Companies in Chicago, Illinois with Matching Gifts

Corporate matching gift programs occur when an employee donates to an eligible organization and their company “matches” the gift. This effectively provides twice the donation to the nonprofit, and if these programs exist within your donor base (which they likely do!), it is vital that you take advantage of them. For fundraising professionals, these programs represent one of the most efficient ways to scale revenue without increasing donor-acquisition costs.

As a nonprofit, the best place to start increasing matching gifts is by knowing which companies in your area offer these programs. In this post, we highlight some of the great local companies in Chicago that currently offer matching gift programs. Follow along for a look at Chicago, Illinois’s corporate philanthropy landscape and see how your nonprofit can discover these opportunities for itself to maximize your fundraising potential.

What to Know About Chicago, IL and Corporate Matching Gifts

Chicago, Illinois, is home to 37 Fortune 500 companies and is the third-largest city in the US by population. The city is a major financial center, with a focus on transportation, telecom, and commerce, and is home to one of the world’s busiest airports. Additionally, Chicago’s GDP (gross domestic product) ranks #4 in the US and #13 among all cities worldwide.

Needless to say, there is a huge opportunity for corporate philanthropy in the city. With such a dense concentration of wealth and corporate headquarters, local nonprofits have a unique advantage. The employees living in and around the Loop, Lincoln Park, and the suburbs are often employed by organizations that view charitable giving as a core part of their corporate identity. This means that a significant portion of your donor file likely works for a matching gift eligible employer.

Nonprofits across Chicago and Illinois can benefit from the generous matching gift programs offered by their donors’ employers, but only if they know how to capitalize on them. Before diving into the matching gift opportunities available in Chicago, let’s look at how nonprofits can secure these gifts.

Our Favorite Way to Discover Matching Gift Opportunities

The most difficult part of securing a matching gift from a local company is simply finding the opportunities that exist. Many donors are unaware of these opportunities to increase their donations and, therefore, don’t seek them out. Even if a donor knows their company matches, they may not know the specific login portal or the forms required to submit the request.

We always recommend using a matching gift tool if your organization is looking to increase its donations through matching gifts. From there, you just need to figure out which tool is right for your nonprofit’s specific needs. Tools that integrate directly into your donation flow catch the donor at the moment of highest intent, which drastically improves submission rates compared to following up weeks later.

For example, Double the Donation Matching is a robust software option that automates much of the matching gift solicitation process. With it, your organization can automatically find and contact donors who are match-eligible, saving valuable time and energy for your fundraising team. This tool offers an industry-leading matching gifts database that you can embed directly on your website and/or online donation form. With it, donors can discover whether they’re match-eligible and, if they are, how to begin the match request paperwork. Plus, the tool works seamlessly alongside Double the Donation’s entire suite of workplace fundraising solutions to help you grow volunteer grants, payroll giving, and more.

List of Top Chicago Corporate Donation Matching Programs

To help nonprofits get started increasing their fundraising, we at Double the Donation have created a short list of companies that currently offer matching gift programs in the Chicago area. While this list is certainly not exhaustive in nature, it covers some of the largest and most generous employers in the region.

1. ADM (Archer-Daniels-Midland)

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, ADM is a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company. They are a generous provider of matching gifts, viewing their employees’ contributions as an extension of their corporate values.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches full-time employee donations between $100 and $5,000 per person on an annual basis.
Eligibility: Most 501(c)(3) organizations qualify for funding.

With a 1:1 ratio and a substantial cap of $5,000, ADM employees are excellent prospects for mid-level giving. Because ADM has a global reach but a strong local headquarters, its employees are often highly engaged in the local Chicago community. Nonprofits focusing on hunger relief, sustainability, and agriculture often find particularly strong alignment with ADM’s corporate social responsibility goals.

2. Allstate Insurance Company

The Allstate Corporation, headquartered in nearby Northbrook, is a massive employer in the Chicago metro area. Their “Good Hands” promise extends to their community support, making them one of the most recognizable corporate philanthropists in the region.

