Volunteer grants (which are also commonly referred to as Dollars for Doers programs) are one of the most popular forms of corporate giving. Unlike matching gift initiatives, in which corporations match monetary donations from their employees, volunteer grant programs match employees’ donated time with corporate funds.
This is an excellent way to secure financial support through volunteerism, and the revenue offered through the programs can add up quickly. In fact, according to our corporate volunteer statistics, 80% of companies with volunteer grant programs provide between $8 and $15 per hour an employee volunteers. However, there are many businesses offering above and beyond that range—and we’ve compiled a list of some standout examples for you here.
So, without further ado, here are seventeen companies that have truly embraced Dollars for Doers programs with particularly generous grant amounts.
P.S. Looking for information on even more lucrative volunteer opportunities? Skip to our bonus section to find out how a volunteer grant database can help!
Travelers Companies
Travelers Companies offers two distinct types of employee giving programs. These include:
- Matching Gifts of Money
- Matching Gifts of Time
Through the “Matching Gifts of Money” program, the company doubles donations made by employees to nearly all nonprofits.
Through the “Matching Gifts of Time” program, however (also known as the Volunteer Rewards Program), the company will direct a $1,000 grant to a nonprofit organization with which an employee has regularly volunteered.
View additional details on Travelers Company’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
Kimberly-Clark
As a way to inspire employees to give back, Kimberly-Clark matches donations to nearly all nonprofits up to $10,000 per team member per year. In addition, the Kimberly-Clark Foundation also recognizes the volunteer efforts of employees and their spouses or domestic partners.
Through its volunteer grant program, the company provides $500 grants to nonprofits where employees (and/or their spouses or domestic partners) volunteer for at least 30 hours in a year. This equates to approximately $17 per hour!
View additional details on Kimberly-Clark’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
PNC Financial Services Group
Through PNC Financial Service Group’s “Grow up Great” or “Grants for Great Hours” volunteer program, employees who contribute a minimum of 40 hours with a nonprofit can earn a grant of $1,000 for the organization (which equates to $25 per hour). Meanwhile, teams of PNC employees can also volunteer together to unlock grants worth up to $3,000!
Not to mention, PNC offers a matching gift program through which the company matches financial donations dollar-for-dollar to nearly any nonprofit or school.
View additional details on PNC Financial’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
Amgen Inc.
The Amgen Foundation supports volunteer efforts by providing grants to the organizations where employees volunteer. With a minimum requirement of only 1 hour, employees can quickly request grants from the company worth $25 for every hour they spend with an organization.
Full-time employees are eligible for up to $2,000 annually in grants, while part-time staff are limited to $1,000 each year.
View additional details on Amgen’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
PPG Industries
PPG Industries offers one of the most generous volunteer grant programs. Through the company’s “Grant Incentives for Volunteerism by PPG Employees & Retirees (GIVE)” program, an employee or retiree can request a $500 grant for an organization once they’ve volunteered for a total of 10 hours. That’s $50 per hour!
As an added bonus, if an individual also serves on the nonprofit’s board of directors, the company will double the grant and award $1,000 to the nonprofit (or $100 per volunteer hour).
View additional details on PPG Industries’ volunteer grant and VTO programs.
Devon Energy Corporation
Whereas most companies base volunteer grant funding on the number of hours an employee volunteers in a full year, Devon Energy provides grants for volunteering across shorter time periods.
Specifically, the company offers two ways employees can request volunteer grants for their organizations:
- Completing six hours of volunteering per month for two months.
- Completing three hours of volunteering per month for four months.
Either way, the grant amount comes out to $250 for a total of 12 volunteer hours, which is equivalent to nearly $21 per hour.
View additional details on Devon Energy’s volunteer grant program.
Soros Fund Management LLC
Soros Fund Management offers a generous volunteer grant program, with grant amounts being paid out according to a tiered structure. Here’s how it works:
- 20-39 volunteer hours = $1,000 grants
- 40-59 hours = $2,000 grants
- 60-79 hours = $3,000 grants
- 80 or more hours = $4,000 grants
While it will vary depending on the specific tier an individual reaches, the company’s volunteer grants are generally equivalent to $25 to $50 per hour volunteered.
Additionally, the company offers a standout matching gift program that triples employee donations, with a particularly high maximum donation amount of $100,000!
View additional details on Soros Fund Management’s volunteer grant program.
Chevron Corporation
Through Chevron’s “Grant for Good” program, the company provides grants as a way to recognize employees who volunteer on a regular basis. After employees volunteer for 20 hours with a single nonprofit, the organization can receive a $500 grant. Each employee—or retiree—is eligible to obtain two $500 grants per calendar year for a total of $1,000, whether for a single nonprofit or split between two different organizations.
Meanwhile, Chevron also doubles donations made by employees and retirees through the company’s Humankind Program, or matching gift initiative.
View additional details on Chevron’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
Pfizer, Inc.
Pfizer, Inc. encourages regular volunteerism among employees and retirees. In order to do so, the company provides generous volunteer grants to the organizations where employees volunteer. After an individual volunteers for six hours per month for six consecutive months (a total of 36 hours), they’re encouraged to submit a request for a $1,000 grant. That comes out to nearly $28 per hour!
Not to mention, the company also matches donations made by employees and retirees up to $5,000 annually.
View additional details on Pfizer’s volunteer grant program.
ConocoPhillips Company
ConocoPhillips supports its employees’ volunteer efforts through a multi-faceted volunteer grant program that provides monetary contributions to nonprofit organizations where team members volunteer. This initiative aligns with the company’s ongoing commitment to community involvement and enhancing employee engagement—all while giving back.
