Rose City Revenue: Portland, Oregon Companies with Employee Matching Gift Programs

If your donors work for a company with a matching gift program, their donations can be matched by their companies. This simple fact is one of the most powerful leverage points in modern fundraising. Double the Donation can help you optimize your fundraising from sources like matching gifts and double your donations overnight. Start your journey here at Double the Donation. There are many resources across the site to help nonprofits increase their fundraising efficiency and reach.

Portland is known for its forward-thinking, progressive culture. From the “Keep Portland Weird” ethos to a deep commitment to environmental sustainability, the city fosters a unique sense of community responsibility. Many companies have adopted these attitudes and now offer a wide variety of corporate philanthropy initiatives. Portland is one of the most populous cities in Oregon, and while only a few Fortune 500 companies are headquartered strictly within the city limits, the greater metro area—including Beaverton and Hillsboro—is a powerhouse of industry.

Many local employers have a strong presence and robust giving programs. Check with your donors to see if their companies match charitable donations. In the meantime, consider these companies currently offering matching gift benefits to their employees. Be sure to take advantage of this vital fundraising source!

The Portland Philanthropic Landscape

Portland is a city that thrives on community engagement. The success of the annual “Willamette Week Give!Guide,” which raises millions for local nonprofits, proves that individual donors in this region are incredibly generous. However, individual generosity is only half the equation.

The “Silicon Forest” (a nickname for the cluster of high-tech companies in the Portland metro area) attracts a workforce of highly paid engineers, developers, and executives. These employees often work for companies like Intel, Tektronix, and others that compete for talent not just on salary, but on corporate culture. A major part of that culture is matching gifts.

For a nonprofit in Multnomah, Washington, or Clackamas County, ignoring these programs is akin to leaving money on the table. Whether your organization focuses on houselessness, environmental conservation, or arts education, there is likely a corporate partner in your backyard willing to double the donations you are already receiving.

Top Portland Companies with Generous Matching Gift Programs

Below is a curated list of some of the most generous and prominent employers in the Portland metro area. Review this list against your own donor database to identify immediate opportunities.

1. Nike

Headquartered just outside the city in Beaverton, Nike is the crown jewel of Oregon business. Their World Headquarters is a massive campus employing thousands of people. Nike’s commitment to “Just Do It” extends to their community impact, where they encourage employees to be active participants in philanthropy.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $25,000 per employee, per year.
Minimum Gift: $25.
Volunteer Grants: Nike offers a grant of $10 per hour volunteered, up to the annual cap.
Eligibility: Full-time and part-time employees are eligible.

The $25,000 cap is one of the highest in the region. Combined with the generous volunteer grant program, Nike employees are high-value prospects. Because Nike values physical activity, nonprofits involved in youth sports or outdoor recreation often find great success partnering with Nike employees for team volunteer days, which can generate significant grant revenue.

Read more about Nike’s matching gift program.

2. Intel

While headquartered in California, Intel is actually Oregon’s largest private employer, with massive campuses in Hillsboro (the “Ronler Acres” and “Jones Farm” sites). Intel is deeply embedded in the Washington County economy and has one of the most active employee giving programs in the world.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $10,000 per employee annually.
Volunteer Grants: Intel matches volunteer time at $10 per hour.
Retiree Program: Intel has a very active retiree matching program.

Intel’s “Intel Involved” program is legendary. Their employees volunteer hundreds of thousands of hours annually. If you have an Intel employee volunteering for your organization, ensure they are logging those hours. The $10 per hour grant has no minimum threshold of hours to trigger, meaning every single hour counts toward your bottom line.

Read more about Intel’s matching gift program.

3. The Standard

Headquartered in downtown Portland, The Standard (StanCorp Financial Group) is a leading provider of insurance and financial products. Their “Employee Giving Campaign” is a major event in their corporate calendar, celebrated with high participation rates.

Match Ratio: 1:1 (Sometimes 2:1 during special campaigns).
Match Limits: Matches up to $5,000 per employee annually.
Program Name: Employee Giving 365.

The “Employee Giving 365” program emphasizes year-round giving rather than just during the holidays. The Standard is particularly supportive of schools and educational nonprofits. Their downtown presence makes them a great partner for organizations serving Portland’s urban core.

4. Columbia Sportswear

Another homegrown giant, Columbia Sportswear (along with its brands Mountain Hardwear, SOREL, and prAna) is headquartered in Washington County. As an outdoor apparel company, their giving naturally leans toward conservation and outdoor access, but they match broadly.

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

Columbia Sportswear employees are often deeply passionate about environmental stewardship. If your nonprofit works to protect the Columbia River Gorge, maintain trails, or get kids outside, Columbia employees are your natural constituents.

5. Cambia Health Solutions (Regence BlueCross BlueShield)

Cambia Health Solutions, the parent company of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, is headquartered in Portland. They are a nonprofit health solutions company dedicated to transforming health care, and their giving reflects that mission.

Match Ratio: 0.5:1 (Matches 50% of the donation).
Match Limits: Matches 50% of the first $20,000 donated (for a max company contribution of $10,000).
Volunteer Grants: Employees can request a grant of $20 per hour volunteered.

