Companies with Innovative and Unique Matching Gift Programs

October 15, 2023/in Learning Center, Matching Gift Companies, Company Updates, Company Spotlights, Learning Center, Lists and Rankings /by Adam Weinger

At Double the Donation, we maintain the industry’s most comprehensive and up-to-date matching gift database⁠—with records for more than 24,000 companies with matching gift programs. Since each company that offers matching gifts is able to determine its own minimum and maximum donation amounts, match ratios, qualifying employees and nonprofit types, and more, we end up with a ton of innovative and unique matching gift programs.

And truthfully, all matching gift programs are great. But there are a few that really stand out to us as offering something particularly special for their employees and the nonprofits they support.

Corporate giving engages employees’ passions and provides additional funding for nonprofits, which in turn helps entire communities. And offering creative programming and unique incentives for getting involved is a great way to drive participation and, therefore, impact.

Let’s look at a few employers with unique programs and what makes them stick out from the crowd. In this guide, we’ll explore the following companies’ initiatives:

Microsoft ⁠— Highest Employee Participation
General Electric — First Matching Gift Program
BP — Offers Charitable Giving Stipends
CVS — Incorporates Fundraising Event Matches
Expedia — Internationally Eligible Program
HP, Inc. ⁠— Offers Volunteer Grants
RealNetworks ⁠— Unique 5-Year Anniversary Grant
Soros Fund Management — Highest Maximum Match Amount
Pew Charitable Trusts ⁠— Religiously Inclusive Program
Nike ⁠— Sports-Related Triple Match Program
Blue Shield of California ⁠— Special Board Member Match
Innovative Discovery ⁠— Seamless Auto-Submission Functionality

There are a number of creative ways that businesses get their employees more involved in charitable giving. The ideas differ, but they all do a great job of helping charitable organizations increase fundraising revenue and better support their overall missions.

And when nonprofit fundraisers like yourself keep these companies at top of mind, you’ll be better equipped to make the most of such opportunities as they arise.

Let’s jump in!

Microsoft ⁠— Highest Employee Participation

Microsoft is an example of a company with a unique matching gift program.

This major company is well-represented in the philanthropic world. Since 1983, it’s hosted an annual Giving Campaign that makes a considerable impact on eligible nonprofits. It also hosts another program called Hack for Good, which tackles pressing societal problems.

But one of its most impressive successes is its matching gift program. In fact, Microsoft is currently the largest contributor of matching gift and volunteer grant funds, and it also boasts the highest level of employee participation at over 65% involvement.

Our matching gift statistics indicate that, inclusive of the corporate match, Microsoft employees have donated more than $1 billion to nonprofit causes.

Learn more about Microsoft’s matching gift program.

General Electric — First Matching Gift Program

General Electric offers a unique matching gift program that offered the very first match program.

When it comes to matching gift innovation, General Electric is likely going to top every list. That’s because GE pioneered the first matching gift program in 1954, and its 60+ years of matching gift history and generous donation limits continue to lead the way for other businesses to follow.

Since the inception of its matching program, the company has donated over $1 billion in employee matching gifts. That means that GE is a matching gift leader not only for being first but also for staying at the top of the pack for all this time.

Today, employees may request matching gifts up to $5,000 per year at a 1:1 ratio through the GE matching gift program.

Learn more about General Electric’s matching gift program.

BP — Offers Charitable Giving Stipends

BP is a unique matching gift company that gives employees $300 to donate to nonprofits every year.

Each year, BP (formerly British Petroleum) gives employees $300 to donate to nonprofits of their choosing. That’s it—no strings attached. BP is committed to helping local communities, and they let employees feel more involved by letting them choose where the money goes. This program, known as the Fabric of America Program, is open to every current BP employee.

In addition to its charitable grant initiative, BP also offers a traditional matching gift program that matches up to $5,000 worth of donations per employee at a 1:1 ratio.

Learn more about BP’s matching gift program.

CVS Health ⁠— Incorporates Fundraising Event Matches

CVS is a company with a unique matching gift program that matches its employees' peer-to-peer fundraising efforts.

Some companies, such as CVS, want to prioritize certain forms of giving. CVS incentivizes its employees to raise money for nonprofit events, like the popular run/walk/ride, which is also known as peer-to-peer fundraising. To encourage participation, the company matches the donations raised by employees between $250 and $1,000 per year.

For teams of volunteers, they offer even high fundraising grant donation caps. When five or more CVS employees fundraise for an eligible organization together, CVS will match up to $5,000 worth of fulfilled pledges, with a minimum of $500 raised across the team.

Learn more about CVS’s matching gift program.

Expedia ⁠— Internationally Eligible Program

Expedia, a company with a unique matching gift program, matches employees' donations worldwide.

Matching gifts aren’t just for American companies, either. For example, Expedia and its subsidiaries have employees in over 30 countries. But for a long time, they did not match donations to nonprofits in all of those locations.

Now, Expedia offers matching gifts to eligible nonprofits across the globe! Donations are matched at a 1:1 ratio, and employees can request matches on as much as $4,000 worth of charitable gifts per year.

Through the Expedia Cares Program, employees can give back to their communities in a number of ways, such as through matching gifts, a global ambassador program, and more.

Learn more about Expedia’s matching gift program.

HP, Inc. ⁠— Offers Volunteer Grants

HP, a unique matching gift company, gives back to nonprofits through its Good Cards program.

Employing more than 58,000 people, HP is a leader in the information technology sector. It’s also a leader in the matching gift world, specifically through its Good Cards program.

Each quarter, any employee who volunteers for at least 10 hours (and tracks their time through the company’s innovative internal volunteer system) receives a $50 grant which they can donate to a charity of their choosing. Plus, HP also offers a generous matching gift program where it’ll match philanthropic employees’ donations of up to $2,500 per year.

Learn more about HP’s matching gift program.

RealNetworks⁠ — Unique 5-Year Anniversary Grant

RealNetworks is an example of a company with a unique matching gift program.

RealNetworks matches employee donations at a 1:1 ratio up to $10,000 per team member per year. That’s a whole lot of good⁠—but RealNetworks doesn’t stop there.

After five years with the business, employees receive a $500 grant that can be contributed to any eligible nonprofit. This unique corporate giving offering helps increase staff retention with the company, rewards long-term employees with a significant, mission-focused incentive, and ultimately benefits the nonprofits their employees support.

Learn more about RealNetworks’ matching gift program.

Soros Fund Management ⁠— Highest Maximum Match Amount

Soros Fund Management is an example of a company with a unique matching gift program.

Because this successful company encompasses fewer than 500 people, it can afford to offer generous donation maximums and matching ratios that are significantly higher than the typical employer.

Today, employee gifts are matched at a 2:1 ratio for gifts up to $100,000 per year, with partners being eligible to request donation matches at a 1:1 ratio. Most nonprofits qualify to receive funding through the matching program, with an additional volunteer grant initiative available as well.

Learn more about Soros Fund Management’s matching gift program.

Pew Charitable Trusts ⁠— Religiously Inclusive Program

Pew Charitable Trusts is an example of a company with a unique matching gift program.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is a generous matching gift provider for all sorts of nonprofit causes. In fact, full-time and part-time employees qualify to request matches at a 2:1 rate for personal gifts made up to $10,000 on an annual basis. That makes the company cap per employee a bountiful $20,000 per year!

But one thing that really makes this company’s matching initiative stand out is the fact that the program is inclusive of just about all kinds of religious organizations. This encompasses places of worship like churches, synagogues, mosques, and more—which are generally excluded from many companies’ match offerings.

So if your nonprofit group is religious in nature, the Pew Charitable Trusts is a top matching gift company to be aware of!

Learn more about Pew Charitable Trusts’ matching gift program.

Nike ⁠— Sports-Related Triple Match Program

Nike is an example of a company with a unique matching gift program.

Nike is another company that matches employee donations to most nonprofit causes, including educational institutions, health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and environmental groups, and more.

Then, in order to further amplify impact for the causes most closely aligned with the company’s athletics-focused mission, Nike offers a unique triple match for employees giving to community sports-related organizations. For qualifying nonprofits, employee gifts are matched at a 2:1 rate, ultimately tripling the initial donor contribution up to $25,000 per team member per year.

Learn more about Nike’s matching gift program.

Blue Shield of California ⁠— Special Board Member Match

Blue Shield of California is an example of a company with a unique matching gift program.

Some companies also want to incentivize employee participation with nonprofits on a deeper level—such as by volunteering on the organization’s board of directors. That’s exactly what Blue Shield of California does!

This company offers a traditional matching gift program open to all current employees who support qualifying California-based nonprofits and select national organizations. Then, they offer an additional matching initiative for employees who serve as board members of nonprofit causes. This unique board member match goes above and beyond the typical match program, offering elevated match rates and increased maximum donation amounts.

Learn more about Blue Shield of California’s matching gift program.

Innovative Discovery ⁠— Seamless Auto-Submission Functionality

Innovative Discovery is an example of a company with a unique matching gift program.

Speaking of innovation, legal services provider Innovative Discovery offers a particularly standout matching gift program in the way that employees can get involved. By introducing matching gift auto-submission through their corporate giving platform in partnership with Double the Donation, ID team members can complete their part of the matching gift request process more easily than ever before.

Now, with just a few clicks from their favorite nonprofits’ donation confirmation screens, employees can authorize Double the Donation to submit the matching gift request on their behalf—no separate forms or redirected pages required!

Learn more about Innovative Discovery’s matching gift program.

How a Matching Gift Database Can Help

While these programs are certainly unique, there are tens of thousands of other companies that match gifts, too. It’s too many to keep up with on your own! Thus, to effectively uncover available opportunities and identify your organization’s eligibility, you’ll likely need the help of a matching gift database like Double the Donation.

Double the Donation is the industry’s leading provider of matching gift software, and we work with some of the largest organizations across the globe. We also boast the most accurate and up-to-date database of information regarding these programs. As such, we work to equip nonprofits and their donors with the tools they need to implement matching gift efforts in their overall fundraising strategies with ease.

The matching gift tool, which can be integrated across your organization’s website, donation form, email communications, and more, allows fundraisers to maximize corporate giving revenue by…

Enabling donors to search for their employers with an auto-completing company information field to identify and flag match-eligible donors;
Providing users with company information and matching gift eligibility criteria in real-time;
Guiding donors to request their matches with direct links to their employers’ online submission portals;
Tracking donors’ progress throughout the matching gift request and fulfillment processes.

Not to mention, it’s all automated⁠—allowing your team to reallocate more time and effort to your highest-value priorities!

Next Steps

Plenty of companies offer matching gift programs, so it’s important for nonprofits to promote corporate giving to donors. After all, one of the biggest roadblocks facing matching gift success is a lack of awareness of corporate giving. According to our research, that results in more than $4 to $7 billion dollars worth of potential matching gift funds going unclaimed each year.

Don’t let your nonprofit add to that statistic. Now that you know how to pinpoint available matching gifts, get started boosting your corporate fundraising efforts.

Stay up-to-date with your donors’ employers and keep your eyes peeled for top matching gift opportunities. You’ll be sure to come across even more unique programs!

Matching gift reporting - actionable metrics and insights

Matching Gift Reporting | Actionable Metrics & Reports

August 10, 2023/in Learning Center, About Double the Donation, Learning Center /by Adam Weinger

The impact of matching gift programs on nonprofit organizations is undeniable. Recent matching gift reports indicate that 84% of donors are more likely to donate if a match is offered, while 1 in 3 would give a larger gift if matching is applied.

But if you want to take a look at the specific ways corporate matching benefits your institution⁠—and have the data you need to justify investing in workplace giving further⁠—a smart matching gift reporting strategy is essential.

At its core, matching gift reporting involves the systematic tracking and analysis of metrics related to your organization’s matching gift fundraising efforts.

This data can encompass various aspects, from the number of match-eligible donors identified to the total revenue collected through the programs and beyond.

And in this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to begin making the most of your matching gift metrics. This includes:

The Critical Value of Matching Gift Reporting
Tracking Matching Gifts Through the Conversion Funnel
8 Matching Gift Metrics Every Nonprofit Should Monitor
Key Insights Gleaned From Matching Gift Analytics
Driving Results With Matching Gift Reporting Tools

Ready to get reporting? Let’s dive in with the basics of why matching gift metrics matter in the first place.

The Critical Value of Matching Gift Reporting

According to research from Nonprofits Source, 73% of firms aspire to be data-driven⁠ in their fundraising efforts—but only 29% of firms actually succeed at turning data into action. When it comes to your nonprofit’s matching gifts initiatives, you want to ensure your team falls into the latter category.

After all, a data-driven fundraising strategy informed by your organization’s matching gift metrics can go a long way in empowering your team to better…

Analyze donor behaviors and identify emerging trends
Predict future matching gift fundraising outcomes
Target initiatives according to segmented groups
Optimize communication channels for engagement
Measure the impact of your matching gift campaigns
Track matching gift success year over year
Establish realistic fundraising goals
And more!

So if your organization is accepting matching gifts without collecting and analyzing the data each transaction produces, you’re likely missing out on a ton of valuable insights.

Tracking Matching Gifts Through the Conversion Funnel

Of all the donations an organization receives, only a small portion (approximately 1.31% at an average nonprofit) are typically matched by the donors’ employers. But around ten times that amount generally qualifies for corporate matching opportunities.

In order to uncover where the discrepancy comes in, you’ll want to have a system in place for tracking matches as they progress through the matching gift process.

At any point in time, you should be able to determine how many gifts are at each stage in the conversion funnel⁠—and those totals are some of your simplest matching gift metrics, to begin with!

Total Individual Donations

First off, knowing how many total donations your nonprofit receives on a monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis will help your organization going forward. When you have an indication of your regular donation flow, you’ll be better prepared to measure your matching gift success proportionally.

Total Donations Flagged as Match Eligible

Out of the donations that you’ve already received, you might know which companies your donors work for based on the employment information you collect during the giving process.

Use this data to determine which of your donors are eligible to have their donations matched⁠—either by conducting manual research or by scanning your information against a matching gift database like Double the Donation.

While it is unlikely that all of your matching-gift-eligible donors are doubling their donations, your nonprofit can benefit by knowing what percentage of your total donations have the potential to be matched by their employers. And you’ll know that these are the donors you’ll want to focus your matching gift efforts on!

Total Matching Gifts Submitted

While you might want to jump into measuring the matching gifts your nonprofit receives, it’s worthwhile to first determine how many matching gift requests your donors are actually submitting.

Unfortunately, you might find that you aren’t getting all of the matched donations that your donors are requesting.

This gap may boil down to:

Matching gift deadlines not being met.
Donors having previously reached their annual maximums.
Your organization falling into an ineligible recipient category.
Any other corporate stipulations.

While your nonprofit can’t do much to shift the specific matching gift criteria that companies set up, it can help you adjust your marketing strategy going forward. For example, if you see that many of your donors’ match submission windows were closed by the time your team began pushing to encourage requests, you can make a note to start driving match submissions immediately after an initial gift is made going forward.

Total Matching Gifts Verified

Before disbursing the money from a matching gift donation, many companies that offer these programs require that an organization verifies that it received the employee’s initial gift in the first place. This typically involves logging into a CSR platform and confirming the transaction.

If you are only verifying a portion of the matching gift donations that your donors indicated having submitted, then you could be missing out big time. Keeping track of this metric can be useful for filling in those gaps and uncovering “hidden” matches.

However, it’s important to note that, with the continuous development of the matching gift process through auto-submission and other innovative functionality, many donations are able to skip ahead of this step with no further action needed.

Total Matching Gifts Received

Finally⁠, this vital metric tracks the matching gifts you actually receive.

Once the corresponding corporate donation makes its way to your organization’s bank account, you can mark it off as “Match Completed!”

Top tip: Upon calculating the total number of donations that fall into each of the specified categories, you’ll want to hold onto this number. It will be used to calculate other metrics below!

8 Matching Gift Metrics Every Nonprofit Should Monitor

Beyond the status of individual matching gifts, your matching gift coordinator or development team should take a look at these recommended metrics as well.

Remember⁠: the metrics you establish as your highest priority will then become your KPIs⁠ (or Key Performance Indicators⁠) for defining matching gift success. We recommend trying to track the most actionable information—and then have a plan for how you’ll use the information you collect to increase your matching gift revenue!

Total Number (and Value) of Matching Gifts

The first matching gift metric represents the combined count (and, subsequently, monetary value) of all matching gifts received within a specific period.

If you’ve been tracking your matches through the conversion funnel demonstrated above, this number will be comprised of all the gifts that made it to the bottom tier. From there, calculate the monetary value by adding the sum values of each matched donation.

Ex: Match 1 Value ($50) + Match 2 Value ($40) + Match 3 Value ($200) + Match 4 Value ($500) + Match 5 Value ($1,000)…

# of Matching Gifts = 5
$ Value of Matching Gifts = $1,790

These figures provide an overview of the scale of your organization’s matching gift participation and the potential impact on your fundraising efforts.

Matching Gift Eligibility Rate

While it’s good to know how many matching gift donations your nonprofit receives, it’s equally important to put that number into perspective. To do so, your eligibility rate gauges the percentage of donors in your database who are marked as eligible for corporate matching gift programs through their employers.

Calculate this figure by dividing your match-eligible donor count by the total number of individual donors, then multiply by 100 to receive your percentage.

Ex: (Match 1 + Match 2 + Match 3) ÷ (Match 1 + Match 2 + Match 3 + Ineligible Gift 1 + Ineligible Gift 2 + Ineligible Gift 3 + Ineligible Gift 4 + Ineligible Gift 5) = 37.5%

Matching Gift Completion Rate

Next, this metric reveals the percentage of eligible donors who successfully complete the matching gift process⁠—ultimately resulting in your organization receiving a corporate match.

To calculate, simply divide the number of completed matches by the total number of eligible donors, then multiply by 100.

Ex: (Match 1 + Match 2 + Match 3) ÷ (Eligible Gift 1 + Eligible Gift 2 + Eligible Gift 3 + Eligible Gift 4 + Eligible Gift 5) = 60%

The donors included in the not completed side of things represent your untapped potential and can help inform your strategies to encourage more donors to leverage matching gifts.

Unfortunately, it can be tricky to track this figure accurately because matches are often fulfilled according to different disbursement schedules throughout the year. But that’s why top automation software allows you to more easily follow matches through the process and determine when donors initiated and verified their matches.

Average Matching Gift Amount

This figure can help quantify the mean value of the matching gift donations you receive. And to calculate, you’ll be going back to your Total Number of Matching Gifts and Total Value of Matching Gifts from Step #1⁠—and dividing the latter by the former.

Ex: $50 + $40 + $200 + $500 + $1,000 (Value of completed matches) ÷ 5 (Number of completed matches) = $358

Understanding the average dollar amount of a matching gift for your organization can help quantify the value of your matching gift fundraising efforts. Plus, it can provide insight into the level of donors typically engaging with your matching gift program.

For example, if you brought in 50 matching gifts, but each one was only worth around $10, that’s still an extra $500 for your organization. But you may need to start targeting your larger givers and encourage them to look into matching gift programs as well!

The higher your matching gift average amount comes out to be, the more major donors have likely participated in their employers’ match initiatives for your cause.

Revenue Increase Due to Matching Gifts

For this metric, your organization will determine the increase in total fundraising revenue that came about through matching gifts.

To calculate, begin by subtracting the value of your completed matching gift donations from your total fundraising revenue (including matching gifts).

Then, divide your total matching gift revenue by the total revenue without matching gifts to determine the percentage increase that your fundraising grew.

Ex: Total fundraising revenue ($15,000) – Matching gift revenue ($2,000) = Revenue without matching gifts ($13,000)

Matching gift revenue ($2,000) ÷ Revenue without matching gifts ($13,000) x 100 = 15.4%

This figure quantifies the additional funds raised due to matching gift programs, emphasizing the impact on your overall revenue⁠—and, thus, your mission.

Matching Gift Retention Rate

Your organization’s matching gift retention rate is defined as the percentage of donors who complete a matching gift on your behalf in one year and then repeat the action in the next year.

To calculate this figure, you’ll need to determine the number of matching gift donors who had their gifts matched in the most recent time period that also had their gifts matched in the period before. So you’ll need to have been focused on matching gift reporting for at least two years (or other pre-determined time periods) in order to establish this number.

