The Complete Guide to Celebrating Matching Gift Month

The Complete Guide to Celebrating Matching Gift Month This February

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February is a time to celebrate love and happiness⁠—and matching gifts. That’s why it’s been dubbed the official Matching Gift Month. This year, we recommend taking the opportunity to scale up your matching gift promotional efforts accordingly.

We’ll cover everything you need to know to celebrate corporate giving and drive action (and matches) this February.

What is Matching Gift Month?

Matching Gift Month is an annual celebration of corporate donation-matching, often used to increase awareness and usage of match programs. Held in February each year, Matching Gift, or Match Month, is an opportunity to recognize the impact that corporate philanthropy offerings like matching gifts and more can have on nonprofit fundraising groups.

Many mission-focused organizations and schools take time to elevate their matching gift fundraising and really push the initiatives forward. If you’re looking for new and exciting ways to amplify your mission’s efforts, you’ve come to the right place.

Research indicates that an estimated $7 billion in matching gift revenue goes unclaimed by qualifying nonprofits and their donors each year. That’s funding that should be going to organizations like yours to aid in better pursuing your cause. And it’s why we’re sharing seven standout ideas for celebrating Matching Gift Month this year to help close the gap.

These include:

  1. Giving your internal team a refresher course
  2. Sharing on social media
  3. Encouraging non-eligible donors to advocate for new programs
  4. Pursuing one-off matching gift program opportunities
  5. Following up on previously made donations
  6. Including matching gifts in staff email signatures
  7. Making matching easy

Ready to bring your matching gift fundraising to the next level this month? Let’s jump in with our top recommendations.

7 Powerful Ways to Celebrate Matching Gift Month This Year

These smart marketing and engagement ideas inhabit a fun sense of novelty this month. But they’re also impactful for long-term engagement in your organization’s overall strategy.

For the best results, we suggest integrating multiple of the following actions⁠—both this month and beyond.

1. Give your internal team a refresher course.

Before ramping up your organization’s matching gift efforts for Match Month, it’s a good idea to take a look inward. Hopefully, your internal fundraising team should be well-versed in matching gift information. But perhaps you’ve had a few new team members join since your last group training, or maybe your staff (and volunteers!) could just use a refresher.

The solution? Start off Matching Gift Month right with your own team. Take the opportunity to reiterate the importance of corporate matching gift programs. Provide access to educational resources (tip: we have some fantastic free eBooks, blog posts, and webinars at Double the Donation). Practice asking common matching gift questions, ensuring that all individuals have the knowledge and assets to answer them.

Celebrating matching gift month with internal refresher courses

When it comes to driving matching gift revenue, your internal team encompasses your greatest assets. Make sure they’re ready to advocate for the opportunities as best they can!

2. Share on social media.

Your organization likely has at least one, but likely a number of profiles on popular social media sites. Whether it’s a Facebook page, an Instagram profile, or even a TikTok account, your strategic web presence can go a long way toward marketing matching gifts online. And what better time is there to get started (or elevate your strategy) than during Matching Gift Month?

Sample Matching Gift Month marketing by the Rashi School

Consider sharing the following types of content on your nonprofit’s social profiles:

Images and videos

Social media platforms are becoming increasingly visual-focused. If you want to grab⁠—and maintain⁠—your audience’s attention as they scroll through their feeds, research indicates that incorporating eye-catching images and videos is the way to go. In fact, studies show that image-based social posts receive 2.3 times more engagement than those without, and posts with video content can see up to 10 times higher engagement levels.

That said, Matching Gift Month is an optimal time to produce and share matching gift marketing videos and imagery. Or get started with our pre-made social media graphics here:

Matching gift month sample graphic

Matching gift month sample graphic

Matching gift month sample graphic

Industry research

Highlight key statistics that effectively demonstrate the potential that corporate matching brings. Double the Donation has compiled some of our favorite figures here, including an overview of unclaimed funding and a wide range of participating companies.

Success stories

Use social proof to drive success on social media by sharing stories of previous matching gift successes. This might mean highlighting a total sum of matching gift revenue (e.g., our organization collected more than $50,000 in matching gift funds from donors like you) or including specific examples of prior match donors (Sarah from Home Depot secured a corporate match on our behalf equaling $5,000, bringing her total contribution value to more than $10,000).

When your followers see the influence that other matching gifts have had, they’ll be more likely to take steps to do so themselves.

Impact

Your supporters care about the impact your organization (and, by extension, their donations) brings. Reiterate that donation-matching programs enable donors to double their impact without reaching back into their own wallets. If you can put it in terms of tangible impact (e.g., feed two shelter cats for the cost of one), even better!

Keep in mind that you’ll want to link back to additional resources from all of your social media posts. If you already have a built-out matching gift web page (which you should), consider driving traffic to the page for supporters to learn more about the opportunity.

You can even add a little blurb about Matching Gift Month to your web page, as Case Western Reserve University has here:

Sample Matching Gift Month marketing by CWRU

3. Encourage non-eligible donors to advocate for new programs.

Unfortunately, not all companies match employee donations (though new programs are added every day). And some employers are likely interested in getting started⁠—they might just need a little push to do so.

Luckily, your existing (non-match-eligible) donors can be some of your best champions for inspiring new matching programs. Sometimes all it takes is an email from a philanthropic employee to get the ball rolling for a new corporate program. And Matching Gift Month can be the perfect time to begin laying a foundation.

Consider sharing a template like this to provide a baseline for supporters considering advocating on your behalf this month:

Matching gift advocacy template

Subject line: Request for a corporate matching gift program

Hi [manager or HR representative name],

I am writing to request the addition of a corporate matching gift program at [company name].

Thousands of companies across the globe have established employee matching gift programs, agreeing to match gifts made by their employees to qualifying nonprofit causes with their own corporate donations.

This is an extremely beneficial program to host for every party involved⁠—including the company, its employees, and the nonprofits they support. If you’d like to take steps to establish a matching gift program for the company, Double the Donation has provided a number of detailed guides that walk corporate leaders through the process.

Thank you for your consideration!

P.S. ⁠— February is National Matching Gift Month, so it’s a great time to get started!

We’ve even written a dedicated blog post on the topic. Feel free to send this article⁠—How to Advocate for a Matching Gift Program to Your Employer⁠—to your donors to guide them through the process of proposing programs for their companies.

4. Pursue one-off matching gift program opportunities.

Most companies that match employee donations agree to do so to most nonprofit causes. However, if an organization has an existing partnership with a corporation, they may seek a one-off (or unique) matching gift program that is exclusive to the cause.

In some cases, this type of offering can be an ongoing sponsorship opportunity. But it also may be limited to a particular period of time⁠—such as Matching Gift Month! Thus, February (and/or the weeks leading up to February) can be a great chance to begin pursuing such a relationship.

One-off matching gift program for Match Month

Keep in mind that a one-off match initiative may be formed with a company that does not yet offer a complete matching program. (For example, Carl’s Computer Company does not have an established matching gift program but agrees to match donations solely made to Atlanta University.)

However, another option is partnering with a company that does offer a traditional matching gift program⁠—but wants to match donations to your organization at a higher rate. (Carl’s Computer Company matches employee donations to all 501(c)(3) nonprofits at a dollar-for-dollar rate and matches gifts made to Atlanta University at a 2:1 ratio.)

Either type of program can be beneficial to your cause, your donors, and your corporate partners.

5. Follow up on previously made donations.

Your organization’s work promoting Matching Gift Month might very well drive a number of new donations⁠—and matches⁠—to your cause. But another strategy you can employ involves following up on previously made gifts and encouraging still-eligible donors to submit their requests retroactively.

Matching gift follow-up sample

For example, Match Month falls just a few weeks after the year-end giving season, when most organizations see elevated giving. Many of those donations may still qualify for corporate matching, even into the first few months of the new year. In fact, tons of companies set generous matching gift request deadlines⁠—often allowing up to a year after the initial donation is made.

Take the opportunity to remind eligible donors about their employers’ matching gift programs and how they can get involved.

6. Include matching gifts in staff email signatures.

This is perhaps our simplest suggestion for celebrating Match Month, but it can be particularly effective when paired with some of our other top ideas. We recommend adding a quick line mentioning matching gift opportunities to all of your team members’ email signatures.

Matching gift month email signature sample

More than likely, your organization sends a ton of emails⁠—from donation appeals to thank-you messages and even nonprofit programming outreach. By incorporating matching gifts in automatic signatures, you can use every piece of communication with your cause as a way to promote donation-matching.

While you could add a simple blurb beneath an individual’s name and contact information, making it stand out can produce great results. For that reason, consider getting a graphic made and added to each person’s signature.

You can even use the space to link to additional resources where recipients can learn more.

7. Make matching easy.

Our final idea for celebrating Matching Gift Month is one that will benefit your organization well beyond the 28 (or 29) days of February. A lot of our previous recommendations involve raising awareness of program opportunities in the first place. Now, we suggest going a few steps further and driving matches by simplifying the processes involved.

After all, donors love matching gifts. They love getting the opportunity to multiply their contribution impact. But even your most dedicated supporters risk not following through when the process required to do so is too complicated or time-consuming.

That’s why we recommend fundraising organizations employ matching gift software to streamline and simplify the process. For example, 360MatchPro by Double the Donation empowers nonprofits to:

  • Identify eligibility with the industry’s most comprehensive database of matching gift company information and corresponding search tool;
  • Provide employer-specific matching gift program guidelines (minimum and maximum donation amounts, qualifying employees and nonprofit causes, match ratios, and more) and direct links to online submission forms;
  • Enable innovative auto-submission capabilities for select donors, allowing them to complete the match request process directly from the organization’s giving page;
  • Trigger automated and personalized matching gift follow-up messaging to remind donors about matching gift availability and next steps.

Celebrating matching gift month with matching gift software

Not only does this benefit your donors by making matching programs more accessible, but it also ensures more back-end efficiency for your internal team and results in matching gift revenue growth of more than 61%.

Wrapping Up

Matching gifts have the potential to elevate your organization’s fundraising, bringing your overall community impact to new heights. This Matching Gift Month celebration can be a fantastic opportunity to jumpstart or scale up your efforts⁠. But it’s certainly not the only time to pursue this funding source.

As you aim to drive awareness of—and participation in⁠—the programs this February, remember that the value of a long-term matching gift strategy can boost your fundraising for the months and years to come. And the tips and practices outlined above can help!

Looking for more helpful matching gift resources? Check out our other recommended blog posts to continue learning:

Get started with Double the Donation this month

What to Know About Our Standard Matching Gift Request Form

What to Know About Double the Donation’s Standard Matching Gift Form

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Corporate matching gifts can offer a significant revenue source for charitable organizations. In order to leverage the programs, a nonprofit’s donors typically must submit a matching gift form to their employers. The form essentially allows an individual to provide details about their own qualifying donation and request an associated corporate match.

Unfortunately, this has long been a critical drop-off point for organizations looking to make the most of available matching opportunities. Many donors lack an understanding of the request process that is required of them. That’s why, for more than a decade, Double the Donation has created software aimed to simplify the process by providing company-specific details, next steps, and more.

Now, we’re taking it a step further with our easier-than-ever-before standard matching gift form. And in this guide, we’ll tell you all about it as we walk through the basics:

Unclaimed matches hinder the impact potential of charitable organizations, their donors, and the businesses partaking in workplace giving programs alike. By streamlining and automating the request process altogether, we can take an additional step toward maximal usage.

Let’s see how Double the Donation’s intuitive standard matching gift request form can help.

Top tip! Consider working with one of our suggested CSR platforms as your #1 choice for workplace giving program management. But if you’re not ready for that, our standard matching gift form is a great backup!

What is Double the Donation’s standard matching gift form?

There is a range of ways that a donor can submit a matching gift request to their employing company, and a lot of that depends on the company the individual works for. For example, one old-fashioned company might still accept paper forms that require employees to complete and scan or mail back to process. At the same time, a different business may have moved to a completely online system using a digital submission portal.

Regardless of the method with which documentation is completed, a matching gift form generally encapsulates the same information. Most often, these include three types of data points:

  • Donor Information ⁠— Details about the donors themselves; Frequently some combination of name, contact information, and perhaps an employee identification number.
  • Recipient Nonprofit Information ⁠— Provides an overview of the nonprofit the individual donor supported; Typically asks for the organization name, mailing address, EIN, and other contact information.
  • Donation Information ⁠— Pertaining to the recent transaction; Generally involves a donation amount and date.

Here's an example of Double the Donation's standard matching gift request form

As you might guess, a lot of the above information can be a bit redundant for the donor. Now, Double the Donation’s standard matching gift form pulls the necessary data points directly from the transaction, as well as information collected from nonprofits, to automatically fill in the document. Once completed, a PDF is immediately sent to the matching gift coordinator via email designated by the company.

It’s an easier process for donors and ultimately results in a greater matching gift program impact.

How does the standard matching gift request form work?

Perhaps you’re thinking, “sounds great⁠—but how does it actually work?” In that case, let’s see the process in action for participating companies, step by step.

1. An individual makes a donation to their favorite nonprofit cause, entering their employer’s name in Double the Donation’s company search tool.

If their employing company has enabled matching gift e-submission through our standard request form, the donor will be prompted to authorize Double the Donation to submit a match on their behalf. (Typically, all the individual is required to do is enter their corporate email address and check a box!)

