Thousands of companies match donations made by employees to a range of nonprofit causes through corporate matching gift programs. However, billions of dollars in available corporate matching revenue go unclaimed each year—largely due to a lack of awareness surrounding the programs and the matching gift guidelines and request process that are required for donors to participate.
A general understanding of corporate giving is a great foundation for maximizing nonprofit revenue. However, in order to succeed in acquiring matching gifts, you’ll need to understand the nitty-gritty elements of program stipulations.
For example, companies are able to decide their specific guidelines for matching gift participation based typically on employee eligibility, nonprofit eligibility, and submission deadlines. From there, the amount that a company will match (per employee per year) is based on a combination of matching gift ratios, minimums, and maximum match amounts.
In this post, we’ll break down the key components of basic matching gift guidelines:
- Match Ratios
- Minimum Match Amounts
- Maximum Match Amounts
- Employee Eligibility
- Nonprofit Eligibility
- Forms and Deadlines
Not to mention, we’ll also provide an overview of the most effective method for determining program eligibility through companies’ matching gift guidelines. Equipped with the right tools, you can easily identify matching gift opportunities and communicate eligibility criteria and next steps to guide donors through the request process.
1. Match Ratios
Companies determine how much to match employee donations based on a preset ratio. In most cases, companies choose to match donations at a dollar-for-dollar rate (otherwise known as a 1:1 ratio).
When a program offers a 1:1 ratio, an employee will donate to an eligible nonprofit, submit their matching gift request to their employer, and then their company will match that gift with the same amount.
For instance, if an employee donates $100 to a nonprofit that’s eligible for the company’s match program, the employer will donate an additional $100. In the end, the nonprofit receives a $200 donation, which is double the original contribution.
Although you can expect to see a lot of 1:1 matching programs, ratios can range from .5:1 (or a $50 corporate donation for a $100 employee gift) all the way up to 4:1 (which would be a $400 company gift in response to a $100 employee contribution). Either way, the nonprofit receiving match funding results in significantly increased amounts flowing to the organization.
Let’s take a look at matching gift ratios in action. Consider these companies, for example:
- Puget Sound Energy matches employee donations at a .5:1 rate.
- Apple matches employee donations at a 1:1 rate.
- Coca-Cola matches employee donations at a 2:1 rate.
Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to matching gift rates is an individual’s employment type. While ratios are typically standardized across all employee types, some companies will vary amounts depending on an employee’s position or type of employment.
For example, part-time employees, retirees, and even team member spouses may have a lower match rate than corporate executives who work for the same company. Take the following companies as an example:
- Soros Fund Management matches donations from partners at a 1:1 rate and employees at a 2:1 rate.
- Johnson & Johnson matches donations from current employees at a 2:1 ratio and retirees at a 1:1 ratio.
Takeaway: Matching gift ratios vary from company to company and may change based on employee position. These stipulations are entirely up to the company, and nonprofits and employees should stay up-to-date on their match opportunities.
2. Minimum Match Amounts
Unfortunately, not every company will match every donation made by an employee—even if they do have a matching gift program in place. In order to qualify for a company match, restrictions are often put in place regarding the minimum donation amount they will match.
If a donor’s contribution falls below that set amount, the company will not match the gift. Keep in mind that this isn’t intended to restrict employees’ philanthropic efforts. Rather, it’s to ensure that employees are requesting matches for causes they truly care about.
Nonetheless, corporate matching gift best practices suggest keeping the minimum low to encourage participation and make the programming accessible to employees of all budget sizes. As a result, some companies will match donations that are as little as $1. However, the most common minimum requirement is $25, with 93% of companies having a minimum match requirement of less than or equal to $50, and the mean minimum amount falling at $34.
Let’s take a look at these companies’ matching gift minimums for a few common examples:
Another thing to note is that, depending on the company, an individual who makes multiple smaller donations within a year may be able to consolidate them into a single donation match request—despite falling beneath their employer’s minimum for any particular gift.
Takeaway: Companies apply minimum matches to ensure that the giving budget goes to nonprofits that employees actually care about. Most often, set minimums are $25, but they range from $1 to $100+.
3. Maximum Match Amounts
In addition to match minimums, companies also put caps on match amounts to ensure there’s enough in the giving budget for each employee to participate. If an employee donates more than the maximum match amount, still, only the defined maximum will be matched by the company.
Maximum matches have quite the range, too. Often, you’ll come across upper limits of between $1,000 and $5,000, with $3,728 as the average maximum threshold. However, there are plenty of companies with matches that are way above that scope.
Take a look at these companies with matching gift caps across the spectrum:
Regardless, each philanthropic program is generous and has the power to make a major difference in the nonprofit world.
Takeaway: Each company has a different maximum amount it will match. Typically, these are around $1,000 to $15,000, but it’s not uncommon to see caps that are higher or lower than this.
4. Employee Eligibility
Often, companies create eligibility requirements for employees that may depend on their position or another factor.
For example, some companies match donations made by any current employee, regardless of full- versus part-time status. Others will match retired individuals’ donations even after they depart from the business. Others still will even match gifts made by an employee’s spouse.
To get a real-world idea of this concept, take a look at these companies:
- Acuity Brands matches donations from directors and executives only.
- British Petroleum (BP) matches donations made from current employees, but not retirees.
- Sherwin-Williams matches donations made from all current employees and retirees.
- ExxonMobil matches donations made from employees, spouses, surviving spouses, and retirees.
Keep in mind that, as previously mentioned, different positions can sometimes mean different match ratios and maximum match amounts, too. For instance, some companies may allow current employees to donate up to a higher amount than retired employees. Another common case is programs that offer executive employees higher maximums than other employees.
Some companies also choose to further reward employees who go the extra mile. For example, take a look at these programs’ matching gift guidelines:
- American Express offers a 1:1 match ratio for employee donations. However, if the donor serves on a nonprofit board or volunteers more than 50 hours in a year, the first $1,000 of their donations will be matched at a 2:1 ratio.
- RealNetworks offers a standard matching gift program, but if an employee works at the company for 5 years, they receive an additional $500 grant for a nonprofit of their choosing.
Takeaway: In most cases, there aren’t too many requirements employees have to meet to be eligible for matching gifts. However, sometimes, companies adjust program criteria based on employees’ positions.
5. Nonprofit Eligibility
Just like there are standards employees have to meet to request matching gift funds, there are requirements for the nonprofits looking to receive match funding, as well.
While companies typically match donations to most registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits, some companies place restrictions on the types of organizations that are eligible. If a company deems a nonprofit ineligible, employee donations made to that organization will not be matched.
Like all other components of corporate giving programs, the eligibility requirements for nonprofits differ from company to company. These restrictions are often put in place because companies want to support organizations that align with their own views and values while avoiding controversial causes.
For example, churches and other religious organizations are often excluded from matching gift programs. However, many companies will match to religiously affiliated organizations that serve a secular purpose (such as an associated K-12 school or food pantry), while others will match to houses of worship all the same.
Other companies may choose a particular type of organization to which it will exclusively match donations. For example, some businesses match only to educational organizations, while others offer higher maximums or match ratios for schools and higher ed institutions.
Take a look at these companies’ nonprofit eligibility criteria:
- Air Products and Chemicals matches donations made to colleges and universities at a 1:1 ratio up to $5,000, arts and cultural organizations at a 2:1 ratio up to $2,000, and environmental and conservation organizations at a 1:1 ratio up to $1,000.
- ExxonMobil has a maximum match amount of $22,500 for donations made to educational institutions, while it will only match up to $2,000 for donations made to cultural organizations.
- Verizon will match up to $5,000 per employee per year to schools or $1,000 per employee per year to other 501(c)(3) organizations.
Takeaway: Companies sometimes place restrictions on which organizations can receive matching gifts. It’s up to donors and nonprofits to be on the lookout for these eligibility requirements.
6. Forms and Submission Deadlines
Once all requirements of a company’s matching gift program have been met, this is when submission forms and deadlines come into play.