To do so, divide the number of donors who made repeat matching gift contributions by the total number of matching gift donors from a previous period. Then, multiply by 100.

Ex: Repeat matching gifts from this year (Match 1 + Match 3 + Match 4) ÷ Matching gifts from last year (Match 1 + Match 2 + Match 3 + Match 4 + Match 5) = 60%

Like any retention-focused metric, your matching gift retention rate assesses the effectiveness of your strategies in retaining donors who participate in matching gift programs year after year. Remember: it’s always the hardest the first time around!

Growth in Matching Gifts Over Time

Another helpful figure that you can explore after you’ve been tracking other matching gift metrics for some time is your rate of growth.

You can calculate growth in matching gifts over time by subtracting the previous period’s total matching gift value from the current period’s value. Divide the result by the previous period’s value, then multiply by 100.

Ex: Current period’s matching gift total ($3,500) – Previous period’s matching gift total ($2,000) = YOY increase ($1,500)

YOY increase ($2,000) ÷ Previous period’s matching gift total ($2,000) x 100 = 75% YOY growth

Recording this particular metric over time helps your nonprofit see the increases in matching gifts as they relate to your overall fundraising. As you get more established in your marketing and promotional efforts, your audience will become more familiar with the opportunity, and you can expect to see your matching gift results continue to trend upwards.

Matching Gift Fundraising ROI

Matching gifts are an excellent source of fundraising revenue for nonprofits. But, as they say, it costs money to make money. And though matching gifts are essentially free “bonus” donations contributed by donors’ employers to match their own charitable efforts, it does involve some investment of your organization’s time and resources to pursue. Thus, your matching gift fundraising ROI assesses the return on investment for your matching gift efforts.

To calculate, simply subtract the cost of managing and promoting the opportunity to your donors from the total revenue generated through matching gifts. Divide the result by the initial cost, then multiply by 100.

Ex: [Revenue generated from matching gifts ($10,000) – Initial cost of matching gift fundraising ($1,000)] ÷ Total cost ($1,000) x 100 = 900%

This figure helps evaluate the efficiency of your program in generating additional funds and can also help make the case for investing further into the revenue source⁠—such as with a dedicated software.

Key Insights Gleaned From Matching Gift Analytics

Analytics takes your data a few steps further than basic metrics and can, in turn, provide your fundraising team with some particularly useful (and actionable!) findings. Specifically, matching gift analytics is the aspect of reporting that help uncover underlying trends, patterns, and recommendations.

To fully unleash your organization’s matching gift potential, analyzing the data produced through your efforts to glean key insights is essential.

We suggest exploring the following recommended benchmarks.

Optimal Match Communication Timing

The timing of your matching gift appeals is key. In fact, it’s often the difference between a donor taking the next steps to submit a matching gift and your email going unnoticed in their cluttered inbox.

By taking note of the times when your audience seems most receptive to matching gift communications, you can use the data collected through your reporting strategy to adjust your timing accordingly.

For example, studies based on Double the Donation data report that matching gift emails sent anytime within the first 24 hours of a donation being made results in a 53% open rate⁠—or 2.6 times higher than the average nonprofit email open rate. But if you notice that your audience tends to respond particularly well to match reminders sent immediately post-donation, feel free to trigger automated follow-ups within minutes.

Not to mention, tracking matching gift responses over months and years can help identify longer-term timing strategies as well.

For instance, if you notice that you receive more matching gifts after your year-end appeals have been made, take a look at the matching gift marketing strategies you used leading up to December 31st. If you aren’t already, implement those tactics for your fundraising all year round for greater matching gift success.

Matching Gift Conversions by Marketing Channel

Like timing, the communication channels you use to promote matching gifts to your donors can make a huge difference. And focusing your resources where conversions are highest can enhance your ability to effectively communicate the opportunity and drive action.

For example, if you notice that your email click rate is lower than average, you might want to take another look at the matching gift emails you’re sending. Is it coming from your nonprofit’s own domain and branded to match your existing communications style? That’s a must for establishing a sense of trust and familiarity with your supporters.

On the other hand, if you suspect that your matching gift emails are just getting lost in donors’ inboxes, you might want to explore other messaging channels⁠—like SMS.

High-Value Match Opportunities in Your Database

An automated approach to matching gifts can save your fundraising team loads of time and effort. But when it comes to some of your highest-value opportunities, you might want to make a more personalized effort to engage about matching gifts. So you should have an easy way to identify these types of gems from within your donor base!

First, determine what defines a “high-value” matching gift opportunity. Perhaps it’s a major donor who works for a company with a particularly high annual matching cap. Though it may be a mid-level donor whose employer offers an extremely generous triple⁠—or even quadruple⁠—match.

By identifying donors whose matching gifts can bring you significant amounts of revenue, you can prioritize engagement accordingly. You may decide to pick up the phone, send a handwritten letter, or even meet face-to-face with some of these high-value matching prospects.

Leading Business Affiliations within Your Network

Similar to the standout individuals in your support network, you may have a few companies that match their employees’ gifts to your organization. Thus, your leading business affiliations are the companies that employ particularly large segments of your donor base.

This insight can help inform broader partnership-building strategies with businesses that align with your mission, even beyond your typical matching gifts. And remember: your donors, who may work for some of the most philanthropically-minded companies, can be some of your greatest advocates!

Driving Results With Matching Gift Reporting Tools

Now that you know what information to track and the types of insights you can pull, what can you actually do to get started?

If you don’t want to perform all the calculations by hand (and trust us: you don’t), equipping your team with the best tools for effective matching gift reporting is a must. And that means Double the Donation’s 360MatchPro⁠—the industry-leading matching gift automation platform.

Matching Gift Reporting With 360MatchPro

360MatchPro streamlines the entire matching gift process by automatically identifying and triggering personalized outreach to eligible donors and tracking their matches from start to finish.

Along the way, it also utilizes your data to analyze trends, provide targeted recommendations, and produce user-friendly reports that present your findings in an easy-to-understand way.

Pre-built reports within the platform include:

Top companies leaderboard with recommended actions for pursuing broader corporate giving goals
Match-eligible donations leaderboard that displays the match-eligible donations with the highest matching gift potential
“Ripe for the picking” eligible but not submitted view that filters for donors marked as match-eligible with an online form available but have not yet submitted their match request
Repeat matching gift filter that pulls a list of donors who previously had their gifts matched but currently have an un-submitted match in the system
Campaign Comparisons report that easily compares highest-earning time-boxed fundraising campaigns in terms of matching gift eligibility
Missed Matches reports that highlight recent transactions that may be match-eligible, despite being marked otherwise or skipped over in email outreach
Key statistics, such as total emails delivered, open and click rate, match revenue identified per month, total match revenue identified, matching gift engagement level, total donor events, and more
Breakdown of current match statuses, including Waiting for Donor, Match Initiated, Pending Payment, Match Complete, Unknown Employer, and Ineligible

Additionally, 360MatchPro users can customize different views in their “Donations” tab, choosing to configure lists of recent donations according to match eligibility, request status, and more.

Next Steps

Data produced within the matching gift process is one of your most valuable assets⁠—but you need to have a system in place for tracking, storing, and analyzing the information you collect.

Get with your team to determine which matching gift metrics best represent your organization and its fundraising goals. While each of the above-mentioned analytics can provide invaluable insights as they guide and inform your matching gift marketing initiatives, consider centering your reporting strategy on one or two points to get started.

From there, establish a plan to track appropriate data, conduct an analysis of the information you’ve gathered, and continue to adjust your overarching plan as needed.

Keep learning! Grow your knowledge of all things matching gifts with these additional recommended resources:

Double the Donation’s Matching Gift Academy. Dive into Course 1, Module 9 to learn more about which matching gift metrics to track and how to use them to inform your ongoing plans!
Corporate Matching Gift Programs: The Definitive Guide for Growing Your Revenue. Want to learn more about the basics of matching gifts? Read our ultimate guide to corporate matching gift programs and get the full scoop!
Top 24 Matching Gift Companies: Leaders in Philanthropy. Wondering who the leading players in corporate philanthropy and matching gifts are? Check out our list of these matching gift companies that go the extra mile to stand out.
Marketing Matching Gifts | A Guide for Avid Fundraisers. Your donors aren’t as likely to submit matching gift requests unless you ask them to! Read more about how you can market matching gifts to donors in this guide.

In this guide, we’ll cover best practices for writing fundraising letters and provide effective templates to set you up for success.

14 Fundraising Letters & Templates to Inspire More Support

August 2, 2023/in Learning Center, Marketing Strategies, Learning Center /by Adam Weinger

Your nonprofit needs funds to power its mission, but how do you communicate this need to potential donors? Fundraising letters are a time-tested, impactful way to reach out to supporters and encourage them to play a role in your impact.

Whether you choose to send them via email or direct mail, if you’re looking for smart and effective appeal letters, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled common types of donation requests, plus carefully crafted templates that your team can use to jumpstart your outreach.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

How to Send Fundraising Letters
How to Write a Fundraising Letter
14 Types of Fundraising Letters (+ Templates)

With the right tips, tricks, and tools, your team can connect with more donors and cultivate lasting relationships to strengthen your work. Let’s cover the basics of writing fundraising letters, then explore the specific types of requests your nonprofit may decide to send.

How to Send Fundraising Letters

Before crafting your letters, you’ll want to know how you’re going to deliver each one. That way, you can tailor the formatting appropriately. Certain outlets lend themselves better to letters than others. Of course, you’ll want to deliver your solicitation letters using each recipient’s preferred contact method. Bearing that in mind, let’s explore the most common channels nonprofits use to solicit donations.

Via eCards

Who doesn’t love receiving a thoughtful greeting card? From special occasions to “just because,” there’s a card for everything! With a bit of creativity, you can elevate your fundraising letters by sending them as digital greeting cards. Each donor will receive a virtual greeting card alongside your letter. Delivering them in this format is more creative and effective than a plain letter.

Here’s a peek into why nonprofits use this approach to drive greater fundraising results:

Visual Appeal: eCards are visually captivating since you can use images, graphics, and videos to grab the recipient’s attention. This enhances the overall impact of the message and encourages the recipient to read more of your message.
Interactivity: Using this format, you can incorporate interactive elements like animations that activate when hovered over and clickable links to your donation page. Not only do these features make letters more engaging, but they also make it convenient for recipients to donate.
Timeliness: You can deliver eCards instantly, ensuring that the message reaches your recipient promptly. There’s no need to wait for it to be delivered in the mail, making eCards especially valuable for time-sensitive appeals.
Shareability: Recipients can forward eCards to friends, family, and anyone else who might be interested in supporting your cause. This amplifies the reach of your fundraising letter!

Not to mention, this approach is extremely cost-effective, eco-friendly, and personable. No need to waste paper or money on printing and postage. You’ll get the speed of email and the authenticity of direct mail!

To leverage this approach, choose an online eCard platform. We recommend using eCardWidget. The platform enables nonprofits to create digital greeting cards that communicate their missions. To fundraise with them, you can either sell them to supporters or send them directly to donors to solicit gifts.

Via Email

Many nonprofits connect with donors by delivering fundraising letters via email. Regular email communication allows you to build relationships over time by keeping supporters informed about your organization’s initiatives and fostering a sense of belonging to a larger cause.

Through targeted email campaigns, you can reach your entire donor base while customizing solicitation messages to resonate with individual donors. You’ll want to:

Craft compelling subject lines that grab attention and encourage recipients to read your letters.
Segment email lists based on donor history, interests, and engagement levels.
Include clear calls to action, guiding recipients to take action by either donating or sharing the campaign with their networks.
Review performance metrics such as open rates and click-through rates to gauge the success of your fundraising letters.

The versatility, speed, and cost-effectiveness of email make it an essential tool in your nonprofit’s fundraising and digital marketing arsenal. You’ll have everything you need to deliver thoughtful fundraising letters and drive contributions that support your work.

Via Direct Mail

Deliver your fundraising letters via direct mail to donors who prefer a more personable touch. Known for its authenticity, direct mail allows you to connect with donors on a more intimate level.

Fundraising via direct mail makes it a bit more challenging to segment your outreach, but still take donor-specific details like giving history into account when crafting your letters. Then, you’ll want to vary your approach slightly by including easy response components. For example, include a pre-addressed envelope or QR code that leads to your donation page. This will simplify the donation process, enhancing the effectiveness of your solicitations.

Overall, the tactile nature of direct mail makes it a valuable tool for your nonprofit to engage donors, reinforce its mission, and drive meaningful contributions.

How to Write a Fundraising Letter

When crafting a fundraising letter for your nonprofit, the key to success lies in not only communicating your funding needs clearly, but inspiring recipients to take action and make a gift. To set your appeal up for success, follow these essential steps:

Address the donor by their preferred name. Including the recipient’s name demonstrates that you value their support as an individual, rather than a nameless source of revenue.
Incorporate storytelling. Make it easy for potential donors to understand the importance of your mission by sharing a story that elicits empathy and demonstrates how your nonprofit makes a real difference in the lives of those you serve. For instance, a wildlife rescue nonprofit might introduce an injured fox that it’s working to rehabilitate and release.
Add compelling visuals. Adding an image or two can immediately grab the attention of your recipients, enhance your messaging, and allow them to better understand why they should contribute to your cause.
Emphasize the impact of donations. Empower potential donors to act by situating them at the center of your nonprofit’s impact. Be specific as to how their gifts will further your mission. For example, a nonprofit that trains and provides assistance dogs to military veterans might communicate that a $25 gift will provide a month’s worth of food for one dog, and a $100 gift will cover all of its vaccination costs.
Include a call to action. Once you’ve emphasized the importance of donations, use a call to action to encourage recipients to act immediately. Then, include a link to your donation page or, if you’re sending the letter via direct mail, add a QR code along with a pre-addressed return envelope.

To make your fundraising appeals stand out from the crowd, consider sending them as fundraising eCards. These online cards provide an efficient, memorable, and sustainable⁠ way to engage your supporters—not to mention they’re low-cost.

14 Types of Fundraising Letters (+ Templates)

Now that you have a clearer understanding of what it takes to draft a compelling fundraising letter, let’s take a closer look at some common types and templates that may come in handy:

1. Nonprofit Fundraising Letters	8. Event Fundraising Letters
2. Seasonal Fundraising Letters	9. Recurring Gift Fundraising Letters
3. School Fundraising Letters	10. Capital Campaign Fundraising Letters
4. Church Fundraising Letters	11. Annual Fund Fundraising Letters
5. Individual Fundraising Letters	12. Corporate Sponsorship Letters
6. In-Kind Donation Request Letters	13. Donor Thank-You Letters
7. Matching Gift Fundraising Letters	14. Fundraising Update Letters

1. Nonprofit Fundraising Letters

What are nonprofit fundraising letters?

Nonprofit fundraising letters are typically sent by charitable organizations to individual donors and/or prospects in order to solicit donations for a cause. They can be sent on their own or included in a welcome packet that contains pamphlets, booklets, and additional information.

Typically, an effective donation request letter will include:

A summary of your mission and vision
How you’ll use donated funds
A direct and specific call to action that creates urgency

Bonus: We suggest giving donors the option to reply to your letters by mailing a traditional check or directing them to give through your organization’s website.

To whom should you send them?

Send your nonprofit fundraising letters to anyone in your network of support, including:

Current and past supporters
Prospective donors
Volunteers
Event attendees
Board members

In other words, reach out to anyone who has previously expressed interest in your cause. Tailor your messaging to different groups based on their relationship with your organization. Keep in mind that while older generations of donors may prefer direct mail communications, younger millennials and Gen Z supporters may prefer a digital approach.

When should you use them?

You can send nonprofit fundraising letters at any time of the year! However, they are particularly effective toward the end of the calendar year when donors are calculating their pre-tax season finances. People also tend to be more charitable in December, which means that your appeal has a better chance of securing a donation.

Nonprofit fundraising letter template

Dear [Donor],

[Begin with an emotional appeal: A success story or a narrative that tugs on donors’ heartstrings and hooks your readers. Keep it short and sweet, though!]

Our community/nation/world is facing [problem(s) your organization aims to solve]. While we are actively [insert current solutions or related programming], we need your help to make our efforts go even further.

Your support is crucial to our efforts to improve the world around us by [tangible steps toward your overall mission]. We’d love it if you could make a donation of $[suggested amount] to help us achieve our mission and [solve the problem].

Thank you in advance for your contribution. Your donation will go toward [insert ongoing effort, recent accomplishment, or current project].

Here are the ways you can make a donation:

Donate online at [URL to donation page]

Call us at [phone number]

Send a check in the pre-stamped envelope

Text [keyword] to [text-to-give phone number]

Thank you again!

Sincerely,

[Signature of Organization Leader]

[Name of Organization Leader]

[Title]

[Nonprofit]

P.S. [End with an update about an upcoming event, volunteer opportunity, or other information on how to get further involved].

Nonprofit fundraising eCard example

This eCard would work perfectly for a disaster relief organization that wants to send fundraising letters.

The eCard above depicts two hands uniting through flood waters. This creative design is ideal for a disaster relief organization seeking support for communities affected by flooding. While a simple design, the hands communicate the impact just one donor could have.

2. Seasonal Fundraising Letters

What are seasonal fundraising letters?

Seasonal fundraising letters are sent during specific times of the year and are typically aligned with holidays, annual events, or seasons that hold significance for the cause or donors.

These letters play into the emotional and thematic connections associated with specific seasons to engage donors and encourage contributions. Since these fundraising letters are time-oriented, the timing and context help foster a sense of urgency and prompt recipients to take action.

To whom should you send them?

These types of fundraising letters are ideal for anyone who’s shown interest in your cause, including:

Existing donors
Lapsed donors
Prospective donors
Volunteers
Event attendees
Board members

If you’re sending a holiday-themed letter, just make sure that the recipient celebrates the holiday. For example, you wouldn’t want to send a Christmas card to someone who celebrates Hanukkah instead.

When should you use them?

By considering the timing of each seasonal fundraising letter, you can maximize the impact of your outreach and encourage meaningful contributions. Key times to send seasonal fundraising letters include:

Around holidays: From Valentine’s Day to the Fourth of July, any holiday is the perfect time to send a solicitation letter. Whether you’re fundraising during Christmas, Mother’s Day, or Thanksgiving, you can encourage people to give back.
At year-end: Considering that December accounts for 30% of annual giving, the end of the year is the perfect time to send seasonal fundraising letters. Capitalize on the spirit of giving during the year-end holiday season, and emphasize the importance of making a last-minute tax-deductible donation.
During cause awareness months: Determine if there’s an awareness month, week, or day devoted to your cause. If so, send fundraising letters during that time. For example, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is October, Earth Day is April 22nd, and National Suicide Prevention Week falls in September each year.
Back-to-School (August/September): As the school year begins, nonprofits focused on education or youth development can send letters that emphasize the importance of investing in children’s futures.
Summer Campaigns (June-August): Summer months can be a great time to send letters, especially for environmental causes, youth programs, and other outdoor initiatives that align with the season’s themes of growth, adventure, and relaxation.

There are plenty of other times you can send your seasonal fundraising letters beyond these. In any case, the timing should align with the occasion’s theme and your nonprofit’s mission. This will ensure the message resonates.

Seasonal fundraising letter template

Dear [Donor’s Name],

Greetings from [Your Nonprofit’s Name]! As the [Season] season unfolds, we find ourselves reflecting on the incredible journey we’ve embarked upon and are humbled by the unwavering support of individuals like you who have been a beacon of hope for our cause.

This [Season], we are excited to share the remarkable strides we’ve taken toward [Mission]. With your support, we’ve been able to [Highlight a specific achievement, project, or initiative]. We invite you to join us once again in making a profound difference in the lives we touch.

Your generosity has been instrumental in [Describe the impact of their previous contributions]. With every dollar you contribute, you are sowing the seeds of positive change and empowerment.

As we approach [Specific Occasion or Date], consider making a [Seasonal] donation to [Your Nonprofit’s Name]. Your gift, no matter the size, will help us [Highlight the purpose or project that the seasonal campaign is supporting].

Here’s how you can contribute:

Online: Visit our website at [Website Link] to donate.

Mail: Fill out the enclosed donation form and send it to [Your Nonprofit’s Address].

Phone: Call us at [Phone Number] to make a donation over the phone.

Your belief in our mission is the foundation upon which we build a brighter future. Together, we can create lasting change that resonates far beyond [Season].