Donors can complete the matching gift request process from the confirmation page when their employer uses Double the Donation's standard matching gift form

2. Double the Donation automatically fills in the blanks on our standard matching gift form to provide the employing company with the information they need.

Generally, donor and transaction information is pulled from the donation record itself, while nonprofit details are made available through pre-filled organization profiles within 360MatchPro.

Here's an example of Double the Donation's completed standard matching gift request form

 

3. The auto-filled match request form is emailed in a PDF document to the matching gift coordinator identified by the company.

From there, the employer reviews the match request, as usual, to ensure the initial donation meets the company’s predetermined match eligibility criteria. Assuming it does, the match is approved, and funding is provided to the nonprofit cause!

Standard matching gift form confirmation

Key benefits of our standard form for donors, nonprofits, and companies

The more you can simplify the matching gift process, the better your overall results will be. This is true whether you’re on the corporate or the nonprofit side of things. And luckily, Double the Donation’s standard match request form is designed to do just that for both parties⁠—plus your common denominator, employee donors.

Let’s dive into a few key advantages for each perspective.

For Donors

Donors love participating in matching gift programs (in fact, 84% of individuals report being more likely to give if they know a match is being offered). But when the process involved gets too complicated or time-consuming, even dedicated and eligible donors sometimes fail to complete the task.

When all that’s asked of them is to enter their corporate email address, on the other hand, individuals will be much more likely to follow through. And in doing so, participating donors receive the benefit of knowing their support is going twice as far for a cause they care about.

For Nonprofits

According to matching gift research, only 8% of eligible donors know their employers offer a matching gift program and know how to go about submitting a match request. This significant knowledge gap plays a huge role in more than $4 to $7 billion in available match funding going unclaimed each year.

By simplifying the request process and providing an easy way for donors to submit requests to their companies, Double the Donation’s standard match form results in increased funding for nonprofit organizations.

For Companies

Companies that accept the standard matching gift form receive all the benefits of offering a matching gift program in the first place⁠—in larger quantities. After all, the more a business donates to charitable causes, the better its overall CSR. Optimal CSR leads to elevated employee engagement (productivity, longevity, recruitment, etc.), improved image (increased sales and brand loyalty), and more.

Leveraging Double the Donation’s standard match form simplifies employee participation, thus maximizing program use levels.

Getting started with our matching gift request form

We’ve designed our standard matching gift form to be as simple as possible⁠—while still accomplishing the intended task. And that includes the ease with which organizations and businesses can get set up.

Interested in taking the next steps? Here’s how you can quickly begin leveraging the benefits of the common match request form for your team.

For Nonprofits

If your nonprofit employs Double the Donation’s matching gift automation solution, there’s good news! Your donors are already set to partake in streamlined e-submission through our standard request form. When a qualifying individual makes a donation using your online giving form and selects their employer during the donation experience, they’ll be prompted to submit their match request automatically from your gift confirmation screen.

To ensure the match form is completed with accurate information, be sure to fill out your Organization Profile in 360MatchPro. This also increases the likelihood that matches are approved by participating companies. And it simplifies the process for you, your donors, and their employers.

If your organization has yet to get started with 360MatchPro, you can schedule a demo here to see our tools in action⁠—and learn more about the impact of the standard match form.

For Companies

Double the Donation’s matching gift form can certainly simplify the matching gift request process for employees. Still, we recommend that companies leverage a complete corporate giving platform to manage their philanthropic efforts. But if you’re looking for a temporary solution to streamline matching gifts from the donor’s perspective or would like to accept our standard matching gift form in addition to your more built-out process, getting started is quick and easy.

Here’s how:

If your company has developed an employee matching program for the first time, click here to add your initiative to our comprehensive database. As you provide information about your company’s submission process, be sure to select that you’d like to use Double the Donation’s standard form.

On the other hand, if your company’s existing program is already listed in Double the Donation’s database, click here to suggest updates to your program guidelines. Then, indicate that you’d like to accept the standard match form. You’ll be prompted to enter the name, phone number, and email of the person who manages the company’s giving initiatives.

And that’s it! From there, the specified contact person will receive completed match request forms each time an employee makes a donation to a qualifying nonprofit and selects the automated e-submission choice.

Final Thoughts

The future of matching gifts is here, and it’s increasingly reliant on innovative technology to streamline and simplify the process. Double the Donation’s standard matching gift form is one example of this. As corporate philanthropy continues to become a higher priority by companies across the globe, the demand for matching gifts⁠—and standardized processes with them⁠—will continue to grow.

Ready to learn more about corporate matching gift programs and the tools that power them? Check out our other recommended resources:

Learn more about our standard matching gift form and auto-submission offerings

New and Improved Functionality: Matching Gift Form E-Sign

New and Improved Functionality: Matching Gift Form E-Sign

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Matching gift programs have been revolutionized in the last several years, with companies of all shapes and sizes getting involved. And with this transformation is also that of matching gift forms. Ideally, employers want to offer a request process that is quick and easy for team members to participate and reduces administrative workload behind the scenes. So where does matching gift form e-sign come in?

Dive in to explore key trends and current happenings regarding employee match fundraising, particularly in terms of matching gift e-sign. We’ll walk through:

Double the Donation has long been at the forefront of corporate giving innovation. That’s why we’re here to provide your team with the context you need to understand matching gift technology, functionality, and more.

The historical significance of matching gift form e-sign functionality

Historically, many companies required donors to submit matching gift request forms on paper. After all, General Electric launched the very first matching gift program in 1954, when electronic mail was still the stuff of science fiction. Over the next few decades, many matching gift programs used the paper form model for their original program launches as they were created.

Now, let’s fast forward to 2011, when Double the Donation was established. Some forward-thinking companies had already begun offering online submission to simplify the matching gift process for their employees. As a result, Double the Donation was perfectly positioned to help these donors submit their matching gift requests by linking directly to those online portals. But some companies were dragging their feet and still requiring paper matching gift forms.

How could Double the Donation support donors whose companies required paper forms? Our solution was to develop cutting-edge matching gift form e-sign functionality. With Double the Donation e-sign, donors could simply complete a pre-filled online PDF and send it to their company’s matching gift program managers that way.

And it worked! We saw an immediate increase in the percentage of these paper-only donors who submitted matching gift requests. But at the same time, the transition to electronic-only submission in the industry was already accelerating.

The move away from paper matching gift forms

As online submissions are increasing, the inverse is true for historic paper forms⁠—in the past few years, we’ve seen paper forms becoming significantly less popular.

For context, when Double the Donation got its start, about 70% of match-eligible employees had a paper or PDF option for submitting their matching gift requests. But by 2017, the percentage of match-eligible employees eligible to submit a paper form dropped all the way to 7.1%. And the number who actually chose to use the forms was even lower.

That’s because online portal submission is easier, faster, more secure, and all-around better for donors, the companies they work for, and the organizations they support. It’s been proven time and time again: When both an electronic submission option and a paper one are offered to the same employee group, more matching gift submissions are completed through the online process.

In fact, some of the most well-known philanthropic companies have adapted to an online-only submission process over the past few years. Check out these quotes from the following employers:

  • IBM: “New process for 2017. Next year, we will introduce an online process for matching grants and eliminate the use of printed applications.”
  • Merck: “Please discontinue the use of all paper request forms. Matching gift funds should be submitted via the Merck website.”
  • Alliant Energy: “We moved to an online request process only in 2015. This will provide a more efficient method for our Foundation.”
  • Prudential: “We will no longer offer paper forms for the Matching Gifts Program.”

And that was just the tip of the iceberg!

Discontinuation of Double the Donation’s prior matching gift form e-sign feature

So what did this mean for us?

With these process changes occurring, the percentage of donors submitting paper match requests continued to fall. By the end of 2018, only an estimated 4% of donors ⁠used the historical paper-only approach—and that figure has decreased steadily since then.

All these factors led us to the easy decision to shift our focus away from the e-signing of paper forms and toward the future of matching gifts.

Now, you might ask⁠—But haven’t you heard the statistic that 50% of companies use paper matching gift forms?

We certainly have! But it’s important to remember that in a changing industry, statistics and assumptions have to be continually re-assessed. Double the Donation commits to always looking into the data to recognize when we need to re-evaluate. This is one of those situations.

It may have been true years ago that 50% (or so) of companies required paper matching gift form submission. However, more recent analysis has shown that this statistic is not just outdated⁠—it doesn’t tell the full story.

Think about the different companies that have matching gift programs. Businesses of all shapes and sizes come to mind, from Home Depot with half a million employees to the local pizzeria that employs five individuals. Home Depot requires electronic form submission, while the local pizza joint requires paper forms. You can see that Home Depot’s program affects significantly more donors than the pizzeria.

In other words, ask yourself this:

What is more useful for your organization to know in this scenario: that 50%—or at this point, likely less⁠—of companies require paper forms or that a tiny percentage of match-eligible donors use paper forms? Which statistic should you base your fundraising decisions on?

Our answer to the previous question is exactly why we’ve started weighing our analysis by employee count⁠. And the resulting statistics tell a compelling story. The biggest matching gift programs affecting the largest percentages of donors have already moved away from paper matching gift forms. And we’re seeing smaller programs following suit, as well!

Therefore, at Double the Donation, we’re doing the same with our own development priorities.

The future of matching gift fundraising

The move to online matching isn’t the only trend we’re seeing in corporate social responsibility. In the past decade, we’ve also kept our fingers on the pulse of another trend: the increasing consolidation of workplace giving solutions.

More and more often, companies are turning to workplace giving platforms like Benevity, CyberGrants, YourCause, and more to help facilitate their matching gift programs. And it’s not just the Fortune 500 companies that are doing so! In fact, many breakthrough solutions⁠—such as Millie, Selflessly, Givinga, and POINT—have been designed specifically to aid small and mid-sized businesses in offering powerful matching gift programs.

Leveraging this type of software empowers charitable companies to do more with their philanthropic initiatives while minimizing the administrative workload. Meanwhile, we’ve also noticed that companies that outsource facilitation of their giving process can offer more streamlined and optimized processes for employees wanting to get involved. This tends to result in elevated program usage, highly engaged team members, and more dollars funneling into nonprofit causes overall.

Breakthrough auto-submission with CSR partners

In the spirit of continuous improvement when it comes to matching gift technology and the match request process, Double the Donation has recently released a new game-changing feature⁠—auto-submission.

This innovative functionality, made possible through strategic integrations with forward-thinking corporate giving platforms, enables employees to request matches directly from an organization’s gift confirmation screen. This allows them to bypass the request process almost entirely. All they typically have to do is provide their email address and authorize Double the Donation to submit their match.

Auto-submission and matching gift form e-sign process

We’ve certainly come a long way since paper forms; now, some donors don’t have to complete a form at all! And this benefits every party involved. Employee donors can request their matches in less time and with fewer roadblocks. Nonprofit organizations receive increased match funding and more highly engaged supporters. Companies see elevated program usage, satisfied employees, and better public images.

Benefits of auto-submission and matching gift form e-sign

E-submission with our standard matching gift form

And that’s not all! The Double the Donation team has also developed a standard online matching gift form that employers can use to authorize automated electronic submissions themselves.

We recommend that all companies participating in workplace giving enlist the aid of a dedicated CSR platform. But for companies that may not be ready to take that next step but are interested in simplifying the matching gift request process, it’s now quick and easy to get started with our new standard submission form.

Matching gift form e-sign with Double the Donation's standard matching gift form

This basic form collects all the data an employer would need to review and approve a match request. This includes:

  • Donor information ⁠such as their name, corporate email address, and/or employee ID number;
  • Donation information ⁠such as donation amount and transaction date;
  • Nonprofit information ⁠such as name, website, mailing address, EIN, and more.

And it’s all automated so that donors can submit their matches quickly and easily, ultimately removing common roadblocks and driving more matching gifts to completion.

Top tip! Nonprofits looking to make the most of matching gift auto-submission and Double the Donation’s standard matching gift form should be sure to fill out their Organization Profile in 360MatchPro. This allows the right information to be incorporated into the automated submission form, making it more likely that the match is ultimately approved and paid out.

Final thoughts

Matching gift submission processes are becoming increasingly standardized, centralized, and digitized. So how can we support nonprofits, schools, and other fundraising organizations in this shifting environment? The answer lies in guiding donors through the electronic portal submission process.

At Double the Donation, we focus on giving donors confidence, speed, and accuracy when submitting their matching gift requests. That means prioritizing personalized automation flows and database accuracy.

We’re heading into the future, and we hope you’ll join us!

Interested in learning more about Double the Donation’s innovative matching gift tips and tools? Check out these other educational resources:

Learn more about Double the Donation matching gift form e-sign auto-submission

The Ultimate Fundraising Event Software Buyer's Guide

The Ultimate Fundraising Event Software Buyer’s Guide

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It takes a lot to plan and execute a nonprofit event. From getting started with goal-setting and budgeting through organizing and promoting your event experience and finally hosting and engaging with donors, there’s a lot to juggle. Luckily, the right fundraising event software can make organizing an impactful event a breeze.

But even the software buying process can be overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re looking for. That’s where this helpful guide comes in handy!

Here, we’ll cover everything you need to know about event fundraising tools, including:

At Double the Donation, we’ve worked with many different providers in the space, and we gathered some of our top tips for choosing the best fundraising event software for your team. In the end, these practices should help guide your decision-making process as you continue to develop your perfect toolkit of nonprofit technology.