There are two types of volunteer funds that ConocoPhillips employees can request: individual and team grants. Individuals are encouraged to request grants worth $500 after 20 hours of volunteer service, while groups of four or more can unlock grants of $1,000 upon reaching a total of 40 hours.
View additional details on ConocoPhillips’ volunteer grant program.
Microsoft
Microsoft is known for its robust employee giving program, which includes a volunteer grant element. For every hour an employee volunteers, Microsoft donates $25 to the respective nonprofit organization. This program incentivizes employees to engage in their communities, helping support causes they care about while also furthering Microsoft’s corporate responsibility objectives.
View additional details on Microsoft’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
RealNetworks
RealNetworks provides a generous volunteer grant program that allows employees to earn funds for nonprofits based on their volunteer hours. When an employee reaches four hours of volunteering with a nonprofit cause, the company will provide a grant worth $25 per hour.
RealNetworks also matches employees’ financial donations at a 2:1 rate, offering up to $15,000 per year.
View additional details on RealNetworks’ volunteer grant and VTO programs.
Allstate Insurance Company
Allstate’s Helping Hands volunteer program offers volunteer grants for employees actively participating in community service. When employees complete a minimum of 8 volunteer hours, Allstate awards grants of $500 to the organizations where they volunteered.
Each employee can request up to two $500 grants each year for a total of $1,000 (or $62.50 per hour).
View additional details on Allstate’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
Apple Inc.
Apple’s volunteer grant program allows employees to support nonprofits with their time while securing funding for these organizations. For every hour an employee volunteers, Apple provides a monetary grant worth $25, incentivizing employee participation in community service.
In addition, the company also offers matching gifts for employee donations of up to $10,000!
View additional details on Apple’s volunteer grant program.
ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil offers an extensive volunteer grant program designed to support employees who commit time to nonprofit organizations. Employees who volunteer 20 hours or more with a qualifying organization can request a $500 grant (or up to four each year), which ExxonMobil provides to the nonprofit.
Additionally, the company offers a Team Volunteer Involvement Program that awards grants when five or more eligible employees volunteer for a combined total of at least 20 hours.
View additional details on ExxonMobil’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
CVS Health
CVS Health’s volunteer grant offering encourages employees to give back by providing monetary donations to nonprofits where they volunteer. Today, the company offers several programs through which it gives—and encourages its employees to do the same. These include individual volunteer challenge grants, individual fundraising matches, team volunteer challenge grants, and team fundraising matches.
For individuals, all they have to do is volunteer for a minimum of 15 hours to unlock grants worth $500, $1,000, or $1,500!
View additional details on CVS Health’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
Kohl’s Corporation
Kohl’s volunteer grant program (called “Associates in Action”) empowers its staff to support community organizations through individual and team-based volunteerism. Employees are required only to volunteer for a single hour in order to unlock a grant, and volunteer grants are worth $25 per hour volunteered.
While the company focuses its giving initiatives on hospitals and other youth-serving organizations, nearly any registered organization is eligible to receive funding through the program.
View additional details on Kohl’s volunteer grant program.
Bonus: How a Volunteer Grant Database Uncovers Even More Lucrative Opportunities
A volunteer grant database provides a centralized hub for organizations to explore and identify companies within their networks that offer volunteer grants.
Such a solution generally includes details on eligibility requirements, payout structures, and volunteer hour thresholds, making it easier than ever for supporters to get involved. Thus, for nonprofits aiming to fully leverage corporate volunteer grants, an extensive database is an invaluable resource.
Our recommendation? Double the Donation Volunteering.
Here’s how it works:
- A volunteer begins typing their employer’s name in an auto-completing search tool.
- The individual selects the appropriate company from the populated suggestions.
- The database tool immediately provides company-specific information on available volunteer grant programs (as well as matching gifts, VTO, and other workplace giving programs). Generally, this includes the minimum number of hours required for a grant, the corporate donation amount, submission deadlines, and request forms.
- The individual follows the provided instructions to complete a volunteer grant request for their employing company on your behalf.
From there, the company will review the request and, if approved, disperse the appropriate funds to your cause.
With access to this comprehensive information, nonprofits can proactively engage supporters who work at companies with generous grant programs, maximizing both volunteer involvement and financial support. Not to mention, by using a volunteer grant database, organizations can streamline their outreach, encourage eligible volunteers to log their hours, and ultimately unlock more funds to fuel their missions.
Wrapping Up & Additional Resources
Each of these programs has embraced employee giving by offering grants above and beyond corporate or industry averages. While the participating companies may benefit from increased employee engagement and enhanced CSR, your nonprofit can reap significant rewards as well.
After all, Dollar for Doer programs are a chance to double dip. You can earn monetary grants along with benefiting from the assistance volunteers provide your cause. Just make sure your nonprofit is encouraging volunteers to log their volunteer hours and submit the appropriate grant requests to their employers!
Interested in learning more about volunteer grants and other workplace giving opportunities? Check out the following resources:
Matching Gift Opportunities: Houston’s Top Companies
/in Matching Gift Companies, Lists and Rankings /by Adam WeingerAre you a Houston nonprofit? Are you taking full advantage of the variety of matching gift programs offered by local and national employers? If not, you’re leaving fundraising dollars on the table.
Energy is one of the most philanthropic industries in the United States, and Houston is home to many leading energy companies. Nearly all of these companies match donations made by employees and/or retirees, as well as offer grants when employees volunteer.
If you’re a Houston nonprofit looking to have more donations matched by your donors’ employers, this article is for you! First, we’re going to look at the best way to discover matching gift opportunities, before breaking down the programs offered by the following top Houston companies:
Follow along for a look at corporate philanthropy in Houston, TX.
