social impact across Canada and beyond.
Nonprofit eligibility: Eligible Canadian and international post-secondary educational institutions
Suncor Energy is dedicated to making meaningful contributions to society through its corporate philanthropy efforts. Through a targeted and impactful matching gift program, the company encourages its employees to give generously by matching their donations to eligible charitable causes and higher education institutions.
Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more
Sun Life Financial is committed to giving back through a generous matching gift initiative, in which it empowers its employees to demonstrate their own philanthropy as well. When eligible full-time employees support nonprofit organizations of their choice, the company doubles their giving to produce an even greater impact.
One of the best things about this specific program? With no minimum donation amount required, employees can get involved with matching gifts to their favorite organizations with ease.
Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more
Canadian Pacific Railway (or CP) is deeply committed to corporate citizenship and community engagement, as evidenced by its matching gift program. Through the program, the company encourages its employees to support charitable organizations by matching their donations at a rate of 50 cents to every dollar.
By fostering a culture of philanthropy and supporting causes that matter to its employees, the Canadian Pacific Railway demonstrates its ongoing commitment to social responsibility.
Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more
Cenovus Energy, a Calgary, Alberta-based oil and natural gas company, aims to enact positive change in the communities in which it operates through its generous corporate philanthropy initiatives. Currently, these include a comprehensive matching gift program that empowers individual employees to request up to $25,000 per year for their favorite causes.
Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more
Scotiabank Canada offers a robust matching gift program, through which the company empowers its employees to support charitable organizations by matching their donations. With no minimum donation amount required and a lofty maximum threshold, individual team members have the chance to make an even greater difference for the nonprofit missions they care about.
Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more
Magna International offers a unique matching gift program through which groups of employees are encouraged to support nonprofit organizations in their communities. Specifically, teams of 10 or more employees should contribute a collective minimum donation of $500. Then, the company contributes its match up to $2,500!
By encouraging team-focused employee engagement in philanthropy and supporting causes aligned with its values, Magna builds its workplace culture and gives back at the same time.
Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more
Brookfield Properties is a multinational corporation with a substantial Canadian employee base. Through its generous matching gift program, Brookfield Properties encourages its employees to donate time and funds to eligible nonprofit causes by supplying matching funds to the organizations they support.
Currently, full-time Canadian and U.S.-based employees (excluding the Chicago office) with a one-year minimum service are invited to take part in the program.
Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more
Canadian fertilizer company Nutrien is dedicated to making a positive impact in communities through its comprehensive matching gift program and more. Through the match program, Nutrien empowers its employees to support charitable organizations with matching gifts worth up to $1.50 for every $1 initially donated.
Identifying Other Canadian Companies That Match Gifts
We covered fifteen standout Canadian matching gift companies above. But there are a ton of additional programs available from companies everywhere. In fact, there are so many companies that match gifts—based in Canada and otherwise—that it’s nearly impossible to keep track of each program’s guidelines on your own.
And that’s where a database solution comes in handy! With a matching gift database like Double the Donation, donors are automatically supplied with direct links to their companies’ match request portals along with program guidelines (minimums and maximums, eligible nonprofits and employees, match ratios, submission deadlines, etc.).
Alternatively, if a donor works for an unknown company (or your organization lacks a database tool), your team can encourage the individual to reach out to their HR department to learn more about any available giving programs.
How Double the Donation Can Help
360MatchPro by Double the Donation is a complete automation system that screens match-eligible donors and triggers tailored outreach accordingly. As a result, your staff saves time and maximizes its revenue.
With over 24,000 company listings, Double the Donation represents 26+ million match-eligible individuals worldwide. When it comes to Canadian companies that match gifts, recent analyses indicate that the tool remains the country’s most accurate and up-to-date source of matching gift information.
Check out these findings:
93-99% of individuals who work for Canadian companies that match gifts will find their employer in Double the Donation’s database.
$99,000 of $102,000 in matching gifts received by a global organization’s market in Canada were covered by Double the Donation’s database.
483,760 match-eligible Canadians were covered by Double the Donation’s database, while 4,124 were not.
All in all, Double the Donation’s database offers substantial coverage of the market, making it a great fit for Canadian-based organizations and their donors.