Not to mention, you’ll be all set to get started with optimal fundraising events with the right tools to power your efforts. Let’s begin!

Why invest in event fundraising software?

Why Invest in Fundraising Event Software?

Fundraising event software is a critical component of any organization’s fully built-out tech stack. After all, a significant portion of many nonprofits’ overall revenue is collected through engaging fundraising events. And the right tools can make organizing and hosting as easy and effective as ever.

Not to mention, more and more fundraising events are involving increasingly technical aspects. Even in-person gatherings are becoming dependent on behind-the-scenes software and user-facing technology to run smoothly and elevate the event experience.

Thus, if your organization is looking to develop or optimize your event fundraising strategy, investing in the right tools to power your efforts is essential.

Event fundraising software features to consider

Features to Consider For Your Event Software

The term “fundraising event software” can encompass a lot of different kinds of tools. And each one offers key benefits to your organization, the events you organize, and the individuals who support your efforts.

Let’s explore a few of these key functions.

(Top tip: As you walk through the following types of features and functionality commonly associated with nonprofit event software, keep in mind that you may have to prioritize offerings in order of importance. Consider flagging elements as “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves.”)

Online Event Pages

In order to pull off an effective event, it’s crucial that your supporters are aware of the opportunity. And one of the best ways to spread the word about upcoming events involves engaging online event pages or microsites.

Here’s what this event software functionality should include:

  • Pre-built and customizable web page templates;
  • Landing page and microsite options.
  • Personalized branding that matches your organization’s existing materials;
  • Mobile-optimized pages that are easy to use on screens of all shapes and sizes;
  • Search engine optimization and accessibility tools;

Fundraising event software web page

Ticketing Services

Make sure your team and your attendees are prepared for your event with intuitive ticketing functionality. Consider these key features:

  • Easy-to-use online ticketing forms;
  • Free and paid ticket purchases for in-person and virtual events;
  • Online RSVP management and automated receipting;
  • Customizable questions, such as meal preferences and t-shirt sizes;
  • Multiple ticketing tiers and packages.

Fundraising event software ticketing services

Payment & Donation Processing

Regardless of whether you’re hosting free or paid events, it’s essential that your team has the tools for processing payments from supporters. This should include:

  • Accepting payments online and in-person;
  • Leveraging multiple payment methods;
  • Processing payments for event tickets, merchandise, pledges, and more;
  • Collecting donations, in addition to ticketing and other sales.

Fundraising event software payment processing

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Capability

Peer-to-peer fundraising and nonprofit events often go hand-in-hand. Some of the most impactful social fundraising efforts cumulate in a final event to drive engagement and celebrate success. Think⁠—run/walk/rides and other “a-thon” style events.

Here are a few peer-to-peer fundraising features to consider in your search for nonprofit event technology:

  • Online event participant registration;
  • Customizable participant fundraising pages;
  • Gamification tools, such as fundraising thermometers, badges, and prizes;
  • Donation and pledge processing and fulfillment.

Fundraising event software peer-to-peer capabilities

Auction Management

Charity auctions are many nonprofit organizations’ most profitable fundraising events time and time again. So when it comes to event software buying, it’s a good idea to keep auction tools in mind. These typically include:

  • Item procurement and tracking capabilities;
  • Facilitation of live and silent in-person, virtual, and hybrid auction events;
  • Online and mobile bidding functionality for attendees;
  • Real-time bid tracking and other analytics.

Fundraising event software auction management

Data Reporting

Nonprofit events produce a lot of powerful data. It’s important to have the tools you need to collect, analyze, and leverage that information for the greatest results! That’s where an event software’s data reporting functionality comes in.

Consider these key features:

  • Event attendee supporter profiles to track ongoing engagement;
  • Budgeting and revenue tools to determine ROI calculations;
  • Real-time event data reporting;
  • Birds-eye view and in-depth options.

Fundraising event software data

Matching Gift Automation

Did you know that nearly 27 million individuals work for companies that match gifts? But approximately 78% of this group has no idea that their employers offer these programs?

That’s why increasing awareness of match opportunities is essential⁠—and your event software can help! Matching gift software, or event fundraising software with a dedicated matching gift component, should:

  • Collect supporter employment information through email domain screening or with an integrated company search tool;
  • Provide donors and event attendees with employer-specific matching gift guidelines (eligibility criteria, online forms, etc.);
  • Automatically follow up with match-eligible or unknown donors post-engagement to remind individuals about matching opportunities and drive more successful matches to completion.

Organizations that enhance matching gift efforts by utilizing top software offerings tend to see elevated event and other fundraising experiences. In many cases, it’s the equivalent of a two-for-one sale on charitable donations!

Nonprofit event fundraising software with matching gift tools

Integrations

Expand your event software’s reach with seamless integrations⁠—especially with the tools your organization already uses on a day-to-day basis.

Software integrations essentially form unified systems between varying platforms, allowing different tools to speak to one another. Therefore, integrating your event fundraising software with your organization’s existing fundraising solutions empowers your technology to do more with less manual tasks and configurations.

As you consider fundraising event software integrations, this might include:

  • Online donation tools;
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising platforms;
  • Data management systems;
  • Corporate giving software;
  • Marketing and outreach solutions.

Fundraising event software integrations

Making your event fundraising software choice

How to Make Your Fundraising Event Software Choice

As you work to narrow down your event technology options, here are a few best practices to keep in mind:

Consider bundling event tools with a comprehensive fundraising platform. While some event tools are made available in an à la carte or piecemeal format, others are offered as a bundle in an overall fundraising software package. In the latter scenario, your event-specific technology may be integrated directly with an online donation tool, CRM, and more for an all-in-one solution. Many organizations prefer this type of software collection for ease of use and seamless communication between platforms.

Set a software budget to guide your buying decisions. One of the best ways to narrow down your available options is to go into the buying process with a set budget in mind. This way, you can devote your time to the software your organization can afford. As you look for cost-effective solutions, be sure to consider base price, startup costs, ongoing fees, expansions or add-ons, scalability, and more.

Seek software with matching gift functionality. Beyond typical event software features, one element that can drastically improve your team’s fundraising efforts⁠—event-based and otherwise⁠—is matching gift functionality. Corporate matching gifts enable many donors and event attendees to double their impact on your cause. Luckily, tools like Double the Donation integrate with top event platforms to enable seamless match identification and automated follow-ups.

Request a demo to see prospective tools in action. Before you make your final decisions, it’s a good idea to request some demos. Many companies can provide access to a pre-recorded video, though a live demo offers a more personalized encounter. As you experience the software in action, consider how the tools will look from a user’s perspective⁠. And don’t be afraid to ask questions, either!

Final Thoughts

In the recent past, events of all kinds have become increasingly technology-based⁠—from innovative in-person elements to virtual and hybrid experiences. And it’s important that your nonprofit has the tools to keep up with the times!

As you look to revolutionize your organization’s event offerings with powerful software, we recommend exploring Double the Donation’s integration partners. Many of these top-of-the-line fundraising software providers offer impactful tools that can bring your event endeavors to the next level. Then, don’t forget to factor matching gifts into your strategy, as well!

Want to learn more? Check out these other educational resources to elevate your organization’s event, workplace giving, and overall fundraising strategies:

Explore top fundraising event software with our integration partners

What to Know About One-Off Corporate Matching Gift Programs

What to Know About One-Off Corporate Matching Gift Programs

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Tons of companies offer generous gift-matching programs where the business agrees to match donations made by employees to a wide range of charitable causes. Those are great⁠—and fairly well-known in the nonprofit space. However, there’s another type of corporate matching program that’s less widely understood, and that is one-off matching gift programs.

One-off matching gift programs generally involve specific partnerships between one corporation and one nonprofit organization. And the results can be grand!

If you’re interested in making the most of corporate matching opportunities for your mission, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll walk you through a series of questions and answers pertaining to one-off matching initiatives.

These include:

  1. What are one-off (or unique) matching gift programs?
  2. What are the benefits of one-off matching programs for nonprofits?
  3. How should I set up a one-off matching gift program?
  4. What best practices should I incorporate into my one-off matching program?
  5. How does auto-submission simplify participation?
  6. How do I enable auto-submission for my unique program?

Ready to dive in? One-off matching gift programs have the potential to bring your organization’s corporate fundraising to the next level.

Let’s start with the basics.

1. What are one-off (or unique) matching gift programs?

One-off matching gift programs are those that are unique to a single organization—in this case, yours!

For this to take place, a nonprofit typically partners with a corporation. The two teams work to organize a matching gift program with narrower criteria than a normal match program would have. Specifically, donations to your nonprofit are the only ones being matched.

You might wonder why a company would offer this particular type of donation-matching initiative. And there can be a ton of reasons, depending on the scenario.

For one example, let’s say you run an organization dedicated to breast cancer research and treatment services. Now, imagine that a corporate CEO has a soft spot for missions like yours. They come to your nonprofit team with a proposal. They’d like to match employee donations to your organization throughout the span of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

While this company may not typically have the bandwidth to match all team member donations, a one-off matching gift program can serve as an excellent way to get involved with corporate philanthropy. Alternatively, the business might offer a traditional matching gift initiative with a 1:1 ratio year-round⁠—but choose to elevate giving during particular times by offering a temporary 2, 3, or even 4:1 match to select causes through a one-off program.

2. What are the benefits of one-off matching programs for nonprofits?

Though narrower in scope, one-off matching gift programs offer many of the same benefits that traditional matching gift programs do. Plus, this unique offering can unleash a number of exclusive advantages just for your cause.

These might include:

Building deeper connections with charitable-minded corporations. Whereas a typical matching gift program may lead to a company contributing to hundreds or thousands of nonprofits, a one-off matching gift program is just between you and your corporate partner. Therefore, it provides enhanced opportunities for strengthening your relationship. You might even be able to turn it into a recurring program!

Widening your fundraising reach to encompass new supporters. When promoted effectively, one-off matching gift programs have the potential to direct first-time donors to your organization. A company’s employees may otherwise never have been made aware of your cause. But when their employer highlights the giving opportunity, your nonprofit is at the forefront of their minds. You might even uncover some new, long-term supporters this way!

Elevating donor engagement with unique match opportunities. Perhaps your one-off matching partner employs individuals who are already involved with your cause. You have the chance to further their engagement through the program, too! In fact, studies show that simply mentioning matching gifts in donation appeals results in more than a 71% increase in response rate and a 51% increase in average gift amount.

3. How should I set up a one-off matching gift program?

Interested in getting a unique matching gift program set up for your nonprofit organization? It might be overwhelming if you’re not sure where to start, but it doesn’t have to be difficult.

We recommend following these three key steps.

Locate a corporate matching gift partner.

One-off or unique matching gift programs are, by definition, developed on an ad hoc basis. Luckily, that opens up a world of possibilities⁠—because just about any company could offer such a program.

We recommend taking a similar approach in your search as you might pursue a traditional corporate sponsorship. This might mean:

  • Identifying companies your donors work for that don’t have existing matching gift programs. Then reach out to them, share that you have a lot in common with them already (your donors and their employees), and would like to launch a one-off donation-matching initiative. Point out that it can be a great way to get into corporate giving⁠.
  • Encouraging donors to advocate for a one-off matching program on your behalf. Your donors can be some of your greatest assets! If they work for companies without existing programs, see if your supporters would be willing to pitch the idea to their employer on your behalf.
  • Suggesting unique opportunities for amplifying existing matching gift programs. Perhaps there’s a company that you receive a lot of matching gifts from already. Consider proposing the idea of an increased match ratio to set your prospective one-off program apart. This can be a great place to highlight well-known giving days, awareness and affinity months, and more as key motivators for increasing the standard match for your organization.

Throughout your search, keep an eye out for companies with similar missions and visions as your own. This will help ensure your values align with one another and can maintain a mutually beneficial partnership. And don’t forget to mention the vast benefits to participating companies as well!

Determine one-off program matching guidelines.

Like a traditional matching gift program, your one-off matching initiative will likely involve a number of giving guidelines. These typically include:

  • Minimum and maximum donation amounts;
  • Matching gift ratios;
  • Types of qualifying employees (i.e., full-time, part-time, retired);
  • Submission deadlines;
  • Forms and request processes.

One-off matching gift criteria form

In this regard, the only difference between a one-off and a standard match program is the nonprofits eligible for funding. Because that question is easy⁠—the applicable organization is yours!

Still, it’s a good idea to discuss associated criteria with your matching gift partner before rolling out your program. This will enable your team to better communicate eligibility standards and ensure match requests have the required information for approval.

Add the one-off program to your matching gift database tool.

If you’ve made an effort to elevate corporate fundraising at your organization, you’ve likely invested in a matching gift database. This tool makes it quick and easy for you and your donors to locate information regarding thousands of matching gift companies.

If a company doesn’t offer a standard matching gift program, however, they likely won’t show up in a search of the database tool. But you want your donors to seamlessly locate information on your one-off program⁠—without it populating for other ineligible causes.

Luckily, Double the Donation streamlines the process with dedicated functionality for managing unique matching gift programs in 360MatchPro. All you have to do is go into the backend of your matching gift portal and fill out a brief form regarding the offered program.

One-off matching gift backend management

From there, the program will appear when donors search for the company name in your organization’s database tool. Here’s what it might look like:

One-off matching gift program search results

*This functionality is currently only available for 360MatchPro Enterprise.
Not a 360MatchPro Enterprise client? Get started with Double the Donation by requesting a demo here, or find out how to upgrade your account here.