The Best Way to Discover Matching Gift Opportunities
Even though Houston provides huge matching gift opportunities, it’s impossible to capitalize on them if your organization is unaware of these programs when you encounter them. This lack of awareness can be inhibiting, and the easiest way to combat it is by employing matching gift tools.
Nonprofits large and small can benefit from such tools where their matching gift solicitation processes are concerned. With the right solutions, nonprofits can embed an industry-leading, searchable database directly on their website and giving form, allowing donors to easily search their eligibility.
For example, a nonprofit looking to grow its existing processes would benefit from Double the Donation Matching. Through this tool, nonprofits are able to fully automate their matching gift solicitation processes, from the original discovery of eligible donors to the communications that follow.
With that, continue reading for a look at the top companies in Houston with matching gift programs.
Leading Houston Matching Gift Companies:
BHP Billiton
While the parent company of BHP Billiton is based out of Australia, the U.S. subsidiary has its headquarters, as well as a major employee presence, in the Houston area. As with most leading energy companies, BHP is a strong supporter of local nonprofits through its employee giving programs.
Matching Gifts:
BHP offers two types of matching gift programs where the company will match donations to nonprofit organizations:
Volunteer Grants:
If BHP employees prefer to give their time, BHP supports their volunteerism by providing grants to nonprofits where employees volunteer regularly.
For every hour a BHP employee volunteers, the company donates $16 to the organization. Of course, there’s a minimum and maximum amount the company will donate per employee, but this can be a great source of fundraising for organizations with a large volunteer base.
Learn more about BHP Billiton’s employee giving programs.
Halliburton
Halliburton employees can participate in three different matching gift programs:
For further information on Halliburton’s employee giving programs, read more here.
Phillips 66
Phillips 66 is an American multinational energy company headquartered in the Houston area. The Fortune 500 company offers a generous corporate philanthropy program.
Matching Gifts:
Phillips 66 matches donations to most nonprofits at a 1:1 ratio. Their maximum match amount for active full- and part-time employees is $15,000, while retirees are matched up to $7,500 annually.
Volunteer Grants:
Phillips 66 offers two types of volunteer grant programs for employees, their spouses, and retirees:
Learn more about Phillip 66’s employee giving programs.
ConocoPhillips
With over $230 million a year in revenue, ConocoPhillips is the fourth largest company in the United States (according to Forbes). Along with this financial success, the company has made corporate philanthropy a big component of its core values.
Matching Gifts:
ConocoPhillips matches donations from employees and retirees at a 1:1 rate. Employees can request up to $10,000 in matching funds annually while retirees are eligible to request up to $5,000 annually.
Volunteer Grants:
ConocoPhillips also supports organizations where individuals or groups of employees volunteer. Individuals can request grants of $500 after volunteering for 20 hours or grants of $1,000 after volunteering with a nonprofit for 40 hours.
If groups of employees volunteer together, ConocoPhillips provides team volunteer grants. If you have supporters who work at ConocoPhillips, make sure to ask them to grab their colleagues to come out and volunteer together. If a group of four or more ConocoPhillips employees volunteer together for a total of at least 40 hours, your nonprofit can earn a grant of $1,000.
Learn more about ConocoPhillips employee grant programs.
BP
BP is consistently ranked on our list of top corporate giving programs and recognized for having perhaps the best employee giving program.
BP has a matching gifts program where they will match employee donations from $25 to $5,000 at a 1:1 ratio.
The nonprofits BP will match donations to include, but are not limited to:
BP also has a dollars for doers program where they will donate up to 10 dollars per volunteer hour after an employee has volunteered a minimum of 25 hours. The company will also match the amount of money an employee has raised at an event for nonprofits!
Lastly, BP’s Fabric of America program allows employees to designate $300 in grant money to the nonprofit of their choice, in addition to all of the other matching gift and volunteer matching programs BP has in place.
Learn more about BP’s corporate matching program.
Four Additional Houston Energy Companies with Matching Gift Programs:
Double the Donation’s team tracks and makes it easy for your organization’s donors to submit match requests. Take a tour of Double the Donation’s service to see if it’s right for your organization.
17 Companies with Volunteer Grants Greater Than $15/hour
/in Volunteer Grant Companies, Lists and Rankings /by Adam WeingerVolunteer grants (which are also commonly referred to as Dollars for Doers programs) are one of the most popular forms of corporate giving. Unlike matching gift initiatives, in which corporations match monetary donations from their employees, volunteer grant programs match employees’ donated time with corporate funds.
This is an excellent way to secure financial support through volunteerism, and the revenue offered through the programs can add up quickly. In fact, according to our corporate volunteer statistics, 80% of companies with volunteer grant programs provide between $8 and $15 per hour an employee volunteers. However, there are many businesses offering above and beyond that range—and we’ve compiled a list of some standout examples for you here.
So, without further ado, here are seventeen companies that have truly embraced Dollars for Doers programs with particularly generous grant amounts.
Travelers Companies
Travelers Companies offers two distinct types of employee giving programs. These include:
Through the “Matching Gifts of Money” program, the company doubles donations made by employees to nearly all nonprofits.
Through the “Matching Gifts of Time” program, however (also known as the Volunteer Rewards Program), the company will direct a $1,000 grant to a nonprofit organization with which an employee has regularly volunteered.
View additional details on Travelers Company’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
Kimberly-Clark
As a way to inspire employees to give back, Kimberly-Clark matches donations to nearly all nonprofits up to $10,000 per team member per year. In addition, the Kimberly-Clark Foundation also recognizes the volunteer efforts of employees and their spouses or domestic partners.
Through its volunteer grant program, the company provides $500 grants to nonprofits where employees (and/or their spouses or domestic partners) volunteer for at least 30 hours in a year. This equates to approximately $17 per hour!