Thank you for being a pillar of support for [Your Nonprofit’s Name]. Your generosity is a gift that keeps on giving, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to making the world a better place.

Wishing you and your loved ones a meaningful [Season] season!

With gratitude,
[Signature]
[Name]
[Nonprofit]

Seasonal fundraising eCard example

This Valentine’s Day eCard would pair well with a seasonal fundraising letter.

Valentine’s Day is one of the best holidays for sending seasonal fundraising appeals since people are in a loving state of mind. If you need examples to spark your inspiration, the Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County designed a collection of Valentine’s eCards that donors could purchase to send to loved ones. Each design featured one of their furry residents, the nonprofit’s logo, heart graphics, and animal puns.

While you can always sell eCards like this, try sending them alongside your fundraising letters to donors!

3. School Fundraising Letters

What are school fundraising letters?

School fundraising letters are a popular way for educational institutions (K-12 and higher ed, public and private alike) to solicit support for various school-related purposes. They generally provide a summary of the school’s specific fundraising needs, such as:

Upcoming field trips
Extracurricular activities and clubs
Scholarships and financial aid offerings
Educator training and professional development
New equipment and technology purchases
Classroom supplies
Athletic programs and facilities

To maximize results, highlight your school’s recent accomplishments, specify how the funding will make an impact on your student body and community, and provide instructions on how the letter recipient can choose to give.

To whom should you send them?

Send school fundraising letters to your school’s supporters—and those you think may be interested in getting involved. Often, this will include:

Students’ parents
PTA members
Other volunteers
Alumni
Community members

You can even take a peer-to-peer approach, encouraging students to send their own fundraising letters to family members and friends who may be interested in giving.

When should you use them?

Send your fundraising appeals at any time during the school year!

However, popular campaign periods include the beginning of the school year, leading up to the holiday season, and prior to large-scale events and initiatives.

School fundraising letter template

Dear [Name],

We hope this letter finds you well. As we begin the new school year here at [School Name], we are excited to share with you some of the exciting initiatives we have planned for our students.

At [School Name], we are committed to providing the best possible education and learning opportunities for our students. We believe every student deserves access to the resources and support they need to succeed, regardless of their background or financial situation.

To help us achieve this goal, we are launching a fundraising campaign to support various school-related initiatives, such as [list specific initiatives].

We are reaching out to our dedicated parents, alumni, and supporters to ask for your help in achieving our fundraising goals. Your generosity can make a significant impact on the lives of our students, helping us to provide them with the best possible education and prepare them for a bright future.

Any contribution, no matter the size, will be greatly appreciated and put to good use. [Include instructions on how to donate, e.g., online donation platform, mailing a check, etc.]

We value your continued support. Thank you in advance for considering a donation to [School Name] and for committing to helping us create a brighter future for our students.

Best wishes,

[Signature]

[Name]

[Title]

Seasonal fundraising eCard example

Schools can create eCards like this one to pair with their fundraising letters to families.

If you’re designing an eCard for school fundraising, create an engaging design like the one above. Your eCard platform will likely provide plenty of graphics related to education, like graduation caps, apples, and anything else you need. Be sure to incorporate childlike elements like handwritten font to make your design more authentic.

4. Church Fundraising Letters

What are church fundraising letters?

Church fundraising letters can take many forms. They can be used to ask for general church-related contributions, as well as fundraising efforts such as:

Charity auction item requests
Fundraising event donations
Sponsorship requests
Mission trip funding
Church building funds
Missionary support

Churches commonly send out fundraising letters to notify congregants when church events or other fundraising initiatives are occurring. These types of fundraising letters can be used to share the details—date, time, location, etc.—of the event and encourage those who can’t attend to give in advance.

To whom should you send them?

Depending on your specific needs, you can send church fundraising letters to your congregation or to a broader community audience.

For instance, a fundraising appeal to collect donations in support of a new church building will likely be sent only to those involved with the church, while a campaign to raise funds for sending youth to a summer camp might solicit donations from students’ family members and friends, regardless of their affiliation with your ministry.

When should you use them?

You can send out church letters whenever you have a fundraising need! Churches rely on the generosity of their congregants to keep the doors open and the lights on.

Of course, you’ll want to limit your fundraising letters to a few per year and rely on in-person appeals during a church service for the majority of your fundraising efforts.

Church fundraising letter template

Dear [Name],

We hope this letter finds you well. Because you’re an important part of our church family, and we’ve so appreciated your support in the past regarding our [example campaign the individual supported] initiatives, we thought you’d want to know about our big plans for this new year.

As you surely know, our congregation is growing. Just like any family, the more members you have, the more room you need. We’re pleased to invite you to be an important part of this exciting process!

[Church Name] is raising money for a brand-new sanctuary and bell tower. How blessed are we to have so many members like yourself that we need to build an entirely new structure?

That said, we are currently accepting donations that will make this exciting new project possible, and we ask that you consider giving to support our efforts.

Your donation, no matter the size, will be greatly appreciated and put to good use. We invite you to be a part of this new chapter in our church’s history and help us create a space where we can come to worship, learn, and grow together.

If you would like to contribute, please visit our website at [URL] or mail or drop off a check to [church office address].

Feel free to reach out to our special projects coordinator, [Name], at [phone number] or by email at [email address] if you have any questions about our fundraising initiatives or the new sanctuary or bell tower.

As always, have a blessed week. We hope to see you Sunday!

In Him,

[Pastor’s Signature]

[Pastor’s Name]

Church fundraising eCard example

Create religious eCards to send alongside your fundraising letters to congregation members.

When designing an eCard for a church, be sure to infuse spiritual elements like this eCard does. The graphic on the card design shows stained glass in the shape of a cross, helping the reader to draw a connection between eCard Recipients will immediately understand what the rest of the email is about by simply reading “In Every Act of Giving, We Feel God’s Grace.”

Explore more church fundraising letters

5. Individual Fundraising Letters

What are individual fundraising letters?

Nonprofits aren’t the only ones with fundraising needs! Sometimes, individuals aim to raise money for a cause, project, or life event, whether on their own or as part of a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign.

Common individual fundraising letter needs include:

Personal medical expenses
Disaster relief
Political campaign funding
Grassroots advocacy needs
Travel or education expenses

Make it as easy as possible for supporters to contribute. You can set up a crowdfunding campaign to supplement your fundraising efforts and use the fundraising letter to direct people to your campaign page to give. This can be highly impactful, as in North America alone, crowdfunding generates around $17.2 billion each year.

To whom should you send them?

Depending on the specific fundraising need, an individual may send personal fundraising letters to their family members, friends, acquaintances, colleagues, and more.

Consider tailoring your recipient list based on the purpose behind your efforts. For example, an individual raising funds to go on a religious mission might prioritize individuals within their church community.

When should you use them?

You can send individual fundraising letters whenever you need to raise money for a cause that means a lot to you. If you’re collecting donations for an upcoming event or project, be sure to start planning, drafting, and sending your letters at least a few weeks in advance.

Individual fundraising letter template

Dear [Donor],

My name is [Name], and I am [describe your position/situation/background]. I am looking to raise [amount of money] to help me pay for [project/expense/cause/etc.].

[Include information about why the cause or project is important to you and how it could potentially impact the reader or those you serve].

I’m writing to ask you to support me and my [cause/project/etc.]. Just a small donation of [amount] can help me [accomplish task/reach a goal/etc.].

Your donation will go toward [describe exactly what the contribution will be used for].

[When possible, add a personal connection to tie the donor to the cause. For example, if you’re raising money to help build a school in a developing country and you’re writing to a teacher, emphasize the fact that everyone deserves a quality education].

Thank you in advance for your contribution. You have no idea how much it means to me to have your support.

Here are the ways you can make a donation:

Donate online at [URL of your crowdfunding page]

Send a check in the pre-stamped envelope I’ve included

Thank you again!

Sincerely,

[Signature]

[Name]

Individual fundraising eCard example

Use images of the beneficiary when sending individual fundraising letters.

While you can use drawings and graphics for individual fundraising eCards, you’ll evoke emotional connections by featuring a picture of who the donations will impact. This eCard is the perfect example of this strategy in action! The sender draws an emotional reaction instantly and can use their fundraising letter to dive into storytelling and their request for support.

6. In-Kind Donation Request Letters

What are in-kind donation request letters?

In-kind donation requests are often sent by nonprofit groups that ask for gifts of tangible goods or services instead of traditional monetary donations.

Most often, these letters will request a specific gift from the recipient, such as:

Office equipment or technology
No-cost meeting spaces or venue rentals
Food supplies
New or gently used clothing or shoes
Pro bono services like free marketing, accounting, or legal assistance from an associated firm

In-kind donations can allow charitable organizations to offset some of their largest operational costs with goods and services made available by supporters. A well-written donation request letter lets your audience know what kinds of things you’re looking for and how they can be of assistance!

To whom should you send them?

You can send in-kind donation letters to individual supporters as well as corporations, foundations, and even other nonprofit groups.

Remember: these letters should be specific. If you’re seeking free marketing assistance, be sure to reach out to a local marketing agency. If you’re looking for appealing items to auction off in your upcoming fundraising event, you might reach out to a wider range of individuals or businesses. This might include restaurants, travel agencies, salons, retail stores, and more.

When should you use them?

You can send these types of letters whenever you have a specific need! Some of the most common use cases include fundraising events (e.g., requesting auction item donations), community food or clothes drives, or a new campaign or initiative that would benefit from in-kind gifts.

In-kind donation request letter template

Dear [Individual Donor or Corporate Sponsorship Manager],

I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. I am writing to request your support for [Nonprofit], a nonprofit organization that is committed to [mission statement or general purpose of the organization].

As we strive to fulfill our mission, we rely heavily on the generosity of donors like you. We are reaching out to request an in-kind donation of [specific goods or services needed], which we believe would make a significant impact on our efforts by [description of benefits made available by such a donation].

Your contribution would be an invaluable asset to our organization and would help us to [achieve a specific goal or outcome]. In return, we would be happy to offer [recognition or publicity for the donor, such as inclusion in event materials or social media shoutouts]. We will also provide a receipt for the value of the donation for tax purposes.

We appreciate your consideration of our request, and we welcome the opportunity to discuss this further with you. If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at [phone number or email address].

Thank you for your generosity and support.

Sincerely,

[Signature]

[Name]

[Title]

[Nonprofit]

In-kind donation request eCard

This eCard is ideal for food banks to send alongside its fundraising letters to solicit food donations.

This eCard is perfect for food banks seeking in-kind donations of food. Within the design, the depiction of people working together communicates the collective effort necessary to end hunger. The text really drives that point home by saying, “From your pantry to their plates, every meal matters.” In turn, the organization can retain donors by emphasizing the vitality of their continued support.

7. Matching Gift Fundraising Letters

What are matching gift fundraising letters?

Matching gift fundraising letters are a specific type of outreach that nonprofits send donors to inform or remind them about relevant matching gift opportunities.

Matching gifts are a popular (yet continually underutilized) type of corporate giving program. In fact, it’s estimated that $4 to $7 billion in matching gift funds goes unclaimed every year. The process typically follows these basic steps:

After an employee donates to an eligible nonprofit, they submit paperwork to their company to match
If the donation meets the company’s predetermined requirements, the business will make a contribution to the nonprofit as well.
Though companies often match gifts at a dollar-for-dollar ratio, many are willing to triple or even quadruple their employees’ gifts!

Unfortunately, many donors are unaware that their employer offers a matching gift program.

That’s where a matching gift fundraising letter comes in!

In this letter, you’ll inform the donor about their employer’s specific workplace giving initiatives and how to get involved. If you don’t have a record of a supporter’s employer, simply use your matching gift letter to direct them to your online matching gift web page and company search tool.

To whom should you send them?

All donors should receive matching gift letters after making their initial gifts to your organization.

However, since direct mail can be costly, we recommend sending email follow-ups to the majority of your supporters. Reserve your direct mail letters for your most lucrative matching opportunities or for particularly high-value donors who have a known preference for physical communications.

When should you use them?

The best time to promote matching gifts is immediately after a donor gives. Your nonprofit is still fresh in their minds, so they’ll be more likely to submit a matching gift request when encouraged to do so promptly.

After a donor makes a gift, send out an email that:

Thanks them for their donation
Encourages them to submit a matching gift request

Furthermore, you can consider leveraging matching gift auto-submission to streamline the process even further and make it easier for donors to submit their requests. Once they’re determined to be eligible for matching gifts, all they need to do is provide a few key pieces of information, and the software automatically completes the request for them. Check out this video to see how auto-submission simplifies the match-fulfillment process:

Matching gift fundraising letter template

Dear [Donor],

Thank you for your generous support in the amount of $[gift size]. Your donation is helping us make a real impact in the lives of those we serve.

We wanted to let you know about an exciting opportunity to make your gift go even further. Did you know that many employers offer matching gift programs? This means that they will match their employees’ charitable donations, doubling or even tripling the impact of your gift.

We encourage you to visit our matching gift page here [URL] to see if your employer participates in a matching gift program. This resource provides an intuitive company search tool with easy-to-follow instructions on how to take advantage of this opportunity and make your donation do more.

By taking a few minutes to submit a matching gift request, you can make an even greater impact on our mission. Thank you again for your generous support, and we look forward to continuing to work together to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.

Sincerely,

[Signature]

[Name]

[Matching Gifts Coordinator]

[Nonprofit]

8. Event Fundraising Letters

What are event fundraising letters?

A fundraising event can be a highly impactful way for nonprofits to generate revenue. However, before the event takes place, it’s crucial to mobilize donors and the greater community to participate.

You can achieve this through event fundraising letters. These letters provide details about the event and encourage the recipient to attend in support of the nonprofit’s mission.

When drafting the letter, include a clear and persuasive case for support, as well as an explanation of how funds will be raised during the event (for example, through ticket sales, donations, or auction bids). A well-crafted fundraising event letter should make the reader feel enthusiastic about supporting the cause and eager to register for the event.

To whom should you send them?

For an in-person event, send fundraising letters to all of your organization’s supporters who reside in your local area. However, hybrid and virtual events open up the possibilities, allowing your team to engage attendees over any distance.

As you craft your recipient list, include donors, volunteers, board members, previous event attendees, and even businesses that have interacted with your organization in the past.

When should you use them?

Send your fundraising letters well in advance of your event date. While the perfect timeline can vary from one organization to the next, aim to notify your supporters at least six to eight weeks before the big day. This will allow them to make any necessary arrangements for attending and enable your nonprofit to maximize the overall turnout.

Event fundraising letter template

Dear [Supporter],

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to invite you to [Nonprofit]’s upcoming event, [Event Name], which will take place on [date] at [time] at [location].

[Event Name] is a [type of fundraising event, like run/walk/ride, charity auction, gala, etc.]. This annual fundraising event helps us to raise funds for our organization, [Nonprofit], which is dedicated to [summary of mission statement or purpose].

We believe that every member of our community deserves access to [insert services provided by your organization], and your support helps us to achieve this goal.

We have exciting activities planned for the evening, including [details about the event such as entertainment, keynote speakers, or other activities]. And the best part is that all proceeds go towards supporting our programs and services.

We would be honored if you could attend this special event and support our cause. Your ticket purchase or donation will help us make a difference in the lives of those we serve.

Learn more about the opportunity at our event page here [URL].

We appreciate your consideration and hope that you can join us for this meaningful evening.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

[Signature]

[Name]

[Title]

[Nonprofit]

Event fundraising eCard example

This eCard from Vineyard Church North Phoenix pairs well with event fundraising letters

Designed by Vineyard Church North Phoenix, this event invitation was originally designed for congregants to invite their friends and family to an upcoming service. However, you can copy their approach by featuring photos you’ve taken and featuring welcoming text such as “You’re Invited” or “Join us!”

9. Recurring Gift Fundraising Letters

What are recurring gift fundraising letters?

Recurring donations provide nonprofits with steady and predictable income that allows them to plan for and maintain effective operations over time. In fact, recurring donors contribute 42% more each year than one-time donors. Whether you’re looking to expand your recurring gifts program or get started for the first time, well-written recurring donation letters can be immensely useful.

Recurring donation letters are tailored to appeal to dedicated supporters who may be interested in supporting your cause on a regular, automated schedule. These letters should provide an overview of the benefits of recurring gifts (for your mission as well as for the donor) and provide instructions on how they can sign up if interested.

To whom should you send them?

Send recurring gift letters primarily to donors who have already recently supported your cause, especially those who have made several one-off donations. However, first-time donors can also be good candidates for these programs if they’ve shown a commitment and a willingness to support your cause in the past.

When should you use them?

You should send a recurring donation letter to an existing supporter after they contribute a one-time gift to your organization—ideally within a few weeks following the most recent donation.

Additionally, you might decide to host a “recurring gift campaign” and promote your monthly giving program to all supporters. This can take place at any time during the year but may be particularly effective during the end-of-year holiday giving season. You can even set and communicate a goal for the number of recurring donors you’d like to sign up by a target date to drive urgency and leverage a sense of social proof.

Recurring fundraising letter template

Dear [Donor],

I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to reach out to you about joining [Nonprofit]’s recurring gift program. By setting up a recurring gift, you can provide ongoing support for our mission to [summary of mission statement or purpose] and provide services for [primary audience benefitting from your organization’s programming].

Recurring gifts are a convenient and effective way to support our organization. By making a regular monthly gift, you can help us to offer [list specific services provided by your organization] to those in need.

To sign up for the program, go to our website here [URL for recurring donation page] or text [recurring donation keyword] to [fundraising shortcode].

Thank you for your generosity.

Sincerely,

[Signature]

[Name]

[Title]

[Nonprofit]

Recurring gift fundraising eCard example

This eCard communicates the impact of recurring donations, making it ideal to send alongside your monthly donation fundraising letters.

Imagine you receive a fundraising letter paired with an eCard of a cute dog with pleading eyes. Wouldn’t you be compelled to donate to whichever animal rescue organization sent it to you? Try creating a greeting card like the one above and featuring text that communicates the impact of ongoing support.

10. Capital Campaign Fundraising Letters

What are capital campaign fundraising letters?

A capital campaign is a fundraising initiative that aims to meet a high-dollar goal over a relatively long time frame (often one to three years). Dedicated fundraising letters are an excellent choice for soliciting support for this campaign.

This letter should explain the purpose behind the dedicated fundraising effort, which is often used to reach a significant goal. Oftentimes, nonprofits launch capital campaigns to collect funding to build a new facility, purchase high-cost equipment, or establish an endowment fund, so you’ll want to specify the need and how it will impact your cause as a whole.

To whom should you send them?

Capital campaign letters are generally sent to your nonprofit’s existing donors. And don’t count them out if they’ve recently given to a different fundraising initiative, either. A capital campaign donation is generally considered an “above and beyond” contribution. Just be sure to acknowledge their other gifts and explain how the efforts are differentiated.

To produce optimal campaign results, segment your contact list according to donors’ previous engagement with your organization, giving history, and estimated capacity to give.

When should you use them?

Since a capital campaign is split into two key phases (the Private Phase and the Public Phase), it’s important to understand when you should employ your fundraising letters.

Generally, the Private Phase kickstarts your campaign by exclusively engaging major donors, board members, and other particularly high-value individuals. While you may opt to utilize capital campaign letters as a cultivation or stewardship strategy in this phase, you’ll likely make your largest asks in person (or, at the very least, over the phone). Nonprofits typically raise at least 75% of their goals in this phase.

Once you get to the Public Phase, however, your well-crafted fundraising letters can be an excellent tool for driving your campaign to the finish line with donation appeals sent to low- and mid-level supporters.

Capital campaign fundraising letter template

Dear [Donor],

On behalf of [Nonprofit], we are excited to announce a new and exciting capital campaign. And we’d like to invite you to join us in our efforts!

This large-scale fundraiser has a lofty goal of $[fundraising goal] to [summary of campaign purpose].

As you know, our organization is committed to [brief description of mission]. With your support, we’ve been able to make great strides in these areas, but we know that there is still much work to be done. That’s why we’re launching this campaign to raise the funds we need to [reiterate campaign purpose], which will have a transformative impact on our ability to fulfill our mission.

This is a critical time in our organization’s history, and we need your support to make our vision a reality. We believe that with your help, we can [describe the impact of the campaign, such as improving the lives of those we serve, expanding services, etc.].

This campaign will span over the next three years, and we are committed to transparency throughout the campaign. We’ll provide regular updates on our progress and milestones achieved.