As a quick refresher, here’s how the typical process works:
At this point, we’re coming up on the third step in the above procedure. The donor has previously determined that they’re eligible to participate, and now they’re ready to submit their matching gift request.
Though some companies may still utilize paper request forms, most companies are turning to online portals to manage and process employee requests. The bottom line is that there needs to be a way for employees to submit their match requests and the way in which they expect the request to occur should be outlined within the company’s matching gift guidelines.
Regardless of form type, once the donor has navigated to their company’s matching gift forms, they’ll be prompted to provide basic information for the submission. This typically involves details about themself, the specific gift they made (including donation amount, currency, date of transaction, etc.), and the nonprofit that received the donation (such as the organization name, mailing address, and tax ID number).
In addition to the forms themselves, companies also have to define a specific deadline by which the forms must be submitted. For instance, an employee generally can’t donate to a nonprofit and submit a match request two years later.
Instead, in their guidelines, companies might select a specific annually occurring deadline, accept requests for a specific time period (such as six months or one year) after the individual donation was made, fall in line with the end of the calendar year in which the donation was made, or offer a brief extension beyond the calendar year.
To view a few common types, here are request deadlines for several major companies:
- CarMax accepts matching gift requests within 180 days from the date of the donation.
- Microsoft accepts matching gift requests for donations up to 12 months later.
- Boeing accepts matching gift requests from employees until January 31 of the following year after the donation.
Takeaway: Businesses must create accessible forms and define deadlines before putting a match program in place. Nonprofits and their donors need to be aware of these submission instructions and deadlines, otherwise, they may miss out on matching gifts.
Matching Gift Database: Identifying Companies’ Guidelines
Nonprofits need to stay up-to-date on companies’ matching gift guidelines, such as donation minimums, maximums, ratios, eligibility, and so on—and that’s a lot of information to manage. Unfortunately, gathering companies’ guidelines on your own can be a mundane and time-consuming process.
With a matching gift database (like Double the Donation), the research is streamlined and simplified for nonprofits and donors alike.
This type of innovative technology ensures that your organization has access to thousands of companies’ matching gift program guidelines at your fingertips. As a result, you can easily determine donors’ match eligibility potential and communicate the opportunities to qualifying donors.
Specifically, a matching gift database enables you and your donors to:
- Search for 20,000+ companies’ and subsidiaries’ matching gift programs in seconds
- View and share available information (e.g. forms and requirements) for easy access
- Determine matching gift eligibility and next steps
Think your nonprofit can benefit from this type of tool?
With Double the Donation, organizations like yours can even automate the process. From collecting employment data directly within the donation process to quickly determining eligibility and following up via email, no match opportunities will be overlooked.
Matching gift programs have several guidelines that need to be met in order to qualify for participation, all defined by the companies that offer them. As you’ve learned, the most commonly defined elements are the match ratio, minimum and maximum match amounts, employee and nonprofit eligibility, and submission deadlines.
Take all of these factors into account, and equip your team with the tools you need for success, and you’ll be able to effectively increase the funding source for your organization and its mission. Now, get out there and boost your matching gift potential!
Interested in learning more about matching gifts? Check out these additional resources for more corporate giving tips and tricks:
Matching Gift Guidelines | Ratios, Minimums, Maximums & More
/in Learning Center, Matching Gift Companies /by Adam WeingerThousands of companies match donations made by employees to a range of nonprofit causes through corporate matching gift programs. However, billions of dollars in available corporate matching revenue go unclaimed each year—largely due to a lack of awareness surrounding the programs and the matching gift guidelines and request process that are required for donors to participate.
A general understanding of corporate giving is a great foundation for maximizing nonprofit revenue. However, in order to succeed in acquiring matching gifts, you’ll need to understand the nitty-gritty elements of program stipulations.
For example, companies are able to decide their specific guidelines for matching gift participation based typically on employee eligibility, nonprofit eligibility, and submission deadlines. From there, the amount that a company will match (per employee per year) is based on a combination of matching gift ratios, minimums, and maximum match amounts.
In this post, we’ll break down the key components of basic matching gift guidelines:
Not to mention, we’ll also provide an overview of the most effective method for determining program eligibility through companies’ matching gift guidelines. Equipped with the right tools, you can easily identify matching gift opportunities and communicate eligibility criteria and next steps to guide donors through the request process.
1. Match Ratios
Companies determine how much to match employee donations based on a preset ratio. In most cases, companies choose to match donations at a dollar-for-dollar rate (otherwise known as a 1:1 ratio).
When a program offers a 1:1 ratio, an employee will donate to an eligible nonprofit, submit their matching gift request to their employer, and then their company will match that gift with the same amount.
For instance, if an employee donates $100 to a nonprofit that’s eligible for the company’s match program, the employer will donate an additional $100. In the end, the nonprofit receives a $200 donation, which is double the original contribution.
Although you can expect to see a lot of 1:1 matching programs, ratios can range from .5:1 (or a $50 corporate donation for a $100 employee gift) all the way up to 4:1 (which would be a $400 company gift in response to a $100 employee contribution). Either way, the nonprofit receiving match funding results in significantly increased amounts flowing to the organization.
Let’s take a look at matching gift ratios in action. Consider these companies, for example:
Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to matching gift rates is an individual’s employment type. While ratios are typically standardized across all employee types, some companies will vary amounts depending on an employee’s position or type of employment.
For example, part-time employees, retirees, and even team member spouses may have a lower match rate than corporate executives who work for the same company. Take the following companies as an example:
Takeaway: Matching gift ratios vary from company to company and may change based on employee position. These stipulations are entirely up to the company, and nonprofits and employees should stay up-to-date on their match opportunities.
2. Minimum Match Amounts
Unfortunately, not every company will match every donation made by an employee—even if they do have a matching gift program in place. In order to qualify for a company match, restrictions are often put in place regarding the minimum donation amount they will match.
If a donor’s contribution falls below that set amount, the company will not match the gift. Keep in mind that this isn’t intended to restrict employees’ philanthropic efforts. Rather, it’s to ensure that employees are requesting matches for causes they truly care about.
Nonetheless, corporate matching gift best practices suggest keeping the minimum low to encourage participation and make the programming accessible to employees of all budget sizes. As a result, some companies will match donations that are as little as $1. However, the most common minimum requirement is $25, with 93% of companies having a minimum match requirement of less than or equal to $50, and the mean minimum amount falling at $34.
Let’s take a look at these companies’ matching gift minimums for a few common examples:
Another thing to note is that, depending on the company, an individual who makes multiple smaller donations within a year may be able to consolidate them into a single donation match request—despite falling beneath their employer’s minimum for any particular gift.
Takeaway: Companies apply minimum matches to ensure that the giving budget goes to nonprofits that employees actually care about. Most often, set minimums are $25, but they range from $1 to $100+.
3. Maximum Match Amounts
In addition to match minimums, companies also put caps on match amounts to ensure there’s enough in the giving budget for each employee to participate. If an employee donates more than the maximum match amount, still, only the defined maximum will be matched by the company.
Maximum matches have quite the range, too. Often, you’ll come across upper limits of between $1,000 and $5,000, with $3,728 as the average maximum threshold. However, there are plenty of companies with matches that are way above that scope.
Take a look at these companies with matching gift caps across the spectrum:
Regardless, each philanthropic program is generous and has the power to make a major difference in the nonprofit world.
Takeaway: Each company has a different maximum amount it will match. Typically, these are around $1,000 to $15,000, but it’s not uncommon to see caps that are higher or lower than this.
4. Employee Eligibility
Often, companies create eligibility requirements for employees that may depend on their position or another factor.
For example, some companies match donations made by any current employee, regardless of full- versus part-time status. Others will match retired individuals’ donations even after they depart from the business. Others still will even match gifts made by an employee’s spouse.
To get a real-world idea of this concept, take a look at these companies:
Keep in mind that, as previously mentioned, different positions can sometimes mean different match ratios and maximum match amounts, too. For instance, some companies may allow current employees to donate up to a higher amount than retired employees. Another common case is programs that offer executive employees higher maximums than other employees.