4. What best practices should I incorporate into my one-off matching program?

Want to take your organization’s unique matching gift program to the next level? Consider these smart tips and tricks to better engage your donors and your corporate partners.

Encourage your corporate partner to promote the program to employees.

A matching gift program is only as good as the employees who know about it. Uninformed team members, after all, are not likely to benefit from available corporate matching. Thus, they’re not sending additional match revenue your way.

One of the best things a company can do to drive corporate giving participation⁠—and, as a result, get the most out of its program offerings⁠—is to make its employees aware of the opportunity in the first place. From the nonprofit’s end, it’s a good idea to encourage proactive employee outreach in order to aid your partner in doing so.

Sample one-off corporate matching gift program social media post

Your team can even help drive the efforts by sending co-branded graphics, social media and email templates, sample communications, and more.

Market the opportunity to your audience.

Just like you expect your matching gift partner to promote your one-off program to their employees, it’s a good idea to market the opportunity to your audience as well. This might include:

  • A social media post highlighting the program and recognizing your matching gift company for their generosity;
  • A blog post on your organization’s website sharing program information and how to get involved, if applicable;
  • Personalized outreach (phone calls, emails, letters, etc.) to existing and prospective donors who work for the company hosting your unique match program.

Plus, by sharing co-marketing materials with your organization’s network of support, you can help provide additional benefits to the matching gift company. When they recognize significant value from your partnership, the company will be more likely to offer workplace and corporate giving initiatives alongside your organization in the future.

Enable auto-submission functionality to streamline participation.

You want your donors to be able to take part in your matching program as easily as possible. One of the best ways to simplify participation for your supporters is to enable new matching gift auto-submission functionality through Double the Donation.

This feature essentially removes obstacles and drives more corporate match requests to completion. And we’ll share a more in-depth explanation in the next few sections!

5. How does auto-submission simplify participation?

One-off matching gift programs can suffer from many of the same roadblocks that traditional programs face. For example, common hindrances to successful matches include a lack of understanding surrounding the matching gift request process from the donor’s perspective.

Matching gift auto-submission functionality can help by providing readily available eligibility criteria and allowing streamlined requests.

Now, donors can submit their matches without ever leaving your organization’s website⁠. Nor do they have to provide additional (often repetitive) data in a separate platform. With auto-submission enabled, all donors typically have to do is enter their corporate email address on your gift confirmation page. Then, voilà⁠—Double the Donation handles the rest of the submission process behind the scenes.

By incorporating auto-submission for your unique matching gift program, everybody benefits! This includes:

  • Your organization as you receive increased matching gift revenue and elevated donor engagement;
  • Your donors as they leverage one-click matching gift requests, enabling them to make the most of their nonprofit contributions without dedicating more time and resources;
  • Your corporate match partner as they see maximal program usage, more satisfied employees, and a positive brand image.

Here’s what the process can look like for your donors:

Step 1) An employee of your corporate matching company makes a donation on your organization’s website and enters the company name.

One-off matching gift search tool example

Step 2) The donor enters their email on the confirmation screen, authorizing Double the Donation to auto-submit their match request.

One-off matching gift auto-submission example

6. How do I enable auto-submission for my unique program?

Now you have a solid understanding of the benefits of auto-submission⁠—both in terms of one-off and general matching gifts. So how do you actually set it up for your unique matching program?

If you already use 360MatchPro Enterprise, it’s as easy as clicking a button in the backend of the platform. When you add a one-off matching gift program to your organization’s search tool (as outlined above), it will prompt you to enable auto-submission functionality.

Enabling auto-submission for a one-off corporate matching gift program

Once donors begin participating in your one-off matching gift program, their data will be collected for streamlined and automated requests. From there, Double the Donation will prefill the matching gift form and pass the information along to the company hosting the unique match (or the company’s CSR platform).

In order to see the best results from auto-submission forms, be sure to fill out your comprehensive Organization Profile within 360MatchPro.

This detailed profile should include your:

  • Organization’s name
  • Phone number
  • Tax ID number (or EIN)
  • Website URL
  • Full mailing address
  • Form W-9
  • 501(c)(3) IRS affirmation letter

This allows us to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information in our automated request process. And in the end, it increases the likelihood that matches are completed without a hitch.

(Hint: Your Organization Profile helps streamline auto-submission for other companies’ more general matching gift programs as well!)

View our knowledge base article to learn more about your Organization Profile.
Or click here to explore Double the Donation’s innovative matching gift auto-submission!

Wrapping Up

Sourcing a one-off matching gift program may be one of the best ways to make your organization stand out from the crowd. And it will enable you to grow mutually beneficial corporate relationships that can last long beyond the matching program itself.

Not to mention, with the right tips, tricks, and tools, getting started has never been easier.

Interested in learning more about matching gift programs and best practices for elevating corporate fundraising at your organization? Check out our recommended resources:

Get started with one-off matching gift programs and more with Double the Donation.

Innovative Discovery top matching gift company example with auto-submission

Company Spotlight: Maximizing Matching Gift Innovation with Innovative Discovery

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The list of matching gift companies is endless⁠—and not exclusive to one region, business size, or corporate sector. Instead, employers all over the world opt to match their employees’ charitable donations. Doing so results in elevated corporate philanthropy, team-wide engagement, and even positive brand image.

So what makes one company’s program stand out over another? There are a lot of factors that go into a top matching gift company, including donation (low) minimums and (high) maximums, open eligibility, seamless donor experiences, and more.

One that stands out in all areas is legal services company Innovative Discovery. And we’ll tell you why!

Read on to learn more about:

Ready to get started? Dive in and see what makes Innovative Discovery’s matching gift program top-tier.

What to Know About Innovative Discovery

Founded in 2005 in Arlington, Virginia, Innovative Discovery is a strategic consulting firm and legal services provider to a wide range of corporations and groups. The company partners with government agencies, construction and manufacturing businesses, energy and utility companies, financial services, healthcare and life sciences providers, and more.

Innovative Discovery employees—a combination of technologists, lawyers, and cybersecurity experts—work as strategic consultants to provide authoritative guidance throughout the litigation processes and information lifecycles. Specifically, the consulting group aims to offer unique insights into cybersecurity, data breaches, digital forensics, and high-stakes litigations to set their clients up for maximal success.

Innovative Discovery matching gift company screenshot

This corporation also places a significant emphasis on giving back to the communities in which they operate, including offering community service, nonprofit sponsorships, and more. Plus, they support nonprofit organizations of all shapes and sizes through their generous matching program.

Current Matching Gift Program Guidelines

Innovative Discovery employees have the opportunity to double their charitable giving impact by participating in the company’s matching initiative. Personal gifts made by Innovative Discovery team members of between $25 and $2,500 are eligible to be matched at a 1:1 rate.

Even better, nearly all nonprofits qualify for the program. This includes K-12 and higher education institutions, arts and cultural institutions, environmental nonprofits, and other registered 501(c)(3) organizations.

And the company makes it as easy as possible for employees to take part, driving participation and overall program usage with auto-submission.

Here’s a quick overview of the Innovative Discovery corporate matching gift program eligibility requirements:

  • Innovative Discovery matching gift program guidelinesMatching gift ratio – 1:1 (or dollar for dollar)
  • Qualifying employees – Current full-time and part-time Innovative Discovery team members qualify to request corporate matching donations.
  • Eligible nonprofit recipients – Most nonprofit mission types qualify for Innovative Discovery matching, which includes:
    • Educational institutions (K-12 included)
    • Health and human services
    • Arts and cultural organizations
    • Civic and community groups
    • Environmental nonprofits
    • And most other 501 (c)(3) organizations
  • Submission process – Employees may complete their match request directly following their initial donation on the organization’s giving form using auto-submission or navigate to Selflessly’s online matching gift portal to fill out a brief application.

Learn more about Innovative Discovery’s matching gift program guidelines here.

Standing Out With Matching Gift Auto-Submission Through Selflessly and Double the Donation

The #1 thing that makes Innovative Discovery’s matching gift program so innovative is its participation in newly developed matching gift auto-submission. By partnering with Double the Donation and corporate giving platform Selflessly, ID is streamlining the process for employees getting involved.

Enabling auto-submission significantly reduces the time and effort involved in completing a matching gift request⁠. And it can all be done directly from a nonprofit’s website⁠—driving more ID employees to participate. With increased program participation, more funding goes to the nonprofit causes their employees care about. Not to mention, the company itself receives elevated benefits from its corporate giving offerings. It’s a win-win-win⁠—and it’s easier than ever before!

Benefits of auto-submission with Selflessly

Here’s how the matching process works for Innovative Discovery team members using auto-submission:

  1. An ID employee makes a donation directly on their favorite nonprofit’s website and enters their company name⁠—Innovative Discovery⁠—in a donation form field.
  2. On the confirmation screen, the employee enters their corporate email address. They then check a box and authorize Double the Donation to submit the match request on their behalf.
  3. From there, the matching gift request is processed behind the scenes⁠—thanks to the integration between Double the Donation and ID’s corporate giving software Selflessly⁠—and the match funding is paid out to the organization.

Overview of matching gift auto-submission with Innovative Discovery

Learn more about matching gift auto-submission with Double the Donation here.

Innovative Discovery’s CSR Software Partner, Selflessly

Innovative Discovery facilitates its matching gifts and other corporate giving initiatives by leveraging a CSR management software company, Selflessly. Selflessly is framed as an “all-in-one giving platform for CSR,” offering both corporate giving and volunteerism features.

Selflessly logo

Through this software solution, companies like Innovative Discovery are able to:

  • Elevate corporate giving and employee matching with ease;
  • Simplify corporate volunteering and organize team and individual volunteer opportunities;
  • Increase employee engagement by participating in social good;
  • Make the most of purposeful reporting and impact assessments.

Recently, Selflessly was also one of the first providers to roll out new auto-submission functionality with Double the Donation, making corporate matching gifts easier than ever before.

Other Innovative Giving Initiatives

Innovative Discovery’s website shares that “the primary focus of ID’s corporate philanthropic efforts are nonprofit organizations valued by our employees.” This idea is reflected in the company’s matching gift program as well as additional team-wide efforts for various charitable causes.

This includes:

  • ID Civic Day ⁠— Innovative Discovery’s Civic Day offers an annual opportunity for team members to engage in their communities. Beyond typical PTO, the company offers an additional paid day off work for employees to volunteer with community service projects.
  • Employee volunteer grants ⁠— ID states that the company supports team member philanthropy through matching donations and investments of their time with corporate volunteer grants. When employees volunteer with various causes, the company pays out grants to the organizations to which they dedicate their time and efforts.
  • Steps for Autism team challenge ⁠— Every April, Innovative Discovery employees take part in a workplace giving campaign on behalf of the Autism Society. During World Autism Month, team members compete by department to see who can get the most steps. At the end of the month, ID makes a donation to the Autism Society on behalf of the winning group.
  • Sponsorship for Climbing Blind: Tibet Expedition ⁠— In 2004, Innovative Discovery aided groundbreaking Climbing Blind’s Tibet Expedition. The company sponsored the event by building essential technical infrastructure. With their newly developed interactive website and intuitive web content management system, Climbing Blind had access to the tools they needed to connect climbers with their growing online community.

Innovative Discovery leadership has made it a point time and time again to invest in giving back to their communities. We’re excited to see what they roll out next!

Wrapping Up

Companies like Innovative Discovery are paving the way for more businesses⁠—and the nonprofits, donors, and communities they support⁠—to benefit from groundbreaking matching gift programs with ease. As more and more corporations roll out innovative auto-submission functionality by leveraging partnerships between corporate giving and matching gift-specific technology, the results will continue growing to new heights.

Ready to learn more about standout matching gift companies and practices? Explore other Double the Donation resources here:

Learn more about Double the Donation auto-submission

Checkr top matching gift company example with auto-submission

Company Spotlight: Get Inspired by Checkr’s Groundbreaking Matching Gift Program

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Companies participate in corporate giving for a number of reasons. A corporate executive might be inspired to give back to a particular cause that resonates with them and their values. A different company might do so in order to engage with its employees on a deeper level, fostering a positive workplace culture and driving satisfaction and retention. Another yet may choose to give in order to receive tax benefits or boost their public image.

Tons of businesses partake in matching employee gifts, and most intend to reap all of the benefits listed above. But there are a few that truly stand out in their efforts⁠—specifically when it comes to corporate matching gifts.

One such company? Checkr!

Want to find out how? We’ve compiled information to provide you with a solid understanding of the Checkr corporation, its philanthropy and matching gift endeavors, and what makes it stand out from the crowd.

This includes:

Let’s begin with the basics.

Company Background: About Checkr

Checkr, Inc. was founded in 2014 with a unique idea to modernize and advance the traditional background check process—while removing common obstacles and enabling a fairer hiring process for all.

Today, this background check screening company aims to aid other businesses with the right technology to make the right recruitment and hiring choices. Checkr is built on the idea of fair chance hiring that works to make the hiring process as even as it can be for all candidates⁠—including those with criminal backgrounds.

Checkr matching gift company screenshot
And Checkr understands the importance of corporate philanthropy in an overall business plan⁠—especially pertaining to strategic recruitment and retention practices. They’ve even written several blog posts citing matching gifts and overall corporate giving programs as key components for How to Recruit Talented Leaders and How to Increase Employee Retention at Your Small Business. Not to mention, the Checkr team offers its own corporate giving initiatives—including, but not limited to, matching employee donations to charitable causes.