Meanwhile, additional benefits of 360MatchPro include:
More matching gift opportunities. By automatically flagging match-eligible gifts using emails, donation forms, and more, your organization increases the number of potential matches identified.
More matches driven to completion. Donors are presented with matching gift information or encouraged to supply employment data after giving. Then, automated outreach guides donors through the request process and ultimately drives more submissions to increase overall revenue.
More time to focus on top opportunities. Your team can primarily focus its efforts on tailoring follow-ups to your most valuable match-eligible donations. With everything else automated, you’ll have time to take an increasingly personalized approach with top-dollar donors.
360MatchPro essentially serves as your own matching gift team. Where you don’t have the staff, time, or resources necessary to perform matching gift outreach, the platform can step in and handle the rest!
Integrations & Customizations
If you’re thinking about investing in a matching gift database to supercharge your organization’s fundraising efforts, there are a few things to consider in your selection. As a Canadian-based organization, you’ll want to look for a solution that adequately covers the Canadian market and integrates with your existing tech stack for easy implementation and data management.
Fortunately, Double the Donation’s 360MatchPro does just that! Offering 100+ integrations with the leading Canadian and global fundraising tools, the software provides users with direct access to the industry’s most comprehensive database. These ready-built and simple-to-use integrations include:
CRMs
Peer-to-peer fundraising solutions
Online donation tools
CSR platforms
To get started, all you typically need to do is subscribe to Double the Donation’s tools. Then, activate 360MatchPro by entering your API keys into your fundraising platform.
Additionally, Double the Donation is designed to accommodate nonprofits operating in one or more geographic markets. For Canadian-based organizations, this means you can customize the database search results by adjusting the geographic regions that apply to your nonprofit.
360MatchPro will then tailor the matching gift search results and information your donors receive based on your selections.
Top tip: If your nonprofit’s tax status is based in Canada and you primarily have Canadian donors, it’s recommended that you only select Canada. However, if you’re registered as a nonprofit in multiple markets, such as the U.S. and Canada, or have a large number of donors in those markets, it’s recommended that you select both the U.S. and Canada.
Wrapping Up
Choosing the right matching gift database is essential. Make sure to look for a solution that’s designed to enhance your organization’s fundraising. That means seeking tools that specifically cater to Canadian organizations—and Canadian matching gift companies.
While we’ve listed some of the largest Canada-based employers and overviewed their matching gift opportunities, they aren’t the only businesses that offer such initiatives. Be sure to constantly research your donors’ employers and stay up-to-date on companies in your area. And remember: the right matching gift database can help!
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Keep learning! Check out these additional resources to continue exploring matching gifts for your organization:
Matching Gift Marketing Guide
After identifying match-eligible contributions, you’ll need to promote the matching gift opportunities to your donors.
Check out our free downloadable resource to get best practices and expert marketing strategies.
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DTD_Double-Donations-With-Canadian-Companies-That-Match-Gifts_Feature-2-1.jpg6001600Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2024-02-27 00:21:412024-10-01 12:33:10Double Donations With Canadian Companies That Match Gifts
Fundraising is the backbone upon which universities are built, helping to expand educational offerings, enhance campus infrastructure, and prepare the next generation of changemakers.
University fundraising, however, is not merely about securing financial contributions; it is a delicate and multifaceted dance of identifying your need for support, articulating the profound impact of your institution, and cultivating long-term relationships with donors.
With philanthropic giving to higher education increasing by 12.5% in 2022, donors are becoming increasingly more inclined to contribute to colleges and universities. Equipped with the most up-to-date information about university fundraising, you’ll be set to engage donors and garner their support.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about university fundraising, including:
Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking to refine your approach or a newcomer seeking a strong foundation of knowledge, these insights will help you build a sustainable fundraising program that stands the test of time.
Emerging University Fundraising Trends
Higher ed fundraisers have to stay up-to-date with evolving donor expectations, technology advancements, and shifting societal priorities to remain competitive and relevant in a dynamic philanthropic landscape.
Here are three university fundraising trends to be aware of:
Digital fundraising: With the increasing prevalence of online communication and giving platforms, universities are leveraging digital channels to engage donors and raise funds. This includes the use of crowdfunding campaigns, virtual fundraising events, and social media outreach to reach a broader and more diverse donor base. Digital fundraising also allows for data-driven strategies to maximize donor engagement and contributions.