Some companies also choose to further reward employees who go the extra mile. For example, take a look at these programs’ matching gift guidelines:
Takeaway: In most cases, there aren’t too many requirements employees have to meet to be eligible for matching gifts. However, sometimes, companies adjust program criteria based on employees’ positions.
5. Nonprofit Eligibility
Just like there are standards employees have to meet to request matching gift funds, there are requirements for the nonprofits looking to receive match funding, as well.
While companies typically match donations to most registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits, some companies place restrictions on the types of organizations that are eligible. If a company deems a nonprofit ineligible, employee donations made to that organization will not be matched.
Like all other components of corporate giving programs, the eligibility requirements for nonprofits differ from company to company. These restrictions are often put in place because companies want to support organizations that align with their own views and values while avoiding controversial causes.
For example, churches and other religious organizations are often excluded from matching gift programs. However, many companies will match to religiously affiliated organizations that serve a secular purpose (such as an associated K-12 school or food pantry), while others will match to houses of worship all the same.
Other companies may choose a particular type of organization to which it will exclusively match donations. For example, some businesses match only to educational organizations, while others offer higher maximums or match ratios for schools and higher ed institutions.
Take a look at these companies’ nonprofit eligibility criteria:
Takeaway: Companies sometimes place restrictions on which organizations can receive matching gifts. It’s up to donors and nonprofits to be on the lookout for these eligibility requirements.
6. Forms and Submission Deadlines
Once all requirements of a company’s matching gift program have been met, this is when submission forms and deadlines come into play.
As a quick refresher, here’s how the typical process works:
At this point, we’re coming up on the third step in the above procedure. The donor has previously determined that they’re eligible to participate, and now they’re ready to submit their matching gift request.
Though some companies may still utilize paper request forms, most companies are turning to online portals to manage and process employee requests. The bottom line is that there needs to be a way for employees to submit their match requests and the way in which they expect the request to occur should be outlined within the company’s matching gift guidelines.
Regardless of form type, once the donor has navigated to their company’s matching gift forms, they’ll be prompted to provide basic information for the submission. This typically involves details about themself, the specific gift they made (including donation amount, currency, date of transaction, etc.), and the nonprofit that received the donation (such as the organization name, mailing address, and tax ID number).
In addition to the forms themselves, companies also have to define a specific deadline by which the forms must be submitted. For instance, an employee generally can’t donate to a nonprofit and submit a match request two years later.
Instead, in their guidelines, companies might select a specific annually occurring deadline, accept requests for a specific time period (such as six months or one year) after the individual donation was made, fall in line with the end of the calendar year in which the donation was made, or offer a brief extension beyond the calendar year.
To view a few common types, here are request deadlines for several major companies:
Takeaway: Businesses must create accessible forms and define deadlines before putting a match program in place. Nonprofits and their donors need to be aware of these submission instructions and deadlines, otherwise, they may miss out on matching gifts.
Matching Gift Database: Identifying Companies’ Guidelines
Nonprofits need to stay up-to-date on companies’ matching gift guidelines, such as donation minimums, maximums, ratios, eligibility, and so on—and that’s a lot of information to manage. Unfortunately, gathering companies’ guidelines on your own can be a mundane and time-consuming process.
With a matching gift database (like Double the Donation), the research is streamlined and simplified for nonprofits and donors alike.
This type of innovative technology ensures that your organization has access to thousands of companies’ matching gift program guidelines at your fingertips. As a result, you can easily determine donors’ match eligibility potential and communicate the opportunities to qualifying donors.
Specifically, a matching gift database enables you and your donors to:
Think your nonprofit can benefit from this type of tool?
With Double the Donation, organizations like yours can even automate the process. From collecting employment data directly within the donation process to quickly determining eligibility and following up via email, no match opportunities will be overlooked.
Matching gift programs have several guidelines that need to be met in order to qualify for participation, all defined by the companies that offer them. As you’ve learned, the most commonly defined elements are the match ratio, minimum and maximum match amounts, employee and nonprofit eligibility, and submission deadlines.
Take all of these factors into account, and equip your team with the tools you need for success, and you’ll be able to effectively increase the funding source for your organization and its mission. Now, get out there and boost your matching gift potential!
Interested in learning more about matching gifts? Check out these additional resources for more corporate giving tips and tricks:
What Is an Address Append? Ultimate Guide for Nonprofits
/in Learning Center, Marketing Strategies, Learning Center /by Adam WeingerAs a nonprofit professional, you know that reaching out to your supporters is an essential part of your fundraising and marketing strategy. You’ve built relationships with these people, and in order to strengthen them, you must stay in touch using effective communication. However, you might not have all of the correct contact information that will allow you to connect with your supporters. That’s where address appends come into play.
Donors, volunteers, and board members among other supporters have probably provided you with information such as their email addresses or phone numbers on registration or lead forms. Other information such as mailing addresses may be more difficult to obtain, especially if you don’t want to ask people outright for their addresses.
An address append will allow you to take existing supporter data to verify someone’s identity and fill in the missing postal address information. Instead of directly asking your supporters for their addresses, you can work with an address append service to efficiently obtain that information and keep your direct mailing efforts alive.
Now you know that address appends could be useful to your organization, but what exactly are they? We will answer the following questions to help you better understand the basics of an address append:
At Double the Donation, we make matching gifts easy for nonprofits. We know the importance of efficiency and easy access to the data you need to grow your organization. That’s why we’re providing you this guide to address appends to make sure your nonprofit has the information it needs to reach its supporters.
With that, let’s dive into address appends and how they could help out your nonprofit!
What Is An Address Append?
An address append when you use an online database or service to find the correct, most recent mailing address for someone based on other information about them such as their name, phone number, or email address.
With address appends, you can send direct mail to individuals without having to ask them for their mailing address. You can also use these services to verify that the past postal address you have for someone is still accurate. Therefore, address appends make it easier for nonprofits to communicate with their supporters without having to scour the Internet for the necessary information.
Why Are Address Appends Useful?
You might be wondering why address appends are important, especially if most of your marketing occurs online. However, direct mail is still an effective marketing method that your organization should leverage.
With the help of address appends, your organization could put together a stellar direct mail campaign. Additionally, address appends are useful because they can help you do the following:
Clearly, address append data can help you learn more about your supporters and in turn run a successful direct mail campaign. However, you’re probably curious about how address append services obtain the information you need. Let’s take a closer look at the process so you can experience all the great benefits of postal address appending.
How Do Address Appends Work?
As we’ve mentioned previously, an address append service can make the process extremely easy for nonprofits. Before reaching out to a provider, you’ll want to make sure you understand how the process works, so you’re fully prepared.
The way address appends work is that you first provide an address append service with the existing supporter information in your CRM. It works best if you give them as much information as possible, which could include:
After receiving your supporters’ information, an address append service provider will match that information with the data they have in their own database or find in public records.
While the process is pretty straightforward, you may be wondering how these address append services know that the information they’re providing you is correct. The answer is that they typically ensure the information is accurate before they send it to you by performing different types of accuracy scans and checks. Some may even provide an accuracy rating so you have an idea of how accurate the data you’re receiving is.
What If I’m Missing Other Information?
You might just be missing mailing addresses from your supporters, but you could also be missing other information. Not to worry, though! Most address append services also supply nonprofits with other types of appends, including:
If your organization is looking for other categories of information in addition to address appends, most data append services will append everything at once based on the information you provide them. That way, you can get all the information you’re looking for as quickly and efficiently as possible.
How Can My Nonprofit Use Address Appends?
The great thing about address appends is that they’re not limited to one type of nonprofit. Any nonprofit organization can benefit from address appends if they’re looking to improve their direct mail campaigns. Check out these examples of how different organizations can use this service:
Advocacy Groups
Some causes depend on having supporters located in certain areas. For example, political campaigns often target specific regions where support is strong to remind them to vote or where support is weak to see if they can capture their attention. Address appends can help you identify where supporters live so you can segment them based on location.