We appreciate your consideration and hope that you can join us in this important endeavor.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

[Signature]

[Name]

[Title]

[Nonprofit]

Capital campaign fundraising eCard example

Send eCards with building-related designs like this with your capital campaign fundraising letters.

Capital campaigns require substantial amounts of support. If you’re building something, try including a stock photo of blueprints or actual project renderings on your nonprofit eCards. This will show you’re serious about the end result and your plans are already underway. You can also include a witty phrase like “Lay the foundation for tomorrow” or “Help build our future.”

11. Annual Fund Fundraising Letters

What are annual fund fundraising letters?

An annual fund is a nonprofit’s ongoing fundraising campaign that seeks to collect unrestricted funds—money not set aside for a particular project or program—for the organization. These funds often cover facility costs, staff salaries, and other “non-mission related” expenses. Annual fund fundraising letters solicit donations that go toward the fund.

These letters should focus primarily on the good work your organization is doing, highlighting recent, ongoing, and future projects made possible by generous donor funding.

To whom should you send them?

Just about anyone who has shown interest in your organization and its mission can be a great candidate for your annual campaign fundraising letters! This includes:

Existing donors
Prospective donors in your pipeline
Volunteers
Event attendees
Newsletter subscribers
Social media followers

You can also send these letters to try and re-engage lapsed donors, so consider sending your annual fund letters to that segment as well.

When should you use them?

An annual fund is typically a never-ending initiative with no set “finish line,” so organizations often collect donations for their annual funds year-round!

Aim to have a few annual fund pushes throughout the year to devote a good deal of time and resources toward driving support for the campaign. Then, you may decide to send one-off annual fund letters as a way to engage new supporters as they get involved with your cause.

Annual fundraising letter template

Dear [Donor],

I am writing to you on behalf of [Nonprofit] to invite you to support our annual fund campaign. Your donation helps us to provide [summary of services provided by your organization] to those in need. Plus, it allows us to continue our mission to [brief overview of mission statement or purpose].

This year, we aim to raise $[fundraising goal] from generous donors like you. We collected a record $[funds raised in the previous annual fund campaign] for our annual fund, and I think we can surpass it this year.

We appreciate your ongoing support and hope that you can consider making a donation to our annual fund campaign today. If so, please mail a check using the enclosed pre-stamped and pre-addressed envelope or make an online donation by scanning the QR code below [QR code redirects to your online giving form URL].

Thanks again for your generosity.

Sincerely,

[Signature]

[Name]

[Title]

[Nonprofit]

Annual fund fundraising eCard example

This eCard is perfect for an environmental organization to solicit donations year-round. It features a nature-inspired design complete with green, Earth-themed graphics. An alluring eCard like this can help capture attention for your fundraising letter.

12. Corporate Sponsorship Letters

What are corporate sponsorship letters?

Corporate sponsorship letters are used by nonprofits, schools, or other organizations looking to receive support from for-profit companies for a specific project or event.

Though they can vary depending on the company or nonprofit, sponsorship letter packages typically include the following components:

A sponsorship proposal cover letter, or the formal request for a sponsorship donation. It explains the nonprofit’s fundraising need and details how the funds will be used.
A sponsorship level document, which determines how companies decide how much they’d like to give. This resource often lists a few sponsorship levels to choose from and the perks that come with each. The higher the donation, the more perks the company receives.

Plus, there’s typically a sponsorship acknowledgment letter sent afterward to thank the company for its contributions.

To whom should you send them?

Send your corporate sponsorship request letters to any businesses with which you’re interested in partnering. A few ways to locate top prospects include identifying companies already in your network, such as your donors’ employers and top matching gift-givers, local businesses in your own community, and companies known for being particularly charitable.

When should you use them?

Sponsorship letters should be sent out well in advance of your event or project. This gives companies enough time to consider and respond to your donation request.

Furthermore, your nonprofit should send sponsorship acknowledgment letters immediately after a donation has been made and after the event has ended.

Corporate sponsorship letter template

Dear [CEO/CSR Manager/Business Owner],

I am writing on behalf of [Nonprofit], an organization dedicated to [summary of your mission, vision, and how you serve your community].

We are hosting our [event name] on [date] at [location]. Last year’s event was such a huge success that we decided to host it again!

In the past, this event has raised $[amount] and has [list out specific accomplishments using statistics and figures].

This year we’re hoping to raise even more! Our goal is $[amount], and we were hoping you could help us reach that goal.

By becoming one of our corporate sponsors, you’ll be able to [list projects that corporate donations could help accomplish].

We’ve also listed out some of the incentives and perks that your company can enjoy should you decide to become one of our corporate sponsors in our attached Sponsorship Levels Document. Regardless of the amount you choose to give, your company name will be included in our event program, and you’ll be mentioned in the press release that we’ll publish on our website.

We’re accepting cash donations as well as gifts-in-kind of goods or services.

Please browse the Sponsorship Levels Document to find the giving level that’s right for your company. If you’re ready to make a donation, tear off the perforated section of the following document and send it back to us in the self-addressed envelope we’ve enclosed.

I’d like to thank you in advance for your generosity. Please don’t hesitate to contact me directly at [phone number] or [email] if you have any questions.

All the best,

[Signature]

[Name]

[Title]

[Nonprofit]

Corporate sponsorship eCard example

This eCard is an example of how you can showcase beneficiaries when sending sponsorship fundraising letters.

Connect with prospective sponsors on an emotional level by including images of your beneficiaries. You can showcase their situations and make your case for support that much more compelling when sending your sponsorship letters.

Check out other sponsorship request letters here

13. Donor Thank-You Letters

What are donor thank-you letters?

Donor thank-you letters are pretty self-explanatory. These letters (or emails!) thank supporters for their contributions to a recent fundraising campaign. Sending personalized gift acknowledgments is an excellent way to deepen your relationship with supporters and keep your cause at the forefront of their minds.

Best practices for effective thank-you notes include:

Greeting the recipient by name
Acknowledging the donor’s specific means of support
Addressing the impact made possible through their gift

Plus, you can share additional involvement opportunities (without asking for another gift). Encourage supporters to follow your social media pages, subscribe to your newsletter, or request a matching gift from their employer!

To whom should you send them?

Send thank-you letters to all of your supporters. In addition to traditional donors, this includes volunteers, in-kind givers, corporate sponsors, peer-to-peer fundraisers, matching gift donors, and more.

When should you use them?

Thank-you letters should be sent out as soon as possible after receiving a contribution. Ideally, this should be done within 48 hours of the initial gift being made.

It’s not a bad idea to use multiple channels, either. Consider sending an automated acknowledgment email immediately and following up with a tangible note in the days or weeks afterward. You can never be too appreciative of your donors!

Donor thank-you letter template

Dear [Donor],

I can’t tell you how much all of us at [Nonprofit] appreciate your generous support of our cause. Thanks to your donation of $[amount], we’ll be able to [list out specific goals, objectives, etc., made possible through the gift].

We are so grateful for your belief in our organization’s work.

At [Nonprofit], we are committed to transparency and accountability. Therefore, we’ll be sure to keep you informed about how your donation is making a difference in the lives of those we serve. We couldn’t do it without you!

I also wanted to let you know that we’ll be hosting an exclusive donor appreciation event on [date]. We’d love to extend an invitation to you to participate in this opportunity, with more details to come! Our current donors have all enjoyed developing a stronger partnership with our organization, and I’m hoping you’ll do the same.

Thanks a million,

[Signature]

[Name]

[Title]

[Nonprofit]

Donor thank-you eCard example

Send a thank you letter alongside an eCard like this example.

Show donors some love with an eCard alongside your thank-you letters. Youth for Understanding offered several eCards that past beneficiaries could send to thank anyone who made their experience with the organization memorable. Add a custom note alongside an eCard like this, and the recipient will have a thoughtful keepsake that inspires them to keep giving!

Explore more donor thank-you letters and templates

14. Fundraising Update Letters

What are fundraising update letters?

Fundraising update letters are post-fundraising campaign communications sent to supporters. These messages allow you to wrap up loose ends, celebrate success, and look to future plans and goals.

This letter should contain a summary of your recent campaign (e.g., event, crowdfunding effort, peer-to-peer fundraiser, capital campaign, etc.) and your overall level of success (whether you reached or exceeded your fundraising goal). Plus, you’ll want to provide additional context, reminding your audience how the funding will be used to further your mission. And don’t forget to thank each recipient for the role they played in driving your fundraising efforts forward.

To whom should you send them?

Anyone involved with your fundraising campaign should receive a campaign update letter! This includes donors of all giving levels, volunteers, corporate sponsors, peer-to-peer fundraisers, and more who made your fundraising success possible.

You might even decide to send fundraising update letters to existing supporters who opted not to partake in your fundraiser. This can allow them to stay up to date on organization happenings and celebrate the generosity of their fellow donors.

When should you use them?

Like donor thank-you notes, fundraising campaign update letters should be sent as soon as possible. Rather than following each donor’s contribution, however, wait until the entire campaign has wrapped up. Then, send your letters in the following days or weeks to celebrate their support.

Think of this type of fundraising letter as the big finale after your solicitation letters and other engagement efforts!

Fundraising update letter template

Dear [Donor],

I wanted to reach out and provide an update on our fundraising efforts at [Nonprofit].

Thanks to your generous support, we were able to surpass our fundraising goal of $[insert fundraising goal] by over $[amount raised beyond your goal]. All in all, we collected $[total raised through the campaign] that is going to make a huge difference in the lives of [primary audience benefitting from your organization’s services].

Now, we will continue to work toward [nonprofit vision] by [list several specific projects or programs receiving funding from the recent campaign].

And we’ve already gotten started! Check out this photo to see how things have been going over here:

[Insert picture showcasing your organization’s efforts; ideally, a new project or program. Ex: breaking ground on a new building]

We are so grateful for your ongoing support and appreciate your commitment to our mission to [summary of mission statement or purpose]. We could not do this important work without your help.

Thank you for your ongoing generosity.

Sincerely,

[Signature]

[Name]

[Title]

[Nonprofit]

Donor thank-you eCard example

After sending fundraising letters, be sure to update donors with an eCard like this one.

Perfect for an environmental nonprofit, this eCard emphasizes a core mission of rebuilding the planet. It features a nature-inspired design that reminds the recipient of the cause at hand. Then, the sender can use the thank-you letter to provide concrete updates and explain the donor’s role in making the mission possible.

Wrapping Up (& Sending Off!)

Crafting effective fundraising letters is vital to just about any giving campaign⁠. This is true for nonprofits as well as churches, schools, and even individuals.

To make your appeals impactful, it’s essential to understand your recipients and personalize your message accordingly. From there, you’ll want to convey your organization’s mission in a way that resonates with your audience and provide a clear call to action to support your cause.

For more valuable fundraising tips and tricks, check out these additional resources:

What Is an Email Append? All Your Questions Answered. Want to make sure your fundraising letters are reaching their recipients? Use email appends to keep your supporter contact information accurate and up to date.
6 Best Practices for Producing Impactful Matching Gift Videos. Take your matching gift fundraising strategy to the next level by learning how to create informative and effective matching gift videos for your nonprofit.
Donor Retention: A Comprehensive Guide + 6 Strategies. Set your future fundraising appeals up for success by exploring the key strategies for donor retention in this detailed guide.

Nonprofit CRM and Donor Management Software: A Buyer’s Guide

July 28, 2023/in Learning Center, Learning Center /by Adam Weinger

A constituent relationship management (or CRM) solution allows an organization to track its relationships with key constituents. Nonprofit CRM software is a specific system designed for charitable organizations to manage and streamline their fundraising and engagement efforts. It serves as a central database that stores and organizes information about donors, supporters, volunteers, staff members, and other key stakeholders. And it should be an integral part of an organization’s fundraising tech stack!

A nonprofit CRM can also be referred to by many names⁠—including donor management software, donor database, fundraising CRM, and more. But regardless of what you call it, the basic premise is the same. CRM software records supporter data and tracks involvement with an organization. Nonprofits use the associated tools to organize data better, manage their supporter relationships more effectively, and practice more efficient and successful fundraising.

And whether you’re looking to purchase a CRM for the first time or you’re considering a system upgrade, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll walk you through key steps in the buying process, which include the following:

Assessing Your Nonprofit CRM Needs
Researching Donor Management Software Options
Factors to Consider in the CRM Selection Process
Making the Final Software Decision
Nonprofit CRM Implementation and Training
Maximizing Your New Nonprofit CRM | Smart Tips

Build better relationships and organize your outreach effectively using top-notch donor management tools. By the end of this guide, you’ll have what you need to make an informed decision about your nonprofit’s CRM.

Assessing Your Nonprofit CRM Needs

When it comes to choosing a CRM for your organization, it’s essential to consider your needs before diving into the selection process.

For smaller nonprofits, a CRM with all the bells and whistles may not be necessary at this stage. Not only can more complex software be increasingly costly, but it also requires a greater investment of time and effort to implement and maintain. Instead, focus on securing the basics⁠—such as comprehensive donor profiles and intuitive fundraising tools⁠—that allow you to better connect with your audience.

On the other hand, larger organizations may want to look for a solution that offers high levels of customizability. You likely have larger-scale technology needs as well as the development team to manage it.

In any case, scalability is another key factor. Your chosen CRM should have the capacity to grow with your organization as you continue to acquire supporters. Otherwise, you’ll be back shopping for a new solution sooner rather than later.

Thus, it’s important to strike a balance.

Additionally, it’s a good idea to identify the pain points in your current CRM or data management strategy⁠. This might include manual data entry, limited reporting capabilities, or difficulty in tracking donor interactions. Proactively assessing these challenges will help you seek out specific features and functionalities in the new software you choose.

Some CRMs even offer tools like membership, volunteer management, or event planning capabilities. However, as with most facets of CRM software, the features you’ll receive depend on the vendor you work with.

Take the time to evaluate your specific needs, prioritize key features, then scope out a vendor that provides the functionality you want. Remember: while CRM software can benefit any nonprofit, it’s best to find a solution that aligns with your organization’s unique goals and priorities.

Researching Donor Management Software Options

Once you know what you’re looking for, begin exploring potential vendors that might be a good fit for your team. CRM software is a significant investment, so it’s crucial to conduct thoughtful research before you sign the contract.

To hone your search, we recommend making a list of top possibilities. You can even make a pros and cons chart to help organize your thoughts!

From there, it’s crucial to consider reviews and case studies. It never hurts to get a second opinion⁠—especially if the opinion is from an organization that has used the software. Many vendors also provide on-demand demos or recorded walk-throughs of the software, which can be helpful at this stage in the process.

Ultimately, you’ll want to shortlist vendors whose services and features might fit your needs. Then, compare and contrast your list of prospective CRMs based on the criteria listed below.

Factors to Consider in the CRM Selection Process

A lot goes into making the right software decision for your nonprofit team. We recommend weighing these essential factors and determining the best fit.

Integrations

Gone are the days when nonprofits kept their software in separate “silos.” Now, CRMs are designed to provide a centralized location for data management. Consequently, integrations with your fundraising software⁠ should including…

Donation tools — Donation tool integrations allow a nonprofit CRM a direct connection to receive and track donations, streamlining the donation process, enhancing donor security and trust, and enabling organizations to monitor fundraising efforts with ease.
Peer-to-peer fundraising platforms — Similarly, donations made through peer-to-peer initiatives should flow seamlessly into your organization’s CRM as well. For the same reasons, this enables nonprofits to raise more through social fundraising while maintaining effective engagement reporting strategies.
Event software — Nonprofit events produce a ton of constituent data, and an event software integration enables efficient management and coordination of event-planning and hosting. This should include automatic tracking of registrations, ticketing, and attendance that can help inform future fundraising event efforts.
Marketing tools — Your CRM may contain some basic marketing and engagement functionality, but dedicated marketing software can significantly expand your horizons. When your donor database integrates with your marketing tools, it’ll be easy to trigger personalized and segmented messaging to each donor through a range of communication channels.
Volunteer management software — Integrating with a volunteer management software system (or VMS) allows nonprofits to efficiently track, organize, and communicate with volunteers. This tool typically invovles volunteer-specific functionality, like online scheduling tools and automated shift reminders, and an integration ensures that engagement information makes its way back to your primary database.
Matching gift technology — A matching gift CRM integration automates the identification and tailored follow-ups for matching gift opportunities within your database. This type of software partnership is vital for successful fundraising as it doubles the impact of individual donations, increases revenue without requiring additional donor contributions, and maximizes the organization’s fundraising potential overall. Managing matching gifts manually is a fairly time- and labor-intensive process, and organizations that lack a seamless automation option typically miss out on a ton of funding from the source. So you’ll definitely want to keep this type of integration in mind as you make your choice!

A powerful CRM should be able to seamlessly connect to the other tools you use and automatically pull data from these sources and more. But not all CRMs are easily integrable with all fundraising platforms, so be sure to check with your vendor during the buying process.

It’s also important to recognize that some integrations, while available, can take a significant amount of time and money to configure. All in all, the ease of integration depends on the software you’re trying to integrate. Keep an eye out for turnkey or native integrations that are ready-built and require little to no development work to set up. Alternatively, anything involving custom APIs is going to require a more technical and hands-on process to establish.

Functionality

While CRMs vary widely in the scope of their offerings, the following key features should be offered by any data management system you consider.

In-Depth Donor Profiles: Track everything from demographics to historical involvement—providing a holistic view of your supporters. The more information you have, the more relevant and engaging your communications will be.

Data Reporting: Generate various in-depth reports, including a comprehensive birds-eye view and robust individual reporting. Not to mention, configure custom reports to receive organization-specific insights.

Email Automation: Consider your ability to send automated email campaigns to the donors in your database. Plus, customize outreach to reflect a tailored engagement approach and a consistent nonprofit brand.

List Segmentation: Craft highly relevant, tailored messages with list segmentation capabilities. Organize and trigger outreach to specific groups based on various criteria such as demographics, giving history, employer, engagement level, and more.

Matching gift capabilities

Matching gifts are essentially the “Buy One, Get One Free” sale of the nonprofit world. An estimated $2 to $3 billion is donated to charitable organizations through matching gift programs each year, although an additional $4 to $7 billion in available matches remain unclaimed. Not to mention, the offer of a matching gift program can also lead to increased individual giving! In fact, 84% of donors say they’re more likely to give charitably if a match is offered, while 1 in 3 donors would give more if matching is applied to their donation.

Thus, this powerful funding source has the potential to elevate any organization’s fundraising and engagement efforts, and the right CRM system can make it easy to do so. All it takes is integrating your CRM with a matching gift tool like 360MatchPro.

Matching gift capabilities should be your #1 consideration when choosing a CRM. If you don’t want to miss out on this already underutilized revenue stream, be sure the donor management software you buy integrates with a matching gift platform! (Explore our recommended nonprofit CRM partners here.)

When enabled, incoming donation records will flow into 360MatchPro from your CRM. From there, the industry leading matching gift software will screen donors and filter by matching gift eligibility. The system will then trigger tailored outreach that encourages donors to submit their matches and secure additional funds for your cause.

This streamlines the processes involved with…

Promoting matching gift opportunities
Providing matching gift program guidelines and forms
Reminding donors to complete the process
Sharing customized and company-specific next step recommendations
Tracking matches every step of the way.

All in all, that means increased supporter engagement and increased funding with little to no extra work required of your staff! On the other hand, organizations that lack the tools and resources needed to power their matching gift fundraising efforts often leave significant amounts of funding on the table. But automation empowers organizations to increase their matching gift revenue by upwards of 61%!

With increased engagement, heightened funding, and efficient processes, integrating your donor management system with a matching gift tool opens up a world of possibilities for your nonprofit. The process of researching, buying, and onboarding a new CRM is enough work on its own⁠—you definitely want to make your efforts easier by working with a seamlessly integrable matching gift tool.

If you’re interested in connecting your CRM to the industry-leading matching gift software provider, request a demo to get in touch with a member of our team.

Cost

Unfortunately, it costs money to raise money, and fundraising software is no exception. Therefore, it’s important to set a clear budget⁠—and keep it in mind as you make your CRM selection.

Remember: the price listed on the vendor’s website usually doesn’t reflect the full investment. Donor management systems can have hidden costs, such as the number of profiles, payment processing fees, and training and support services.