Higher Education Match: Matches donations to higher education institutions at a 1:1 ratio.
General Nonprofit Bonus: Offers a 15% company match on donations to other nonprofits through “The Giving Campaign.”
Volunteer Grants: Employees and agency owners who volunteer more than 16 hours can earn grants of $500 to $1,000 for their nonprofit.

While the 15% bonus for general nonprofits is lower than a standard 1:1 match, the sheer volume of Allstate employees makes this significant. However, the real gem here is the volunteer grant program. With a relatively low threshold of 16 hours, Allstate employees who serve on committees or help with events can easily unlock $500 or $1,000 grants, which can be just as valuable as a direct cash match.

3. Baxter International

Baxter is an American healthcare company headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois. As a leader in medical products, they have a highly educated workforce that is deeply invested in health and science, though their matching program supports a broad range of causes.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $5,000 per employee annually.
Minimum Gift: Employees donating at least $25 to eligible organizations can apply.

The low minimum of $25 makes Baxter’s program highly accessible to early-career professionals and support staff, not just executives. This inclusivity allows nonprofits to build a broad base of match-eligible donors within the company. If you are a health-related nonprofit, Baxter employees should be a priority segment in your database.

4. Exelon

Exelon Energy Corporation, headquartered in the Chase Building in downtown Chicago, is the nation’s leading competitive energy provider. They take part in corporate giving by matching employee donations, with a specific historical focus on education.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $2,000 per employee annually.
Focus Area: The program is strongly oriented toward educational institutions, including K-12 and higher education.

Utility companies like Exelon often have very stable workforces with long tenure. This stability is a boon for nonprofits, as a donor you acquire from Exelon is likely to remain with the company (and remain match-eligible) for many years. This provides a predictable revenue stream that is rare in other industries with higher turnover rates.

5. BMO Harris Bank

BMO Harris Bank is a staple of Chicago finance. As part of BMO Financial Group, their giving program is robust and designed to encourage employees to give back to the neighborhoods where they do business.

Match Ratio: Matches 50% of the donation (0.5:1 ratio).
Match Limits: Matches up to $1,000 annually per employee.
Eligibility: Full-time, part-time, and retired employees are all eligible.

The inclusion of retirees is a critical detail for BMO. Many legacy employees from Harris Bank still live in the Chicago area and are active donors. While the 0.5:1 ratio is lower than some, the ability to tap into the retiree network expands your prospect pool significantly. Always ask your older donors about their employment history, as they may not realize their former employer still supports their giving.

6. McDonald’s

With its gleaming new headquarters in the West Loop, McDonald’s has reaffirmed its commitment to Chicago. The fast-food giant has a generous matching gift program that rewards the generosity of its corporate staff.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $5,000 per year for most employees, and up to $10,000 for Vice Presidents and above.
Eligible Causes: Qualified education, civic, cultural, health, and youth nonprofits.

The tiered structure for Vice Presidents is a strategic opportunity for major gift officers. If you identify a McDonald’s executive in your donor pool, know that their matching capacity is double that of the average employee. This knowledge can give you the confidence to ask for a larger gift, knowing the corporate match will help them reach a higher level of giving.

7. Motorola Solutions

Motorola Solutions, a distinct entity from Motorola Mobility, focuses on public safety and telecommunications equipment. Headquartered in Chicago, they match donations made by both current full-time and part-time employees to nearly all nonprofits.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Gifts made between $50 and $7,500 qualify for employer matching.
Volunteer Grants: The company offers a grant of $100 for every 10 hours of volunteer time donated.

The volunteer grant program here is particularly attractive because of the low threshold. Ten hours is a very achievable commitment—essentially one day of volunteering or a few monthly committee meetings. This makes it easy for regular volunteers to bring extra revenue to your organization with minimal additional effort.

