Companies with Matching Gift Programs in Seattle, Washington

Corporate giving programs, specifically matching gifts, play a major role in nonprofit fundraising. However, many nonprofits overlook these opportunities, lowering their potential revenue.

With a population of around 4.5 million, including its metropolitan area, Seattle is home to some of the nation’s most philanthropic Fortune 500 companies. In fact, the city has become a leader in sustainable, green living. In response, many companies in the area took notice and instantly became champions of corporate social responsibility as well.

Donors who work for companies offering these programs can double, even triple, their contributions to eligible nonprofits! All it takes is a little extra work on your end to encourage donors to complete the process. If you’re ready to boost your nonprofit’s revenue, let’s take a look at some of the top companies in Seattle, Washington that offer matching gift programs.

The Seattle Philanthropic Landscape

Seattle is a city defined by innovation. From the early days of aviation with Boeing to the coffee revolution of Starbucks and the tech explosion led by Microsoft and Amazon, the city has always been at the forefront of global trends. This spirit of innovation extends directly into the philanthropic sector.

The “Pacific Northwest” mentality often emphasizes community support, environmental stewardship, and social equity. This is reflected in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs of the region’s top employers. Unlike some cities where giving is strictly hierarchical or focused solely on the arts, Seattle’s corporate giving is diverse, grassroots-oriented, and heavily reliant on employee engagement.

For nonprofits, this means your donor base is likely teeming with individuals who can access matching gift funds. Whether they are software engineers in Redmond, baristas in Capitol Hill, or aerospace machinists in Renton, these donors are empowered by their employers to support the causes they care about most.

Top Seattle Companies with Matching Gift Programs

Here is a detailed look at some of the companies in the Seattle metro area that are leading the way in employee matching gifts.

1. Microsoft

As one of the most generous corporate philanthropists not only in Seattle but worldwide, Microsoft offers a variety of employee giving programs. Their program is often considered the “gold standard” of the tech industry, influencing how many other tech giants structure their own giving.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $15,000 per employee, per year.
Volunteer Grants: Microsoft donates $25 to organizations for every hour its employees volunteer.
New Hire Grant: The company provides each new employee with a small grant to allocate to a nonprofit of their choosing.

The volunteer grant component is particularly notable because there is no minimum number of hours required to trigger it. Whether an employee volunteers for one hour or one hundred, the nonprofit receives $25 per hour. This makes Microsoft employees incredibly valuable volunteers for events, board service, and skilled pro-bono work.

2. The Gates Foundation

While primarily known as a grant-making entity, the Gates Foundation is also a major employer in downtown Seattle. Their internal employee-matching gift program is arguably one of the most generous in the country.

Match Ratio: 3:1 (Triples the donation!)
Match Limits: Matches up to $30,000 per employee, per year.
Impact: A $1,000 donation from a Gates Foundation employee results in a $4,000 total contribution to your organization.

A 3:1 match ratio is exceptionally rare. If you identify a donor in your database who works for the Foundation, they should be treated with the same stewardship level as a major donor. Their personal capacity to give is effectively quadrupled by their employer, allowing them to fund significant projects with a relatively modest personal contribution.

3. Starbucks

Starbucks opened its first shop over 40 years ago in Seattle, Washington. Since then, Starbucks not only has become one of the world’s most recognizable brands, but it also offers a well-designed giving program that is accessible to its vast retail workforce.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches donations from $20 to $1,500 per employee each year.
Eligibility: Full-time, part-time, and retired employees are eligible.
Volunteer Grants: Grants up to $1,000, depending on the number of hours volunteered.

The inclusion of part-time employees (“partners”) is a key differentiator. Most corporate matching programs are restricted to salaried corporate staff, but Starbucks empowers its baristas to give back as well. This significantly widens your pool of potential match-eligible donors.

4. Boeing

Boeing, a well-known company in Seattle, offers a matching gift program for employees who give to charitable organizations. Even after moving its headquarters to Chicago (and later Arlington), Boeing remains the largest private employer in the Puget Sound region, employing tens of thousands of machinists and engineers.