User interface

A positive user interface (or UI) is critical because it directly impacts a CRM’s overall effectiveness. A well-designed UI enhances user satisfaction, improves productivity and efficiency, reduces the learning curve, and encourages widespread adoption within the organization.

Thus, you’ll want to look for a solution that offers a clean, well-organized layout with clear navigation and an intuitive design. Not to mention one that simplifies activities and automates repetitive processes to streamline workflows!

If you’re able to get a trial of the software before making a commitment, be sure to keep the user experience in mind as you explore the database.

Cloud-based vs. onsite

When it comes to the way you access your nonprofit CRM, there are two main types of systems⁠—cloud-based and onsite.

A cloud-based CRM software is accessed via the Internet through an online login portal. Staff members can typically use the software from any computer, tablet, or smartphone. Many cloud-based CRMs even have mobile apps! This is ideal for organizations that need to operate their software on the go (such as during events and donor meetings). And it also enables you to provide users with varying levels of permissions access.

Onsite CRM software, on the other hand, is installed directly on a computer at your nonprofit’s office. A more traditional solution, it can only be accessed from a single device at a set location. This type of software is generally used by larger organizations with ample resources to install and maintain the system. An onsite solution is also generally more secure than cloud-based software, and therefore must be used by certain nonprofits⁠—like healthcare organizations⁠—for data protection purposes.

Security and data privacy

A nonprofit CRM deals with a lot of sensitive donor information, and your supporters are trusting that you’re handling it as such. Thus, data privacy and security should play a pivotal role in the decision-making process.

After all, protecting donor information, maintaining compliance with data protection regulations, and safeguarding against potential security breaches are crucial responsibilities for any organization. Items to consider include data encryption and tokenization, multi-factor authentication, PCI-compliance, customizable permissions settings, and more.

Making the Final Software Decision

Once you’ve conducted thorough research and narrowed your options for a new CRM, it’s time to make your final choice. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth and successful decision-making process:

1. Contact vendors to take the next step. Reach out to the CRM vendors you’re still considering. Work with the company to evaluate your specific needs and determine if their software aligns with your requirements. From there, the vendor will be able to provide further information and guidance.

2. Request a demo to see the software in action. Witness the CRM’s features firsthand and address any questions or concerns you may have. A live demo allows you to visualize how the software functions and assess whether it meets your nonprofit’s needs effectively.

3. Take advantage of free trials. Many CRM vendors offer free trials of their software. Seize this opportunity to get hands-on experience with the software. Testing it within your organization will give you a real sense of its usability and help determine if it’s the right fit.

4. Confirm matching gift integration availability. Take this time to ensure the new donor management system you’re considering can seamlessly integrate with your matching gift tool. Or, if your team isn’t already equipped with a matching gift platform in your software toolkit, double-check the CRM’s matching gift functionality to confirm that you’ll be able to get your gifts matched with ease.

5. Seek input from key stakeholders. Since CRM software will likely impact various staff members’ roles, it is crucial to involve them in the decision-making process. Gather input from your whole team to understand their expectations and the benefits they hope to gain from the platform—including integrations. By aligning everyone’s needs and goals, the implementation and training processes will run more smoothly, too.

6. Sign the contract! Once you’ve found the perfect CRM that meets your nonprofit’s needs and aligns with your budget, you’re ready to finalize the decision. Review the contract thoroughly, ensuring that all terms and conditions are clear and satisfactory. Once you’re confident with your choice, sign the contract and get started with the software.

Nonprofit CRM Implementation and Training

Ensuring proper training and onboarding for your staff is a crucial step in successful CRM implementation. To maximize the potential of your new database, be sure to invest in comprehensive training for all users.

From the start, it’s important to establish and maintain standardized data procedures. For example, you may find that certain information, such as email addresses and online giving transactions, are automatically logged into your CRM system. However, other data, like phone calls and face-to-face meetings, might need to be entered manually.

Setting guidelines for data sources and minimizing task overlap can help ensure that the data entered into the CRM is accurate and consistent. By providing clear instructions on how to input data and manage records, you can avoid duplication, errors, and inconsistencies that may hinder the effectiveness of your donor database.

You’ll also need to set up integrations between your CRM and any other software systems you use. These connections can streamline data exchange and automate processes, but they typically require independent setup. And depending on the ease of integration, you may need to consult an outside expert to do so.

(Double the Donation has an excellent support team that can assist in getting 360MatchPro connected to your new CRM! Contact us here to learn more.)

Ultimately, a smooth transition from your existing systems to the chosen CRM is essential to minimize disruptions and ensure data integrity. Though you can surely expect a learning curve as you adopt the new system, proper training and onboarding can go a long way⁠—setting your team up for significant returns on your software investment.

Maximizing Your New Nonprofit CRM | Smart Tips

Once you’re up and running with your donor management software, use these tips to elevate your engagement efforts. With a powerful CRM at your fingertips, you’ll be well-equipped to maximize your nonprofit’s impact and forge stronger connections with supporters.

Take your fundraising and outreach strategies to the next level by incorporating the following recommended practices.

1. Collect as much supporter information as possible.

The more you know about your donors, the better you can connect with them and the more you can grow your relationship beyond the surface level. Therefore, it helps to use your nonprofit CRM to collect and store a wealth of information about each individual engaged with your organization.

This might include⁠—but is certainly not limited to:

Name (full and preferred)
Contact information (address, phone number, email, social media)
Birthdate
Giving history (donation amounts, frequency, date of last donation)
Preferred communication channel (email, phone, mail)
Engagement level (donating, volunteering, fundraising, attending events)
Preferred giving methods (online, check, stock donation)
Employer information (company name, position, workplace giving eligibility)
Relationship status (single, married, family)
Demographic information (gender, age, ethnicity)
Preferred acknowledgment method (private gratitude, public recognition)
Communication preferences (frequency of contact, content preferences)
Source of donation (event, campaign, online, direct mail)

Once you have this information⁠—or as much of it as you can for each donor⁠—you can use your CRM to segment supporter outreach accordingly. Even something as simple as addressing the individual by name in your next marketing campaign can go a long way. In fact, studies reported that including the recipient’s name in an email subject line significantly drove up open and click rates while reducing unsubscribes!

2. Use your CRM to drive more matching gifts to completion.

Speaking of donor data, one of the most essential pieces of information in your database involves knowing where your supporters work. Not only can this detail help uncover prospective corporate partners with which you already have a contact in common, but it can also empower your team with company-specific workplace giving insights.

For example, when you collect employment information in your nonprofit CRM, you can then screen for donors who work for companies that match team members’ charitable gifts. This allows donors to stretch their dollars even farther for your cause, ultimately producing greater fundraising impact and strengthening relationships overall.

In order to streamline the processes involved with identifying, researching, and following up with each opportunity, connecting your donor management system with an integrable matching gift software is a must.

3. Maintain a clean and organized donor database.

Maintaining a clean, healthy, and organized nonprofit CRM is essential to make the most out of your new system. Here are some key strategies that can help a nonprofit achieve this goal:

Regularly conduct data hygiene practices, eliminating duplicate records and outdated information when possible.
Establish clear data entry and management procedures to ensure consistency and accuracy. Standardization is key!
Encourage staff members to review and update CRM records regularly.
Provide ongoing training and support to keep staff members updated with software features and best practices.

By following these steps, your nonprofit can ensure that the CRM remains a valuable tool, powering smart data management and driving operational efficiency for years to come.

4. Track and analyze fundraising KPIs using CRM reporting capabilities.

Tracking and analyzing fundraising KPIs⁠—or key performance indicators⁠—using CRM reporting capabilities is vital for nonprofits looking to continuously improve their efforts.

To begin, identify relevant KPIs aligned with your organization’s specific goals. This might include:

Total donations
Average gift size
Donor retention rate
Donor acquisition cost
Campaign conversion rate
Matching gift participation

From there, analyze the reports for trends and areas of improvement, comparing KPIs over time or across campaigns. Use the findings to make data-driven decisions, adjust strategies, and track progress toward objectives.

(Hint: Many CRMs offer robust visual reporting tools which can be particularly useful for communicating fundraising impact with ease.)

5. Keep an eye out for continuously developing features and improvements.

Technology is constantly evolving, and your nonprofit CRM is likely no different. Thus, you’ll want to be on the lookout for any new features and functionalities your provider may begin to offer. This will allow you to leverage the latest tools to enhance your nonprofit’s operations and overall effectiveness.

Whether it’s improved automation capabilities, advanced analytics, enhanced integration options, or cutting-edge AI functionality, embracing new CRM features empowers your nonprofit to stay competitive, streamline processes, and remain at the forefront of the ever-changing nonprofit landscape.

Wrapping Up + Final Thoughts

Nonprofit CRM software is crucial for organizations aiming to optimize their fundraising efforts and build strong relationships with donors. By walking through each of the steps in the buying process above, your team should have everything you need to weigh the key features, benefits, and considerations of a donor management system.

Remember: the right CRM will empower your organization to streamline operations, personalize donor interactions, and drive long-term fundraising success. It’s an investment that goes a long way.

Keep learning and building out your nonprofit tech stack. Check out other types of fundraising tools an organization may need:

The Expert’s Guide to Buying Fundraising Software. This guide is designed for nonprofit teams looking to purchase just about any fundraising software. Uncover expert insights, tips, and best practices to consider during the software selection process.
Top Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Software (What to Look For). Explore key features and functionalities to consider when choosing a social fundraising platform. Use this guide to make informed decisions to maximize your peer-to-peer efforts.
The Ultimate Fundraising Event Software Buyer’s Guide. Take a deep dive into nonprofit event software. Identify the right solution that aligns with your event goals, enhances the attendee experience, and optimizes event potential.
Database of Matching Gift and Volunteer Grant Companies. A matching gift database is a valuable tool for organizations looking to increase their corporate fundraising efforts. Use this resource to amplify impact through employer giving programs.

Matching Gifts and Relief & Development Nonprofits

July 27, 2023/in Learning Center, Marketing Strategies, Matching Gift Companies, Fundraising Ideas, Learning Center /by Adam Weinger

In today’s nonprofit world, the collaboration between individual giving and corporate philanthropy has become more essential than ever. Charitable organizations working tirelessly to provide relief and development services often rely on the generosity of both groups to fund their vital initiatives. And that’s how matching gifts and relief and development nonprofits go hand in hand.

In this guide, we’ll explore matching gifts and their role in bringing mission-focused organizations like yours to new heights. This includes:

The Basics: Matching Gifts and Relief & Development Orgs
Companies That Match to Relief & Development Causes
Making the Most of Matching Gifts for Your Relief Group: Top Tips
Sample Matching Gift Messaging for Relief and Development Nonprofits

Corporate matching gifts offer a win-win opportunity for nonprofit causes—including those in the relief and development sector. Growing your knowledge of these powerful initiatives can set you and your team up for long-term, ongoing success.

Let’s get started!

The Basics: Matching Gifts and Relief & Development Orgs

Before jumping into the specific tools and strategies that can aid your relief and development organization in maximizing matching gifts, it helps to build a solid understanding of the opportunity at hand.

By definition, matching gifts are a specific form of corporate philanthropy in which participating companies match donations their employees make to qualifying nonprofit causes.

Corporate matching gift opportunities offer widespread benefits to the participating parties. These include…

The recipient organization, which ultimately receives two gifts for the cost of soliciting one. Not to mention, the nonprofit can benefit from increased donor engagement and strengthened individual relationships.
The initial donor, who gets to see their charitable contribution stretch twice (or even three times!) as far for a nonprofit cause they care about.
The contributing company, as it’s positively impacted by elevated employee engagement, improved brand reputation for its social responsibility, significant tax benefits, and more.

From a nonprofit perspective, the opportunity is too big to overlook. Still, matching gifts are left on the table each year—to the tune of $4 to $7 billion in unclaimed match revenue.

In order to position your organization for matching gift success, it helps to familiarize yourself with some of the most popular matching gift programs and their eligibility criteria.

Companies That Match to Relief & Development Causes

Many companies provide employees with the opportunity to double their support for the nonprofits they care about. Here are a few businesses with standout program offerings in the relief and development sector!

Johnson & Johnson

As a leading provider of matching gift funds, Johnson & Johnson is committed to supporting relief and development through its generous employee matching gift program and other philanthropic initiatives.

Employees who donate to eligible organizations can have their contributions matched by the company, enabling individuals to amplify their giving. Ultimately, it incentivizes team members and corporate leaders to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those served by relief organizations and beyond.

And here’s an overview of the company’s matching gift guidelines:

Minimum donation — $25
Maximum donation — $20,000
Match ratio — 2:1
Qualifying employees — Full-time, part-time, retired
Qualifying nonprofits — Relief and development organizations and nearly all other 501(c)(3) causes

Explore Johnson & Johnson’s matching gift program here.

Edgewell Personal Care

Encompassing some of the most prominent grooming, skin, sun, and feminine care brands, Edgewell Personal Care recognizes the importance of supporting widespread nonprofit causes. Thus, Edgewell employees have the opportunity to double their donations to eligible relief and development organizations⁠—along with other nonprofit missions.

This empowers qualifying employees to contribute to positive change and aid in disaster recovery, community development, and more. And here’s an overview of the matching program:

Minimum donation — $25
Maximum donation — $5,000
Match ratio — 1:1
Qualifying employees — Full-time, part-time employees
Qualifying nonprofits — Relief and development organizations and many others

Explore Edgewell Personal Care’s matching gift program here.

3M Company

At 3M, employees are encouraged to make a greater impact through personal donations by participating in the company’s matching gift program. When individuals donate to eligible nonprofits⁠—like relief and development organizations⁠—3M Company matches at a dollar-for-dollar rate, effectively doubling the support provided.

This program aids in multiplying the reach of relief and development efforts to help communities grow and thrive. Take a look at the program overview below:

Minimum donation — $25
Maximum donation — $1,000
Match ratio — 1:1
Qualifying employees — Full-time, part-time, retired
Qualifying nonprofits — Relief and development organizations, educational institutions, and most other nonprofits

Explore 3M Company’s matching gift program here.

Intel Corporation

Intel Corporation aims to make a global difference in relief and development initiatives, and one way it’s doing so is through a generous matching gift program. This effort encourages Intel employees to increase the impact of their donations to eligible organizations, supporting critical relief efforts, contributing to sustainable development projects, and improving the lives of communities around the world.

Here’s an overview of the matching gift program guidelines:

Minimum donation — $10
Maximum donation — $5,000
Match ratio — 1:1
Qualifying employees — Full-time, part-time, retired
Qualifying nonprofits — Relief and development organizations, educational institutions, and many other nonprofits

Explore Intel Corporation’s matching gift program here.

JPMorgan Chase

JPMorgan Chase recognizes the importance of supporting relief organizations in their mission to foster sustainable development. Through its employee matching gift program, the company encourages employees to multiply the impact of their own donations to qualifying causes, thus demonstrating an ongoing commitment to supporting global communities.

And here’s an overview of the matching gift program:

Minimum donation — $10
Maximum donation — $1,000
Match ratio — 1:1
Qualifying employees — Full-time, part-time
Qualifying nonprofits — Relief and development organizations, health and human services, arts and cultural groups, civic and community organizations, and environmental nonprofits

Explore JPMorgan Chase’s matching gift program here.

Making the Most of Matching Gifts for Your Relief Group: Top Tips

At Double the Donation, we’ve worked with many relief and development organizations to aid in elevating their corporate matching gift fundraising. Here, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite tried-and-true tips to help your team unlock the full potential of matching gifts.

1. Utilize matching gifts to reach critical relief goals quickly.

When it comes to generating revenue for organizations that provide immediate assistance during and after natural disasters (such as food, water, shelter, and medical), it’s important to remember that great needs can arise very quickly. Luckily, matching gifts can play a key role in fundraising for these needs more effectively and efficiently than ever before.

After all, the offer of a corporate match does more than provide a free “bonus” donation⁠—which is a significant win in and of itself. It can also produce substantially heightened fundraising response rates and result in larger average gift amounts even before the match comes through.

2. Focus on doubling relief and development impact.

By participating in matching gift programs, eligible donors can contribute in even greater amounts to critical relief efforts, support sustainable development initiatives at new levels, and make an increasingly positive change in the lives of individuals and communities worldwide. Thus, it’s a good idea to communicate the amplified impact that matching gifts make possible in order to encourage your audience to participate.

For the greatest results, position the opportunity in terms of elevated tangible impact. For example, you might say something like this: “Double your contribution to support TWICE as many children in need,” or “Your donation plus a corporate match will enable our team to provide two kits of medical supplies for the cost of one.”

When you communicate the greater potential of each gift with an associated match, donors are more likely to get involved!

3. Automate the process so no matches are left unclaimed.

Our #1 tip for any organization has to do with streamlining matching gift operations with dedicated automation technology. Doing so allows nonprofit fundraisers to benefit from…

Better donor experiences (with guided assistance through the process);
More matches driven completion, ultimately producing additional matching gift funds for your cause;
Additional time not spent manually following up on matches that can be reallocated to other mission-critical activities.

Thus, automating matching gifts will be a game-changer for your relief organization. For example, Double the Donation’s industry-leading solution will identify more match-eligible gifts, integrate matching gifts directly into the giving process, trigger personalized follow-ups with company-specific guidelines and next steps, and track and report on matching gifts from start to finish.

See how it works in the video below:

Sample Matching Gift Messaging for Relief and Development Nonprofits

One of the best things you can do to drive matching gifts is to integrate matching gift promotions into your existing fundraising and marketing strategies. Check out these customizable templates to get started in your efforts!

Matching Gift Email Template:

Subject: Double Your Impact in Support of Relief and Development!

Dear [DONOR],

Your generous support has always made a significant difference in our relief and development efforts. Now, we have an exciting opportunity to make an even greater impact together.

Did you know that [COMPANY] has a matching gift program for employees like you? By simply submitting a matching gift request, you can double the impact of your donation to our organization. It’s an incredible way to amplify your support and help us provide vital relief, foster sustainable development, and transform lives.

Take a moment to check if your employer participates in a matching gift program and join us in this meaningful endeavor. Together, we can bring hope, resilience, and lasting change to communities in need.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our cause!

Sincerely,

[NAME]

[NONPROFIT]

Matching Gift Social Media Post Template:

Did you know that your donation to [NONPROFIT] can go twice as far? Many companies, like [COMPANY], [COMPANY], [COMPANY], and [COMPANY], offer matching gift programs to support nonprofits like ours. Take a moment to find out if your employer matches donations and maximize the impact of your support⁠—click the link to search the database tool on our website and learn more [URL].

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those in need! #MatchingGifts #DoubleYourImpact #ReliefAndDevelopment

Matching Gift Text Message Template:

Hey [DONOR]! Did you know your employer might match your donation to [NONPROFIT]? Double the impact of your support and make an even greater difference in our relief and development efforts.

Click here to search for your employer, [URL], or get in touch with your HR department about their matching gift program today!

Matching Gift Web Page Template:

Multiply Your Impact for [NONPROFIT] with Matching Gifts

Double Your Donation, Double the Difference

Many companies have matching gift programs to support relief and development organizations like ours. By taking advantage of your employer’s matching gift program, you can double the impact of your donation and help us bring hope, support, and sustainable development to those in need. Check if your employer participates in a matching gift program and learn how to double your donation today.

[EMBEDDED COMPANY SEARCH TOOL]

Matching Gift Direct Mail Template:

Dear [DONOR],

Your support has been instrumental in our relief and development initiatives, and we want to share an exciting opportunity with you. Did you know that your employer may offer a matching gift program? By taking advantage of this program, your generous donation to [NONPROFIT] could be matched, effectively doubling the impact of your support.

We encourage you to reach out to your employer’s HR department to inquire about their matching gift program or visit the “Matching Gifts” tab on our website to learn more.

As always, your action makes a world of difference and helps us provide vital assistance to those in need.

Warm regards,

[NAME]

[NONPROFIT]

Final Thoughts

Matching gifts have the remarkable ability to transform nonprofit fundraising. By making the most of individual donor gifts and their associated corporate matches, relief and development organizations like yours can increase funding, expand programming, and maximize benefits for more individuals in need. And equipping your fundraising team with the right knowledge and tools can go a long way toward achieving optimal matching gift success.

Best of luck!