View additional details on Kimberly-Clark’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
PNC Financial Services Group
Through PNC Financial Service Group’s “Grow up Great” or “Grants for Great Hours” volunteer program, employees who contribute a minimum of 40 hours with a nonprofit can earn a grant of $1,000 for the organization (which equates to $25 per hour). Meanwhile, teams of PNC employees can also volunteer together to unlock grants worth up to $3,000!
Not to mention, PNC offers a matching gift program through which the company matches financial donations dollar-for-dollar to nearly any nonprofit or school.
View additional details on PNC Financial’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
Amgen Inc.
The Amgen Foundation supports volunteer efforts by providing grants to the organizations where employees volunteer. With a minimum requirement of only 1 hour, employees can quickly request grants from the company worth $25 for every hour they spend with an organization.
Full-time employees are eligible for up to $2,000 annually in grants, while part-time staff are limited to $1,000 each year.
View additional details on Amgen’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
PPG Industries
PPG Industries offers one of the most generous volunteer grant programs. Through the company’s “Grant Incentives for Volunteerism by PPG Employees & Retirees (GIVE)” program, an employee or retiree can request a $500 grant for an organization once they’ve volunteered for a total of 10 hours. That’s $50 per hour!
As an added bonus, if an individual also serves on the nonprofit’s board of directors, the company will double the grant and award $1,000 to the nonprofit (or $100 per volunteer hour).
View additional details on PPG Industries’ volunteer grant and VTO programs.
Devon Energy Corporation
Whereas most companies base volunteer grant funding on the number of hours an employee volunteers in a full year, Devon Energy provides grants for volunteering across shorter time periods.
Specifically, the company offers two ways employees can request volunteer grants for their organizations:
Either way, the grant amount comes out to $250 for a total of 12 volunteer hours, which is equivalent to nearly $21 per hour.
View additional details on Devon Energy’s volunteer grant program.
Soros Fund Management LLC
Soros Fund Management offers a generous volunteer grant program, with grant amounts being paid out according to a tiered structure. Here’s how it works:
While it will vary depending on the specific tier an individual reaches, the company’s volunteer grants are generally equivalent to $25 to $50 per hour volunteered.
Additionally, the company offers a standout matching gift program that triples employee donations, with a particularly high maximum donation amount of $100,000!
View additional details on Soros Fund Management’s volunteer grant program.
Chevron Corporation
Through Chevron’s “Grant for Good” program, the company provides grants as a way to recognize employees who volunteer on a regular basis. After employees volunteer for 20 hours with a single nonprofit, the organization can receive a $500 grant. Each employee—or retiree—is eligible to obtain two $500 grants per calendar year for a total of $1,000, whether for a single nonprofit or split between two different organizations.
Meanwhile, Chevron also doubles donations made by employees and retirees through the company’s Humankind Program, or matching gift initiative.
View additional details on Chevron’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
Pfizer, Inc.
Pfizer, Inc. encourages regular volunteerism among employees and retirees. In order to do so, the company provides generous volunteer grants to the organizations where employees volunteer. After an individual volunteers for six hours per month for six consecutive months (a total of 36 hours), they’re encouraged to submit a request for a $1,000 grant. That comes out to nearly $28 per hour!
Not to mention, the company also matches donations made by employees and retirees up to $5,000 annually.
View additional details on Pfizer’s volunteer grant program.
ConocoPhillips Company
ConocoPhillips supports its employees’ volunteer efforts through a multi-faceted volunteer grant program that provides monetary contributions to nonprofit organizations where team members volunteer. This initiative aligns with the company’s ongoing commitment to community involvement and enhancing employee engagement—all while giving back.
There are two types of volunteer funds that ConocoPhillips employees can request: individual and team grants. Individuals are encouraged to request grants worth $500 after 20 hours of volunteer service, while groups of four or more can unlock grants of $1,000 upon reaching a total of 40 hours.
View additional details on ConocoPhillips’ volunteer grant program.
Microsoft
Microsoft is known for its robust employee giving program, which includes a volunteer grant element. For every hour an employee volunteers, Microsoft donates $25 to the respective nonprofit organization. This program incentivizes employees to engage in their communities, helping support causes they care about while also furthering Microsoft’s corporate responsibility objectives.
View additional details on Microsoft’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
RealNetworks
RealNetworks provides a generous volunteer grant program that allows employees to earn funds for nonprofits based on their volunteer hours. When an employee reaches four hours of volunteering with a nonprofit cause, the company will provide a grant worth $25 per hour.
RealNetworks also matches employees’ financial donations at a 2:1 rate, offering up to $15,000 per year.
View additional details on RealNetworks’ volunteer grant and VTO programs.
Allstate Insurance Company
Allstate’s Helping Hands volunteer program offers volunteer grants for employees actively participating in community service. When employees complete a minimum of 8 volunteer hours, Allstate awards grants of $500 to the organizations where they volunteered.
Each employee can request up to two $500 grants each year for a total of $1,000 (or $62.50 per hour).
View additional details on Allstate’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
Apple Inc.
Apple’s volunteer grant program allows employees to support nonprofits with their time while securing funding for these organizations. For every hour an employee volunteers, Apple provides a monetary grant worth $25, incentivizing employee participation in community service.
In addition, the company also offers matching gifts for employee donations of up to $10,000!
View additional details on Apple’s volunteer grant program.
ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil offers an extensive volunteer grant program designed to support employees who commit time to nonprofit organizations. Employees who volunteer 20 hours or more with a qualifying organization can request a $500 grant (or up to four each year), which ExxonMobil provides to the nonprofit.
Additionally, the company offers a Team Volunteer Involvement Program that awards grants when five or more eligible employees volunteer for a combined total of at least 20 hours.