Match Ratio: 1:1 for current employees; 0.5:1 for retirees.
Match Limits: Matches gifts of $25 or more up to $10,000.
Volunteer Grants: The company provides a $10 grant for every 10 hours of volunteering, up to $10,000. To qualify, employees must volunteer at least 25 hours.
Team Grants: Awards available for groups of employees who volunteer together.

Boeing’s retiree program is substantial. There are thousands of retired Boeing employees living in the Seattle suburbs who remain eligible for the 0.5:1 match. While not a full dollar-for-dollar match, a 50% boost on donations from this wealthy demographic is a revenue stream worth pursuing.

5. Expedia Group

Headquartered on the waterfront in Seattle, Expedia Group is a travel technology giant. Their “Expedia Cares” program is designed to support the diverse interests of their global workforce.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $10,000 per employee annually.
Eligibility: Full-time and part-time employees.
Volunteer Grants: Expedia provides grants based on volunteer hours logged.

Expedia’s move to its new Interbay campus has revitalized its community engagement. Their employees are often young, tech-savvy, and eager to engage with local nonprofits. Ensuring your online donation forms are mobile-optimized and ready for capture is essential for reaching this demographic.

6. Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines works with nonprofit groups in the areas of health and human services, arts and cultural programs, as well as education, environmental, and civic organizations. They are a hometown favorite with a strong loyalty to the Pacific Northwest.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches gifts with a minimum of $50 and a maximum of $4,000.
Volunteer Grants: Grants of $10 per hour for up to $1,000, after an employee volunteers for a minimum of 5 hours.

The low threshold of 5 volunteer hours to trigger a grant is excellent. This essentially means that if an Alaska Airlines employee volunteers for one single day at your event, your organization is eligible for a check. It is one of the easiest “dollars for doers” grants to qualify for in the region.

Learn more about Alaska Airlines’ matching gift program.

7. T-Mobile

Based in Bellevue, just across Lake Washington, T-Mobile is a massive employer in the metro area. Their “Magenta” spirit extends to their giving, where they encourage employees to support causes they are passionate about.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $2,000 per employee annually.
Volunteer Grants: T-Mobile matches volunteer time at $10 per hour.

T-Mobile frequently runs “Giving Season” campaigns in November and December, where they drop additional funds into employee giving accounts. Being top-of-mind among T-Mobile employees during Q4 can drive a significant influx of donations.

8. QuoteWizard (LendingTree)

While QuoteWizard started as a family-owned Seattle business, it is now part of the LendingTree family. However, the legacy of generosity continues. Their program is famous for its high match ratio.

Match Ratio: 3:1 (Triples the donation!)
Match Limits: Matches donations anywhere from $25 to $10,000.
Total Impact: Eligible donations can be quadrupled.

Similar to the Gates Foundation, a 3:1 match is a powerful incentive. Use this statistic in your marketing materials: “Did you know your $100 donation could provide $400 worth of services?” This specific ROI calculation is often enough to motivate a donor to act.

9. Nintendo of America

Headquartered in Redmond, Nintendo of America is a playful but serious philanthropist. They match employee donations of both cash and product, which is unique in the corporate landscape.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $10,000 per employee.
Product Match: They also match product donations, which can be incredible for youth organizations or hospitals looking for entertainment systems.

For nonprofits serving children, the product match is a potential game-changer. Securing gaming consoles and games for a hospital wing or after-school center through an employee match can save thousands in program budget.

10. Wells Fargo

As a top Fortune 500 company, Wells Fargo & Company has a strong presence in Seattle and many other major US cities. Their “Community Care” program has evolved significantly over the years to be more inclusive.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $2,000 per employee annually.
Focus: Historically focused on education, the program now broadly supports most 501(c)(3) organizations.
Volunteer Grants: Each year, Wells Fargo awards more than $500,000 in volunteer grants, with no minimum number of hours required for certain micro-grants.

Wells Fargo is one of the few banks that offers a match program accessible to essentially all employees, from tellers to executives. This broad base of eligibility makes them a frequent name on matching gift reports.