Associations
Associations depend on communication with their members to ensure that they keep their membership programs alive. Ensuring you’re sending mail to the correct addresses will make it easier for members to renew their memberships, stay up to date with your association, and continue to engage with your organization.
Schools
Support from alumni can really help take your initiatives off the ground. These are the people who comprise the legacy of your school and want to see it continue to prosper. By sending them magazines and newsletters, you can stay in touch with alumni and continue to foster their relationships with your school. In turn, they may be more willing to donate or volunteer when needed.
Broader Nonprofits
Is your organization having trouble retaining volunteers? Could your organization benefit from recurring donations? For most nonprofits, the answer to both of these questions is a resounding yes.
Address appends can help you to seamlessly communicate with your supporters and remind them of any upcoming opportunities available to them. Hopefully, your regular communication with them will make them feel more connected to your organization and therefore more willing to offer their help, whether through volunteering or donating.
Takeaway: No matter what type of organization you’re a part of, you can benefit from address appends. You’ll just have to find an address append service provider that is efficient and acts as an extension of your team.
How Do I Choose the Right Address Append Service Provider?
If you’ve decided address appends would be useful to your organization, the next step is to look for an address append service provider. Since you’re entrusting an external party with your supporters’ information, you’ll want to make sure you do your research and pick the right provider.
Here are some qualities to look for in an address append service provider:
While this is a long list of requirements, there are address append service providers out there that can satisfy all of your organization’s needs! After all, you’re entrusting them with your supporters’ data.
Conclusion & Additional Resources
By now, you’ve learned all about address appends and how they help nonprofits maximize their direct mail campaigns. Any information you can add to the supporter data you already have can help you to foster better, more meaningful relationships with them, and address appends are no different.
From segmented campaigns based on location to donation request letters ending up in the hands of your supporters, there are so many benefits that address appends can have for your organization.
If you’re interested in learning more about data appends, check out this resource:
7 Steps to Design Your Nonprofit Logo
/in About Double the Donation /by Adam WeingerAt the end of the day, people expect logos from every business, organization, and nonprofit. Having a good logo is integral to your nonprofit’s branding, just like your organization’s name. A good logo is one that stands out, sticks in your supporters’ minds, and represents your mission.
In this guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of designing a nonprofit logo, including:
A strong logo design strengthens your organization’s branding and makes a strong first impression on prospective supporters. Along with other promotional materials, your logo should be incorporated into your nonprofit’s graphic design strategy. Your organization should strive to deliver a high-quality logo that represents your mission without having to say a thing.
How to Design a Nonprofit Logo
Step 1: Finalize your name.
Ideally, your nonprofit should already have a compelling name before you embark on your logo design journey. If you don’t have a finalized name or aren’t happy with your current one, focus on ironing out any kinks before you start designing.
Your name also conveys information about your mission and the overall tone your organization carries. The name should cultivate an accurate and engaging first impression of your nonprofit to boost brand recognition. Remember to finalize any spelling and formatting preferences before you design your logo.
Step 2: Develop your core message.
Your organization’s name makes it identifiable to your supporters. Your core message, on the other hand, is influenced by your mission statement and slogan to identify what kind of impact your organization is making.
The values in your core message should guide every decision your nonprofit makes. Whether you’re choosing the right fundraising idea or developing your organization’s marketing strategy, come back to the principles outlined in your core message. Your logo serves as a visual, public-facing way to communicate these principles.
Finalizing your mission statement and creating a strong slogan gives you a solid jumping-off point for developing your logo. A slogan condenses the most important parts of what you do into a few key words. If you get stuck or off track while designing, refer back to your slogan to zero in on key concepts from your mission.
Step 3: Build branded elements.
Your brand guide should inform graphic design decisions across all platforms and channels. Include details like hexadecimal (hex) color codes and typeface names in the guide to encourage consistency down to the smallest details. With a thorough brand guide, any designer can reference it and replicate your nonprofit’s branding in their work.
Keep in mind that visual elements like color can signal things about your nonprofit. For example, this logo from Harlem Children’s Zone uses bold, bright colors. Colors like these communicate the nonprofit’s focus on helping children in the Harlem community with visual cues viewers pick up on at a glance.
Another example of the meaning of color in a logo is Greenpeace’s logo. Green is often associated with nature, environmental causes, and health. By using green in their logo, Greenpeace visually signals that their organization is concerned with creating a greener world.
Step 4: Choose a symbol.
Your organization’s name and core message can be translated into a visual symbol to quickly communicate your mission to supporters. The symbol you choose should represent what your organization does and be as unique as possible.
One way to develop a symbol for your logo is to narrow down your mission statement to just two or three main words. If you have a slogan, use it to inform what you create. Then, brainstorm other word associations and visual elements that communicate your mission.
We’ve all heard the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words.” The Girl Scouts of America logo is a great example of how symbols can convey a powerful visual message that might require lines and lines of text. This logo shows a lucky four-leaf clover and layers the silhouettes of three girls looking forward to the future, indicating the organization’s dedication to progress.
For some nonprofits, simpler is better. Organizations like The Water Trust choose to use only text in their logo. Even if you create a more text-heavy logo, there are still clever ways to include symbols that go the extra mile to convey your mission. In its logo, The Water Trust uses text, color, and clever symbols to convey that its mission involves helping people get water.
Step 5: Create the logo.
Use a nonprofit graphic design service like Kwala.
The best way to get a logo for your nonprofit is to use a graphic design service. While creating the logo yourself can save money, it’s best to invest in professional services when dealing with something as central to your brand as your logo. Professional designers have the skills and expertise to ensure your logo is visually and technically sound.
If your organization chooses to work with Kwala, the process will look something like this:
After receiving your design from Kwala’s team, your nonprofit can continue using the service for other graphic design materials. Because Kwala focuses on understanding the unique nonprofit landscape, its designs are tailored to address the challenges of nonprofit marketing.
Build the logo yourself.
If you’re unable to work with a professional designer, there are other ways to create a strong logo. To ensure your logo accurately reflects the best parts of your organization, follow these tips:
If you create your own logo, be sure it’s one of a kind. It’s easy to cut corners to save time and money, but your logo is something you should invest in.
Step 6: Review and revise your nonprofit logo.
First, make sure the logo is what you want. If you used a designer, make sure they incorporated each element you requested and that it effectively represents your organization. One way to test this is to show the logo to people who aren’t familiar with your organization and ask what their impression of your nonprofit is.
Next, try to envision the logo across the various media channels it will be used on. Picture it in email signatures, on the corner of social media posts, and front and center on t-shirts. Ask yourself if it will look good and represent your mission in all of these scenarios.
Last, do a sweep for any basic mistakes. This could be spelling errors or the use of fonts and colors outside of what is detailed in the brand guide. It’s best to catch these mistakes at this stage rather than after you’ve printed logos with typos on 100 copies of a brochure.
Step 7: Develop variations.
Once you have a complete, finalized version of your logo, consider creating variations. Using your parent logo, tweak the design so the logo will work no matter when, where, how, or why it’s used. Your logo will be used on everything from social media infographics to thank-you letters, so it’s crucial that the style of the logo matches the occasion.
For example, the American Heart Association’s full logo includes their symbol and name, and it’s usually used in more formal settings like on their website. However, the organization uses a simplified version for informal content like Instagram posts.
Nonprofit Logo Design Best Practices
Keep your design simple.
Knowing when to stop is one of the most challenging parts of graphic design. It’s easy to get carried away attempting to fit everything you love about your organization into your logo. But fitting everything in your mission statement into a tiny logo is next to impossible.
As you work on creating a clean and simple logo, keep these tips in mind:
Remember that most viewers won’t take much time to study your logo. Social media viewers in particular will likely glance at the logo for one or two seconds before scrolling on. A simple logo is the best way to communicate your message to as many people as you can.
Make sure your logo can stand alone.
Your logo will end up featured across many different websites, pieces of merchandise, social media posts, and other media. You shouldn’t have to explain what your logo means for it to make sense to whoever views it. Make sure it can stand alone in any scenario.