View additional details on ExxonMobil’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
CVS Health
CVS Health’s volunteer grant offering encourages employees to give back by providing monetary donations to nonprofits where they volunteer. Today, the company offers several programs through which it gives—and encourages its employees to do the same. These include individual volunteer challenge grants, individual fundraising matches, team volunteer challenge grants, and team fundraising matches.
For individuals, all they have to do is volunteer for a minimum of 15 hours to unlock grants worth $500, $1,000, or $1,500!
View additional details on CVS Health’s volunteer grant and VTO programs.
Kohl’s Corporation
Kohl’s volunteer grant program (called “Associates in Action”) empowers its staff to support community organizations through individual and team-based volunteerism. Employees are required only to volunteer for a single hour in order to unlock a grant, and volunteer grants are worth $25 per hour volunteered.
While the company focuses its giving initiatives on hospitals and other youth-serving organizations, nearly any registered organization is eligible to receive funding through the program.
View additional details on Kohl’s volunteer grant program.
Bonus: How a Volunteer Grant Database Uncovers Even More Lucrative Opportunities
A volunteer grant database provides a centralized hub for organizations to explore and identify companies within their networks that offer volunteer grants.
Such a solution generally includes details on eligibility requirements, payout structures, and volunteer hour thresholds, making it easier than ever for supporters to get involved. Thus, for nonprofits aiming to fully leverage corporate volunteer grants, an extensive database is an invaluable resource.
Our recommendation? Double the Donation Volunteering.
Here’s how it works:
From there, the company will review the request and, if approved, disperse the appropriate funds to your cause.
With access to this comprehensive information, nonprofits can proactively engage supporters who work at companies with generous grant programs, maximizing both volunteer involvement and financial support. Not to mention, by using a volunteer grant database, organizations can streamline their outreach, encourage eligible volunteers to log their hours, and ultimately unlock more funds to fuel their missions.
Wrapping Up & Additional Resources
Each of these programs has embraced employee giving by offering grants above and beyond corporate or industry averages. While the participating companies may benefit from increased employee engagement and enhanced CSR, your nonprofit can reap significant rewards as well.
After all, Dollar for Doer programs are a chance to double dip. You can earn monetary grants along with benefiting from the assistance volunteers provide your cause. Just make sure your nonprofit is encouraging volunteers to log their volunteer hours and submit the appropriate grant requests to their employers!
Interested in learning more about volunteer grants and other workplace giving opportunities? Check out the following resources:
Directing Donors to Matching Gift Forms | 5 Key Methods
/in Marketing Strategies, Learning Center /by Adam WeingerDoes your organization have a strategy in place to maximize fundraising from employee matching gift programs? Directing donors to matching gift forms is a great place to start.
After all, one of the biggest challenges nonprofits face isn’t just spreading awareness about matching gifts—it’s helping donors actually follow through. Even when donors are eager to maximize their impact, they often don’t know where to go or what steps to take. That’s where clear direction and smart strategy come in.
In this post, we’ll break down several key methods your organization can use to guide donors straight to their matching gift forms—making the experience a seamless one and boosting your fundraising potential in the process.
Specifically, we’ll cover:
At Double the Donation, we utilize a number of different approaches to direct your organization’s supporters to the forms they need to submit matching gift requests. We know each method isn’t created equal, so we’ve prioritized the information we provide to donors to maximize the likelihood they’ll ultimately submit a request.
Ready to find out how? Let’s get started with the basics.
What are matching gift forms?
Matching gift forms are the key documents that employees use to request a matching donation from their employer after they’ve contributed to a nonprofit organization. These forms are part of a company’s corporate philanthropy program, allowing eligible donations to be matched—often dollar for dollar—by the employer.
There are typically two types of matching gift forms:
The nonprofit may then be required to verify the donation before the match is approved and disbursed. It’s a simple process, but many donors don’t know where to start, making it crucial for organizations to guide them to the correct form at the right time.
Why directing donors to matching gift forms matters
You might be spreading the word about matching gifts, but if donors don’t know how or where to submit a request, those potential matches can easily fall through the cracks. That’s why directing donors to their matching gift forms isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
Here’s why it matters:
Even donors who are aware of matching gifts may not follow through without explicit instructions. Providing direct access to their employer’s matching gift form removes a key barrier, making it more likely they’ll take action.
Donors want their contributions to make a difference. When you streamline the matching gift process, you show that you value their time and are committed to helping their generosity go further—with minimal effort on their part.
When donors successfully complete a match, it opens a door between your organization and their employer. This can lead to long-term opportunities for corporate sponsorships, volunteer engagement, and deeper partnerships.
In short, directing donors to matching gift forms is one of the simplest and most effective ways to increase fundraising without asking supporters to reach deeper into their pockets. It’s all about turning good intentions into meaningful, multiplied impact—and guiding them through the process of doing so.
Method #1: Guide Donors to Their Electronic Matching Gift Portals
Many of the largest companies offer an electronic matching gift submission process. While a few companies have developed their own proprietary process, the majority of companies contract the matching gift administration process out to a dedicated corporate matching gift vendor.
Fortunately for nonprofits, in the majority of instances, the electronic login page is actually publicly available on a website that anyone can access. Therefore, we recommend directing donors to the login page, where they enter their username and password and proceed through the matching gift submission process.
Check out the example showcasing how our database directs users to the correct login pages for their matching gift forms:
Method #2: Link to Matching Gift Forms on a Company’s Website
While more and more companies continue to migrate over to an electronic submission process, many still require donors to print and complete a paper matching gift form. In many cases, the form is posted on a publicly accessible website, so we direct donors to the company page where the matching form can be accessed.