Impact philanthropy: Donors increasingly seek transparency and accountability in how their contributions are used. Universities are responding by emphasizing the impact of philanthropic gifts and providing clear metrics on how donations are making a difference in areas such as scholarships, research, and community outreach. This trend encourages donors to align their contributions with specific initiatives that resonate with their values.
Ethical fundraising practices: Universities are embracing sustainable and ethical fundraising practices that prioritize long-term relationships with donors and the well-being of the institution. This includes a focus on ethical stewardship of donor relationships, a commitment to diversity and inclusion in fundraising efforts, and adherence to best practices in data privacy and security to build trust with donors.
Universities that adapt to these trends can position themselves for success in engaging donors and securing the resources needed to advance their missions.
The Most Popular University Fundraising Ideas
As you review the following fundraising ideas, consider how you can adapt them to align with your specific needs and alumni base.
Annual Giving Drive
The primary goal of an annual giving drive is to generate unrestricted funds that can be used to support the institution’s immediate and ongoing operational needs, such as scholarships, faculty support, program development, and infrastructure maintenance.
Some institutions may choose to run their annual giving drives on a fiscal year schedule rather than a calendar year schedule. Regardless, structure your campaign around this timeline:
Pre-campaign planning (11-12 months before the deadline): Form a campaign committee or team responsible for planning and execution. Work together to determine how much money you need to raise, what the funds will be used for, and how the contributions align with your institution’s overall mission.
Campaign preparation (9-10 months before the deadline):Develop a compelling case for support and prepare a launch plan that includes a coordinated announcement across channels.
Active campaign period: Reach out to potential donors through personalized and targeted communication efforts, whether that be through direct appeals, phone calls, or email campaigns. As the campaign nears its end, leverage urgency in your calls to action to ensure your goal is met.
Campaign evaluation (1-2 months after the deadline): Review donor data and assess the effectiveness of your segmentation and communication strategies. Share the impact of the campaign and how donations have been used.
It’s important to note that you may need to adjust the specific timeline for your annual giving drive based on your institution’s unique circumstances and objectives.
Matching Gift Programs
Matching gifts are a philanthropic practice in which employers, often corporations, financially match their employees’ charitable contributions to nonprofits and universities. When a university fundraiser secures a donation from a donor whose employer offers a matching gift program, the impact on university fundraising can be substantial. It essentially doubles the donor’s initial contribution, significantly increasing the total funds raised for the institution.
This matching process not only boosts the university’s financial resources but also encourages donors to give more generously, as they recognize the added impact of their contributions.
Raise awareness.78% of donors are unaware if their company offers a matching gift program, so it’s important to raise awareness of these giving opportunities. Include information about matching gift programs in your fundraising communications and on your university’s website. Ensure that donors are aware of the existence and benefits of these programs, and provide clear instructions on how to participate.
Engage corporate partners. Build relationships with local and national corporations to encourage them to establish or expand their matching gift programs. Collaborate with corporate partners to promote the program to their employees and alumni, facilitating a seamless matching gift process.
Simplify the process. Make it easy for donors to submit matching gift requests with 360MatchPro. The platform automatically sends donors the information they need to complete their match and follows up when needed. Plus, it allows universities to track the progress of matching gift submissions in one easy-to-use interface.
Watch the video below to learn how the University of Lynchburg leveraged 360MatchPro to streamline its matching gift process and generate increased revenue:
As you’ll see, 360MatchPro makes it easy to double the impact of your university fundraising efforts. To get started, request a demo!
For university fundraisers, crowdfunding can be a lucrative venture because it harnesses the power of the collective, tapping into a broad network of donors who are passionate about the university’s mission and projects, potentially resulting in substantial financial support from a diverse group of contributors. Even students can get involved, with nearly 8% of current students contributing to crowdfunding initiatives.
When you launch a crowdfunding campaign, be sure to:
Set clear and specific goals. Define clear and measurable goals for your crowdfunding campaign, such as the amount of funds you aim to raise, the project or initiative you’re supporting, and the timeline for the campaign. Specificity helps donors understand the purpose and urgency of their contributions.