Keep learning⁠—check out these additional resources to dive deeper into matching gift strategies for organizations like yours:

Overcoming Matching Gift Roadblocks [Helpful Solutions.] Uncover valuable insights to overcome common challenges facing matching gift programs. These practical solutions help streamline the process from start to finish.
Marketing Matching Gifts | A Guide for Avid Fundraisers. Equip your team with effective marketing techniques to promote matching gifts. Learn how to raise awareness, engage donors, and drive participation in the programs.
Top 24 Matching Gift Companies: Leaders in Philanthropy. Explore the industry’s leading companies known for their commitment to corporate philanthropy. Learn more about each business’s programs and support.

Matching Gifts for Homeless Shelters & Missions | A Guide

July 27, 2023/in Learning Center, Marketing Strategies, Matching Gift Companies, Fundraising Ideas, Learning Center /by Adam Weinger

As homelessness remains a persistent issue across the globe, the organizations that provide shelter and assistance to those in need are essential to our society. And in order to generate much-needed financial support for homeless shelters and nonprofit missions, impactful fundraising initiatives often come into play. Our favorite strategy for doing so is built around corporate matching gifts for homeless shelters and missions.

In this guide, we’ll provide an overview of corporate matching gift programs and share how these opportunities empower organizations to stretch their impact even further. Ultimately, it allows nonprofits like yours to maximize available resources that benefit widespread homeless communities⁠. In turn, those communities, as well as those supporting them, are also positively impacted.

It’s a win-win-win⁠—and an opportunity that your team should know more about. Dive in to explore the following topics:

What to Know About Matching Gifts for Homeless Shelters & Missions
Companies That Match Donations to Homeless Shelters
Top Tips to Maximize Matching Gifts for Your Shelter or Mission
6 Matching Gift Templates for Missions and Homeless Shelters

A successful matching gift strategy produces more funds through both individual and corporate giving. This sets up nonprofit missions and shelters to do more to support the needs and lives of those experiencing homelessness.

It’s not an opportunity that you want to overlook.

What to Know About Matching Gifts for Homeless Shelters & Missions

Matching gifts can be a game-changer for organizations aiming to make the most of their fundraising efforts. Understanding the ins and outs of the programs is essential for maximizing their impact.

Here, we’ll cover the basics:

Corporate matching gifts are offered by companies to support their employees’ charitable contributions. When an employee donates to a qualifying nonprofit, the company matches the donation, typically at a dollar-for-dollar rate. These programs are designed to encourage philanthropy among employees and provide individuals with an active role in the company’s giving.

Each company establishes its own guidelines and requirements for matching gifts. While the guidelines vary from one employer to another, it helps to become familiar with common criteria⁠. For example, most companies determine minimum and maximum donation thresholds, match ratios, qualifying employees and nonprofit causes, and more.

Organizations interested in increasing revenue through matching gifts should proactively educate their donors. Though more than 26 million individuals qualify for corporate matching programs, an estimated 78% of the group has no idea their company participates. Thus, utilizing your website, emails, social media, and more to inform individuals about the potential to double their impact through matching gift programs can go a long way in driving submissions.

Donors love having the opportunity to get their gifts matched. In fact, studies indicate that the offer of matching gifts can even result in more donors giving⁠ (71% increase in response rate)—and giving in larger amounts⁠ (51% increase in average donation)—in the first place.

The matching gift process can be streamlined with automation. Managing matching gift programs can involve administrative tasks such as screening for potential matches, following up with qualifying donors, and tracking matching gift requests. Matching gift technology can significantly reduce the administrative workload, empowering your team to focus on mission-critical tasks.

Companies That Match Donations to Homeless Shelters

Matching gift programs can greatly benefit nonprofit homeless shelters like yours, providing them with additional funding to support their work. While there are far too many companies with mission-inclusive matching initiatives, take a look at a few exemplary companies with a focus on supporting nonprofit homeless shelters below.

The Home Depot

Home Depot aims to support its employees’ philanthropic endeavors and make an impact on the communities in which it operates. With its corporate matching gift program, the company is able to do so!

Through this initiative, Home Depot employees have the opportunity to double their donations to eligible nonprofit organizations, including homeless shelters and missions, with a company match. This empowers employees to effectively double the impact of their own contributions, making a greater difference in supporting those in need.

Here’s a summary of the program offered:

Minimum donation ⁠— None
Maximum donation ⁠— $3,000
Match ratio ⁠— 1:1
Qualifying employees ⁠— Full-time, part-time
Qualifying nonprofits ⁠— Health and human services, civic and community organizations, educational institutions, arts and cultural organizations, environmental nonprofits, and more

Dive deeper into Home Depot’s matching gift program.

Starbucks

Similarly, Starbucks makes a point to financially back the nonprofit causes its employees⁠—or partners⁠—support. This produces a positive impact in the communities the company serves, including a focus on organizations that address homelessness and those affected by it.

Through the Starbucks Giving Match Program, employees have the opportunity to stretch their own dollars further, thus maximizing their donation impact.

Here’s a summary of the program offered:

Minimum donation ⁠— $25
Maximum donation ⁠— $1,000
Match ratio ⁠— 1:1
Qualifying employees ⁠— Full-time, part-time
Qualifying nonprofits ⁠— Nearly all, including health and human services, civic and community organizations, educational institutions, arts and cultural organizations, and environmental nonprofits

Dive deeper into Starbucks’s matching gift program.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

At Kimberly-Clark, employees’ charitable giving is valued and supported through a generous matching gift program. Qualifying employees are encouraged to donate to eligible nonprofit organizations⁠, with the company matching gifts for homeless shelters and other social good causes.

Kimberly-Clark also boasts a particularly high matching gift cap, encouraging high-level donors to get their gifts matched as well. (Not to mention, companies with lofty maximums tend to see heightened average participation rates of over 40%!)

Here’s a summary of the program offered:

Minimum donation ⁠— $50
Maximum donation ⁠— $10,000
Match ratio ⁠— 1:1
Qualifying employees ⁠— Full-time
Qualifying nonprofits ⁠— Health and human services, civic and community organizations, educational institutions, arts and cultural organizations, environmental nonprofits, and most others

Dive deeper into Kimberly-Clark Corporation’s matching gift program.

Colgate-Palmolive Company

Colgate-Palmolive Company recognizes the importance of supporting charitable organizations, including those focused on homelessness and shelter services. Thus, through its matching gift program, employees are encouraged to support such causes. From there, the company matches employee gifts to stretch their value even further for the nonprofits they support.

Here’s a summary of the program offered:

Minimum donation ⁠— $25
Maximum donation ⁠— $8,000
Match ratio ⁠— 1:1
Qualifying employees ⁠— Full-time, part-time
Qualifying nonprofits ⁠— Health and human services, civic and community organizations, educational institutions, arts and cultural organizations, environmental nonprofits, and select others

Dive deeper into Colgate-Palmolive Company’s matching gift program.

Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Inc. values corporate social responsibility and provides a matching gift program as a key component of its dedication to supporting its employees’ charitable giving. Again, this company presents a generous donation maximum on an annual rolling basis⁠—and full-time, part-time, and retired employees are all encouraged to participate.

Here’s a summary of the program offered:

Minimum donation ⁠— $25
Maximum donation ⁠— $10,000
Match ratio ⁠— 1:1
Qualifying employees ⁠— Full-time, part-time, retired
Qualifying nonprofits ⁠— Health and human services, civic and community organizations, educational institutions, arts and cultural organizations, environmental nonprofits, and most others

Dive deeper into Caterpillar Inc.’s matching gift program.

Top Tips to Maximize Matching Gifts for Your Shelter or Mission

By effectively leveraging matching gift programs, shelters can enhance their ability to address homelessness and create positive change in their communities. Implementing the following practices in your strategy can help!

1. Use multiple screening methods to identify match-eligible donors.

The more you know about your donors⁠—and particularly the companies they work for⁠—the better you’ll be able to uncover matching gifts. If you already have donor employment data on hand, use the information to identify employers that match donations to shelters like yours.

And if you don’t know where a supporter works, we recommend employing multiple methods for collecting and screening this information. This might include a combination of…

Donation forms requesting employment data
Dedicated matching gift software
Email domain screening
Post-donation follow-up outreach
Employer appends services

By using multiple methods, organizations can ensure they capture all potential matching gift opportunities and increase their chances of securing additional funding. In fact, studies indicate that taking more than one approach to identifying match-eligible donors results in 77% more identified match-eligible donations.

2. Don’t discount companies that typically exclude religious organizations.

If your shelter is associated with a religious institution, as many are, keep this in mind: you don’t necessarily need to discount companies with restrictions on matching gifts to religious causes. While some companies won’t match gifts to houses of worship, many still have policies open to supporting missions serving a secular purpose—like homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and more.

Thus, it’s crucial to thoroughly research (and perhaps reach out to) these companies to determine eligibility. And when you do so, be sure to provide a clear understanding of your shelter’s mission and the impact their matching gift could have on your community. Some decisions are made on a one-off basis, so it helps to put your best foot forward in positioning your cause as a worthy match recipient.

3. Consider volunteer grant programs (Dollars for Doers) as well.

In addition to traditional matching gift programs, where a company offers a financial match for an employee’s monetary support, many businesses also offer volunteer grants. Sometimes referred to as Dollars for Doers programs, these grants provide nonprofit organizations with grants based on an employee’s donation of their time. And if your shelter has a solid volunteer base, corporate volunteer grants can go a long way to amplify the value provided by existing support!

Just be sure to inform your volunteer base⁠—as well as your nonprofit audience as a whole⁠—about the potential for corporate grants. Like matching gifts, many qualifying volunteers likely have no idea that their employer will match their time devoted to nonprofits like yours. Leveraging the opportunity can not only produce additional funding but also result in increased volunteer and community engagement.

4. Leverage constituent stories to communicate matching gift impact.

Constituent stories have a powerful impact when connecting with donors and illustrating the mission of a nonprofit homeless shelter. Thus, when communicating the value and importance of matching gifts, consider incorporating personal stories from individuals who have directly benefited from your services.

To get started, take a look at the total funds you’ve received from corporate matching in the past. If your organization has collected $5,000 in donation matches, translate that revenue sum into tangible outcomes and success stories. You might even say something like this: “Matching gifts have produced over $[TOTAL] in value for [ORGANIZATION]. Thanks to this funding made available by matching gift donors going above and beyond for our cause, we’ve been able to serve more people like [SAMPLE CONSTITUENT].”

The more your supporters can understand the impact of corporate matching gifts, the more likely they’ll be to take the steps required to solicit a match from their employer! And it always helps to put a face to your fundraising efforts when possible.

5. Invest in matching gift software to automate your efforts.

Matching gifts offer an excellent opportunity to maximize corporate giving revenue, but pursuing the funding source can be time-consuming on your own. That’s why we recommend organizations employ matching gift software⁠—like 360MatchPro⁠—to automate the process from start to finish.

A matching gift automation platform streamlines the experience for both nonprofits (such as your shelter or mission) and their donors, driving more matching gifts to completion than ever before. With groundbreaking features that include multiple forms of matching gift identification, automated post-donation follow-up messaging for donors, and match tracking through the disbursement process, your team is able to optimize its matching gift fundraising without the added effort.

6 Matching Gift Templates for Missions and Homeless Shelters

Bring your matching gift marketing efforts to the next level and get a headstart on your strategy. Take advantage of these free, customizable templates to begin incorporating corporate matching in your donor outreach.

1. Fundraising Appeal Template

[DONOR],

As we navigate the challenges of providing shelter and support to those experiencing homelessness in our community, we wanted to reach out and share an exciting opportunity to maximize the impact of your generosity.

Did you know that many companies offer matching gift programs to their employees? This means that when you make a donation to our homeless shelter, your employer may be willing to match it, effectively doubling the impact of your gift. It’s like giving twice the help to those in need!

By taking advantage of your employer’s matching gift program, you can significantly increase your contribution and provide even more critical resources to individuals and families seeking refuge and stability. This allows us to extend our reach and support more individuals in their journey toward permanent housing and self-sufficiency.

Here’s how you can make an even greater difference:

Make a donation: Your contribution, no matter the size, directly supports our efforts to provide a safe haven, nutritious meals, and essential services to individuals experiencing homelessness.

Check if your employer matches gifts: Visit our matching gift page to inquire about your matching gift eligibility using our company search tool here: [URL].

Submit a matching gift request: If your employer offers a match, simply follow the instructions provided by your company to submit a matching gift request. It’s a simple process that can significantly amplify your impact!

Spread the word: Encourage your colleagues, friends, and family members to join you in supporting our mission.

Thank you again for your generosity and dedication to our cause. It makes a lasting difference in the lives of those we serve. By doubling the impact of your donation through matching gifts, we can work towards a future where homelessness is no longer a reality for anyone.

Best regards,

[NONPROFIT]

2. Email Matching Gift Marketing Template

Subject: Double your impact…your donation can make twice the difference for homeless individuals!

Dear [DONOR],

Thank you for your continued support in helping us provide shelter and care for homeless individuals in our community. Did you know that your donation can have an even greater impact? Many companies offer matching gift programs that can double or even triple the value of your contribution.

By taking a few minutes to check if your employer offers a matching gift program, you can amplify the impact of your support. Imagine this: your generous donation could help provide access to a warm bed for two people in need.

To find out if your company participates in a matching gift program, please visit our matching gifts page here: [URL] or reach out to your HR department to learn more.

Thank you again for your kindness and generosity. Together, we can make an even greater difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness.

Sincerely,

[NAME]

[NONPROFIT]

3. Text Message Matching Gift Marketing Template

[DONOR] ⁠— Did you know your donation to [NONPROFIT] can go even further for our cause? Many companies offer matching gift programs that can double your impact. Check to see if your employer matches gifts by searching here: [URL].

Together, we can make a greater difference for homeless individuals in our community.

4. Social Media Matching Gift Post Template

Your support matters⁠—now more than ever! Did you know that your donation to [NONPROFIT] may be matched by your employer? Take a moment to find out if your company offers a matching gift program and make an even greater impact on the lives of those experiencing homelessness in our communities. #MatchingGifts #DoubleImpact

5. Matching Gift Web Page Template:

Text: Get Your Donation Doubled! Check if your employer matches gifts and amplifies your impact on our shelters.

Make your donation go further with matching gifts.

Your contribution to [NONPROFIT] can have an even greater impact when you participate in a corporate matching gifts program! Many companies offer matching gifts that double or triple the value of your donation.

By making the most of these programs, you can provide essential support to our shelters as we serve the community with your help. Check if your employer offers a matching gift program today and multiply the difference you make. Together, we can help end homelessness once and for all.

6. Direct Mail Matching Gift Marketing Template

Dear [DONOR],

Your generosity has made a significant impact on the lives of homeless individuals in our community. We want to share an exciting opportunity with you that will allow your support to go even further.

Many companies offer matching gift programs, which means your donation could be matched dollar for dollar by your employer. Matching gifts for homeless shelters like ours means that for every dollar you give, two dollars can go towards providing shelter, meals, and vital support for those in need.

Please take a moment to reach out to your HR department or check if your employer participates on our matching gifts page. The simple act of submitting a match request could make an immense difference in the lives of homeless individuals in your community.

Thank you for your continued compassion and support.

Sincerely,

[NAME]

[NONPROFIT]

Final Thoughts

By integrating matching gifts into your team’s overall fundraising, you have the chance to multiply the impact of each dollar you raise. Matching gifts for homeless shelters and other missions sets the organizations up to better provide vital resources and support to those who need it most.

Remember, the fight against homelessness is a collective effort. Your shelter should do what you can to partner with individual and corporate donors to make the largest impact possible. By leveraging matching gifts, spreading awareness about the opportunity, and encouraging supporters to participate, your organization can significantly enhance its operations thanks to access to new and growing funding streams.

Interested in learning more about matching gift fundraising strategies? Check out these additional recommended resources:

Top Matching Gift Practices | Actionable Insights & Examples. Discover best practices to maximize matching gifts for your organization. Learn from real-world examples of smart nonprofits like yours.
8 Ways to Encourage Donors to Submit Employee Matching Gift Requests. Unlock fundraising potential by encouraging matching gifts. Use these strategies to help drive donors to completion.
215+ Amazing Fundraising Ideas for Your Organization. Matching gifts pair well with other fundraisers, too. Explore some of our favorite ideas to help your organization meet its fundraising goals.

Matching Gifts and Environmental Nonprofits | What to Know

July 14, 2023/in Learning Center, Marketing Strategies, Matching Gift Companies, Fundraising Ideas, Learning Center /by Adam Weinger

In today’s world, where environmental challenges are at the forefront of global concerns, nonprofits dedicated to protecting and preserving our planet play a crucial role. These organizations rely heavily on the generosity of individuals and corporations to fund their initiatives and ultimately make a positive impact on the world around us. One effective way for supporters to maximize their contributions to such causes is through corporate donation matching⁠. And luckily, matching gifts and environmental nonprofits go hand in hand.

In this guide, we’ll explore all things matching gifts and how environmental nonprofits like yours can maximize their benefit. This includes:

The Basics of Matching Gifts and Environmental Organizations
Companies That Match Donations to Environmental Groups
Growing Matching Gifts with a Sustainable Strategy | Key Tips
5 Free Templates to Encourage Matching Gift Participation

Without further ado, let’s dive in and discover what you need to know about matching gifts and their significance for environmental causes.

The Basics of Matching Gifts and Environmental Organizations

Matching gifts offer a valuable opportunity for individuals to increase their charitable giving⁠ impact—and for nonprofits to maximize their fundraising. When an employee donates to an eligible organization, the company contributes an equal (or sometimes greater!) ratio of funds.

In order for a donation to be matched, the process typically follows a few critical steps:

Employee donation: An employee supports a nonprofit through a financial contribution.
Qualification: The employee determines if their employer offers a matching gifts program and whether their recent donation qualifies. (Gifts to environmental causes typically do!)
Submission: The employee completes the necessary online forms or paperwork to request a match.
Review and approval: The company reviews the employee’s matching gift request and confirms the nonprofit and donation eligibility.
Disbursement: Once the employer approves the request, they allocate the matching funds to the organization.

The benefits of corporate matching gifts are significant and far-reaching for environmental nonprofits of all shapes and sizes. Check out these impressive statistics that highlight the opportunity at hand:

65% of Fortune 500 companies match gifts, along with thousands of smaller and mid-sized businesses.
$2 – $3 billion is donated through matching gift programs each year, while an additional $4 – $7 billion goes unclaimed.
Over 26 million individuals work for companies with matching gift programs. (However, 78% of this group is unaware of their employers’ initiatives.)
84% of donors are more likely to give, while 1 in 3 would give more if a match is applied.
An awareness of matching gifts produces a 71% increase in response rate and a 51% increase in average gift amount.

All in all, employee matching gifts positively impact your organization, its donors, corporate partners, and beyond. In other words, it establishes quite a mutually beneficial relationship!

Companies That Match Donations to Environmental Groups

Tons of companies match charitable gifts by their employees to environmental causes. Check out these five standout examples with sustainable values of their own that actively support employee giving by matching environmental donations.

Patagonia

Patagonia is renowned for its dedication and commitment to environmental sustainability. The company’s employee matching gift program supports nonprofit organizations focused on environmental conservation and activism and encourages current full- and part-time team members to do the same.

Employees are encouraged to donate to eligible environmental (or most other) nonprofits of their choice, and Patagonia will match their contributions up to $10,000 per year, doubling the impact of their support.

Note: Patagonia employees are encouraged to get donations of $2,000 and above pre-approved by the company by contacting employee.match@patagonia.com in order to guarantee the full match.

Learn more about the Patagonia matching gift program here.

Citadel Environmental

As an employee-owned Environmental, Health, Safety, & Sustainability consulting firm, Citadel Environmental Services, Inc. (or Citadel EHS) values environmental stewardship and supports employees who share this passion. Through its targeted matching gift program, Citadel Environmental employees can contribute to environmental nonprofits, and the company will match their donations.

Not to mention, the company has also acquired RMD Environmental Solutions, thus significantly increasing the number of match-eligible team members. This growing initiative empowers employees to make a difference in the environmental sector (as well as select other nonprofit causes) and amplify the impact of their giving.

Learn more about the Citadel EHS matching gift program here.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company

The Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (also known as ADM) recognizes the importance of protecting the environment and thus supports employees in their philanthropic efforts to do so. The company’s matching gift program extends to nonprofit organizations that focus on addressing environmental conservation, sustainability, climate change, and other societal needs.