Here’s an example of a public-facing web page from Alliant Energy:
Method #3: Provide Donors with Matching Gift Forms on our Servers
If a company requires employees to submit a paper matching gift form, we do our best to provide the donor with a copy of the form. If it isn’t posted publicly on the company’s website, we request that the company provide us with a copy of the form. In these cases, we host the form on our server (typically as a PDF) so your donors can easily download it.
Here’s a sample form for Coca-Cola’s matching gift program hosted on our servers:
Method #4: Direct Donors to their Company Intranet or HR Contact
Sometimes, a company’s matching gift forms can only be accessed via the company’s intranet servers, often for internal security-related reasons.
In these cases, we typically encourage donors to access the form via a quick inquiry on the company intranet. If it’s an online submission process, we notify the donor and ask them to go to a specific location on the intranet or to search for “matching gifts.”
Here’s what this looks like for one company, Freddie Mac, using our matching gift database:
While this is less than ideal, simply telling donors, “Hey, company XYZ will match your donation up to $5,000, and your organization is eligible,” increases the likelihood they’ll log into the company intranet to retrieve and submit the form.
Bonus Method: Skip Matching Gift Forms with Double the Donation’s Auto-Submission
What if your donors didn’t have to fill out a separate matching gift form at all?
Thanks to Double the Donation’s auto-submission feature, select donors can now submit their matching gift requests directly from your donation form or follow-up email—no extra steps, no confusion, and no portal hopping. It’s the most seamless way to turn one donation into two.
Here’s how it works:
This feature drastically increases match completion rates by removing friction from the process. By enabling auto-submission through Double the Donation, your organization makes it easier than ever for donors to double their impact—and that means more matching gift revenue with less donor effort.
Want to see it in action? Check out this short clip:
Next Steps & Additional Resources
Making it easy for donors to submit their matching gift requests can mean the difference between doubling your impact and leaving money on the table. By implementing these methods in your strategy, your organization can streamline the process, remove donor confusion, and unlock more corporate matching opportunities.
It’s not just about raising more—it’s about empowering your supporters to do more with every dollar. Start applying these strategies today, and watch your matching gift revenue grow.
Looking to learn more about matching gift strategies and beyond? Check out these additional recommended resources:
Social Media: 12 Matching Gift Posts to Schedule Today
/in Marketing Strategies, Learning Center /by Adam WeingerSocial media – we all use it in one way or another. Whether we’re connecting with friends or catching up on the latest breaking news, social media has become an integral part of the daily routines of many.
But are you maximizing the impact of your social media platforms for your fundraising efforts, specifically in regards to matching gift programs?
Remember: With corporate matching gift programs, your organization is able to collect two donations for the price of soliciting one. Through these programs, employers pledge to match the donations made by their employees to nonprofit organizations such as yours, effectively doubling the impact of the original gift. These programs present a huge opportunity to increase your fundraising revenue,and you want to capitalize on them whenever possible.
Promoting corporate matching gift options using Twitter, Facebook, and the like is a quick, easy and cost-effective way (read: free) to reach your digitally savvy masses.
Social media is incredibly efficient, as you’re able to schedule posts in advance and on a recurring basis. This means you don’t have to remember to continue posting– the networks will do it for you! This paired with the extensive network available to you through these platforms makes social media an opportunity to use to the fullest.
We’re going to examine marketing matching gifts on social media through the following:
However, before you begin posting about matching gifts on social media– which will inevitably bring forth donors interested in the programs– ensure your internal matching gifts processes are comprehensive.
The Best Way to Market Matching Gifts
Once you begin posting about matching gifts on social media, there’s a decent chance you’ll have a few interested donors inquiring about their eligibility. The easiest way to push donors in the right direction and get them started with the matching gift process is by simply directing them to a comprehensive matching gift tool!
For example, Double the Donation’s 360MatchPro is the perfect tool for nonprofits looking to build their matching gifts solicitation processes. Embed this comprehensive, searchable database directly on your donation form and website, and then link to it in your social media posts. Then, when donors see your posts and are interested, they know exactly where to look to search for their own eligibility!
Additionally, this automated matching gifts tool allows for the immediate searching of a donor’s eligibility upon making a donation. Once an eligible donor is identified, the software sends automated marketing communications to inform the donor of matching gift opportunities.
Matching gift software provides you with an easy way to manage the influx of interest generated by social media posting. Now, let’s check out the following 12 sample posts to inspire your Twitter and Facebook-based matching gift marketing.
Because of Twitter’s 280-character limitation, be concise and to-the-point in your communications. Further, include a quick link to your organization’s giving page, website, or dedicated matching gift page so interested donors can access it on-the-fly via tweet
Here are some example matching gift tweets:
1. Did you know your gift can be doubled, tripled & even quadrupled? Your employer might offer matching gift programs.
2. Did you donate to us this year? There’s still time to submit a matching gift request from your employer!
3. It’s February – do you love us? We love you, too! Click here to see if your company will double your donations: <insert URL>
4. Ever wonder if your employer matches donations? Search our database to learn more about your employer at <insert URL>.
5. Last year, we raised $X from corporate matching gift programs – help make 20XX a better year!
6. Did you know that tons of organizations offer matching gift opportunities? Check to see if yours does.
7. It takes just a few minutes to submit corporate employee matching gift forms… have you submitted yours?
Additionally, with retweets, donors can also easily share the word about your organization’s offering. The platform was made with efficiency in mind—so if you want to simply and quickly inform your donors, Twitter is a great place.
However, to educate donors about matching gifts through more in-depth communications, consider using Facebook.
Facebook doesn’t present the challenge of character limitations as Twitter does, but that doesn’t mean you can ramble on. The following examples balance offering more in-depth information with catering to the shorter attention span associated with the internet.