8. Abbott Laboratories

Located in North Chicago, Abbott is a global healthcare leader. Their “Abbott Employee Giving” program is one of the most well-utilized in the region, reflecting a corporate culture that values health and community well-being.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $5,000 per employee annually.
Eligibility: Full-time and part-time employees, as well as retirees.

Abbott’s inclusion of retirees is a major benefit, similar to BMO and others. With a large population of retired Abbott professionals living in the northern suburbs, this is a prime demographic for planned giving and annual fund appeals. Ensuring these donors know their match eligibility can revitalize their giving levels in retirement.

9. W.W. Grainger

W.W. Grainger, the industrial supply giant based in Lake Forest, has one of the most generous matching ratios in the entire country. For nonprofits, identifying a Grainger donor is like striking gold.

Match Ratio: 3:1 (Triples the donation!)
Match Limits: Matches up to $2,500 annually.
Impact: A $100 donation from an employee becomes $400 total for your nonprofit.

A 3:1 match is incredibly rare. This means Grainger employees should be treated with the same care as major donors, even if their personal gift amount is modest. The leverage they provide is unmatched. If you find a Grainger employee in your database, personal outreach is warranted to ensure they submit their match request.

10. Northern Trust

A historic Chicago financial institution, Northern Trust is deeply embedded in the city’s philanthropic scene. They support a wide variety of causes, from the arts to social welfare.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $2,000 per employee annually.
Minimum Gift: $25.

Northern Trust is a key partner for many cultural institutions in Chicago. Their program is straightforward and reliable. Because they employ many wealth management professionals, their employees are often well-connected and can serve as effective advocates for your organization beyond just their personal giving.

Strategic Matching Gift Tips for Chicago-Based Nonprofits

Now that you know who the major players are, how do you maximize this opportunity? Chicago is a competitive fundraising market, so having a proactive strategy is essential.

Leverage the “Loop” Connection

Many of these companies are clustered in the Loop or down the I-94 corridor. Use this geography to your advantage. When hosting events downtown, specifically target corporate partners for sponsorship or table purchases, and remind individual attendees from these companies about matching gifts during the event program.

Consider adding a “Matching Gift Minute” to your gala or luncheon script. Ask everyone in the room who works for a matching gift company to stand or raise their hand. It builds social proof and reminds others to check their own eligibility.

Target “Giving Tuesday”

Chicago companies often ramp up their internal communications about giving around Thanksgiving and Giving Tuesday. Use this national momentum to send dedicated emails to your segments at these specific companies.

For example, send an email specifically to your Grainger donors in November: “Did you know you can TRIPLE your impact this Giving Tuesday?” This tailored message is far more effective than a generic appeal and highlights the unique 3:1 benefit available to them.

Don’t Ignore the Suburbs

While Chicago is the hub, many of these HQs are in the suburbs (Northbrook, Deerfield, Lake Forest). Donors living in these areas are highly likely to work for these major corporations. Ensure your prospect research includes zip code analysis of the northern and western suburbs to identify clusters of potential corporate donors.

By mapping your donor data against the headquarters of companies like Allstate and Baxter, you can uncover hidden pockets of opportunity that you might have missed by focusing solely on city residents.

Conclusion

Matching gift programs are a powerful tool for helping nonprofits reach their fundraising goals, and Chicago is a great place to start when seeking these opportunities! The city’s rich history of industry and commerce has created a philanthropic environment where corporate support is readily available to those who ask.

Start with the above list and branch out from there; the possibilities are endless when it comes to corporate philanthropy around the U.S. By equipping your team with the right data and your donors with the right tools, you can turn the Windy City into a windfall for your mission.

Ready to start discovering these matches? Check out these additional resources:

Matching Gift Database: The comprehensive search tool to find eligibility for thousands of companies.
Top Volunteer Grant Companies: A guide to monetizing volunteer time.
Corporate Giving Trends: Stay ahead of the curve with the latest data on corporate philanthropy.