Matching Gifts for Retirees Companies to Know & More

Matching Gifts for Retirees: Companies to Know & More

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Nonprofits are always looking for ways to maximize donations, but one often-overlooked opportunity lies in matching gifts for retirees. After all, many companies extend their corporate matching gift programs to former employees, allowing organizations to double or even triple contributions from retired donors.

However, these programs are often underutilized simply because retirees and nonprofits aren’t aware of their potential. In this guide, we’ll highlight companies that offer matching gifts for retired employees, how your organization can identify eligible donors, and tools you can use to encourage participation in the programs.

Specifically, we’ll cover:

If retired individuals make up a good portion of your organization’s donor base (and more than likely, they do), targeting matching gifts for retirees can be an excellent way to go. We’ll show you how you can do so here⁠, starting with the basics.

What are corporate matching gifts?

Corporate matching gifts are a form of philanthropy in which companies match donations made by their employees to eligible nonprofits. These programs effectively double—or sometimes even triple—the impact of an individual’s gift, providing nonprofits with additional funding at no extra cost to the donor.

Here’s how it typically works:

  1. An individual donates to a nonprofit.
  2. The individual confirms whether their company offers a matching gift program.
  3. If available, the individual submits a request for a matching gift to their employer.
  4. The individual’s employer reviews the matching gift request and ensures it aligns with the company policy.
  5. The company approves the request and disburses a donation for a matching gift to the organization.

While these programs are extremely valuable for all parties involved, they often go underutilized, largely due to a lack of awareness about the opportunity. And that’s why understanding matching gifts⁠—and communicating their potential to supporters⁠—is so essential.

Looking for a more in-depth overview of matching gifts? Get our free downloadable guide that covers everything you need to know!

Do retirees qualify for matching gift programs?

Because each company specially designs its matching gift initiatives to align with its own needs and resources, each program is ultimately unique. That means there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the question posed. However, the short version is that yes, retirees are often eligible to participate in their companies’ matching gift programs post-employment. But it really will depend on the specific company’s program policy.

Within the realm of companies that do match gifts for retirees, some offer the same matching gift benefits as they do for active employees as a way to continue supporting their philanthropic endeavors. On the other hand, others may have modified guidelines, such as lower match ratios or donation caps.

To determine if a retiree’s donation is eligible for a match, nonprofits should encourage donors to check with their former employers or use a matching gift database (which we’ll cover more below).

By identifying and engaging retired donors who qualify for corporate matching, nonprofits can unlock valuable funding opportunities that often go overlooked.Increase revenue from matching gifts for retirees with Double the Donation

Companies that match donations for retirees

Wondering which companies offer retiree-inclusive matching gift programs? We’ve compiled a list of ten leading examples below:

Verizon is a top provider of matching gifts for retirees.

1) Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. is a global leader in telecommunications, providing wireless, broadband, and digital services to millions of customers. As part of its corporate social responsibility efforts, Verizon offers a generous matching gift program, which extends to both current employees and retirees.

Through Verizon’s matching program, donations made by retirees to eligible colleges and universities can be matched at a 1:1 ratio, effectively doubling the impact of their contributions. The company typically sets an annual limit of $5,000 per retiree, and accredited schools must meet specific eligibility requirements to qualify.

All in all, Verizon’s matching gift program is an excellent way for retirees to continue supporting charitable causes with additional corporate backing.

Learn more about Verizon’s matching gift program for employees and retirees.

Eli Lilly is a top provider of matching gifts for retirees.

2) Eli Lilly & Company

Eli Lilly & Company is a pharmaceutical giant known for its innovations in medicine and healthcare solutions. The company has a strong commitment to corporate philanthropy, which includes a robust matching gift program available to both current employees and retirees.

Currently, Lilly matches donations made to eligible nonprofit organizations, including educational institutions, healthcare initiatives, and cultural organizations. The program follows a 1:1 matching ratio, and retirees can participate with matching gifts of up to $7,500 each year..

Learn more about Eli Lilly’s matching gift program for employees and retirees.

Boeing is a top provider of matching gifts for retirees.

3) Boeing

Boeing, one of the world’s leading aerospace and defense companies, is dedicated to supporting charitable giving through its matching gift program. Retirees, as well as current employees, are eligible to have their donations matched by the company.

Boeing’s matching gift program operates on a 1:1 basis, and eligible nonprofits include educational institutions, arts and cultural organizations, environmental initiatives, and more. The program has an annual cap of $3,000 for retirees, but the eligibility criteria remain broad, allowing many charities to benefit from the generosity of Boeing’s workforce⁠—both past and present.

Learn more about Boeing’s matching gift program for employees and retirees.

Johnson & Johnson is a top provider of matching gifts for retirees.

4) Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson, a global healthcare and pharmaceutical company, is well known for its commitment to corporate social responsibility. One key part of this commitment is its generous matching gift program, which extends to both current employees and retirees.