Current Matching Gift Program Guidelines

Checkr matches charitable gifts made by all full and part-time employees at a 1:1 rate. With no minimum donation amount and open match availability to nearly all nonprofit causes, Checkr aims to make its employee matching gift program as accessible as possible.

Not to mention, they utilize matching gift auto-submission functionality to enable one-click matching gift requests, which ensures the process is quick and easy for employee participants.

Let’s take a quick look at Checkr’s employee matching donation guidelines:

Checkr matching gift program guidelines

  • Minimum employee donation matched – None!
  • Matching gift ratio – 1:1, or dollar for dollar
  • Qualifying employees – Current full-time and part-time Checkr employees
  • Eligible nonprofit recipients – Nearly all nonprofit causes qualify to receive Checkr matches. This includes:
    • K-12 schools
    • Higher education institutions
    • Health and human services
    • Arts and cultural organizations
    • Civic and community organizations
    • Environmental nonprofits
    • And many more 501 (c)(3) organizations
  • Submission process – Checkr employees can leverage auto-submission to complete the matching gift process in seconds from their favorite organizations’ donation forms or submit their match requests manually by logging into the company’s CSR portal, Millie.

New Feature! Auto-Submission With Millie and Double the Donation

Checkr’s employee donation-matching program has many admirable features that make it one of our top matching gift companies. But what really makes this employer stand out in its offering is its matching gift auto-submission functionality.

Checkr employs corporate giving platform Millie to facilitate its matching gift program. Historically, that meant providing an employee-facing portal with which team members can log in, provide basic information about their recent donations, and submit their matching gift requests.

Now, thanks to a trailblazing integration between Millie and industry-leading matching gift software provider Double the Donation, the process for employee donors is easier than ever before.

In fact, all an individual has to do is enter their corporate email address from the confirmation screen of their favorite organization’s donation page. They won’t be rerouted to a separate submission platform or be required to reenter donation details. The software ecosystem handles it all seamlessly behind the scenes!

Overview of matching gift auto-submission with Checkr

In the end, consider these key benefits of breakthrough auto-submission for all parties involved:

  • Checkr benefits from increased usage of its matching gift program⁠—and the key advantages that go alongside it. This includes improved employee relations, elevated sales and brand image, substantial tax benefits, and much more.
  • At the same time, Checkr employees have the opportunity to double their impact on cherished causes without a complicated process for doing so.
  • And don’t forget about the nonprofits seeing significant growth in matching gift revenue⁠—and the communities that benefit from their services.

Benefits of auto-submission with Millie

Auto-submission has the potential to revolutionize matching gifts⁠, and it’s never been easier for companies like Checkr⁠—as well as the employees and nonprofits in their networks⁠—to make use of it.

Learn more about matching gift auto-submission with Double the Donation here.

What to Know About Checkr’s CSR Partner, Millie

In order to bring their philanthropy to the next level, the Checkr team chooses to leverage a social impact platform called Millie. Millie describes itself as offering a simple and flexible matching gift solution that’s budget-friendly for all companies. And for Checkr, Millie is able to help simplify the facilitation of their matching gifts and other corporate giving programs!

Millie logo

Here’s a look at Millie’s key offerings:

  • Essential matching donation management of programs that encourage both corporate and individual giving;
  • Campaign-hosting capabilities that enable companies to support and fundraise for various causes;
  • Remote and in-person corporate volunteer management tools;
  • Charitable gift cards, affinity groups, gamification campaigns, and more.

Plus, Millie has been at the forefront of corporate giving innovation with its new auto-submission partnership with Double the Donation. This allows businesses like Checkr and more to streamline and elevate philanthropy, ultimately bringing advantages to every party involved. We’re excited to see what they do next, and how they bring forward-thinking companies along with them.

Millie DTD Donor Amplification

Other Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives

In addition to Checkr’s standout matching gift program, here are a few other CSR efforts that the background check company pursues:

Checkr corporate social responsibility example

  • Bounce Back program ⁠— Bounce Back is a unique program developed by Checkr with the help of its dedicated employees. By providing tools and resources to post-incarcerated applicants and companies looking to establish fair hiring practices, Bounce Back aids in securing a more optimal workforce for everyone involved.
  • Free reentry simulation ⁠— In order to provide insight into the various challenges involved with employment post-incarceration, Checkr has invested in developing an interactive virtual reentry simulator. This free and accessible tool aims to share perspective and understanding of those looking to reenter society after a criminal record.
  • Expungement assistance services ⁠— Checkr believes that a criminal record should not put an end to an individual’s employment potential. And when it’s possible to clear a candidate’s record and reopen opportunities, the company is dedicated to helping with a fast and affordable solution.

The Checkr website states that “Checkr has committed to the Pledge 1% corporate philanthropy movement, pledging to donate one percent of its employees’ time, one percent of its product, one percent of the equity, and one percent of the profits every year to the mission of enabling fair chances.”

But they often go farther than just one percent! In fact, much of Checkr’s corporate offerings revolve around its overall mission of fair chance hiring.

Concluding Thoughts

Matching gift programs continue to expand in terms of both prevalence and potential. And companies like Checkr are leading the pack. By enabling innovative auto-submission, Checkr is demonstrating matching gift programs of the future.

And while bringing inspiration to other corporate leaders, they’re also benefiting their employees by offering next-level engagement experiences, the nonprofits receiving increased funding through the matching programs, and even their own bottom line.

Dive deeper into corporate matching gifts! Learn more with these additional corporate giving resources from Double the Donation:

Learn more about Double the Donation auto-submission

Employee Giving Campaign Ideas Graphic

8 Year-Round Employee Giving Campaign Ideas & Real Examples

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Thanks to the growing movement for increased corporate social responsibility, combined with innovative new technology, many companies are stepping up their employee-giving game like never before.

Businesses interested in creating or improving their workplace giving programs—as well as nonprofits eager to engage donors and corporate partners in new ways—will find inspiration in these employee giving campaign ideas that can be adapted to any office environment (even remote ones!).

Let’s dive right in! This guide will cover:

The role of employee giving and company matching in CSR

The framework of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is becoming increasingly popular across many sectors. It’s even inspiring employers to provide a variety of ways for their company to give back to the community in the form of philanthropic donations, volunteerism, and proactive policies that put people and the environment first. A welcome shift from the “greed is good” mindset of past generations, CSR is growing a wave of commitment to sustainability both inside and outside corporate office walls.

Employee giving (also called workplace giving) is one of the most popular CSR strategies. It creates opportunities for everyone in a corporate environment to pay it forward in a collective effort, making a much greater impact than what any individual can do alone.

From annual fundraisers and donation drives to giving days and volunteer programs, employee giving campaigns will (and should!) look different in every workplace, depending on your own unique company culture and values.

However, there is one aspect of employee giving every workplace campaign should include: matching donations.

Whether you’re planning a virtual walk-a-thon or a monthly giving campaign, companies should match funds that individual employees raise or give from their own pockets. This kind of support and commitment builds buy-in, signals to employees that their company is just as committed to this work as they are, and affirms that their participation is seen and celebrated.

Benefits of workplace giving campaigns

Employee giving initiatives backed by matching donations can do a whole lot of good—and not just for your nonprofit beneficiaries and the communities they serve.

A company’s public image, for example, can undoubtedly improve with well-documented charitable contributions. Plus, the tax incentives for large philanthropic gifts are nothing to shrug at. Still, it’s the impact that workplace giving campaigns have on employee morale that cannot be understated.

Giving, science tells us, is tied to human happiness. Creating meaningful opportunities for employees to build relationships and contribute to good causes alongside their peers leads to a greater sense of belonging, stronger engagement in future activities and projects, and higher staff retention. It’s a win-win-win!

With the help of automated systems, giving can become an integral part of the culture of your workplace. Imagine an environment where giving was as much a part of your work week as logging into your email in the morning—not just once a year, but all throughout!

8 employee giving campaign ideas to try throughout the year

We’ve gathered some of our favorite workplace giving campaign ideas you can implement year-round at your office. Plus, each idea features an example from a real nonprofit that nailed it.

Every workplace is different, so think creatively about how you can customize and adjust these ideas based on your company’s size, time constraints, interests, and areas of specialty. The possibilities are endless—just like your potential for making a positive impact in your community.

1. Lean into the competitive spirit for Giving Tuesday 💪

Let’s kick things off with one of the most popular times of the year for nonprofit fundraising: Giving Tuesday!

This global day of generosity happens the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving (and the shopping madness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday), and it’s a great opportunity to cajole your coworkers into the giving spirit.

A virtual peer-to-peer or team fundraising Giving Tuesday campaign is an easy and fun way to foster friendly competition as individuals or staff teams try to out-raise one another for their cause.

The secret to a successful peer-to-peer fundraiser? Keep spirits high and be a cheerleader for your fundraisers! Celebrate everyone’s hard work by shouting out teams at various times throughout the campaign and offering prizes for the teams with the most donations, the highest amount raised, or even the most team spirit.

Employee Giving Campaign Team Fundraiser Example

🌎 Real-world example: For the Together Housed campaign, participants created personal or team fundraising pages to raise money over three weeks for women in Los Angeles experiencing homelessness.

This virtual effort raised over $155K for the Downtown Women’s Center and culminated in a livestreamed celebration to thank individual fundraisers and corporate sponsors.

2. Turn your holiday party into an opportunity to give back 🎁

The holidays bring out the giving spirit in even the Grinchiest among us—especially if the food and drinks are free. If you’ve already budgeted for a staff gathering or outing for the holidays, think about adding on a party-worthy fundraising element like a silent auction to benefit a local nonprofit.

Depending on the size of your staff, a team can volunteer to source auction items or request that everyone (CEO included) contribute an item, experience, or basket to auction off during the party.

Sourcing items can be work-intensive, so make the rest of the process easy on your team by using an online silent auction platform that partygoers can use to bid right from their smartphones. Mobile bidding also makes it easy to create a hybrid or virtual auction experience if your remote employees want to start a bidding war for a good cause.

For maximum excitement, make a final chance to place bids before you celebrate all of your winners live. This is also an excellent time to celebrate your Giving Tuesday teams or winners with silly prizes or awards!

Employee Giving Campaign Silent Auction Example

🌎 Real-world example: The Ultimutt Auction fundraiser for the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation offered bidders a range of fun experiences and items from local businesses. To reach a wider audience and build momentum to raise more funds, the organizers had the online auction open for a week, enabling them to raise over $21K!

3. Kick off the new year with a monthly giving program 🗓️

With everyone energized by your Giving Tuesday and holiday party success (and hopefully some time off), build on this momentum to get employees excited about giving back regularly.

A great place to start is hosting a casual “Lunch & Learn” once a month, where a guest speaker or representative from a local nonprofit comes for an informal presentation about their impact and need.

Build buy-in by providing incentives like a catered lunch for those who attend and asking staff to nominate organizations or community groups meaningful to them. National celebrations like Black History Month (February), Women’s History Month (March), Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May), etc., can be a great guidepost for causes to highlight if you’re not sure where to start.

The actual giving part can happen in a few different ways:

  • A monthly stipend from the company that employees can donate
  • Informal monthly contributions matched by the company
  • Automated payroll deductions (also matched by the company)

Employee Giving Campaign Monthly Giving Example

🌎 Real-world example: Clothing retailer rue21’s annual giving campaign organizes staff fundraising teams by department (Marketing, Merchandising, Human Resources, and so on). Each year, they have raised more funds for their nonprofit partner organization, Foster Love Project, which serves youth in foster care.

4. Spring into volunteering 🌸

Financial contributions aren’t the only way to make a difference in your place of work. Harness the power of your team’s talents to give back through volunteer hours or pro bono projects in partnership with a local nonprofit, school, or other community organization.

Volunteering can be skill-based work (graphic design, tutoring, or even accounting!) or just helping with whatever is needed (envelope stuffing, serving meals, or checking people in). It’s all about meeting the needs of your particular community partner.

The key to success here is to incentivize volunteering, which can happen in many ways.

Some companies, including 40% of the Fortune 500 list, give volunteer grants to employees who put in a certain number of hours, and others offer perks like additional vacation time. You can even liven things up by making it a competition to see who can give the highest number of hours by a specific date.

Employee Giving Campaign Volunteer Example

🌎 Real-world example: Chicago-based software company Sprout Social organized Philanthropy Week, which combined volunteering and team-based fundraising for local nonprofits.

Teams of employees chose an organization in their community, created fundraising pages, and were encouraged to take time during the week to spend time volunteering on-site to foster deeper connections with their partners.

5. Create your own workplace giving day in May ☀️

Volunteering is also one of the most effective team-building activities, and hosting a workplace giving day can empower your company to build connection and belonging amongst your staff—and contribute to a good cause at the same time.

As the weather warms up, partner with a local nonprofit that needs a lot of hands for a park cleanup, meal prep, material assembly, mural painting, or other beautification projects. Make sure everyone on your staff is able and incentivized to attend, get t-shirts made for the occasion, and cap it all off with a celebration and big group photo.

If all goes well, try to make it an annual event that employees look forward to, your nonprofit partners can plan around, and the entire community can feel proud of.

Employee Giving Campaign Giving Day Example

🌎 Real-world example: When pandemic restrictions made in-person activities impossible, Presence Marketing organized a virtual 5k and complementary fundraiser in partnership with a charitable foundation to help build a Kindergarten in the West African nation of Togo.