Here are some example matching gift posts for Facebook:
1. We sincerely appreciate all donations to <Your Organization’s Name>! Did you know that your generosity has the potential to be doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled? Check to see if your employer offers a matching gift program!
2. What do Microsoft, Bank of America, IBM, and Verizon all have in common? Each one matches donations made by their employees’ to nonprofit organizations. This means that if you donate, or have donated to <Your Organization’s Name>, and work for one of these four companies, the company will double your donation. Many major employers offer similar programs. Search <insert URL> to find out if your employer offers something like this, as well as to access program guidelines, how-to instructions, and relevant forms.
3. A huge thanks to all of our donors, and a double thanks to those who submit matching fund requests from their employers! Does your employer offer a program like this? Check today!
4. Help us <Your Organization’s Mission>. Ask your employer to match, double, or even triple your donation today! Check out your organization’s matching gift options here: <insert URL>
5. We like to brag that our donors are the best. Not only do they contribute to us, but they also take the extra step to see if their employer offers a matching gift program that may double the total donation to our organization! Have you checked to see if your company offers a matching gift option? Thanks for being a super donor if so! Check here to see if your company has a program like this: <insert URL>
Just as with Twitter, donors can easily share your Facebook posts with their friends and family. It’s a great way to get in front of new donors you might not reach otherwise!
If used correctly, social media can be a valuable resource in marketing matching gift opportunities. For more information on how to use social media to market matching gift programs, check out some additional social media ideas.
San Diego Companies with Matching Gift Programs
/in Matching Gift Companies, Lists and Rankings /by Adam WeingerIn previous articles, we dove into Atlanta matching gift companies and New York matching gift companies, but for this article, we’ll take a look at a west coast market.
California is home to many of the country’s most socially responsible companies. Because of this, California nonprofits are well-positioned to take advantage of matching gift programs.
As the 17th largest metropolitan area in the United States, San Diego is home to many leading companies. Nonprofits in San Diego can benefit from increased revenue by focusing on employee matching gift programs. If your nonprofit is located in the San Diego area, take a look at these major matching gift employers in your area:
Matching gift and volunteer grant programs are widely offered employee benefits. In fact, 65% of Fortune 500 companies match employee donations while 40% offer volunteer grant programs. You don’t want to miss out on these important revenue opportunities.
Ready to get started? Let’s explore a few companies in San Diego which match employee donations!
1. Qualcomm
With approximately 13,000 employees in the San Diego area, Qualcomm is one of the largest employers in the San Diego community.
Even though Qualcomm matches donations made only by full-time employees, its program is still quite generous. Annually, a Qualcomm employee can request donation matches starting at a minimum of $50. If eligible, the company will match the donation at a 1:1 ratio, doubling the employee’s gift.
Qualcomm also provides grants worth $250 whenever an employee volunteers for at least 15 hours. Employees can apply for additional grants for the same or a different charitable organization once they volunteer for another 15 hours.
However, the company has a combined limit for each employee for both their matching gift program and their volunteer grant program. Depending on the employee’s level (e.g. associate, director, etc. ), the limit ranges from $1,000 to $5,000 per year.
Learn more about Qualcomm’s matching gift and volunteer grant programs.
2. Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente employs more than 7,000 individuals in the San Diego metropolitan area.
Its matching gift program varies region-by-region, but fortunately for San Diego employees and nonprofits, they do offer a match program. Every year, Kaiser Permanente offers an employee giving campaign around September or November. The program is open to full-time and part-time employees. However, retirees are not eligible.
During the annual giving campaign, they match employee donations to most nonprofits. Match amounts range from $25 up to $5,000 at a 1:1 ratio.
Learn more about Kaiser Permanente’s matching gift program.
3. Sempra Energy
Sempra Energy employs more than 4,500 individuals in San Diego and serves approximately 3.7 million customers in southern California, making it the largest utility provider in the San Diego area.
The company is a strong supporter of local nonprofits and matches donations to most organizations. Donations eligible for matches range from $25 to $2,500. The program is open to both full-time employees and part-time employees.
Also, Sempra Energy offers two types of volunteer grant programs:
Learn more about Sempra Energy’s matching gift program.
4. LPL Financial Services
LPL Financial offers a matching gift program for its financial advisors. Through LPL Financial’s program, full-time financial advisors can request matches for donations made to most nonprofits. They can request up to $500 in matching gift funds each year.
Outside of its matching gift program, LPL Financial finds additional ways to give back to its community. A few of these philanthropic strategies include:
Learn more about LPL Financial’s matching gift program.
5. United Technologies Corporation (UTC) (Now known as Raytheon)
In 2012, Goodrich merged with United Technologies, and as part of the merger process, the two companies combined their employee giving programs. Then more recently United Technologies joined Raytheon through a merger.
UTC used to match employee donations to most nonprofits. Each employee could request up to $10,000 in matching gift funds each year, as long as the request is made within 12 months of the initial donation. Now the program is under Raytheon’s employee giving program.
UTC also offers a volunteer grant program. When employees volunteer a minimum of 60 hours at eligible nonprofits, they can request a $250 donation. Each employee can submit grant requests for up to two nonprofits per year.
Learn more about Raytheon’s matching gift program.
How a Matching Gift Database Can Help
Corporate philanthropy, such as matching gift programs and volunteer grant programs, represent a major revenue opportunity for nonprofits. With a matching gift database like Double the Donation, you won’t overlook much-deserved revenue. Here’s how it works:
Double the Donation works with nonprofits across the country, including San Diego. In the database, there are more than 24,000 companies that represent over 15 million match-eligible employees, making it the industry’s leading matching gift database.
Plus, nonprofits can streamline the process even more with Double the Donation’s fully automated solution. It enables email automation and drives matches to completion with live match tracking.
Think your nonprofit could benefit from Double the Donation?