The $20 per hour volunteer grant is double the industry standard. This makes Cambia employees incredibly valuable volunteers. A board member who works for Cambia and serves 5 hours a month could generate $1,200 a year in grants for your organization, in addition to their personal giving.

6. Daimler Truck North America

With its gleaming headquarters on Swan Island, Daimler Truck North America is a major heavy-duty truck manufacturer. They have a strong presence in Portland and a commitment to supporting the community through “Daimler Cares.”

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $750 per employee annually.
Minimum Gift: $25.

Daimler’s program is accessible and straightforward. While the cap is modest, the Swan Island location puts them in close proximity to many North Portland nonprofits. Engaging this workforce can lead to consistent, sustainable support for neighborhood-level organizations.

Read more about Daimler’s matching gift program.

7. Siemens

Siemens AG is a global technology powerhouse with a significant footprint in the Wilsonville area (automation and software). They will match donations to educational institutions and other eligible 501(c)(3) organizations.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Each employee is eligible to have up to $2,000 matched by the company.
Focus: Strong emphasis on STEM education and sustainability.

Because Siemens focuses heavily on engineering and automation, they are often looking for partners in the STEM education space. If you are a robotics club, a science museum, or a math tutor program, Siemens employees are ideal donors to target.

Read more about Siemens’ matching gift program.

8. U.S. Bank

U.S. Bank has a massive retail and corporate presence in Portland, occupying the iconic U.S. Bancorp Tower (“Big Pink”) downtown. Their “Community Possible” program is one of the most visible in the city.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $3,000 to many types of nonprofit organizations.
Volunteer Grants: They offer a grant of $5 per hour volunteered.

U.S. Bank employees are everywhere in Portland. From branch tellers to corporate executives, the eligibility is broad. The volunteer grant program is a great way to engage branch teams, who often look for group volunteer activities to build camaraderie.

Read more about U.S. Bank’s matching gift program.

9. Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo will match up to $6,500 a year to educational institutions, with a separate budget often available for community giving. The company also has a dynamic volunteer grant program.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $6,500 annually (program limits can vary by year).
Volunteer Grants: Wells Fargo awards hundreds of thousands in volunteer grants annually.

Wells Fargo’s program is particularly strong on education. Schools in the Portland Public Schools district or suburban districts can benefit significantly from identifying parents who work for Wells Fargo.

Read more about Wells Fargo’s matching gift program.

10. Alaska Airlines

While headquartered in Seattle, Alaska Airlines is the dominant carrier at PDX and employs many staff in the Portland area. They are known for their spirited support of the Pacific Northwest.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $4,000 per employee.
Volunteer Grants: Offers a $10 per hour volunteer grant after a minimum of 5 hours.

The 5-hour minimum for volunteer grants is very low, making it easy to achieve. Alaska Airlines employees are known for their loyalty to the region and often support travel-related, environmental, and youth causes.

How to Uncover Hidden Matching Gifts in Portland and Beyond

The challenge for most nonprofits is not a lack of willing donors, but a lack of data. You likely have donors in your database right now who work for Nike or Intel, but if you have not asked them about their employer, you cannot unlock that matching revenue.

Implementing a strategy to capture employment data is essential. This can be as simple as adding a field to your donation form or as sophisticated as using a dedicated software tool like Double the Donation. When you make it easy for a donor to check their eligibility, you remove the friction from the process. Instead of navigating a complex HR intranet, the donor gets instant answers, and your nonprofit gets a second check.

Strategic Matching Gift Fundraising Tips for Portland-Based Nonprofits

Knowing the companies is useful, but execution is key. Portland donors are unique, and your strategy should reflect that.

1) Leverage the “Outdoor” Connection

Between Nike, Columbia, Adidas (North American HQ is in Portland!), and Keen, Portland is the outdoor apparel capital of the world. These companies share a common value: getting people moving.

If your nonprofit hosts a 5K, a charity hike, or a bike-a-thon, targeted outreach to these companies is essential. Their employees are naturally inclined to participate, and their matching gift programs are often designed to support active lifestyles. Frame your ask around “activity” to resonate with this donor base.

2) Engage the “Silicon Forest” Commuters

Many donors living in inner-city Portland neighborhoods like the Pearl District or Hawthorne commute out to Hillsboro and Beaverton to work for Intel and Nike. Do not assume that urban donors only work for downtown law firms.

Use zip code analysis combined with employer appending to find these high-net-worth commuters. A donor living in a trendy craftsman in SE Portland might be a senior engineer at Intel with a $10,000 matching cap. You won’t know unless you ask.

3) Don’t Forget About Retiree Engagement

Portland is a popular retirement destination. Intel and Tektronix retirees often stay in the area. Intel, in particular, has a very generous retiree matching program. Ensure your “Legacy Society” or planned giving marketing materials mention matching gifts, as retirees often assume they lost that benefit when they stopped working.

Conclusion & Final Thoughts

Portland is one of Oregon’s most populous cities, and its corporate sector punches above its weight in philanthropy. While only a few Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in the city, the presence of global giants such as Intel and Nike creates a significant opportunity for local nonprofits.

Ready to start discovering these matching gift opportunities? Check out these additional resources:

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

Portland, Oregon Companies with Employee Matching Gift Programs