Engage your university community. Use various communication channels, including social media, email newsletters, and campus events, to raise awareness and encourage involvement. Engage volunteers and ambassadors who can help spread the word and reach a wider audience.
Facilitate student-led fundraising. Consider creating dedicated sections or sub-campaigns on your crowdfunding platform where student groups, clubs, or organizations can create their own fundraising initiatives. Provide guidelines and support to help student groups set up and manage their campaigns effectively.
Use the momentum generated by the crowdfunding campaign to build on the success and cultivate ongoing relationships with donors for future fundraising initiatives.
Grant Writing
Pursue grants from government bodies, private foundations, and corporations to fund research projects, academic programs, and infrastructure development. Leverage these grant-writing tactics to increase your win rate:
Understand the grantmaker’s priorities. Before you begin writing a grant proposal, thoroughly research the grantmaker’s mission, goals, and funding priorities. Tailor your proposal to align with the specific areas of interest or focus outlined by the grantor.
Craft a compelling narrative. Tell a persuasive and engaging story in your grant proposal. Use clear, concise language to convey the significance of your university’s project or program. Highlight the potential impact on students, research, or the community, and provide concrete examples and evidence to support your claims.
Address the grant requirements. Pay close attention to the grant application guidelines and requirements. Ensure that your proposal meets all specified criteria, including format, word count, submission deadlines, and any requested attachments or supporting documents. Failure to adhere to these guidelines can result in your proposal being disqualified.
Grantmakers often want to see that their funding will have a lasting impact. Therefore, you should also outline a clear plan for the sustainability of your project or program beyond the grant period.
Corporate Partnerships
Corporate sponsors provide universities with a stable source of financial support that can enhance academic programs, scholarships, and research initiatives. Plus, the partnership can strengthen the university’s reputation and attract philanthropic contributions from other sources.
Research and identify alignment. Research potential corporate sponsors to identify organizations that align with your university’s mission, values, and goals. Seek out companies with a history of supporting educational initiatives or whose corporate giving priorities align with your institution’s programs.
Create customized proposals. Tailor your sponsorship proposals to the specific interests and needs of each potential corporate sponsor. Outline the benefits and opportunities that partnering with your university can offer, such as brand exposure, access to a talented pool of students, research collaboration, or community engagement.
Once you’ve secured a corporate sponsor, maintain a strong and transparent line of communication. Regularly update them on the progress of their sponsorship, including the impact of their support and any milestones achieved. Sharing success stories, data, and reports demonstrating the tangible results of their partnership reinforces their commitment and fosters a sense of ownership and pride in the collaboration.
Endowments
Endowments encompass invested donations that grow over time to provide increased value. Educational institutions can use this university fundraising tactic to fund:
Scholarships: Endowments often support scholarships and financial aid programs, ensuring that deserving students have access to higher education regardless of their financial circumstances. These funds can cover tuition, fees, books, and sometimes even living expenses.
Professorships: Endowments can be designated to attract and retain top-tier faculty members and provide resources for cutting-edge research and academic excellence.
Research programs: Lastly, endowments can fund university research programs. These funds may provide the school with research grants and fellowships, equipment, new research centers, or seed funding for pilot projects.
Creating endowments for your university is beneficial because it provides your institution with a stable source of income. This type of fundraising also attracts major donors, allowing you to build relationships with supporters who have the highest giving capacities.
Planned Giving
Encouraging donors to include your university in their estate planning can lead to long-term, reliable financial support. Identify donors who are nearing retirement or already retired, have a history of significant contributions, and are actively involved—these are prime candidates for planned giving.
Then, appeal to these prospective donors, keeping in mind that:
Timing and context are crucial. Choose the right moment and setting for your discussion. Invite prospective donors to a formal face-to-face meeting or virtual conversation where you can devote ample time to the topic without distractions.
Planned giving is a sensitive topic. Instead of directly asking donors whether or not they want to invest in planned giving, you might inquire about their long-term philanthropic goals, their connection to the university, or their aspirations for leaving a legacy. This approach allows donors to express themselves freely and can naturally lead to discussions about their estate.
The benefits may be unclear. If donors express an interest in planned giving, walk them through the benefits, mentioning the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy on their alma mater and receive significant tax advantages. Additionally, explain their giving options, including bequests, charitable trusts, and gift annuities.