The event was so successful that they organized a second annual day of giving the following year to benefit another charity project!

6. Celebrate summer with sponsorship 😎

June is the start of summer and Pride Month, a great time to support organizations that serve the LGBTQ+ community.

Give your coworkers a special night out together and raise some serious money by sponsoring a fun fundraising event, like a standup comedy, drag show, or a combination of the two!

Planning events is a lot of work, so if that’s not something you can take on, seek out a nonprofit partner that’s already planning a benefit event that you can sponsor. Or enlist the help of a local venue that can help match you with a good cause. If a virtual or hybrid event can help you reach your community better, livestream it!

Employee Giving Campaign Sponsorship Event Example

🌎 Real-world example: Platinum Top 50, an industry organization for real estate professionals in Texas, organized a comedy show fundraiser featuring standup and improv from some talented local realtors. In addition to ticket sales, extra donations from individuals and corporate sponsorships helped them to raise over 200% of their original goal for their hunger-fighting nonprofit partner.

7. Go virtual with a back-to-school drive 📚

Drives for essential items like jackets, toys, and perishable goods are popular for workplace giving campaigns for many reasons. For one, those who are making donations can immediately see the real-life impact of their gifts, which is sometimes harder to communicate with solely monetary asks.

With a virtual drive, donors can still understand exactly where their money is going and, at the same time, give the nonprofit beneficiary more oversight and flexibility to order the items they need and get them directly to the people who need them.

This campaign idea is also great for remote office teams, as virtual drives open up donations to a broader pool of people and save the time and energy it can take a team of employees to collect, organize, and transport items.

Employee Giving Campaign Supply Drive Example

🌎 Real-world example: With several businesses participating, Teachers’ Treasures organized the Gr8 Paper Push Virtual School Supply Drive and enabled donors to select specific classroom items or just make a flat donation to the campaign.

This campaign also had an added team fundraising element. Local businesses competed with one another to raise the most, which created a lively, fun atmosphere.

8. Make a No Shave November everyone can join in on 🥸

Movember and No Shave November, popular social challenges to see who can grow the most facial hair, were created to raise awareness and funds for men’s health and cancer prevention. Anyone can play on this idea for a good cause of their choosing—just make sure to take lots of photos!

Employee Giving Campaign Competition Example

🌎 Real-world example: For their annual Let It Grow! campaign, Vermont-based victims’ services agency Windham County Safe Place engaged teams from the police departments, hospitals, and legal groups that they work with for a light-hearted competition. Each team was encouraged to grow facial hair or rock colorful hair extensions and bright nails for the month. Inclusivity for the win!

Every participant received a special pin for joining the campaign, created their own individual or team fundraising page, donated $25 or more, and encouraged their friends and family to help them reach their goal. The top three earners even won a special prize at the end of the competition! The novelty of this campaign has drawn attention to their cause from local media and helped them to raise thousands of dollars.

Additional resources for your next employee giving campaign

From selling tickets and making donations to administering payroll deductions and matching contributions, automating as much of your workplace giving campaigns as possible will save you a lot of time and energy.

Online donation tools and matching gift automation software, like 360MatchPro by Double the Donation, can free you up to focus on what really matters—engaging your workplace community and creating meaningful ways to give back together.

Looking for more inspiration? Dive deeper into these additional resources:

The Expert's Guide to Buying Fundraising Software

The Expert’s Guide to Buying Fundraising Software

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Digital fundraising is more important than ever, and even traditionally “offline” engagement efforts are being powered more effectively and efficiently by newly developed fundraising software. In the move to increasingly software-driven fundraising, it’s time for many nonprofits, schools, higher education institutions, and more to reevaluate their current fundraising toolkits.

If that sounds like you, you might be in the market to purchase or upgrade your organization’s tools⁠—and we’ve put together this handy guide to help you along the way. Specifically, we’ll cover:

Are you ready to jump in and learn about how fundraising software can impact organizations like yours⁠—and what you should look for if you’re in the market? Let’s get started.

Types of fundraising software

Building Your Toolkit ⁠— Types of Fundraising Software

An optimized nonprofit fundraising toolkit will likely contain tools spanning a range of functionalities and purposes. While you might see a number of these solutions bundled into “all-in-one” type platforms, other providers can make the tools available via “a la carte” offerings.

That said, you’ll ultimately want to have access to each of the following types of nonprofit fundraising software to help aid in your overall efforts.

Online Donation Forms

One of the most basic⁠—and essential⁠—tenets of an optimized fundraising strategy is an organization’s online donation forms. These resources allow nonprofits to collect donations online with ease.

The best donation pages also empower fundraisers to:

  • Manage multiple online giving campaigns;
  • Offer suggested (or custom) donation amounts;
  • Accept gifts from desktop computers, mobile devices, and more;
  • Match their donation form branding to the organization;
  • Facilitate one-time or regularly recurring gifts;
  • Collect additional donor information through custom form fields;
  • Enable matching gift functionality through Double the Donation partnerships;
  • Integrate with other nonprofit solutions.

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Pages

Peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns can be some of the best ways to bring existing donor engagement to new levels while simultaneously expanding the reach of your audience. Luckily, there are a number of peer-to-peer fundraising software available that should enable your organization to:

  • 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.

Payment Processors

In order to accept donations and other payments online, you’ll need to have payment processing software in place to facilitate the transaction behind the scenes. This tool essentially functions as a mediator between the organization, the donor, and their financial institution.

An effective payment processor typically encompasses the following functionality, empowering nonprofit organizations to:

  • Process nonprofit contributions through 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.

Data Management Systems

Your internal team powers your nonprofit and puts you on the course to fulfilling your mission⁠—but there’s a lot for them to keep track of. Ensure your fundraisers are supplied with the tools they need 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 constituent 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 and data analytics;
  • Integrate with other nonprofit solutions.

Workplace Giving Software

Tons of available workplace giving revenue is left on the table each year⁠—including more than $4 to $7 billion in unclaimed matching gifts alone. Luckily, dedicated workplace giving software helps organizations identify qualifying opportunities and drive more matches to completion to increase overall funding.

Keep in mind that the most successful fundraising organizations leverage these tools to preserve their teams’ time and resources while simultaneously increasing individual and corporate giving. After all, workplace giving programs like matching gifts and volunteer grants empower nonprofit donors to do more for the causes they care about without having to reach back into their own wallets to do so.

This type of fundraising software also enables nonprofits and other groups to:

  • Market matching gift program opportunities to donors and supporters;
  • Locate detailed information about matching gifts and volunteer grants;
  • Leverage an autocompleting search tool to identify employment information;
  • Trigger automated outreach to provide valuable matching gift program insights;
  • Ensure no matching gift falls through the cracks with timely follow-up cadences;
  • Integrate with other nonprofit solutions.

Matching gift fundraising software example

Sample matching gift fundraising software dashboard

Because lack of awareness is a primary roadblock facing matching gift and other workplace giving success, the right software is a must-have for organizations looking to make the most of the opportunities. Not to mention, this solution integrates seamlessly into your existing fundraising strategy⁠—and works alongside your other giving tools⁠ to elevate success on just about every avenue.

Nonprofit Event Tools

Hosting a fundraising event is often one of the most effective ways to bring in new supporters, boost donor engagement, and increase fundraising revenue. And nonprofit event software can streamline the entire experience from planning, hosting, and wrapping up your event initiatives.

Specifically, the best event fundraising tools should 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.

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. Thus, be sure you have some kind of donor acknowledgment or recognition software in your fundraising toolkit.

While a regular email or thank-you letter can make do in a pinch, we recommend elevating your gratitude strategy with unique and engaging acknowledgments⁠—like eCards!

Fundraising software for donor acknowledgments

Regardless of what you choose, your donor recognition software should empower your team to:

  • Easily match your nonprofit’s existing branding style⁠, including fonts, images, and colors;
  • Send acknowledgments in seconds;
  • Save money without shelling out funds for stamps, envelopes, printers, and ink;
  • Offer 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;
  • View other engagement statistics to gauge successes.

Fundraising software factors to consider

Choosing Your Software ⁠— Factors to Consider

When it comes to any type of fundraising software, there are a number of factors that go into making the right buying decisions. Together, these elements can provide a comprehensive look at the scope and abilities of your potential provider or product.

As you explore various software options, we recommend making detailed notes on the following components of each choice:

Functionality

Fundraising software is a broad term that can encompass many different types of platforms and features (like those highlighted above). That said, make sure you’re buying software that includes all of the necessary functionality for your organization and its needs.

At the same time, consider beforehand what you can live without. For example, if your organization has a ton of awesome event fundraising ideas, but isn’t so big on advocacy, consider forgoing the advocacy features in favor of a software with excellent event planning capabilities. Or perhaps you’re looking for a new CRM software, and you already have a donation platform that you love. In that case, you can look for exclusively database solutions that might not offer a built-in online giving tool.

Donor Experience

Your organization’s donors are most typically going to be the end user of your fundraising software. For example, they’re likely the ones who fill out your nonprofit’s online donation forms, participate in a peer-to-peer giving campaign, or interact with your matching gift database search tool.

That said, it’s important to prioritize fundraising software that makes their experiences as quick, easy, and painless as possible. If a process is too long, drawn out, or otherwise complicated, even your most dedicated supporters may consider abandoning their gift. On the opposite note, a seamless giving experience affair will keep donors coming back to support your cause time and time again.

Back-End Ease-of-Use

Another important element of any software has to do with its ease of use on a day-to-day basis⁠—and this can depend on the organization itself as much as the software product in question. After all, one organization’s staff can have vastly different technical skill levels than the next.

All in all, organizations should prioritize a level of complication when it comes to their tech solutions that makes sense 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 only 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

Another key consideration when it comes to fundraising software (or any technology, for that matter) is the solution’s scalability.

For example, as your internal fundraising team grows, will your software enable enough authorized users? Be sure that all staff members who need to use your fundraising platform have access to do so⁠—including taking into account where your team might be in one or multiple years.

Not only that, but when it comes to CRMs and other donor management systems, you’ll want to confirm that your potential platform can hold all of your donor data with significant room to spare. If you anticipate that your nonprofit will see major growth in the near future, you’ll certainly require a platform that has room for expansion. This will allow your new tools to scale up alongside your organization without breaking the bank⁠—or requiring a software platform switch too quickly.

As you make your buying decision, keep in mind that organizations that jump at free or very low-cost solutions often find that their needs have rapidly out-scaled the capabilities of the software. If that happens, you’ll be back at software-buying square one with yet another data migration to handle⁠—so it’s typically best to make a thoughtful, future-focused decision from the beginning.

Integrations

Even the most comprehensive software solutions might not have all of the day-to-day features your organization needs to function. In order to unlock heightened capabilities, 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 specific or niche needs, where they may prefer to choose their own software solution (for example, a particular payment processor or email application) to best complement their existing tools.
  • The software company you’re buying from doesn’t offer tools to facilitate one of your major operations (e.g., corporate matching gifts), so you need to integrate a more specialized fundraising software (i.e., a dedicated workplace giving platform).

If you find that you’ll require a software integration, be sure to communicate your needs to your potential new vendor. That way, they can help determine the compatibility between the two systems. Perhaps there’s a native, ready-built integration⁠—in which case, great! On the other hand, if it’s difficult or impossible to integrate two solutions, it might be time to reconsider your priorities.

Cost

It’s important to go into any major purchase with a budget in mind, and software is no exception. Before you take a deep dive and begin evaluating specific platforms, you should first decide how much your organization is willing to spend⁠—taking into account 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 the majority of your investment will go toward. It encompasses the core functions of the platform but usually excludes any expansions or optional add-ons.

However, it’s important to ask exactly what it includes to make sure you’re getting all of the capabilities you need. If the base price doesn’t include one or more of your organization’s necessary features, be sure to consider how much the excluded features cost to add on.

From there, you might run into additional hidden costs such as these:

  • Staff training;
  • Maintenance fees;
  • Online donation processing fees;
  • Future updates, integrations, or expansions.

Going into the buying process with a clear budget will naturally limit your options, which makes the selection process a little easier. It also, of course, ensures that you won’t be spending more than you can actually afford.

Customizability

When you make your fundraising software purchase, you’re likely aiming to locate a solution that complements your organization’s needs and operations out of the box. Even so, many platforms remain particularly customizable and are open to being further tailored to fit your cause.

For the most optimal fundraising experience, consider software with expansive customization options⁠—especially when it comes to the capabilities that most influence your major operations.

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;
  • And more.

With customizable features, you can essentially mold your software to better fit your organization’s unique needs. Your software will feel like it was custom-made for you, more effectively driving impact toward your overall goals with ease.

Support

Most technology solutions will require some sort of support⁠—not only to get up and running with the tools but also to aid in maintaining effective operations over time.

When you first get started with a new fundraising platform, you and your team will likely need to go through some sort of training or onboarding process in order to get set up and become proficient with the new tools. All platforms should have some kind of IT support, but the level of instruction and support can vary drastically from company to company, so it’s an important consideration in your vendor 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 (virtual, on-site, etc.)
  • What is the frequency of lessons?
  • What proficiency level does your training cater to?
  • What are the associated costs?

From there, it’s important to consider ongoing support availability as well. After all, even the technology whizzes of the nonprofit world will most likely need a little assistance from time to time when it comes to their fundraising software.