As you design your logo, consider where it will show up. For example, if your logo will be posted on a social media platform like Instagram most frequently, tailor the logo to align with social media users’ preferences. In this case, the logo should be extremely simple so anyone quickly scrolling through their feed on a small smartphone screen can still register and make sense of your logo.
This logo from the World Wildlife Fund is a great example of a logo that can stand alone, particularly on social media. It doesn’t need a long name or written description to explain what it means. However, the United H.O.P.E. Foundation’s logo might be difficult for viewers to understand without reading five lines of text below the symbol.
Additional Resources
Designing a logo for your nonprofit is a serious undertaking that requires significant amounts of planning. Deep knowledge of your organization’s branding and mission statements is critical, especially for young nonprofit organizations. A strong logo design will help your organization stand out from the competition and show your supporters what you care about.
If you’re looking for more information to help guide your organization’s graphic design journey, check out these resources:
Nonprofit Basics: Cause Marketing
/in Nonprofit Basics /by Adam WeingerIncreasingly, corporate philanthropy is viewed as necessary for businesses that are looking to grow their client base and attract top employees.
Today’s consumers seek out brands that prioritize leaving a positive impact on society. According to the 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer, 58% of consumers would buy or advocate for brands based on their beliefs and values.
Plus, prospective employees seek out companies that offer corporate giving and volunteering opportunities. In fact, 71% of employees surveyed by America’s Charities say it is “imperative” or “very important” to work where the culture is supportive of giving and volunteering.
Cause marketing is a great way for companies to engage in corporate philanthropy by promoting and supporting charitable organizations and causes.
What is cause marketing?
Cause marketing or cause-related marketing is marketing that is carried out by a for-profit business to advance a charitable cause or better society.
Cause marketing campaigns are conducted similarly to how a nonprofit organization would market its mission.
Cause marketing FAQs
You’ve probably heard of corporate philanthropy before, but may not be as familiar with the idea of cause marketing. Let’s review a few common cause marketing questions:
Why do businesses participate in cause marketing?
It may seem counterintuitive for businesses to invest their resources in marketing for a charitable cause. However, cause marketing offers benefits like:
Cause marketing and corporate accountability go hand in hand. These campaigns are something extra that corporations can do to bring positive social value and take part in philanthropic causes. And a well-thought-out, engaging cause marketing campaign can be a powerful way to set your business apart from its competitors.
What are some effective examples of cause marketing?
Cause marketing campaigns can take many different forms. Some are focused on marketing a charitable cause while others involve offering corporate giving and volunteering opportunities for employees. Here are a few examples of effective cause marketing campaigns and initiatives:
Looking for more examples? Check out TopNonprofits’ roundup of cause marketing examples for other effective cause marketing ideas.
How to start a cause marketing campaign
Cause marketing campaigns emulate nonprofit marketing campaigns in many ways. Both types of campaigns are meant to further a social cause or bring attention to a charitable mission. Here are the steps to starting a cause marketing campaign:
Since cause marketing campaigns and nonprofit marketing campaigns are similar, feel free to browse Getting Attention’s ideas for nonprofit marketing to get inspired for your campaign.
Other Resources to Explore
Nonprofit Basics – Learn more about nonprofit management essentials by exploring other expert resources.
A 2021 Guide to Nonprofit Marketing – Follow these steps to improve your nonprofit’s marketing strategy to meet your goals and deepen relationships with donors.
Corporate Social Responsibility: The Definitive Guide – Still not completely sold on corporate giving? This article dives even deeper into CSR and the benefits it can bring to your business.
Creating Your Best Fundraising Flyer: 8 FAQs
/in About Double the Donation /by Adam WeingerAs a nonprofit professional, you’re familiar with the important role fundraising plays in keeping your organization up and running. However, not every nonprofit recognizes the importance of marketing fundraisers with graphic design. Fundraising flyers are one of the easiest, most effective ways to promote your fundraiser.
Flyers are great nonprofit marketing tools to promote your fundraiser and maximize revenue. They also communicate important logistical details such as date and time in a succinct, readable format.
As you explore creating fundraising flyers, these topics will help you get started:
Flyers also clearly lay out how and why you are raising money. Adding context as to why your organization needs to raise money and the ways you will be collecting it could motivate more people to participate. Let’s get started by learning how subscription graphic design can help you create effective flyers.
What is subscription graphic design?
Subscription graphic design services like Kwala offer a solution to nonprofit organizations that are pressed for time. This service connects your team with designers who understand the unique needs of nonprofits. Their deep understanding of the nonprofit landscape lends itself to custom graphic design products that address the challenges associated with the nonprofit sector.
With Kwala, you can create promotional materials and gear such as:
Each of these items is fully customizable, and designers are committed to aligning designs with your mission and branding. The service offers unlimited requests and revisions to ensure you receive exactly what you want.
Most-Asked Questions About Fundraising Flyers
Why create fundraising flyers?
While many people might assume flyers are a thing of the past, this is far from reality. There are many reasons why fundraising flyers should be included in your marketing strategy, such as:
Flyers are a versatile and functional type of graphic design. They inform your supporters about important upcoming events and are easy to distribute, whether sent via email, posted in public areas, or distributed to your supporters.
What is the best way to make fundraising flyers?
Simply put, the best way to create flyers varies for each organization. Depending on factors like team size, time availability, and budget, there is an approach to making flyers that works best for you. For example, a team with busy nonprofit professionals who still want quality graphic design materials can find success with a service like Kwala.
What graphic design tools should I use?
There are many different kinds of graphic design tools for nonprofits, but some are better and more affordable than others. When you’re looking for graphic design tools, keep in mind that flyers are simple and only require basic tools. You probably won’t need software with the longest list of capabilities but one that meets your unique
Canva
Canva is a graphic design program that is available online, so you won’t need to download any software. This platform has pre-made templates for just about any graphic design material you’ll need to create, whether that’s a social media post or a fundraising flyer. Canva’s software allows you to customize its templates so you can adjust fonts, colors, and images to match your branding.
As a nonprofit organization, you’re probably eligible for a free Canva Pro membership. You’ll have access to all of the templates, graphics, and project management tools the platform has to offer. You can also add other team members to the account for a collaborative graphic design process.
Pexels
Pexels is a service that features royalty-free media. While it is primarily a source for stock photos, the website also has royalty-free videos available. With images from Pexels, you can edit them as much as you like so that they match your branding and the theme of your fundraiser.
High-quality photos make your fundraising flyers shine. Pexels is a convenient source for images, especially if you don’t have the time or budget to take them yourself.
BeFunky
BeFunky has everything you need in a photo editor, including the ability to crop, recolor, and resize your photos. This tool is known for its one-click collage generator which creates cohesive collages from the photos you upload.
If you’re planning to integrate photos into your flyer designs, it’s best to work with an editing tool like BeFunky. While other design tools often have built-in photo editing tools, they tend to have limited capabilities. BeFunky, on the other hand, houses every common editing tool on one easy-to-use platform.
Should I try using templates?
Templates can work for any nonprofit, regardless of their design experience, because they streamline the entire process. For nonprofits with small teams, a limited budget, and a packed schedule, drag-and-drop templates are the best option. Templates give your organization the ability to make attractive templates without needing to spend time and money you don’t have on creating them.
While templates are a quick and affordable way to create flyers, they won’t be tailored to your organization and its branding. If you choose a popular free template, chances are other organizations have used the exact same one. Choosing templates you can customize sets your organization apart without demanding too much time from your busy schedule.
If you want unique templates but don’t have the time to create new flyers every time you have a fundraiser or event, consider creating your own templates. Set aside a chunk of time to develop a flyer template that’s consistent with your branding, complete with fields for important details like the fundraiser name, date, and time. Then, the next time you launch a fundraiser, all you’ll need to do is update the fields in the template!
What should I include in my fundraising flyer?
The main purpose of a fundraising flyer is to promote an event to your supporters. To ensure supporters have all the necessary information to attend, you’ll need to add some specific details to your flyers.