Because planned giving often involves complex financial arrangements, you should consult with legal experts throughout this process to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Special Events
Fundraising events can attract significant donations and enhance your networking opportunities. For the best results, host events that are creative and will inspire a large turnout like:
Art auction gala: Host an elegant evening featuring an art auction with pieces donated by alumni, faculty, and local artists. The event combines the appreciation of art with philanthropy, allowing attendees to bid on unique artworks while supporting the university’s initiatives.
Taste of the world festival: Celebrate cultural diversity by organizing a food and cultural festival. Invite local vendors and international student organizations to showcase their cuisine, music, and traditions. Attendees purchase tickets to taste various dishes, with proceeds benefiting international programs or scholarships.
Student talent show: Showcase the talents of students, faculty, and staff in a talent show or variety performance. Sell tickets for entry and use the proceeds to support student scholarships or arts programs.
Campus scavenger hunt: Organize a campus-wide scavenger hunt where participants follow clues and solve puzzles to discover hidden treasures or landmarks. Participants pay an entry fee, with funds raised going towards campus improvements or student initiatives.
Throughout the event planning process, consider how you can engage potential donors who may not be able to attend the event in person. For instance, when hosting a scavenger hunt, you might add an exclusive map to your website or mobile app that allows attendees to participate virtually.
3 Tips for Hosting a University Fundraising Campaign
As you prepare to launch your next university fundraising campaign, keep the following tips in mind to ensure it’s a success.
1. Develop a clear fundraising strategy.
Define your university’s fundraising goals and priorities. Establish a comprehensive plan that outlines the specific projects, initiatives, or areas that require funding.
Be sure to identify your target donors, whether they are alumni, corporations, foundations, or individual philanthropists, and tailor your strategy to appeal to their interests and values.
2. Diversify outreach.
Donors have varying communication preferences and motivations for giving. Using a mix of channels, including social media, email, direct mail, phone calls, and in-person events, caters to these preferences and increases the likelihood of engagement.
In addition to more traditional methods, you may incorporate more unique outreach opportunities like eCards. When you thank your donors or invite them to an event with an eCard, you grab their attention and communicate with them in a more interactive, exciting way.
You may also reach potential supporters through Google Ads. With the Google Ad Grant program, philanthropic arms of higher educational institutions can unlock $10,000 in Google Ad credits for free. This way, your organization can show up at the top of the search results for relevant searches and secure more support.
For the best results, segment your donor list based on factors like giving history, affinity to specific university programs, and communication preferences, and personalize your outreach accordingly.
3. Cultivate strong alumni relationships.
Alumni who feel connected to their alma mater are more likely to contribute. That’s why it’s important to engage with your alumni community on a regular basis, not just when you need their financial support.
Stay in touch through regular newsletters, social media updates, and invitations to alumni events. In addition, recognize their accomplishments and contributions to the university, seek their input on important initiatives, and provide opportunities for alumni to mentor or support current students.
A Final Note About University Fundraising
Remember that the fundraising landscape is not a fixed path but a vast terrain of opportunities waiting to be explored. With each step, you can gain experience, build lasting relationships, and contribute to the enduring legacy of higher education.
For more information on university fundraising, review these additional resources:
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/University-Fundraising_Feature-Image.png7502000Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2024-02-26 15:04:462024-02-26 15:04:46A Guide to Navigating University Fundraising with Confidence
According to America’s Charities, nonprofits raise about $5 billion from workplace giving each year. These funds are crucial in enabling charitable organizations to pursue their missions.
With so much donation revenue available through this channel, wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to streamline these contributions? That way, companies could better manage them, donors would be more inclined to contribute, and nonprofits would ultimately earn more for their causes.
Enter payroll giving. This form of workplace giving makes donating as easy as possible for employees. In this guide, we’ll review what payroll giving is and just how beneficial it is for companies, donors, and nonprofits alike.
What is payroll giving?
Payroll giving, also known as automatic payroll deductions, allows employees to contribute to nonprofits right from their paychecks. Since these deductions come out of employees’ paychecks automatically, it’s an easy set-it-and-forget-it way to give back. In most cases, these contributions are a percentage of the employee’s pay, but corporations that use CSR software with employee self-service tools may allow team members to adjust their contributions as they please.