While the above companies are major employers in San Diego, there are many other local companies that offer these programs. Pinpointing them takes some research, simplified with a matching gift database.
If you’re a nonprofit, check out this list of the top national companies that offer employee giving programs. Now that you know some of the major employers in your area that offer matching gifts, start boosting your revenue!
Virginia Beach, Norfolk, & Newport News Matching Gift Companies
/in Matching Gift Companies, Lists and Rankings /by Adam WeingerDid you know that matching gifts could potentially double your nonprofits current donations? Double the Donation works with nonprofits to increase their fundraising from these unique programs. We’ve created a short list of companies in the Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Newport area that currently offer these programs.
Corporate Philanthropy in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is the most populous city in the state of Virginia. Several large corporations operate within this resort city, although tourism remains a driver in the economy.
To help local nonprofits navigate the sometimes difficult matching gift process we’ve created a list of a few employers in the Virginia Beach area that offer best-in-class matching gift programs.
Geico
Geico will match employee donations to most nonprofit organizations. Donations between $25 and $5,000 are eligible to be doubled by the company.
Read more about the Geico employee matching gift program.
Bank of America
Bank of America and Merrill Lynch will match donations made between $25 and $5,000. Part-time and retirees are also eligible for this program. Bank of America will match to almost all nonprofits.
Read more about the Bank of America Merrill Lynch corporate matching program.
HSBC
HSBC matches donations up to $3,500 per employee each year.
Read more about HSBC’s employee matching program.
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway Company is one the most generous local companies when it comes to matching gifts. They will match up to $35,000 for current employees. Retired employees can have up to $25,000 in donations matched each year.
Read more about the Norfolk Southern Railway corporate matching program.
Determining the Tax-Deductible Amount for Matching Gifts
/in Learning Center /by Adam WeingerIf your organization derives a significant amount of funding from membership programs, annual fundraising galas, or special events, you may wonder whether those donations are eligible for corporate matching gift programs.
By not promoting matching gifts to donors, your organization may be leaving money on the table. In almost every case, the tax-deductible amount of nearly all cash and stock contributions is eligible to be doubled through employer matching gift programs.
To take advantage of these important revenue opportunities, go over the following key subjects:
Need a refresher on corporate philanthropy? Visit our guide to learn more about corporate matching gift programs. Otherwise, let’s get started!
1. The Relationship Between Tax-Deductible Contributions and Matching Gifts
When nonprofits have membership programs or host special events, there should be a defined tax-deductible amount listed. This should be a specific dollar amount. Also, it should be above the fair market value (FMV) of any benefits received.
That way, attendees and their employers know the specific amount for IRS income tax reporting purposes. The tax-deductible amount of the donation, event ticket, or membership is also what donors should submit to their employers when requesting a match.
It’s the responsibility of the organization to determine the tax-deductible amount and inform event attendees or its program’s members.
For instance, for events, the tickets should have a line similar to the following: “Did you know that $X of your ticket is tax-deductible? If your employer has a matching gift program, this amount might be eligible to be matched.” To learn other ways to promote matching gifts to attendees, visit this guide about matching gifts for special fundraising events.
Now that you know the tax-deductible amount of contributions can be matched, let’s dive into how to calculate it.
2. Calculating the Tax-Deductible Amount for Matching Gifts
As previously stated, it’s up to the nonprofit organization to determine the tax-deductible amount of each contribution. The first step is to determine the FMV of the benefits received.
There are a few ways to do this. Start by comparing the benefits received by the donor with what those benefits would cost if it were not a fundraiser.
For example, let’s say you charge $500 for an annual gala ticket. At the gala, there’s a performance by a well-known band as well as a five-course dinner. Let’s say the nonprofit determines the dinner would cost $50 from a local restaurant while a ticket to see the band would cost $100. In this case, the fair market value of the gala ticket would be $150. Therefore, the tax-deductible amount of the ticket would be $350.
Donors should use this fair market value, rather than the overall purchase price, on their company’s matching gift form.
While each organization has full discretion in determining the FMV, the key is to ensure the values placed on each benefit are reasonable. For instance, is it reasonable for a steak and lobster dinner with dessert to cost $10 at a five-star restaurant? Probably not. An appropriate method is to take a look at the menu of a local restaurant and use its pricing as guidance.
Calculating the FMV isn’t an exact science. It could vary by several dollars and any amount within a reasonable range would be acceptable for government reporting and matching gift requests. The important part is that your organization is taking a fair and honest approach when estimating the FMV.
3. How a Matching Gift Database Can Help
When hosting event fundraisers or heading a membership program, nonprofits might overlook corporate giving opportunities. Corporate philanthropy is vital for nonprofits. Missing out on these opportunities can be detrimental to an organization. That’s where Double the Donation, the industry-leading matching gift database, can help!
By adding a matching gift database to your tech toolkit, your nonprofit won’t overlook revenue from corporate giving programs. For instance, Double the Donation:
Before your event, research your attendees’ employers. You’ll be able to pinpoint which donors are matching-gift eligible. That way, you’ll know who to approach about corporate giving at your event. Whenever someone signs up for your membership program, your team can see which donors might be match-eligible, too! Then, you can reach out to them.
Plus, there’s even more to Double the Donation. Their tool streamlines the process by automatically identifying match-eligible donors in a comprehensive database, following up with them until they complete the match process, and even creating an automated plan for matching gifts! Either tool is great for pinpointing corporate giving opportunities.
Many different types of donations to your organization have a tax-deductible component that can be submitted to corporate matching gift programs. Make sure you’re communicating this with your donors.
Now that you know more about tax-deductible contributions, relay this information to your team and supporters. Start boosting your nonprofit’s matching gift revenue now!