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 the typical response time?

Keep in mind that the better you and your team understand your software, the more functional it’s going to be, so be sure to locate a provider that offers the kind of support you need. With the right level of aid at your fingertips, your software will be functioning at top performance for years to come.

Questions to ask about fundraising software

Software Buying Inquiries ⁠— Questions to Ask Beforehand

When considering software options, it’s important to think about your organizational operations and determine what is needed in a solution in the first place.

To make sure you locate a software that is the all-around right fit, you’ll want to have a number of questions on hand to explore. Here are a few that we recommend!

How difficult are the initial setup and data transfer?

Because you’re buying new software in the hopes that it will help you elevate your organization’s operations, chances are you’ll need to account for an initial software setup and data transfer from your previous solution.

Considering your data is the key to building and maintaining strengthened donor relationships and better optimizing your fundraising efforts, it’s essential that it translate to your new platform uncorrupted.

To ensure that this will be the case, 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.

From there, it will be time to think about actually getting your solution up and running. There are many steps to consider when setting up your new software, which might include:

  • Installation;
  • Customization;
  • Integrations;
  • Data cleaning;
  • Data testing;
  • And more.

Don’t forget to inquire about the overall length of the setup process, as well as any associated onboarding costs. If you decide to set up on your own (without the guidance of the software provider or consultant), make sure that you’ll have access to help if you end up running into any difficulties doing so.

Does it have the integrations my organization needs?

Remember⁠—integrations are one of the most essential pieces of an effective fundraising software ecosystem. Without the right partnerships between your tools, your investments will be limited in scope and efficiency. Empowered with software integrations, however, your technology is able to function as a cohesive unit, rather than a collection of disparate tools.

Therefore, one of the most important questions you can ask when it comes to selecting a new software solution 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 work with (or plan to work with) Double the Donation’s tools, 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. In order for your software to keep running at its highest capacity, you need to think about how you’re going to maintain it over time.

Before making your decision, ask if the software has any built-in features to help 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 lean and accurate database, ensuring your records never become so messy that they’re out of hand.

Second, make sure that your maintenance support includes installing updates⁠—or if it doesn’t, that these updates are fairly easy to install yourself. And don’t forget to ask about the price!

By keeping your software up-to-date, you’ll get much more life out of it, ultimately leading to smoother fundraising processes over time.

What level of security does the software offer?

Chances are, your organization will be using its fundraising software to collect, store, and manage some of your supporters’ most sensitive data. Thus, it’s critical to confirm you’re choosing a highly secure platform that can protect this information properly.

For example, you might want to inquire about how much control the software gives you over user permissions. The most flexible platforms will allow you to offer some authorized users access to certain information while prohibiting others’ levels of access.

Pertaining to donor payment information, make sure you consider the highest industry security standards in your search. Consider asking about the following protections:

  • PCI compliance
  • SSL, or secure socket layer
  • AVS, or address verification service
  • Encryption and tokenization
  • CVV2 verification
  • IP checking
  • Password security
  • Multi-factor authentication

You want to confirm that your donors’ data will be kept safe and sound within your fundraising system⁠—and you also want to ensure that supporters feel comfortable entering their payment information in the first place!

Fundraising software example flows

Fundraising Software In Action ⁠— Example Donation Flows

When comparing several fundraising software options, it can help to see each of the potential tools in action. We recommend getting personalized demos from each provider. But in the meantime, we’ve put together a few sample donation flows to be inspired by:

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 take a look at a few key components of Marietta College’s fundraising strategy and how their technology enables them to reach their goals:

Donation Page

Example donation page using fundraising software

This donation page from Marietta College is quick and easy for supporters to complete, prompting users to input basic information about their intended gifts and contact information. There are also optional fields, including employing company for matching gift programs, affiliation to the school, spouse/partner’s name, or class year, providing additional insights for the institution.

Once the form is completed, the school’s fundraising software enables donors to check out using Venmo, PayPal, Google Pay, debit/credit card, or bank transfer. Providing multiple methods for giving like so enables organizations to meet their donors where they are and drive more gifts to completion!

Confirmation Screen

Confirmation page using fundraising software

After a donor submits their donation to the college, they are automatically rerouted to a gift confirmation screen. This web page thanks supporters for their generous contributions and provides detailed information concerning their employers’ matching gift programs⁠—including eligibility criteria and how they can complete their matches.

By providing prominent and actionable ways for donors to pursue available matching gift opportunities, more matches are ultimately driven to completion, and more revenue is generated for the institution in question.

Follow-Up Email

Matching gift follow-up email using fundraising software

Just a few minutes after finalizing their donations, Marietta College supporters receive customized email follow-ups directly in their inboxes. These messages contain notes of gratitude 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 amplify gift impact and help the school reach its goals.

GMHC

*Uses Classy and Double the Donation

Formerly known as Gay Men’s Health Crisis, GMHC was the world’s first nonprofit organization dedicated to the treatment and prevention of HIV and AIDS. Since 1981, GMHC has continued to provide impactful health and human services to key communities in New York.

Let’s walk through an overview of the GMHC giving experience using the fundraising software the organization currently has in place:

Donation Page

Example donation page using fundraising software

The first step involved in the GMHC donation process involves completing an online giving form made readily available on the organization’s website. Once a donor has arrived at the form, they are provided with a high-level overview of the nonprofit’s mission and vision, and are prompted to select their one-time or recurring donation amount. The frictionless process encourages giving and helps aid donors as they give to support their favorite causes.

Donors are also given the opportunity to enter the name of their employer in an optional, auto-completing search tool with the context that the individual may receive corporate matching information sent directly to their email. By incorporating workplace giving opportunities directly within the giving form, this organization is able to increase awareness of the programs and help drive more matching donations to completion.

Follow-Up Email

Matching gift follow-up email using fundraising software

Soon after submitting their gift to the organization, GMHC donors receive a matching gift follow-up email informing them of their eligibility for a corporate matching initiative through their employer. This includes instructions and documentation required for the individual to submit their matching gift request, as well as a link the user can follow to keep the nonprofit up to date on the status of their corporate match! The technology essentially guides donors directly through the matching gift process, simplifying the experience and ultimately resulting in elevated match revenue for the organization.

African Impact Foundation

*Uses Fundraise Up and Double the Donation

The African Impact Foundation was established in 2008 with a mission to equip children and youth in Southern and Eastern Africa with the education and skills to uncover pathways out of poverty.

Here’s a look at how the foundation collects donations using powerful fundraising tools:

Multi-Step Donation Page

Donation page using fundraising software

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 are able to select their intended donation from suggested gift sizes (or enter their own amount), as well as upgrade to a monthly recurring gift, choose a dedication or designation, or add optional comments. The fundraising software ensures there are multiple opportunities throughout the giving process for donors to upgrade their donations and further their nonprofit support.

On the next page, donors are encouraged to double their gift impact with a matching donation and are provided with access to a matching gift company search tool to name their employer (with which to identify guidelines and forms for ease of use). Then in the final step, donors are given the opportunity to cover their transaction costs and check out using a credit card, PayPal, or Google Pay.

Follow-Up Email

Matching gift follow-up email using fundraising software

Using the employment information provided within the initial donation process, the African Impact Foundation’s fundraising software triggers automated matching gift follow-up emails⁠—providing donors with access to company-specific program information and detailed next steps for submitting requests. They also use the follow-up email as an opportunity to thank donors for their support of the cause and encourage them to get their gifts matched by their employing companies.

Fundraising software buying tips

Do’s & Dont’s ⁠— Tips For Buying Fundraising Software

As you enter the final steps in the fundraising software buying process, keep these tried-and-true tips in mind. Here are a few things that we recommend you do⁠—and don’t do.

Don’t overcomplicate the fundraising process.

The hope is that your new software will update your organization’s current operations and better them in some way. At the same time, if the new solution appears to overcomplicate things for your team and your supporters, it’s probably not the one.

Think of it this way: buying software is like hiring a new staff member. As a key player in your efforts, you want it to complement your organization’s unique culture without flipping your current processes on its head.

Although the goal is that your software will simplify the fundraising process, it will only become more difficult if you have to drastically change the way your organization runs⁠—or your donors give⁠—to use it.

Learning how to use a new platform is already a big adjustment. Make it easier on yourself by finding one that shapes to fit you, not shapes you to fit it.

Do get a demo.

Often, the best way to determine if you’ve chosen the right software is to see the tools in action. That’s why most software vendors offer informational demos, allowing prospective clients to get a better idea of their product before they decide to buy.

Start by checking the vendor’s website to see if they feature any pre-recorded demo videos. Some providers may require some basic information 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 solutions 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.

Don’t forget to check out the reviews.

You don’t have to go through the buying process alone. In fact, organizations that have previously used a particular 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.

Before making any decisions, get online and see if you can find a second opinion. Consult reviews other organizations have provided about the software you’re evaluating. If you see certain patterns emerging regarding the platform’s strengths or weaknesses, it’s fairly safe to expect that your nonprofit will encounter a similar experience.

Do explore Double the Donation and its integration partners.

With so many fundraising software options available, it can be difficult to know which one to select for your organization. To narrow it down a bit, 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 even key functionality. In doing so, you can be sure you’re finding the right tools for your organization and equip your team with Double the Donation’s matching gift solution to drive corporate giving revenue as well.

Our top fundraising software pick: 360MatchPro by Double the Donation

Our Top Fundraising Tool Pick to Drive Engagement + Revenue

After the insights listed above pertaining to how to choose the perfect fundraising software for your organization, you might be wondering what our key recommendation is. If you want to make every donor dollar count while maximizing fundraising efficiency, we suggest 360MatchPro⁠—our complete matching gift automation platform.

360MatchPro's fundraising software overview

360MatchPro Overview

360MatchPro by Double the Donation automates the matching gift experience for nonprofits, their staffs, and their donors. This solution aims to uncover matching gift-eligible donors through multiple identification methods, trigger personalized and company-specific outreach, and ultimately drive more matching gifts to completion⁠—with an end goal of maximizing each organization’s matching gift revenue.

The platform works by integrating with a nonprofit’s existing fundraising tools (i.e., your donation tools, peer-to-peer software, and donor management systems). When a donor gives, 360MatchPro automatically scans their provided information to determine if they are eligible for a matching gift from their employer.

If they are, the software triggers an email with company-specific instructions on how to submit their matching gift request. If their eligibility status remains unknown, outreach is sent encouraging donors to search for their employer using the embedded company search tool and follow the tailored instructions available in real time.

Plus, 360MatchPro aids fundraisers in tracking incoming matches to more accurately forecast match revenue, push forward stuck matches, and provide in-depth reporting and analytics to demonstrate matching gift success over time and locate areas with room for improvement.

Not to mention, studies show that employing a matching gift automation tool (like 360MatchPro) increases matching gift revenue for nonprofits by 61%! And it even drives individual giving as well⁠—with 84% of survey participants being more likely to donate if a match is offered, and 1 in 3 donors indicate they’d give a larger gift if matching is applied.

Benefits of 360MatchPro's fundraising software

This process is entirely automated, saving your organization significant time and resources. Matching gifts have never been easier⁠!

Interested in getting started? Request a demo here.

What’s Next?

Innovative fundraising software exists to assist organizations like yours in the move to increasingly digitized fundraising campaigns⁠. With the right tools and resources in your team’s tech stack, you’ll be able to bring in more fundraising revenue easier without a hitch.

Interested in learning more about strategic nonprofit fundraising and the solutions available to your team? Check out these additional fundraising resources below:

Explore top fundraising software with our integration partners

Top Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Software: What to Look For

Top Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Software (What to Look For)

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Peer-to-peer fundraising has the ability to bring any nonprofit (or school, higher education institution, etc.) to the next level in terms of fundraising, donor engagement, and more. And equipping a team with the right peer-to-peer fundraising software to get the job done can go a long way.

In this resource, we’ll guide you through the process of locating the perfect peer-to-peer platform, thus empowering your organization to grow its network, develop deeper supporter relationships, and increase fundraising revenue overall.

Specifically, we’ll cover the following:

Looking to locate optimal peer-to-peer fundraising software for your organization? We’ve been in the nonprofit fundraising and peer-to-peer space with thousands of clients⁠—including a majority of the top social fundraising events each year⁠—working with dozens of different platforms.

Here are a few insights that we’ve picked up on when it comes to choosing and buying the best P2P technology. Let’s begin!

Peer-to-peer fundraising software considerations

Key Considerations for Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Software

When it comes to making software buying decisions, going into the process with a solid understanding of your organization’s needs and priorities is essential. Keep these top considerations in mind as you explore various providers and aim to locate the right peer-to-peer platform for your team.

Integrations

One of the best ways to substantially increase the functionality of your peer-to-peer fundraising software (or just about any software platform, for that matter) is by enabling technology integrations. These partnerships between separate solutions allow organizations to make the most of each tool they employ within their overall tech stacks.

For example, your organization likely leverages a donor management or CRM system to keep track of supporter information, engagement history, and more. Opting for a peer fundraising solution that offers a seamless integration with your donor database can streamline data syncing, reduce errors, and simplify efforts for your team. Thus, it’s certainly something you’ll want to look into in your software search.

Accessibility & Ease of Use

One of the most significant benefits of peer-to-peer fundraising has to do with its increased reach, allowing organizations and their supporters to engage with new donors near and far. In order to make the most of the opportunity, however, it’s important that nonprofits prioritize accessible fundraising tools that are simple for all supporters to utilize.