How does payroll giving work?
With the help of workplace giving software, payroll giving simplifies the donation process. These steps illustrate how payroll giving works:
The company implements workplace giving software with payroll giving capabilities.
The company chooses which nonprofits they’d like to support through payroll giving.
Employees enroll and select the charity they’d like to support and how much they’d like to contribute.
The software deducts the donation like any other deduction—such as a 401K contribution or healthcare premium—and sends it to the nonprofit.
While most payroll deductions are pre-tax, payroll giving contributions are after-tax deductions. As a result, employees can claim these donations as deductible when they file their personal taxes. Companies that offer payroll giving should reflect employees’ contributions in their W2s.
What are the benefits of payroll giving?
While it’s clear that payroll giving benefits nonprofits since they receive the resulting donations, this form of workplace giving is also beneficial for participating companies and donors. Let’s dive into the benefits of payroll giving for each group.
Benefits of Payroll Giving for Companies
Not only is payroll giving easy for companies to manage, but it also offers a variety of other workplace benefits for companies. Payroll giving helps companies to:
Engage employees. Workplace giving methods such as payroll giving increase employee engagement. When employees feel that they are working together with their employer to make the world a better place, they’re more likely to find meaning in their roles and stay actively engaged in the workplace.
Keep employees around. Employees engaged in workplace giving have higher retention rates. In fact, employees who participate in workplace giving have 75% longer tenures with their companies than those who don’t.
Attract mission-driven employees. Payroll giving helps companies recruit employees who share their values and want to make a difference. Studies show that 71% of employees want to work at a company that gives back to charitable causes through philanthropy and volunteering. By offering payroll giving and promoting it during the hiring process, companies can attract mission-driven team applicants.
When companies offer payroll giving, they demonstrate their commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) by helping employees find reputable nonprofits to contribute to and facilitating the giving process. As a result, they’ll build a workforce of like-minded, engaged employees who will stay long-term.
Benefits of Payroll Giving for Donors
There are so many different ways donors can contribute to their nonprofits of choice, so what makes payroll giving stand out? Payroll giving is an excellent donation method for donors because it’s:
Easy to participate in. Once donors enroll in payroll giving, they’re set to continue contributing indefinitely. The automatic donations make it extremely easy for donors to participate without taking time out of their busy schedules to make repeat gifts.
Inclusive. While these days nonprofits accept donations in cash, credit, PayPal, Apple Pay, Venmo, and more, not all employees have these payment methods at their disposal. However, all employees receive a paycheck, so payroll giving allows them to make a difference.
Tax-deductible. As mentioned before, payroll deductions come out of donors’ after-tax earnings, making these contributions tax-deductible. Donors can write off these costs and will owe less when they file their taxes.
Additionally, if donors don’t have the means to contribute a large sum at once, payroll giving enables them to break up their donation into smaller, more manageable amounts that they can gift to nonprofits on a recurring basis.
Benefits of Payroll Giving for Nonprofits
Payroll giving is one of many ways for nonprofits to generate donation revenue, so it benefits them by simply providing them with more funds. However, there are some less obvious benefits of payroll giving for nonprofits as well, including:
No transaction fees. Traditional online donation methods may require payment processing fees that lessen the value of each donation. Since payroll giving comes right from donors’ paychecks, there are no transaction fees, meaning the entire donation amount goes directly to the nonprofit.
Predictable funding source. Payroll contributions are a form of pledged donations. Nonprofits can plan for these gifts in advance, allowing them to better allocate their budgets.
Potential for long-term donor relationships. Donors who contribute to nonprofits through payroll giving do so on a recurring basis. Charitable organizations can identify regular payroll giving participants and establish long-lasting relationships with them.
Nonprofits can also analyze their donor data to determine which employers are most frequent among their payroll givers. Then, they can reach out to these companies to forge corporate partnerships that benefit both parties.
What are some companies that offer payroll giving?
Because payroll giving programs are facilitated by a donor’s employing company, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with top businesses offering the opportunity.
Here are some leading employers with payroll giving programs. Do your donors work for these companies?