As you create your flyer, be sure to include the following information:
Once you start building out flyers for various fundraisers, there may be additional information you need to include. For example, if your nonprofit hosts a picnic fundraiser, you should add a line noting that participants will need to bring their own blankets or chairs.
Flyers should contain the most important information your supporters need to participate in your fundraiser. Your goal should be to create a comprehensive source that covers all of your fundraiser’s bases. To maximize the marketing potential of your flyer and increase brand recognition, include your nonprofit’s logo on the page.
While you should strive to make a flyer that contains all relevant information, avoid bogging it down with too much text. Adding paragraphs of detailed information will make the flyer difficult to skim through, especially on social media. Ensure your supporters will actually read your flyers by sticking to short, bullet-point style lines of text rather than blocks of it.
What design strategies work in a fundraising flyer?
If you feel lost when it comes to graphic design, learning about basic graphic design strategies can help steer you in the right direction. These common strategies can help you leverage the full power of nonprofit graphic design in your communications. Generally, graphic design tips make for a clearer, more readable final product.
Create a plan.
Before you even open your graphic design software, plan out the flyer. Many designers prefer to use pen and paper to jot down or sketch their ideas quickly. Having a solid plan before you start designing prevents you from staring at a blank document until you feel inspired.
Start with a list of the information you’ll need to include in your flyer. Then, you can allow enough space for important fundraiser details. At this stage, it might help to note any ideas you have regarding images or graphics.
Next, begin to sketch a rough layout of your fundraising flyer. If drawing isn’t your strong suit, don’t panic — this step is just a tool for you to organize the basic elements of your flyer before you begin designing it. Once you feel satisfied with your sketch, start drafting the flyer in your graphic design software.
Establish a visual hierarchy.
Simply put, this strategy uses visual elements to signal what is most important about your design. For example, the name of the fundraiser should be the largest, followed by date and time, with less notable details being the smallest. Visual hierarchy directs the viewer’s eye to the most important piece of information first, subtly moving their gaze across the flyer.
It also ensures that viewers who give your flyer a cursory glance see the most important information. If they take anything away from the flyer, it will be whatever you’ve signaled is most important in your design.
There are many different ways to establish a visual hierarchy — namely through creating size differences, using contrasting colors, and organizing typography. Keep in mind that images and graphics catch the eye before any text will, so make these elements count!
Choose a color palette.
Design a color scheme that is effective, whether it is for a single flyer or your entire brand. Effective color pairings should contrast against each other and convey something about your brand. For example, green is associated with nature which makes it perfect for environmental organizations.
If you don’t know where to start when it comes to choosing a color scheme, try a color picker website to generate some combinations that will get you started.
What are some graphic design mistakes should I avoid?
Novice designers are bound to make some missteps at the beginning of their design journey. Unfortunately, mistakes aren’t always harmless, and they can sometimes lead to miscommunications between you and your supporters. Learning about common graphic design mistakes can keep you from making them yourself.
When creating your flyer, try to avoid:
Some graphic design errors are tell-tale signs of an amateur designer. Keeping these mistakes in mind prevents you from creating flyers that aren’t useful for communicating information to your audience.
How can I save money on fundraising flyers?
While flyers are a low-cost option relative to other promotional materials, creating them on a tight budget can be difficult. One way to make a tight budget go further is to capitalize on matching gift programs and other corporate philanthropy initiatives. However, there are a few ways to cut down costs if you need a quicker solution.
Before you commit to purchasing graphic design software or registering for a paid membership, check for special deals extended to nonprofits. Many graphic design platforms offer free or reduced costs for their product as long as your organization meets their criteria. As you learn to navigate the software, browse the internet for free tutorials or courses so you can design more efficiently.
Printing costs can be high depending on the style of your flyers and how many copies you need. However, the world of social media marketing is growing faster than ever. If needed, your flyers can live totally online so you can cut out printing costs entirely.
Additional Resources
Flyers are an integral part of promoting fundraisers through nonprofit graphic design. With the dozens of graphic design tools available with just a few clicks, there is a way for every nonprofit to create stunning fundraising flyers. If graphic design is something you’re still mystified by, turning to a professional graphic design service is a great alternative to creating them yourself.
Nonprofit Basics: Nonprofit Annual Report
/in Nonprofit Basics /by Adam WeingerYour nonprofit completes various activities throughout the year, such as hosting fundraising events, launching community outreach initiatives, and taking on new projects to make an impact in the area you serve. With so much notable work to remember each year, it’s important to track and share what your nonprofit has accomplished.
Most nonprofits create an annual report to highlight successes, thank supporters, and increase transparency with stakeholders. The best reports not only review the high points of the past year but also encourage continued support in the next year.
What is a nonprofit annual report?
A nonprofit annual report is a document compiling all of an organization’s activities, projects, and initiatives for a year. These documents are made publicly available for transparency reasons, allowing all stakeholders and supporters to understand what your organization has done throughout the year.
While the completion of an annual report is not legally required to maintain your nonprofit’s 501(c)(3) status, most organizations write one to be transparent with their communities. More than that, annual reports serve as an essential element of many nonprofits’ annual fundraising appeals. By highlighting the work that your organization has done and thanking supporters, donors feel appreciated and see the direct impact of their donations, inspiring them to make another donation to further your nonprofit’s work in the next calendar year.
Tips for an Effective Nonprofit Annual Report
There is no singular formula for a perfect nonprofit annual report—you know your nonprofit and its activities best. But there are some best practices that can ensure that your annual report will see the best results possible. These tips include:
Your nonprofit annual report should be a resource to your nonprofit itself as well as your supporters. Take the opportunity each year to highlight all of your nonprofit’s successes, taking pride in the great work that you’ve done and sharing with your supporters how you’ve continued to further your mission.
Other Resources to Explore
Nonprofit Basics – Learn more nonprofit management essentials by exploring other expert resources.
Nonprofit Branding: Our Complete Guide and Best Examples – Explore the connection between branding and credibility, especially as it relates to your nonprofit annual report.
Top Nonprofit Website Builders to Promote Your Mission – Make it easy to upload and share your annual report with a well-built website.
Nonprofit Basics: Corporate Giving
/in Nonprofit Basics /by Adam WeingerCompanies are becoming more aware of their duty to create a positive impact within their communities. By engaging in corporate giving, they support the charitable organizations that matter to their employees and customers. In turn, they can fulfill their obligations to do more good and create a better society.
This quick guide to corporate giving will outline the basics of these programs. Whether you work at a company that wants to start a matching gift program or a nonprofit that wants to raise more through corporate giving initiatives, you’ll learn everything you need to know to get started.
What Is Corporate Giving?
Corporate giving refers to the actions a company takes and the investments it makes to support nonprofits. Also known as “corporate philanthropy,” corporate giving includes all of the ways in which companies create positive social impact through generous financial donations, employee time, or their products and services. Common types of corporate giving programs include matching gifts, volunteerism, and in-kind donations.
Why Does Corporate Giving Exist?
Corporate giving provides nonprofits with the monetary and moral support they need to thrive. Whether they need financial support, in-kind services, or extra volunteers, companies can swoop in to fill the gaps.
Nonprofits aren’t the only ones who can benefit, though. Companies can position their organizations as desirable places to work by creating a culture where employees feel supported. Employees and customers alike are always on the lookout for philanthropic companies. Nonprofits Source’s online giving statistics page shows that:
In other words, corporate giving contributes significantly to employees, companies, and the nonprofits they support.
Types of Corporate Giving Programs
The best part of corporate philanthropy is that it’s such an expansive space. There’s really no limit to how companies can support the causes in their communities.
Our guide to corporate giving dives into the different types of CSR programs, and we’ll give you a rundown of the most important ones you need to know.
Matching Gifts
As the most popular type of corporate giving, matching gifts have the power to multiply donations at no extra cost to donors. A business that offers this type of corporate giving will match the donations their employees make to charity, most often at a dollar-for-dollar rate.
So, if someone donates $100 to a nonprofit, their company might match that donation and send an additional $100, totaling $200.