Not only do accessible and easy-to-use platforms result in increased funding for nonprofits, but they also ensure positive experiences for all donors and supporters utilizing the tools.

Here are a few areas to consider in your search:

Web accessibility standards ⁠— Ensure your existing or potential fundraising platform is highly accessible for everyone who might land on your giving pages, including those with disabilities. And one of the easiest ways to do so involves seeking out peer-to-peer fundraising software that prioritizes accessibility standards, such as sufficient color contrasts, image ALT text, and more.

Mobile optimization ⁠— You want your donors’ experiences to be quick and easy, regardless of whether they completed the transaction using a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. Be sure to communicate this need to your P2P provider, especially as many peer-to-peer donations are made from mobile devices.

Matching Gift Functionality

Corporate matching donations have the power to bring peer-to-peer giving success to the next level. And many peer fundraising providers have built-in solutions to simplify the process and amplify individual and corporate giving. With the right matching gift tools working smoothly alongside your peer-to-peer software, your organization can effectively utilize the power of corporate gift matching.

For example, 360MatchPro is Double the Donation’s leading donation-matching platform that helps nonprofits and other institutions raise more money, better engage donors, and save staff time. It also integrates seamlessly with many of the industry’s top peer-to-peer fundraising tools to simplify corporate gift matching for organizations across the globe. So as you make your P2P software buying decisions, be sure to keep matching gift functionality at the top of your mind!

Payment Processing Capabilities

Today more than ever before, optimizing the peer-to-peer giving experience involves diversifying the types of payments accepted from donors. This ensures that donors have multiple options for giving, increasing the likelihood that they’ll complete the transaction and simultaneously removing potential roadblocks.

Traditional forms of payment include debit and credit cards as well as ACH bank transfers, and you’ll certainly want a P2P provider that incorporates these giving methods. However, online fundraising tools are increasingly adopting innovative payment methods, such as digital wallets (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay), financial services like Venmo and PayPal, and even cryptocurrency⁠—so keep an eye out for these capabilities as well!

Support Availability

Technology support typically falls into one of two categories: initial onboarding and ongoing support. And each can play a significant role in an organization’s overall success with the platform. After all, there’s no point in purchasing software if you don’t have the resources needed to get set up and make the most of it!

However, each company has its own offerings in regard to tech support, and you’ll want to locate a provider with the right assistance levels for your team. For example, if your nonprofit has its own well-built-out tech department with the capabilities to get set up and maintain effective software usage on its own, you may be able to locate a provider that offers minimal external support at a lower cost to your organization. On the other hand, an organization without its own dedicated technology experts may opt for additional assistance at a higher price point in order to ensure they have the support they need.

And don’t forget to consider the ROI of your support offerings, either! In some scenarios, it can be beneficial to select a provider with high levels of support that can help your organization in its drive to maintain high levels of fundraising success. In this case, opting for more hands-on tech support can ultimately result in elevated revenue, meaning that the cost is well worth the investment.

Sample peer-to-peer fundraising software pages

Sample Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Pages to Be Inspired By

Each peer-to-peer fundraising platform offers a unique donation flow that impacts the ways in which donors and fundraisers interact with your organization’s efforts. If you’re looking to make the most of your upcoming initiatives with optimal technology, consider these three sample social fundraising pages to be inspired by.

As we walk through the giving experiences, be sure to note what the organization does well and which pieces can be emulated in your own fundraising efforts!

The George Washington University

*Uses GiveCampus and Double the Donation

The George Washington University is a private research university located in Washington, D.C. This institution participates in a range of fundraising initiatives, backing scholarship opportunities, student life, athletics, and more.

Here’s a look at the university’s peer-to-peer giving experience using innovative social fundraising technology:

Step 1: An individual navigates to a peer-to-peer campaign landing page.

Landing page using peer-to-peer fundraising software

The George Washington University hosts a wide range of peer-to-peer fundraising opportunities, and each one is provided with a campaign landing page from which to give, track progress toward objectives and deadlines, share the fundraising site, and more. Not to mention, it incorporates a brief video outlining the campaign efforts and goals.

Step 2: The individual selects their intended donation amount on the giving form.

Donation selection using peer-to-peer fundraising software

Once the donor has navigated to the donation form from the campaign landing page, they are encouraged to choose their donation amount, determine recurring status, select a designation, and even add an additional gift.

Step 3: The individual provides employment information and submits their gift.

Employer selection using peer-to-peer fundraising software

On this final page of the GWU peer-to-peer giving process, donors are encouraged to enter their employer name to uncover employee matching gift information using Double the Donation’s embedded search tool. From there, they are prompted to review their gift selection and finalize their contribution using the payment method of their choice.

Step 4: The individual is thanked and provided with matching gift information on the confirmation page.

Confirmation page using peer-to-peer fundraising software

Once a donor has submitted their donation via the peer-to-peer giving form, they are automatically redirected to visit a dedicated confirmation page. On this page, GWU thanks its donors for supporting the campaign and provides detailed matching gift information. When available, the information provided is specific to the individual’s predetermined employer for the most relevant next steps, guidelines, and forms.

Breast Cancer Research Foundation

*Uses Classy ⁠and Double the Donation

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is one of the largest nonprofit organizations dedicated to breast cancer research, offering some of the most innovative advancements toward the prevention and curing of breast cancers.

Since its inception in 1993, BCRF has raised over $500 million for breast cancer research, funding nearly 300 researchers across 15 different countries⁠—much of it through social fundraising efforts.

Here’s a brief overview of this organization’s peer-to-peer giving process using dedicated P2P fundraising software:

Step 1: An individual selects their intended donation amount on the P2P giving form.

Donation selection using peer-to-peer fundraising software

Once an individual lands on a BCRF peer-to-peer donation form, they are met with a brief description of the organization and its mission⁠—and how individual donors can help. From there, they are encouraged to select their gift amount from a number of suggested donation sizes (or select an alternative amount from the fill-in-the-blank box) and determine whether their contribution will be a one-time or recurring gift.

Step 2: The individual assigns their gift to a particular fundraiser or team.

Fundraiser selection using peer-to-peer fundraising software

Next, the individual is able to credit their donation to a specific person or team participating in the campaign by typing a name in the auto-completing search box. Once they’ve selected a fundraiser, that individual or group’s progress is displayed using a real-time goal thermometer.

Step 3: The individual provides current employment information.

Employer selection using peer-to-peer fundraising software

At this stage in the giving process, the donor is prompted to “see if [their] employer will match [their] donation.” BCRF has embedded a matching gift search tool within their peer-to-peer giving form, which instructs individuals to enter their employing company in the search box below. The individual is also informed that they may receive follow-up emails from Double the Donation with detailed instructions regarding how to submit their match request.

Step 4: The individual reviews and submits their donation.

Gift submission using peer-to-peer fundraising software

From there, each donor is encouraged to review their donation information and select a payment method to complete their gift. BCRF currently accepts donations through PayPal, Venmo, credit card, and bank transfers!

Step 5: The individual receives an email follow-up prompting them to submit their matching gift.

Matching gift follow-up email using peer-to-peer fundraising software

Mere minutes after clicking submit on their peer-to-peer donation, Breast Cancer Research Foundation donors receive a customized email follow-up straight to their inbox providing matching gift information and communicating gratitude for the individuals’ support. When the donor had previously provided employment data within the giving form, the email content is company-specific, providing targeted details on matching gift eligibility and actionable next steps for submission.

Soles4Souls

*Uses Fundraise Up and Double the Donation

Soles4Souls is a Tennessee-based nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting and redistributing shoes, clothing, and other apparel. By partnering with individual supporters, retailers, and community organizations, Soles4Souls gathers new and gently used shoes and provides them to people who need them across the globe.

And while Soles4Souls greatly benefits from in-kind product donations, they also participate in additional fundraising activities such as peer-to-peer giving campaigns. Let’s take a look at the basic process using this organization’s fundraising software:

Step 1: An individual selects their intended donation amount on the P2P giving form.

Donation selection using peer-to-peer fundraising software

Similar to the previous donation flow, the first step in Soles4Souls’ peer-to-peer giving process begins with a donation selection. An individual donor is prompted to select a recommended gift amount or enter their preferred number and opt to give once or to make it a monthly donation. Donors can also choose to dedicate their donation or provide an additional comment alongside their gift.

Meanwhile, in the left panel, the donor is met with compelling imagery and a brief overview of the purpose behind the organization’s mission and fundraising efforts.

Step 2: The individual provides current employment information.

Employer selection using peer-to-peer fundraising software

In the next step of this multi-page peer-to-peer giving experience, Soles4Souls donors are encouraged to double their donation impact with a matching gift. To drive this process forward, each individual is asked to provide the name of their current employer. From there, the P2P software searches Double the Donation’s extensive database of corporate matching gift information to provide eligibility details.

Step 3: The individual reviews and submits their donation.

Gift submission using peer-to-peer fundraising software

Finally, donors reach the payment screen, where they are led to multiple options, which include credit card, PayPal, Google Pay, Venmo, and bank transfer, to finalize their gifts. Individuals are also given the option to cover their transaction costs, thus ensuring 100% of the contribution goes to the organization they’re supporting.

Step 4: The individual receives an email follow-up prompting them to submit their matching gift.

Matching gift follow-up email using peer-to-peer fundraising software

Once an individual finalizes their Soles4Souls donation using the organization’s peer-to-peer fundraising software, a personalized email is automatically triggered to their inbox. The follow-up messaging contains additional matching gift resources, including direct links to donors’ matching gift submission portals, as well as an easy way to communicate status updates with the nonprofit team.

Smart tips for peer-to-peer fundraising software

Smart Tips for Choosing Your P2P Software

Ready to begin making buying decisions for your organization’s peer fundraising software? Here are a few additional practices to keep in mind as you do so.

1. Consider scalability.

When purchasing peer-to-peer fundraising technology for your cause, it’s important to look to the future in terms of whether the software has the ability to grow alongside your organization. If your team is on the smaller side at current, it might be tempting to opt for a free or low-cost solution, often with limited functionality. However, you don’t want to be back at square one in the buying process just a few years from now when you determine that the platform was unable to meet your needs as you grew.

Thus, consider a software provider’s potential for scalability as you search. You’ll want to locate the right technology that meets your needs now and in the future, growing seamlessly alongside your organization in order to produce the best and smoothest results.

2. Consider integrations in your overall tech stack.

Before making any software buying decisions, it’s important to keep your overall technology ecosystem in mind. For example, does that donation tool offer a built-in payment processor or does it integrate with one that you’re open to using? Does your fundraising platform have a native integration with your existing CRM, enabling peer-to-peer giving data to flow seamlessly into your donor database? Does the system partner with your matching gift fundraising tools through Double the Donation to identify and follow up with potential matches?

You’ll want to be able to consider these questions ahead of time and be satisfied with the answers prior to making your investment. Otherwise, you may end up with limited functionality and have a difficult time expanding your tech system without easy, ready-built integration options.

3. Rate your highest and lowest priorities.

Unfortunately, you may not be able to locate a peer-to-peer fundraising tool that meets all of your organization’s desired criteria. Perhaps you’ll be drawn to Feature A from Provider B, though Provider C offers innovative Feature D⁠—all the while, Provider E has a significantly reduced price point.

Simplify things going into the process by first determining your organization’s highest and lowest priorities and finding a solution that coincides. For example, one group may order things like this⁠—functionality → accessibility → integrations → cost⁠—while another prioritizes like this⁠—cost → accessibility → functionality → integrations.

4. Get personalized demos to see the tools in action.

Before buying a car, you’ll usually take it out for a test drive to see how it runs and determine whether it would be a good fit. That’s essentially what a software demo is, and it’s a critical step in the buying process⁠—especially when it comes to peer-to-peer and other types of fundraising technology.

Getting a software demo will allow your team the opportunity to see the fundraising tools in action and ask any questions before making a buying decision. We recommend narrowing your choices to two or three solutions and getting personalized demos of each one.

5. Keep your fundraisers and end donors in mind.

Peer-to-peer fundraising is a unique form of engagement in that it encapsulates an additional key player that you’ll want to consider when making software decisions. For example, in a typical fundraiser, those experiencing your giving platform tend to be your behind-the-scenes team in addition to those contributing through the platform. P2P technology, however, must account for your organization’s internal team, the end donors contributing, and the new “middle-man” in the situation⁠—your volunteer fundraisers.

As you go through the buying process, it’s important to keep each of these players in mind. Consider the experience from each possible perspective. Is it easy to set up a fundraising page and share it with family and friends? How about updating the online hub with personal stories, images, and progress toward goals? And then, from the giver’s point of view⁠—how simple is it to go through and make a donation to their loved ones’ campaigns?

Asking these questions beforehand can equip your team with the knowledge to make the best peer-to-peer fundraising software decisions, keep an eye out for potential roadblocks, and help troubleshoot concerns along the way.

Next Steps

Double the Donation works closely with over 70 of the sector’s top fundraising technology providers. When looking for a best-in-class peer-to-peer fundraising software platform, we recommend getting started with our integration partners.

Navigate to our integrations page here to explore the solutions we work with, filter by industry and functionality, and determine whether one is right for your needs.

Want to learn more about nonprofit fundraising technology and how you can provide your team with the right tools? Check out these additional Double the Donation resources:

Explore top peer-to-peer fundraising software with our integration partners