Through the Johnson & Johnson matching gift program, eligible donations made by retirees to qualifying nonprofits can be matched dollar for dollar, effectively doubling their impact up to $10,000 per year. The program typically supports a wide range of organizations, including educational institutions, health and human services, environmental groups, and cultural organizations.

Learn more about J&J’s matching gift program for employees and retirees.

Intel is a top provider of matching gifts for retirees.

5) Intel Corporation

Intel Corporation, a worldwide technology leader in semiconductor manufacturing, has a strong history of corporate giving. The company’s matching gift program is open to both employees and retirees, reinforcing Intel’s commitment to philanthropy.

Intel matches donations at a 1:1 ratio, with contributions directed to a wide range of eligible nonprofits, including education, healthcare, and community organizations. Retirees can take advantage of this program within the designated annual cap of $1,000, making it a valuable opportunity for nonprofits to boost their fundraising efforts.

Learn more about Intel’s matching gift program for employees and retirees.

Caterpillar is a top provider of matching gifts for retirees.

6) Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Inc., a global leader in construction and mining equipment, operates a comprehensive matching gift program that includes both employees and retirees. The company encourages its workforce to support charitable organizations by offering a dollar-for-dollar match on eligible donations.

The program applies to a broad range of nonprofit organizations, and Caterpillar sets a generous annual limit of $10,000 per donor. That means retirees who previously worked for Caterpillar can continue their charitable giving with the added benefit of corporate matching, making their donations go even further.

Learn more about Caterpillar’s matching gift program for employees and retirees.

Gap is a top provider of matching gifts for retirees.

7) The Gap

Gap Inc., the parent company of apparel brands like Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta, is dedicated to corporate social responsibility. One way that it does so is by providing a matching gift program that extends to both employees and retirees, fostering an ongoing culture of giving.

Currently, Gap matches donations at a 1:1 ratio to eligible nonprofits within a set annual limit. However, maximum matching gift amounts can vary by position (i.e., $1,000 for part-time employees to as much as $15,000 for full-time employees).

The program supports a variety of causes, including education, environmental initiatives, and social services. Retired employees are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to double their impact and help nonprofits secure additional funding.

Learn more about Gap’s matching gift program for employees and retirees.

Chevron is a top provider of matching gifts for retirees.

8) Chevron Corporation

Chevron, a multinational energy corporation, offers a strong matching gift program that supports both current and retired employees in their charitable giving efforts. The company recognizes the importance of philanthropy and extends its program to a wide range of nonprofit organizations.

Chevron typically matches donations at a 1:1 ratio with a designated annual cap of $3,000 for retirees. That said, retirees who qualify can request matching funds for contributions to eligible charities, ensuring that their support for important causes is maximized through corporate giving.

Learn more about Chevron’s matching gift program for employees and retirees.

Darden Restaurants is a top provider of matching gifts for retirees.

9) Darden Restaurants

Darden Restaurants, the parent company of brands like Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and The Capital Grille, encourages philanthropy through its corporate giving programs. Today, the company extends its matching gift program to both employees and retirees as a way to do so.

Darden matches donations at a standard 1:1 ratio, with certain restrictions on eligible organizations and an annual cap of $10,000 per donor. Nonprofits can benefit from this program by ensuring that retirees who have worked for Darden are aware of their eligibility and take advantage of the matching funds.

Learn more about Darden’s matching gift program for employees and retirees.

Sony is a top provider of matching gifts for retirees.

10) Sony Corporation

Sony Corporation, a standout leader in electronics, entertainment, and gaming, has a strong corporate giving culture that includes a matching gift program for both employees and retirees. The program allows former employees to continue making an impact through their charitable contributions.

Sony’s matching gift program typically operates on a 1:1 basis, with an annual cap of $2,000 per donor. Eligible nonprofits include education, arts and culture, and select human services organizations.

Learn more about Sony’s matching gift program for employees and retirees.

How a matching gift database can help

The above companies aren’t the only ones that offer matching gifts for retirees. The truth is that there are too many to list!

So, how can you uncover additional opportunities and keep up with program guidelines? The best way is to equip your team with a matching gift database like Double the Donation.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Search the database tool for a specific company (e.g., Home Depot).
  2. In real-time, access program information about the company, including eligibility requirements for employees and retirees, match ratios, minimums and maximums, and more.

Look for matching gifts for retirees with a matching gift database.

Not to mention, you can even embed the database directly into your donation forms. This makes it easy to collect and scan against employment information, uncovering match-eligible employees and retirees alike with no added effort.

Wrapping up & additional corporate giving resources

Retiree-inclusive matching gift programs present a valuable yet frequently untapped fundraising opportunity for nonprofits like yours. By educating your donors, leveraging the right tools, and actively promoting the programs to your supporters, your organization can unlock additional funding with minimal effort.

Don’t let these matching dollars go unclaimed. Start engaging retired donors and help them make an even greater impact on your mission today!

Interested in learning more about matching gifts and other corporate giving programs? Take a look at our recommended resources below:

Increase revenue from matching gifts for retirees with Double the Donation