Here’s how the process works:
Auto-submission technology takes a few steps out of this process. Instead of having to navigate to an external portal and fill out a request form, donors can automatically submit their requests using Double the Donation. After donating, they’ll be prompted to answer a few additional questions to determine their eligibility for auto-submission. If eligible, our platform will submit the request to their employer for them!
While still somewhat new, auto-submission functionality is projected to yield an incredible 80% increase in matching gift revenue, according to our matching gift research. After all, who would pass up the opportunity to level up their gifts when it won’t cost them any more money or effort?
Volunteer Support
Corporate volunteering simplifies volunteer recruitment for nonprofits. It gives nonprofits the hands-on support they need while allowing employees to gain new skills like problem-solving and customer service outside of the workplace. Corporate volunteerism comes in a few different forms, such as:
There are a few other types of corporate giving through volunteering, but these are the most common examples. Some companies even provide volunteer paid time off (VTO), so employees can volunteer at their favorite organizations during the workday without giving up their paychecks.
Fundraising Matches
Similar to matching gifts, fundraising matches require companies to match donations to nonprofits. The difference is that these are the donations that employees raise on behalf of an organization.
So, if someone raises $2,000 for their favorite charity during a peer-to-peer fundraiser, their employer might match that amount and donate an additional $2,000. Like matching gifts, companies may offer fundraising matches at different ratios and have eligibility guidelines.
Automatic Payroll Deductions
Automatic payroll deductions use a similar process as contributing to a retirement account. Employees can opt into this corporate giving program to allocate part of each paycheck to their favorite charity.
Note that gifts are typically deducted post-tax, so donors should be able to write these donations off on their taxes. By marketing this type of corporate giving to donors, nonprofits can build a reliable pipeline of recurring donations.
In-Kind Donations
Corporate giving isn’t always about monetary donations. Companies might donate goods and services, which are also referred to as “in-kind donations.”
Jitasa’s guide to in-kind donations explains that when a nonprofit receives monetary gifts, it proceeds to invest that funding into its operations and programming. For instance, an organization might plan to spend $10,000 on event space and catering for an upcoming charity auction. When a company donates that space and catering in-kind, the nonprofit skips the extra step of paying for it themselves. Then, that frees up the $10,000 to be reallocated to other aspects of the organization’s mission.
In-kind donations can take several other forms, such as accounting services, graphic design services, and auction items. It all depends on what a nonprofit needs to keep its doors open.
Identifying the Best Corporate Giving Opportunities for Your Cause
Finding the right corporate giving opportunities starts with aligning your nonprofit’s mission with companies that share your values and philanthropic goals. Not every business is the right fit—and that’s okay. The key is to focus on organizations whose corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives naturally complement your work.
Start by researching companies that already support causes like yours. Many corporations publish CSR reports or highlight their philanthropic focus areas on their websites. Look for signals such as past nonprofit partnerships, employee volunteer programs, and matching gift initiatives. These clues can indicate a willingness to deepen their impact through sponsorships or larger-scale support.
Using tools like Double the Donation’s updated database can dramatically streamline this process. Their search functionality now includes detailed information on companies’ giving priorities, sponsorship guidelines, and contact information—making it easier than ever to pinpoint businesses that are actively looking to support nonprofits in your sector.
Additionally, analyze your donor database. Are there companies that employ a large portion of your supporters? If so, those businesses may be more inclined to invest in a sponsorship or partnership, especially when they see their employees already engaged with your cause.
Start Your Own Corporate Giving Program
Now that you know what corporate giving is and how it can impact your business, you can create your own program. Here are three tips to help you get started:
As your corporate giving program expands, keep employees informed about the impact of their contributions, share success stories, and be open to suggestions for improvement. Regularly evaluate the program’s effectiveness and make adjustments as needed to ensure you continue to meet your goals.
Other Resources to Explore
Nonprofit Basics – Learn more nonprofit management essentials by exploring other expert resources.
Double the Donation’s Matching Gift Academy – Take a deep dive into corporate matching gifts with our new online learning experience.
Best Corporate Giving Software for Companies (& Trends We’re Seeing) – On the lookout for corporate giving tools to streamline your company’s philanthropic giving? Look no further! This guide walks through some of the best options on the market.
Corporate Sponsorships: The Ultimate Nonprofit Guide – Lining up sponsorships is a great way to build a reliable revenue stream for your nonprofit. Check out our complete guide to this type of corporate giving.
Nonprofit Basics: Donation Matching
/in Nonprofit Basics /by Adam WeingerCorporate philanthropy is a powerful concept. Through employer giving initiatives, companies and their employees can make major differences in the causes that mean something to them. Donation matching is one of the most popular ways companies give back to their communities.
Through this type of workplace giving program, nonprofits can multiply the donations they’re already receiving. We’ll explore the basics of donation matching, providing you with tips for getting started at your organization.
What Is Donation Matching?
Donation matching is a corporate giving initiative in which companies match their employees’ charitable donations. When an employee donates to a nonprofit, they’ll submit a request to their employer. Then, the company will then make its own donation to the same organization.
Most often, companies match gifts at a 1:1 ratio or a dollar-for-dollar rate, which doubles the initial donation. So, if an employee donates $50, the company will donate $50 to the nonprofit.
What Are The Benefits of Gift Matching?
At its core, donation matching provides nonprofits with free money! Nonprofits can multiply an organization’s revenue by making donations go further and ensuring donors feel like they’re making a difference. When you notice many of your donors work for the same company, that can also indicate a potential corporate partnership opportunity.
So, while donation matching can transform fundraising revenue, not enough organizations are leveraging these programs!
From the corporate perspective, companies can increase employee satisfaction and position their organization as a desirable place to work. In fact, 88% of companies believe effective employee engagement programs like matching gifts help attract and retain employees. Not to mention, for-profits can give back to their communities and attach their names to worthwhile causes.
How to Get Started with Donation Matching
Pursuing gift matching is a smart move! Now, you’re probably wondering where to start. Here are some easy ways you can fold donation matching into your current fundraising activities.
Know how these programs are constructed.
Before scouring your CRM for donation matching opportunities, take the time to understand how these programs are set up. Dedicated matching gift training can go a long way in empowering your team to successfully guide donors through the process.
Companies create guidelines to ensure the donations they’re giving will make a difference in causes that align with their objectives. Our guide to corporate matching gifts breaks these guidelines down into a few pieces, including:
Every company’s guidelines are different. That’s why investing in a matching gift tool is critical. As we’ll explore later, an employer search tool will instantly pull employers’ guidelines, so you can keep track of donors’ eligibility.
Market donation matching to donors.
Bloomerang’s guide to donor engagement explains that matching gift eligibility can signal potential long-term donor relationships. Push these relationships in the right direction by promoting matching donations to your donors!
Here are a few key moments to promote donation matching:
Start marketing matching gifts to your donors through these avenues, so you can obtain your portion of the billions of dollars that go unclaimed each year! Automating your outreach using your dedicated tools will simplify your nonprofit’s marketing even further.
Leverage gift matching tools.
Dedicated employer giving tools will help you drive more matches to completion.
To start, embed an employer search tool into your donation page, confirmation page, and anywhere else on your site. This will empower donors to research their employers’ programs and find the necessary forms at any point.
Other Resources to Explore
Nonprofit Basics – Learn more nonprofit management essentials by exploring other expert resources.
Corporate Philanthropy – Nonprofit Catalog – Donation matching is just one piece of the corporate giving puzzle. Learn about other types of corporate philanthropy with this guide.
Nonprofit Basics: Matching Gifts & How They Double Funds – Explore more fundamentals of corporate matching gifts, including benefits for all parties. You’ll also learn about companies with generous programs, helping you shape your nonprofit’s fundraising strategy.
Nonprofit Basics: Employee Engagement
/in Nonprofit Basics /by Adam WeingerEngaged employees are motivated to work, easy to get along with, more likely to stay with the company, and happy to speak well of their employer to friends and family. For nonprofits, engaging your employees and volunteers will make your organization more efficient and a better place to work.