Employees can donate to these causes, and ADM will match their gifts between $100 and $5,000 per year, effectively doubling the support provided to environmental nonprofits and beyond.

Learn more about the ADM matching gift program here.

Ecolab

A global leader in water, hygiene, and energy technologies, Ecolab understands the critical role environmental nonprofits play in creating a sustainable future. Through their matching gift program, employees and retirees can contribute to environmentally focused nonprofits, and the company will match their donations. (Note: Current employee gifts are matched at a dollar-for-dollar rate, while retiree donations are matched at fifty cents on the dollar.)

However, the company does stipulate that match-eligible donations must be made through its CSR platform on the Ecolab Giving Site. In addition, Ecolab employees qualify for generous Dollars for Doers and/or Board Leadership grants to further amplify their support.

Learn more about the Ecolab matching gift program here.

Pioneer Natural Resources

As a powerful way to recognize the significance of environmental conservation and support its employees’ commitment to sustainability efforts, Pioneer Natural Resources matches team members’ donations to such nonprofits. Through this matching gift program, full-time and part-time employees can donate to environmental nonprofits (as well as educational institutions, health and human services, arts and cultural groups, community organizations, and more), and the company will match contributions accordingly.

This initiative encourages employees to support organizations dedicated to the environment, with qualifying individuals eligible to request between $50 and $5,000 each year.

Learn more about the Pioneer Natural Resources matching gift program here.

Growing Matching Gifts with a Sustainable Strategy | Key Tips

Encouraging donors to get involved with their employers’ matching gift programs can generate additional funding to support critical environmental initiatives. As you look to integrate matching gifts into your overall giving strategy, keep these recommended practices in mind.

1. Highlight environmental impact in matching gift communications.

When promoting employee giving opportunities to your donors, be sure to emphasize the environmental impact that corporate matching can have. Take the time to explain how an individual’s contributions, in addition to their match, will directly support initiatives like conservation, clean water and energy, and climate change mitigation⁠—or whatever your focus is.

By aligning matching gifts with your organization’s mission, you can better inspire donors to take advantage of the opportunity and make an even greater, tangible impact. Just imagine the results made possible when you’re able to plant two trees for the cost of every one!

This ultimately leads to more sustainable funding and enhanced donor engagement as your supporters feel increasingly connected to your mission.

2. Use donor employment information to your advantage.

The information you have about your donors is the key to developing a targeted matching gift strategy. And the most important data involves your supporters’ employment details.

For example, if an organization knows which company a donor works for, the fundraising team (or its employer database tool) can research and gather information about the specific matching gift program. This enables the nonprofit to share tailored guidelines and forms required to request a match. And it ultimately simplifies the process and increases the likelihood of donor participation.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that donors who back environmental nonprofits like your own tend to be increasingly likely to work for socially conscious companies. And these companies are more likely to offer matching gifts. As a result, your supporters may have a greater chance of eligibility in the programs in the first place than the average corporate employee!

This presents a significant advantage when promoting matching gifts, as you can target donors who are more likely to work for companies that match employee contributions.

3. Establish a seamless matching gift technology ecosystem.

Just like a healthy physical ecosystem is essential for maintaining a balanced environment, so too is an optimized technology ecosystem when it comes to successful fundraising. And one of the most crucial aspects of your organization’s technology system is a fundraising tool that integrates seamlessly with a matching gift platform.

This allows your team to enact a coordinated effort that incorporates matching gift opportunities directly into every step of the fundraising process⁠—from donation appeals and other promotions to the giving experience itself and associated follow-ups.

Doing so makes it easier for supporters to get involved with tailored guidance and information while your fundraising team doesn’t have to lift a finger. All in all, you can expect to receive more matching gift revenue and save time and resources that can be reallocated to your highest-value mission activities⁠—not to mention heightened donor engagement!

5 Free Templates to Encourage Matching Gift Participation

It’s time to begin promoting the matching gift opportunity to your network of support. Feel free to work off these provided messaging templates that overview matching gifts and their benefits, explain how donors can get involved, and encourage them to do so accordingly.

Template #1: Social Media Post

Did you know that your donation to [NONPROFIT] could have double the impact? Many companies offer matching gift programs for their employees⁠—and environmental causes like ours are often eligible recipients.

Want to multiply the value of your gift? Take a moment to check if your employer participates and unlock the potential for your donation to be matched! Together, we can make an even greater difference for the world around us. #MatchingGifts #DoubleYourImpact #SaveThePlanet #SupportEnvironmentalCauses

Template #2: Fundraising Appeal

Subject: Your gift has twice the power to protect the environment…

Dear [DONOR],

We hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. We are reaching out today because we know you care deeply about the environment and our organization’s cause. With your continued generosity, we have accomplished remarkable things together, but there’s still so much more we can achieve.

We wanted to share an incredible opportunity to make an even greater impact with your donation. Many companies offer matching gift programs to their employees, which means your gift to [NONPROFIT] can go twice as far in protecting our planet.

Imagine the difference we can make if your donation is matched dollar-for-dollar⁠. Your $50 contribution becomes $100, $100 becomes $200, and so on. It’s an extraordinary chance to amplify your support without any additional cost!

To see if your employer participates in a matching gift program, visit our matching gift page to search our company database here: [URL]. Once you confirm eligibility, just submit your initial donation and follow your company’s instructions to initiate the matching gift process.

We are immensely grateful for your unwavering support and belief in our mission. Your commitment to environmental conservation has made a tangible difference. We invite you to join us once again in this extraordinary opportunity to double the power of your gift.

With heartfelt gratitude,

[NAME]

[NONPROFIT]

Template #3: Follow-Up Email

Subject: Double Your Impact: Your Gift Can Go Twice as Far!

Dear [DONOR],

Thank you for your dedication to building a sustainable future through your ongoing support of [NONPROFIT]. We’d like to share an exciting opportunity for you to double the impact of your recent donation: corporate matching gifts.

Many companies offer matching gift programs, which means they match donations made by employees to eligible nonprofit organizations. Take a few minutes to explore your company’s matching gift program. In doing so, you can unlock the potential to double the value of your contribution to our environmental initiatives.

Find out if your employer participates in matching gifts! Just click on the ‘Matching Gifts’ tab on our website for more information. Your generosity, combined with your employer’s support, can make a significant difference in our efforts to protect the planet.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to maximize your impact. Together, we can create a sustainable future for generations to come.

Best regards,

[NAME]

[NONPROFIT]

Template #4: Website Copy

Calling all eco-conscious donors! Did you know that your employer might double your donation to [NONPROFIT]? Tens of thousands of companies offer these generous giving initiatives. And more than 26 million individuals qualify to have their donations matched to charitable causes like ours!

And the process to do so is simple —

Step 1: Look into your company’s matching gift program by searching the matching gift database embedded in the page.
Step 2: Locate your employer’s matching gift submission requirements and complete the dedicated request process.
Step 3: Wait while your company processes the request, approves your match, and contributes to our organization on your behalf.

Remember: together, we can create a greener world!

Template #5: Direct Mail Insert

Header: Double Your Impact for a Greener Tomorrow!

Your dedication to preserving our environment through your support of [NONPROFIT] is truly inspiring. We want to share an exciting opportunity with you to make an even greater impact!

Did you know that many companies offer matching gift programs for their employees? This means that your employer might be willing to match your donation, doubling the impact of your gift. By leveraging a matching gift program, you can amplify your contribution and help us protect our planet for future generations.

Take a moment to check if your employer participates in matching gifts. Scan the QR code below to visit our website for more information. Together, we can create a greener tomorrow for a more sustainable world.

Wrapping Up

As you continue your journey to protect and preserve the world around you, matching gifts should remain at the forefront of your fundraising strategy. After all, this valuable⁠—yet continually underutilized⁠—source of support is crucial for maximizing fundraising efforts.

Remember, the key lies in effectively communicating the matching gift opportunity to your nonprofit audience. In doing so, you can empower supporters to strengthen their commitment to your cause. And together, with the support of matching gifts, you can play a key role in establishing a sustainable future.

Interested in learning more about matching gifts for your organization? Check out these additional recommended guides:

Overcoming Matching Gift Roadblocks [Helpful Solutions]. Discover effective strategies and solutions for overcoming common matching gift roadblocks. Learn how to navigate challenges and maximize your matching gift potential.
14 Types of Matching Gift Letters Every Nonprofit Should Send. Explore a complete list of matching gift letters that every nonprofit should send. These templates and examples will help you better communicate the matching gift opportunity to donors.
What You Need to Know About Retaining Matching Gift Donors. Retaining matching gift donors is crucial for the long-term sustainability of your nonprofit’s fundraising efforts. This resource provides insights and strategies for doing so.

Make the Most of Matching Gifts for Arts & Culture Groups

July 14, 2023/in Learning Center, Learning Center, Marketing Strategies, Matching Gift Companies, Fundraising Ideas /by Adam Weinger

Matching gifts are a powerful yet continuously underutilized source of funding for all sorts of nonprofits. If you’re looking to amplify matching gifts for your arts and culture organization, you’ve come to the right place.

At Double the Donation, we work with thousands of nonprofits to empower their matching gift strategies⁠—arts and cultural groups included. In this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know to bring your organization’s corporate matching efforts to life. And we’ll walk through the following topics to do so:

Painting a Picture of Matching Gifts | The Basics
Companies That Match Donations to Arts and Culture Nonprofits
Drive Matching Gifts for Your Org with These Tips
Matching Gift Scripts: 5 Templates to Promote Matching

Fundraising for the arts is essential. Smart strategies empower organizations and their communities to benefit greatly from increased access to art and cultural programming⁠.

By effectively leveraging matching gifts alongside existing fundraising efforts, arts organizations can continue to enrich the lives of their constituents, foster creativity, drive economic growth, and establish a vibrant cultural ecosystem.

Let’s dive in.

Painting a Picture of Matching Gifts | The Basics

One of the most popular examples of corporate philanthropy, companies that offer matching gift programs agree to match the charitable donations their employees make to nonprofit causes.

This means that when a donor gives to your arts and culture group, their employer contributes an equal (or sometimes even greater!) amount of funds to match the initial donation. But in order to secure a matching gift on your behalf, the individual donor must first submit a request to their employer.

And that’s where qualifying matches often go unclaimed⁠—ultimately leading to an estimated $4 – $7 billion in matching gift funds being left on the table each year.

When leveraged effectively, though, matching gifts allow donors to double or even triple the value of their contributions to arts and culture groups and other nonprofit causes. This allows your organization to secure additional funds without putting increased strain on donors’ wallets.

Companies That Match Donations to Arts and Culture Nonprofits

Tens of thousands of companies offer generous matching gift programs, and arts and cultural organizations qualify to benefit from many of them. Here, we’ll highlight a few businesses within the creative industries that match employee donations to nonprofits like yours.

Adobe Incorporated

Adobe Incorporated is an American software company with a focus on creating technology that empowers professional and amateur graphic designers, photographers, marketers, illustrators, and more. In addition, Adobe is committed to supporting nonprofits, including (but not limited to) those in the arts and culture sector.

Through its employee matching gift program, the company matches team member donations to eligible organizations, empowering its workforce to give back to the communities in which they live and work.

Adobe has established the following criteria for its matching gift initiative:

Minimum donation: None
Maximum donation: $10,000
Match ratio: 1:1
Qualifying employees: Full-time, retired
Qualifying nonprofits: Arts and cultural organizations and most other nonprofits

Additionally, Adobe has been known to periodically increase its matching gift ratio, sometimes offering a particularly generous two-to-one employee donation match. Knowing this, we recommend keeping an eye out for specific campaigns or employee giving pushes throughout the year!

Etsy

As an online marketplace designed for selling unique and handmade goods, Etsy values creativity and craftsmanship in its bottom line. Additionally, Etsy is known for supporting charitable giving, empowering employees with generous paid volunteer time off initiatives and employee matching gifts.

Etsy has established the following criteria for its matching gift initiative:

Minimum donation: None
Maximum donation: $500
Match ratio: 1:1
Qualifying employees: Full-time, part-time
Qualifying nonprofits: Arts and cultural organizations and most other nonprofits

This program encourages Etsy employees to give back to the arts community and contributes to the sustainability and growth of arts and cultural nonprofits overall.

Marvel Entertainment (The Walt Disney Company)

Marvel Entertainment recognizes the importance of creativity and storytelling in the arts and entertainment industry. Through its nonprofit partnerships, and specifically its generous matching gift program, Marvel Entertainment (and other Disney subsidiaries) supports employees’ charitable endeavors by matching their donations to eligible nonprofits.

Marvel Entertainment (along with the rest of the Walt Disney Company) has established the following criteria for its matching gift initiative:

Minimum donation: $25
Maximum donation: $25,000
Match ratio: 1:1
Qualifying employees: Full-time, part-time
Qualifying nonprofits: Arts and cultural organizations and most other nonprofits

Arts and cultural nonprofits like yours can benefit from this program greatly as supporters who work at Marvel can double their contributions, effectively amplifying the financial support the cause receives.

Sony Entertainment (Sony Corporation of America)

Sony Entertainment, including Sony Pictures and Sony Music, values the arts and its power to inspire and bring communities together. Thus, Sony’s matching gift program allows its employees to make donations to eligible nonprofits, including arts and cultural organizations.

Sony has established the following criteria for its matching gift initiative:

Minimum donation: $50
Maximum donation: $2,000
Match ratio: 1:1
Qualifying employees: Full-time, retired
Qualifying nonprofits: Arts and cultural organizations, educational institutions, hospitals, and select other nonprofits

By generously matching donations, Sony Entertainment (and the greater Sony Corporation) encourages its employees to support the arts and enhance the impact of their giving on the causes they care about.

Netflix

As a significant entertainment company, Netflix has a strong commitment to supporting the arts and other creative industries. In order to incentivize employees to give to such causes, the streaming television service also offers a generous matching gift program for its workforce.

Netflix has established the following criteria for its matching gift initiative:

Minimum donation: $1
Maximum donation: $10,000
Match ratio: 2:1
Qualifying employees: Full-time, part-time
Qualifying nonprofits: Arts and cultural organizations and most other 501(c)(3) nonprofits

With this initiative, employees’ donations to arts and cultural nonprofits (as well as many other nonprofit causes) can be matched by Netflix, further bolstering financial support for these organizations.

Drive Matching Gifts for Your Org with These Tips

By effectively leveraging matching gifts, arts and culture groups can attract more donors, increase funding, and support their missions to inspire creativity and cultivate a thriving cultural landscape.

And implementing these helpful practices can go a long way toward doing so! Consider these top recommendations for your art- or culture-focused nonprofit.

1. Collect donor employment information to identify match opportunities.

The #1 piece of information you’ll need to drive your organization’s matching gift strategy is the companies where your donors work. Thus, collecting donor employment information as part of your donor database is crucial.

It’s typically easy to do so within the donation process itself (by incorporating an optional donation page field requesting employment data or embedding an intuitive company search tool in the form). However, other data solicitation methods include follow-up communications, data appends, and more.

We recommend regularly updating and maintaining accurate information for your donors to ensure you can leverage matching gifts as effectively as possible. Once you have this data, cross-reference your donors’ employers against participating companies (like the ones listed above) to uncover opportunities. From there, you’ll have what you need to provide them with the right information to initiate the matching gift process.

2. Employ dedicated software to streamline matching.

Handling step #1 on your own can be a significant undertaking for your fundraising team. That’s why we recommend streamlining the matching gifts process using dedicated matching gift software.

This type of tool⁠—like Double the Donation’s 360MatchPro⁠—automates matching gifts from identification and awareness to follow-ups and submission tracking. Ultimately, it empowers nonprofits to efficiently manage their matches without dedicating a ton of time and resources to the task. Plus, it makes things easier on your donors, walking them through the process with personalized guidance every step of the way.

For the simplest and most impactful results, we suggest looking for platforms that integrate with your existing fundraising tools and donor management system. This ensures seamless coordination and further streamlines the process for your team and your supporters.

3. Communicate the doubled impact made available through matching gifts.

Donors love participating in matching gift programs. In fact, research indicates that nonprofit supporters are more likely to donate⁠—and to donate in larger quantities⁠—when they know that matching gifts are being offered.

Why? It’s generally believed that the desire to make a greater impact on the causes they care about incentivizes donors to support their favorite nonprofit groups at even higher levels.

Thus, when promoting matching gifts, it’s essential that you emphasize the doubled⁠—and sometimes even tripled⁠—impact that donors can have on your mission. Use engaging storytelling strategies and incorporate real-life examples to demonstrate the transformative power of matching gifts on your overall mission.

4. Prioritize impactful imagery in your matching gift promotions.

Like any fundraising appeal or other donor-facing messaging, the visuals you choose in matching gift communications play a critical role in capturing the attention and interest of your audience. Especially when your nonprofit mission is a visual one (think: museum, gallery, etc.), using impactful imagery that resonates with the arts and cultural sector can establish a highly compelling narrative.

Consider showcasing vibrant artwork, photos from captivating performances, or iconic cultural landmarks to evoke an emotional connection with potential donors. Then, pair these visuals with concise and engaging messaging that emphasizes the significance of matching gifts.

Establish promotional materials that are visually appealing across various platforms, such as social media, email newsletters, and your organization’s website. And ensure they match your organization’s overall branding to maintain a coherent narrative with your other efforts.

5. Express gratitude and recognize matching gift donors.

Finally, we recommend sending personalized thank-you letters or emails to participating matching gift donors. These messages can acknowledge their generosity and recognize the fact that they went above and beyond in their support for your organization.

And you have a few key opportunities to do so. These include:

After a donor indicates that they’ve submitted their matching gift request form.
Once your organization receives the company’s completed match.

Plus, you can even acknowledge their generosity publicly through social media shout-outs, newsletters, or donor spotlights. For a museum or another institution with a large, in-person presence, a matching gift donor wall can be an excellent idea!

Expressing gratitude not only strengthens donor relationships but also encourages others to consider matching gift opportunities⁠—making it a strategic marketing tactic as well. Not to mention, it can help retain matching gift donors from one year to the next.

Matching Gift Scripts: 5 Templates to Promote Matching

Jumpstart your matching gift efforts with these sample promotional messages. Feel free to dive in with these donor outreach templates perfect for any arts or cultural organization. Then, enlist 360MatchPro to automate and customize your messaging⁠—and segment by matching gift eligibility⁠—with ease!

Template 1: Social Media Post

🎨 Double Your Impact! 🎨 Did you know your gift to [NONPROFIT] can go even further? Many companies offer matching gift programs, which means your donation can be matched by your employer. See if your company participates in matching gifts to make an even greater impact on the arts today! Click here to learn more: [MATCH PAGE URL] #MatchingGifts #SupportTheArts #DoubleYourImpact

Template 2: Email Campaign

Subject: Your Gift Can Make a Greater Difference! 💫

Dear [DONOR],

Thank you for supporting [NONPROFIT] and our mission to bring art and culture to our community. We have an exciting opportunity to amplify the impact of your recent donation!

Did you know that many companies offer matching gift programs? This means your gift could be doubled or even tripled by your employer. We encourage you to check if your company participates in matching gifts and take advantage of this incredible opportunity to make an even greater difference for our cause.

To find out if your company offers matching gifts, simply visit our website and use our matching gift search tool here: [MATCH PAGE URL]. It’s quick and easy! Your support, combined with your employer’s match, will go a long way in supporting our programs and initiatives.

Thank you for being a champion of the arts. Together, we can create a vibrant and culturally rich community!

Warm regards,

[NAME]

[NONPROFIT]

Template 3: Text Message

Hi [DONOR]! 🌟 Did you know your donation to [NONPROFIT] could be matched by your employer? Double the impact of your gift today by checking if your company participates in matching gifts. Visit our website here for more info: [MATCH PAGE URL]. As always, thank you for supporting the arts! 🎭🎨

Template 4: Donation Appeal

Dear [DONOR],

Unlock the Power of Your Donation with Matching Gifts!

We hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. As a valued supporter of [NONPROFIT], you understand the transformative impact that arts and culture have on our lives and communities. Today, we are reaching out to share an incredible opportunity to amplify the impact of your generous contribution: matching gifts.

Did you know that many companies offer matching gift programs? Through these programs, your donation can be matched, dollar for dollar, by your employer. That means every dollar you contribute could produce double the impact on our organization and the meaningful projects we undertake.