Costco Wholesale
JPMorgan Chase
CVS Health
3M Company
Warner Bros. Discovery
Eli Lilly and Company
Navy Federal Credit Union
Amazon.com Inc.
Advocate Aurora Health
Close Brothers
Gray TV
Adobe Inc.
Brit Insurance
Keep in mind, however, that this list is just the tip of the iceberg. There are a ton more businesses offering payroll giving initiatives, and you can encourage your donors to check with their employers directly, too!
How can you increase payroll giving at your org?
Focusing on payroll giving opportunities can lead to a substantial increase in donations for your organization. Doing so effectively involves a combination of strategic communication, proactive arrangements, and ongoing engagement efforts.
Here are several actionable steps your team can take to boost participation in the programs:
Drive awareness of payroll giving opportunities across your audience. To increase participation in payroll giving, it’s essential to first ensure that your audience is aware of the opportunity. This should involve regularly sharing information about payroll giving through newsletters, social media, your website, and more.
Register as an eligible cause for companies’ payroll giving systems. For your nonprofit to benefit from payroll giving, it’s crucial to be listed as an eligible cause within companies’ payroll giving systems. To do so, start by researching CSR platforms and seeing how your organization can register. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how you can apply for a free nonprofit account!
Plus, be prepared to provide any necessary documentation, such as proof of 501(c)(3) status, financial records, or impact reports, to meet the requirements of corporate partners.
Incentivize participation among qualifying supporters. To boost payroll giving participation, consider offering incentives to encourage more supporters to sign up. This could include recognition for payroll givers, such as listing their names on your website or in your annual reports or providing exclusive updates on the impact of their donations. You can even consider offering exclusive events, webinars, or other perks that show appreciation and make the act of giving more rewarding. By marketing the opportunities well, you can increase program engagement and participation.
Thank payroll giving donors for their generous contributions. Expressing gratitude to your payroll giving donors is critical for retaining their support and encouraging long-term participation. This can include personalized thank yous, such as handwritten notes or emails to acknowledge their contributions. Be sure to mention the specific impact their donations are making and how they align with your nonprofit’s mission.
How do payroll giving and matching gifts connect?
Matching gifts are a type of corporate giving program where a company agrees to match their employees’ donations to nonprofit organizations, usually at a 1:1 ratio. By implementing matching gifts, companies can encourage their employees to donate to their favorite causes, with 84% of matching gift survey participants saying they’re more likely to donate if a match is offered.
When companies apply matching gifts to payroll contributions, they can amplify the impact of their employees’ donations and allow nonprofits to earn even more for their causes. Some workplace giving platforms let companies apply matching directly through the software. Donors can also use a matching gift database to research their matching gift eligibility and fill out a matching gift request form to send to their employers.
Check out how our matching gift software, 360MatchPro, helps organizations boost donation revenue:
By combining the efficiency of payroll giving and matching gift software, donors can easily make an impact on their favorite causes and help nonprofits increase their revenue. Payroll giving and matching gifts go hand in hand to expand companies’ CSR efforts, allow donors to make a greater impact with the same donation amounts, and enable nonprofits to earn the funds they need to support their beneficiaries.
Final Thoughts and Additional Resources
When it comes to corporate philanthropy, payroll giving stands out due to its extreme efficiency in nature. That means it’s easier for companies to manage the programs, donors to participate in them, and nonprofits to access necessary funds. The simplicity of payroll giving removes common barriers to engagement, allowing for seamless integration into the daily operations of both businesses and nonprofits.
As a fundraising professional, understanding and leveraging the power of payroll giving is crucial. The more you target this opportunity, the more payroll giving funds you can expect to receive. By actively promoting payroll giving opportunities and educating donors about its ease and impact, you can tap into a consistent, reliable source of funding. Good luck!
To learn more about payroll and other forms of workplace giving, check out these resources:
Top Corporate Giving and Matching Gift Statistics to Know. Get familiar with the corporate philanthropy landscape! Uncover inspiring matching gift and corporate giving statistics to become better acquainted with the opportunity in this blog post.
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DTD_Payroll-Giving-Drive-Employee-Donations-For-Your-Cause.png3861030Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2024-02-06 20:35:302024-09-30 21:18:18Payroll Giving: Drive Employee Donations For Your Cause