Additionally, nonprofits can also appeal to for-profit organizations by emphasizing how employee engagement can be improved through corporate philanthropy. To pitch your organization to these businesses, your team will need to have a strong understanding of what employee engagement is and how it impacts both the for- and nonprofit worlds.
What is employee engagement?
Employee engagement is how mentally and emotionally connected employees feel with their work. Engaged employees feel a personal investment in completing their day-to-day responsibilities and actively seek to help their organization succeed.
What are examples of employee engagement?
Employee engagement will look different at different organizations, depending on the industry, size, workplace culture, and engagement opportunities. However, a few common types of employee engagement across workplaces include:
Employees will show their engagement in various ways based on their personality, interests, and role. For example, more introverted employees working on tasks they can complete independently may not be as social as team members on collaborative projects, but they can still show their engagement by meeting a high performance standard and actively seeking out growth opportunities for their role.
How can I improve employee engagement?
While employee engagement looks different for everyone, you can boost employee engagement throughout your company with the following tips:
Create an employee satisfaction program.
You can measure how engaged your employees currently are, what is impacting their engagement, and take action to increase their engagement with an employee satisfaction program.
Employee satisfaction programs primarily rely on information collected from your employees. Surveys are an easy way to centralize all of your workplace feedback. Send out surveys to your employees following key moments in their work at your organization. For example, you might survey new employees who just completed onboarding to understand what materials were helpful for their training and what parts of the process were confusing. Or, you may send out a general survey at the beginning of the year asking employees what types of events they participated in or would look forward to joining in the future.
Negative surveys can often be even more helpful than positive ones if your organization has a closed feedback loop system in place. The closed feedback loop process follows these steps:
The cycle then repeats the next time an employee provides feedback. By continuing to act when concerns are raised, you can improve immediate employee engagement and identify and resolve root causes of problems.
Explore corporate philanthropy.
Today’s employees want to work for organizations that make a difference in the world. Research shows that 71% of employees expect their employers to support charitable giving and volunteering. Plus, 90% of staff members at socially-minded companies say they’re more inspired, motivated, and loyal.
By participating in corporate philanthropy and providing employees with opportunities to give back, you can boost their engagement and create a workplace culture of generosity. Here are some ideas for getting staff members involved in your company’s philanthropic efforts:
Keep track of employee participation in philanthropic activities by leveraging a corporate giving solution. Collecting, storing, and analyzing data on your programs in a streamlined manner will help you determine how engaged your employees are in corporate philanthropy and improve your strategy going forward.
Provide growth opportunities.
Employees will feel more motivated to work if they feel they are advancing professionally. After all, it’s easy to stay engaged when the work is engaging, rewarding, and challenging.
Have managers meet with their direct reports to discuss the future of their careers and gather ideas about how their roles can be expanded. Then, give employees the opportunity to move into higher roles by allowing them to take on new responsibilities, attend professional courses, or sit in on meetings for positions they’re considering moving into.
Recognize employees.
Positive reinforcement has been proven to boost morale, motivation, and overall job satisfaction, leading to increased productivity and reduced turnover rates. In fact, 37% of employees report that the best way to improve their engagement is for their superiors to give them recognition.
Here are several ways to recognize employees for their hard work and dedication to your business:
It’s important to tailor recognition efforts to the specific needs and preferences of your workforce, as what works for one employee may not work for another. Regularly evaluate and adjust recognition strategies based on employee feedback to ensure they are effective at engaging and motivating employees.
Other Resources to Explore
Nonprofit Basics – Learn more nonprofit management essentials by exploring other expert resources.
Top Corporate Giving Software to Drive Employee Engagement – Get more information on corporate giving tools and how they can directly improve employee engagement.
Getting Employees to Care: Employee Engagement and Culture – Explore how employee engagement, workplace culture, and motivation are tied together and can be improved by making strategic changes at your organization.
Nonprofit Basics: Nonprofit Accounting
/in Nonprofit Basics /by Adam WeingerYour fundraising team works hard to collect donations on behalf of your nonprofit’s mission. From the lengthiest of capital campaigns to the shortest giving day, you work hard on many initiatives to bring in money that will fund all of your organization’s expenses.
But just bringing in the money isn’t enough. This funding also needs to be allocated to various aspects of your mission and reported on according to the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). This allocation, reporting, and financial decision-making is where nonprofit accounting comes into play.
What is nonprofit accounting?
Nonprofit accounting is the process by which organizations plan, record, and report their finances on a regular basis. This process helps you make smart financial decisions so you can remain accountable to donors and meet your organization’s financial goals.
Nonprofits use a system of fund accounting rather than the traditional accounting system used by for-profit organizations. Fund accounting allows nonprofits to prioritize accountability to their donors over profitability for the organization.
Using this system is necessary because nonprofits sometimes receive gifts with restrictions placed on them by donors. Restricted gifts allow donors to ensure the funds they contribute are dedicated to the project they’re most interested in at your nonprofit. Your nonprofit is legally required to abide by these restrictions to stay accountable to the donors. Fund accounting makes it possible for nonprofits to organize this data and allocate funding accordingly.
What do nonprofit accountants do?
Nonprofit accountants ensure your nonprofit maintains the GAAP standards and help interpret financial data to make informed decisions at the organization. Specifically, they’ll help to review and reconcile your accounts, balance both sides of transactions, and compile statements and reports of your financial information.
Moreover, accountants help put together important financial preparations at your organization. For example, they help your nonprofit prepare:
All of this preparation requires intimate knowledge of your organization’s financial systems as well as the ability to read and understand all of your financial data. While very small organizations often rely on their executive members to accomplish these tasks, mid-size to large nonprofits often prefer to outsource their accounting needs or hire an internal accountant.
What are the types of reports used in nonprofit accounting?
In addition to everything listed above, accountants are also responsible for pulling together statements and reports of your financial data from your accounting software, whether that’s a dedicated fund accounting solution or a spreadsheet.
Let’s explore these reports further.
Statement of Activities
The nonprofit statement of activities is parallel to a for-profit’s income statement. This document lays out the organization’s revenue and expenses for the year in rows, then organizes each by restriction in the columns. The statement of activities categorizes the revenue and expenses, allowing the nonprofit accountant to analyze that data more effectively and review the organization’s net assets.
Statement of Cash Flows
Your statement of cash flows shows how cash moves in and out of your organization. This statement breaks down cash flow into three categories of activities: operating, financing, and investing. This way, you can see how your organization receives and uses money from fundraising, grant-seeking, and investing.
Statement of Financial Position
Your nonprofit’s statement of financial position is also known as your nonprofit balance sheet. This statement shows the financial health of your nonprofit by laying out your assets, liabilities, and net assets. When your net assets are positive, your organization is likely in a generally positive financial position, while having negative net assets means you likely have some financial reorganizing to do.
Statement of Functional Expenses
The statement of functional expenses breaks down your nonprofit’s expenses, organizing them by how they were used at the organization. There are three function categories this statement uses to organize expenses: program, administrative, and fundraising. The report is useful when it comes time to fill out your nonprofit’s Form 990, which organizes expenses in the same way.
What are nonprofit tax requirements?
Your accountant will also help your organization comply with federal and state tax requirements. While state tax requirements differ depending on the state in which your nonprofit is registered and operates, the federal requirements are similar between organizations.
Nonprofit accountants help organizations with forms such as the:
Tax season can be a stressful time for anyone, but for a nonprofit professional who already wears many hats, it can be closer to a nightmare. That’s why nonprofits frequently rely on an outside accountant to help organize and report their financial information for taxes.
Other Resources to Explore
Nonprofit Basics – Learn more nonprofit management essentials by exploring other expert resources.
Nonprofit Form 1099 Guide – Your organization needs to issue 1099s to any contractors you work with at the beginning of each year. Learn more about how and when to issue these tax forms.
Corporate Matching Gift Programs – Nonprofit accountants have more flexibility when setting your nonprofit’s budget if you maximize your fundraising efforts. See how corporate matching gifts can help you maximize your fundraising strategy.