Checking if your employer participates in matching gifts is simple. Visit our matching gift page here [URL], where you will find resources and instructions to guide you through the process. You can also reach out to your company’s HR department to inquire about their matching gift program.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to make your contribution go even further. We are excited to have you join us in this endeavor and look forward to continuing our journey together.

With heartfelt appreciation,

[NAME]

[NONPROFIT]

P.S. Remember, by exploring matching gifts, you can double your impact without any extra cost to you. Let’s unlock the full potential of your generosity and inspire a world where art thrives and enriches lives.

Template 5: Thank-You Postcard

Front:

[Image of a vibrant piece of art or a behind-the-scenes photo]

Back:

[DONOR],

Thank you for your generous contribution to [NONPROFIT].

Did you know that many employers offer matching gift programs? Your gift could be matched, doubling the impact of your support. Check with your company’s HR department or scan the QR code to learn more about matching gift opportunities. Your continued support helps us bring art and culture to our community.

Thank you!

Wrapping Up

Maximizing matching gifts involves a strategic approach to corporate philanthropy that can unlock tremendous potential for arts and cultural organizations.

By harnessing the power of corporate matching, your nonprofit can amplify its fundraising efforts and secure additional resources to make a greater impact. And in the end, you’ll be better equipped to advance your overall mission.

Good luck!

Keep exploring! Check out these additional recommended resources to continue your matching gift education:

14 Types of Matching Gift Letters Every Nonprofit Should Send. Increase awareness of match opportunities among your nonprofit audience. Check out these impactful matching gift communications and use our free templates to further your outreach.
Matching Gift Trends 2023: New, Growing Initiatives & More. The matching gift opportunity is constantly evolving, with more and more companies participating daily. Learn about some big shifts and updates with this guide to corporate match trends.
Top 30+ Matching Gift Companies: Find Your Match. Empower your strategy by familiarizing yourself with additional matching gift programs. Find out how these popular companies structure their offerings and identify qualifying donors in your network.

Prioritizing Accessibility in Matching Gift Fundraising

July 10, 2023/in Company Updates, Learning Center, About Double the Donation, Learning Center /by Adam Weinger

Prioritizing Accessibility in Matching Gift Fundraising

Matching gifts can be a powerful tool for nonprofits. Corporate donation matching and matching challenges allow teams to amplify the value of individual donations and maximize their impact on the cause. However, the matching gifts process can often be a complex and overwhelming one for donors⁠—ultimately leading to billions of dollars in available match funding going unclaimed. In light of this challenge, it’s crucial to prioritize accessibility in matching gift fundraising to simplify participation where you can.

We’ve written before on powerful ways to overcome common matching gift challenges and make the most of the opportunity for your mission. What you don’t want to do is cause supporters to face needless barriers due to an inaccessible matching gift experience. Thus, highly accessible software is a must-have in all situations.

So here, we’ll explore the impact of accessibility for matching gifts and discuss practical strategies to unlock your full potential. This includes:

The Importance of an Accessible Matching Gifts Strategy
Components of Accessibility in Matching Gift Fundraising
Understanding Key Accessibility Standards
Double the Donation’s High-Level Accessibility Framework

Accessibility is not just an ethical obligation in fundraising. It’s also a strategic decision that can significantly impact matching gift results by maximizing the inclusivity of your efforts.

And the more you know, the better you can position your team for success.

The Importance of an Accessible Matching Gifts Strategy

The importance of accessibility in matching gift fundraising cannot be overstated.

Adhering to accessibility standards aids organizations in creating inclusive digital experiences that cater to individuals with disabilities, improving their overall access to information and services. Regarding matching gifts, prioritizing accessibility means that all of your donors will be able to receive and interpret the information needed to get involved.

Not only will this result in more completed matching gifts coming your way, but it also ensures that participating donors have a more optimal experience doing so. This allows you to continue fostering positive relationships with supporters, who will appreciate your team’s commitment to inclusivity.

Plus, if you receive funding from government sources or other grantmakers with accessibility regulations, you can ensure your organization is up to par⁠—and won’t miss out on any opportunities available to you.

Components of Accessibility in Matching Gift Fundraising

A matching gift fundraising strategy typically involves a multifaceted approach to promoting the workplace giving opportunity. As a result, an effective accessibility plan should expect to account for multiple aspects of your overall engagement strategy.

This should include the following items, as well as any other matching-gift-related donor touchpoints and supporter-facing materials.

Written Matching Gift Information

Much of your audience is likely coming from a place with no prior knowledge regarding corporate gift matching. Thus, you’ll likely produce written content to explain the significance and process of matching gifts, encouraging donors to get involved.

From dedicated matching gift letters to quick blurbs in online content, it’s essential that you keep accessibility in mind. To ensure inclusivity in written matters, we recommend implementing the following practices:

Prioritize clear and concise language. Avoid complex or jargon-filled messages to increase readability and comprehension among your audience. It’s generally suggested that online content targets a 6th to 8th-grade reading level!

Follow a logical heading hierarchy. Organizing content using proper heading structure (i.e., H1, H2, H3, etc.) helps facilitate navigation and understanding for users employing assistive technologies.

Utilize appropriate formatting. Formatting techniques like short paragraphs, bulleted and numbered lists, and sufficient line spacing makes it easier to consume written materials. Plus, it increases “skimmability,” which is often the key to online content.

Enlist descriptive links for CTAs. When encouraging readers to take a specific action in digital communications, use descriptive link text when possible. This provides meaningful context as to the purpose of the intended action. For example, instead of a generic “Click here,” you might say, “Click here to search our employer matching tool.”

Multimedia Matching Gift Marketing Materials

An effective matching gift marketing plan typically encompasses a number of multimedia elements to attract and retain your audience’s attention. When incorporating images and videos to complement your written materials, accessibility should be a key consideration.

For matching gift videos, include closed captions to accommodate viewers with hearing impairments. This ensures inclusivity and allows everyone to engage with your content. Additionally, when using images, provide descriptive alternative text (ALT text) that accurately describes the visual content. This will assist users who rely on screen readers to understand the context and meaning of digital images.

Online Donation Platforms

In addition to the content you create yourself, it’s vital that any third-party resources are accessible as well. For example, your online donation pages may be created by a fundraising technology provider and embedded into your organization’s website. Still, it’s your organization’s responsibility to ensure that the forms meet your predetermined standards. This will likely include screen reader compatibility, form field accessibility, clear navigation, responsive design, and more.

Otherwise, you may end up with frustrated potential donors abandoning the giving process⁠. And without that initial donation, your nonprofit won’t qualify for the subsequent matching gift.

Looking for an online giving platform that will offer an optimal supporter experience? Double the Donation integrates with some of the industry’s top donation tools. Check out our 75+ partners here!

Dedicated Matching Gift Technology

Similarly, you’ll want to ensure that your matching gift software is committed to meeting accessibility standards as well. Typically a separate tool that integrates directly into your online donation platform, matching gift technology should also focus on offering an inclusive matching gift experience for your donors.

This should encompass every aspect of your matching gift promotions, from an embedded company search tool in your giving forms and confirmation page plugin to personalized email follow-ups. Key elements to remember include screen reader and other assistive technology compatibility, responsive design, form field accessibility and color contrast, and more.

And to ensure your technology provider continues to adhere to ongoing accessibility standards, it’s a good idea to look for a solution that conducts regular accessibility testing and complies with relevant standards.

At Double the Donation, we continually prioritize accessibility and strive to provide all users with a seamless matching gift experience. (Hint: Click here to skip to an in-depth look at Double the Donation’s accessibility criteria.)

Understanding Key Accessibility Standards

There are several accessibility frameworks and guidelines that help ensure tech-based products and services are accessible to individuals with varying abilities. Understanding the scope, priorities, and value of each criterion can go a long way as you develop your own organization’s approach to accessibility in matching gift fundraising.

Here are some of the main standards you might see when discussing digital accessibility:

Section 508

Section 508, established in 1973 and revised in 1998, is a U.S. federal law that mandates accessibility standards for electronic and information technology used by federal agencies. It outlines specific requirements for software applications, websites, and other digital content to be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Compliance with Section 508 is crucial for federal agencies, organizations providing goods or services to government agencies, and organizations receiving federal funding.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or WCAG, is a widely recognized set of guidelines developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). It provides detailed technical specifications and success criteria to make web content more accessible. WCAG has different levels of conformance, including A (minimum), AA (intermediate), and AAA (highest), which provide varying degrees of accessibility.

Accessible Rich Internet Applications

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) is a set of technical specifications that enhance the accessibility of web content and applications. It provides additional attributes and properties that developers can use to make dynamic web content and interactive components more accessible to assistive technologies, such as screen readers.

European Accessibility Act

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is legislation the European Union adopted in 2019 to harmonize accessibility requirements for various products and services as a way to build on the EU’s Web Accessibility Directive. The EAA aims to ensure equal access to digital technology across member states and improve the accessibility of information society services throughout the European Union.

Canadian Accessibility Standards

In Canada, there are different accessibility standards depending on the province or territory. For example, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) sets accessibility standards for Ontario, including requirements for accessible websites and software. Meanwhile, the British Columbia Accessibility Act dictates standards for British Columbia, and the Act to Secure Handicapped Persons in the Exercise of Their Rights with a View to Achieving Social, School, and Workplace Integration establishes standards for Quebec.

These differing standards provide specific recommendations (and, in some cases, requirements) to ensure that developers design digital content with accessibility in mind. It’s important to remember that no one framework is above any other. Instead, it’s important to determine which set of criteria most closely aligns with your organization’s needs, audiences, and objectives.

Establishing a framework for your nonprofit⁠—and utilizing software and other technology that does the same⁠—ultimately certifies that your matching gift and other fundraising strategies comply with the applicable standards above. In the end, the goal is to produce an optimized and accessible matching gift experience for your supporters.

Double the Donation’s High-Level Accessibility Framework

At Double the Donation, we understand the importance of providing highly accessible tools for our clients and their end users. Of the various accessibility standards highlighted above, the most applicable criteria regarding accessibility in matching gift fundraising is that of Section 508⁠—the U.S. Federal accessibility standard. Thus, this is the framework that our team has committed to ongoing compliance with. Plus, our tools meet the criteria for ADA and WAI-ACT compliance as well.

In 2018, Double the Donation became the first matching gift provider to receive a VPAT (or Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) to reflect and communicate this compliance. As of June 2023, we have renewed our VPAT to meet updated standards, reflecting the continuous development of both our tools and the accessibility guidelines to which we adhere.

In other words, Double the Donation’s matching gift technology surpasses the U.S. federal government’s revised standards for accessibility, as outlined in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

And to this date, we remain the only matching gift software provider with a VPAT⁠. This demonstrates not only our ongoing commitment to accessibility but our user-centric product design and general stature as the leader in matching gift technology.

Want to know what that entails? The following elements are flagged as compliant by Double the Donation’s tools, according to WCAG 2.1.

Non-Text Content

Images on the website contain relevant alternative text.

Info and Relationships

The website has consistent headers and global table structures to establish clear information and relationships within the website. Screen readers properly identify most of the information available on the website. Visually impaired users are easily able to perceive the relationships between a particular element and its role.

Meaningful Sequence

The sequence of the content present on the website is meaningful and appropriate and does not affect the meaning of the provided content.

Sensory Characteristics

No information is present on the website which is based on sensory characteristics such as shape, size, location, sound, etc.

Use of ⁠Color

Color is not used as the only visual means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element.

Keyboard

The website supports standard keyboard navigation and input functions (including swiping to move between input fields and pressing [Double tap] to make selections). Keyboard focus moves sequentially throughout the website without the focus getting trapped in any section, and it is convenient to access the functionality.

Pause, Stop, Hide

A mechanism is provided to stop, pause, or hide the moving/ scrolling content.

Page Titles

Descriptive and correct page titles are present for pages throughout the website.

Focus Order

The focus moves in a correct sequence order on the website from left to right and top to bottom.

Link Purpose

All links are provided with appropriate link text, and the user would be able to understand the purpose of the link from its link text.

Pointer Gestures

All functionalities present in the website can be operated with a single pointer without a path-based gesture unless a multipoint or path-based gesture is essential.

Pointer Cancellation

No down-event of the pointer is used in the website to execute any part of the action.

Label in Name

All labels on the website include text, and the same text is defined in the code as well to assist speech recognition technologies.

Language of Page

The language attribute is correctly defined for the web pages.

On Focus

No interactive element is triggered automatically on receiving the focus.

On Input

Change of context does not happen when the user changes the setting of any input controls.

Labels or Instructions

The website provides support for motor-impaired and cognitive users as the labels and instructions are provided for the form fields, which are clearly visible and readable to such users.

Parsing

The markup of the website has complete start and end tags, attributes, and unique IDs.

Name, Role, Value

All the website elements have a proper label associated with their role, and the screen reader recognizes them correctly with updated values as well.

Orientation

The website does not restrict its view and operation to a single display orientation.

Contrast

The website adheres to minimum contrast standards.

Resize Text

The website is fully responsive. At a zoom of 200%, the site responds to that resolution by adjusting the UI as it would if the user were on a smartphone.

Images of Text

No information is conveyed to the user via an image of the text.

Reflow

The website does not require scrolling in two dimensions to present content without loss of information in 400% zoom.

Non-Text Contrast

The website user interface components have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 against adjacent color(s).

Text Spacing

The website is compliant with WCAG text spacing requirements.

Content on Hover or Focus

The content that is triggered by hover or focus is dismissible, hoverable, and persistent.

Headings and Labels

Headings and Labels on the website provide sufficient detail of the content they are describing.

Focus Visible

All the elements present in the website have focus visibility.

Consistent Identification

Components that provide the same functionality throughout the website can be easily identified by the user.

Status Messages

The updated content automatically notifies the visually impaired users via a screen reader.

In other words, Double the Donation takes accessibility seriously⁠—and we continue to pursue a positive user experience for donors and nonprofit teams of varying abilities.

Wrapping Up & Next Steps

By making a tangible effort to highlight and prioritize accessibility in your organization’s matching gift strategy, you can foster a sense of inclusivity within your fundraising. After all, you surely want all your donors to be able to support your cause in this way.

So take the steps to test your existing matching gift strategy. Is your website up to standard? Does your matching gift platform adhere to a fully accessible framework? (Hint: if you already use Double the Donation’s tools, the answer is yes. If you’re not already a client, click here to get a personalized demo!)

When everyone, regardless of their abilities or limitations, can contribute to your nonprofit’s matching gift success, you’ll be set to make the most of the workplace giving opportunities in your network.

Best of luck!

Interested in uncovering more ways to improve your matching gift fundraising strategy? Check out these recommended resources to keep learning:

Top 24 Matching Gift Companies: Leaders in Philanthropy. Explore some of the most well-known and standout matching gift companies. These generous employee match initiatives can help kickstart any organization’s fundraising efforts.
14 Types of Matching Gift Letters Every Nonprofit Should Send. Simplify your team’s matching gift outreach with these suggested matching gift letters. Plus, jump in with free, customizable templates for each type of message!
8 Ways to Encourage Donors to Submit Employee Matching Gift Requests. Accessibility in matching gift fundraising can go a long way. And these additional tips and strategies can help drive more matching gifts to completion than ever before.

Double the Donation launches Matching Gift Academy: New Training and Insights for Fundraisers

New Matching Gift Academy: Training + Insights for Fundraisers

July 6, 2023/in Learning Center, Marketing Strategies, About Double the Donation, Learning Center /by Adam Weinger

Double the Donation is excited to announce the launch of our Matching Gift Academy, a new learning platform that helps organizations gain a deeper understanding of matching gift best practices and identify opportunities to maximize their 360MatchPro account usage.

The launch of the Matching Gift Academy represents Double the Donation’s continued commitment to helping organizations of all sizes fully harness the power of corporate matching gift education. The content covered will span a variety of topics that include marketing matching gifts, verifying matching gift requests, fine-tuning your corporate partnership plans, and using your matching gift technology to its fullest potential.

No matter the volume of matching gifts your organization receives, the Academy contains valuable insights that, when incorporated into your strategy, will help you raise more⁠—without all of the guesswork.

Interested in learning more about the Matching Gift Academy and how you can use it to propel your matching gift efforts to the next level? You’ve come to the right place!

In this guide, we’ll cover:

Let’s dive in and learn more about this exciting launch!

Who Can Benefit from Enrolling in the Academy?

As the matching gift landscape continues to expand, fundraising organizations must cultivate strong matching gift knowledge among team members. The content in our Matching Gift Academy offers succinct, valuable resources to aid in that knowledge cultivation.

Whether you are a matching gift coordinator, a director of development, a marketing professional tasked with incorporating matching gifts into campaigns, or a finance professional that handles incoming matching gift funds, our content will enhance your ability to articulate matching gift opportunities and incorporate them seamlessly into your ongoing operations.

Plus, we have rolled out unique training videos that highlight 360MatchPro features. Use these videos to learn if 360MatchPro is right for your organization and to gain a better understanding of the tool. Or, if you are a current user, dive in to learn more about your account and take advantage of all your available features.

Whether your organization is considering 360MatchPro, has a new team member accessing your existing account, or just wants to identify opportunities to better utilize your subscription, you will want to sign up and begin diving into our account insights.

Tip! We recommend using the Matching Gift Academy as an onboarding tool for new team members. Get your new hires up to speed on matching gifts and how your organization prioritizes this fundraising source!

What Types of Content Does the Academy Offer?

Within Double the Donation’s Matching Gift Academy, you will receive access to two learning courses.

Our first learning course “Leveraging Matching Gifts: Strategy Insights” covers an expanse of matching gift fundraising best practices. As you progress through the content in this course, you will gain a robust understanding of the matching gift landscape.

Topics include (but are not limited to):

Marketing matching gifts;
Capturing matching gift metrics;
Encouraging donors to submit requests;
Cultivating strong relationships with matching gift donors and companies;
And more!

The curated content can be used to get your team up-to-speed on the industry and will enrich your ability to use matching gifts as a value-add in your fundraising efforts.

Our second learning course “Understanding 360MatchPro: Account Usage Best Practices” offers training and insights on our 360MatchPro matching gift automation tool. The content provided will help you understand and optimize your 360MatchPro account to unlock greater matching gift revenue growth. By following the best practices and familiarizing yourself with 360MatchPro’s standout features, you’ll feel equipped to finetune your strategy moving forward and derive the most value from your subscription.

How is the Content Structured?

Content within the Matching Gift Academy is primarily delivered through video lessons, taught by our instructor, a matching gift expert with plenty of insights to share. However, to supplement your learning, we have also compiled relevant blog articles, PDF resources, and slide decks that can be leveraged to enhance your knowledge. These resources are accessible from within the course.

Each course is divided into modules that are broken down even further into lessons. This content structure allows you to digest information and self-pace your learning according to your schedule.

While the course content is parsed out in this structure, you will not need to watch the content in any particular order. If there are certain modules or lessons that you think would benefit you more than others, or if you want certain teams to only watch certain modules, you have the ability to skip around as you please! This structure ultimately makes socializing matching gifts at your organization easier than ever before.

To develop the most robust understanding of matching gifts and transform your strategy though, we recommend progressing through all of the learning content in both our “Leveraging Matching Gifts: Strategy Insights” course and our “Understanding 360MatchPro: Account Usage Best Practices” course. Upon successful completion, you will receive a certificate that demonstrates your mastery of content and complete knowledge of matching gifts and matching gift technology!

How Can I Enroll and Get Started?

If you are a current 360MatchPro user, within your account, you will find a unique coupon code to get this $199 value offering for free. Simply navigate to the resources tab of your account, and select ‘Matching Gift Academy.’ Your code will appear at the bottom of that page. If you are not yet a 360MatchPro user, schedule a demo with our team and ask about how you can gain access to the Matching Gift Academy!

We are excited to introduce this new content to teams and give you the opportunity to leverage this knowledge at your organization. You can take just three simple steps to get the most out of this offer.

Enroll in the Matching Gift Academy.
Progress through the content in both courses.
Earn a certification to highlight your knowledge.

The Matching Gift Academy is an exceptional resource to help your organization make the most of matching gifts.

Double the Donation’s Matching Gift Academy can be used to integrate matching gifts into your organization’s fundraising and set you up for ongoing, sustainable success from this revenue source. Whether you use the Matching Gift Academy during new team member onboarding or in your day to day work, you’ll find you can quickly gather insights that will help you better leverage match opportunities.