11. Weyerhaeuser

One of the world’s largest private owners of timberlands, Weyerhaeuser is based in Seattle. Their giving focuses on affordable housing, education, and environmental stewardship.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $1,500 per employee.
Volunteer Grants: They offer grants to nonprofits where employees volunteer, emphasizing “sweat equity” in the community.

Weyerhaeuser employees are often deeply connected to environmental causes. If your nonprofit works in conservation or forestry, this is your primary corporate partner in the region.

12. Intermec Foundation (Honeywell)

While Intermec was acquired by Honeywell, the legacy of its foundation remains a point of interest for long-time employees. Historically, the Intermec Foundation offered a 5:1 match.

Legacy Benefit: For eligible legacy employees, the foundation provides up to $75,000 in matching funds per employee per year.
Current Status: Most current employees will fall under Honeywell’s standard matching program, which is still generous but typically follows a 1:1 structure.

It is important to check with specific donors regarding their eligibility for legacy programs versus current parent company programs. This due diligence can uncover “grandfathered” benefits that far exceed the norm.

13. Liberty Mutual Group

The Liberty Mutual Group provides matching funds to select types of organizations during “Give with Liberty,” the company’s annual giving campaign. They have a significant presence in the Seattle insurance market.

Match Ratio: 0.5:1 (50 cents on the dollar).
Volunteer Grants: Liberty Mutual offers volunteer grants for employees who excel in community service, known as the Chairman’s Community Service Award.

While a 50% match is lower than the 1:1 standard, the ease of payroll deduction makes participation high. Volume is the key here; getting many Liberty Mutual employees to give small amounts via payroll can result in a steady stream of revenue.

14. F5

F5, a major player in application security and delivery, is headquartered in the iconic F5 Tower in downtown Seattle. Their “Global Good” program is robust and tech-forward.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $5,000 per employee annually.
Volunteer Grants: F5 matches volunteer time at $15 per hour.

F5 frequently emphasizes STEM education and diversity in tech. If your nonprofit aligns with these missions, F5 employees are natural partners for mentorship programs, which can then be monetized through volunteer grants.

Strategic Matching Gift Fundraising Tips for Seattle Nonprofits

Seattle’s philanthropic market is unique. To succeed, you need to understand the local culture. Here are three strategies to help you raise more.

1. The “Tech Effect”

The Seattle area has one of the highest concentrations of tech workers in the world. These employees are often young, highly paid, and accustomed to digital-first experiences.

Strategy: Ensure your donation experience is frictionless. Tech workers will abandon a donation page if it is clunky or not mobile-responsive. Therefore, employ a matching gift search tool that integrates directly into the donation flow. Do not make them click away to find a form; present the link immediately after the donation is made.

2. Volunteerism is King

Seattleites love to volunteer. From trail maintenance to food banks, the culture of “showing up” is strong. Because companies like Microsoft, Alaska Airlines, and F5 pay so well for volunteer hours ($25/hour in Microsoft’s case), you should treat volunteer recruitment as a fundraising activity.

Strategy: Calculate the value of a volunteer hour. If a Microsoft employee volunteers for 4 hours, that is a $100 check. Tell them that! “Your 4 hours of sorting food also provide $100 to buy more food.” This motivates volunteers to diligently log their hours.

3. Don’t Just Focus on the Giants

While the companies listed above are some of the most prominent match-makers in the Emerald City, they are by no means the only ones. The Seattle metro area is home to thousands of employers, ranging from boutique tech startups in Pioneer Square to massive logistics hubs in Kent, many of which offer competitive matching gift programs.

In addition to the companies detailed above, don’t overlook major national employers with a significant Seattle footprint, such as Google, Facebook (Meta), Salesforce, and Tableau. If a donor works for a publicly traded company or a large private enterprise, there is a high probability that they have access to matching funds.

Strategy: Assume a match exists until proven otherwise. Encourage every donor to search for their employer’s name during the donation process. You might be surprised by how many hidden opportunities are waiting in your network of support!

How Double the Donation’s Matching Gift Database Can Help

As the most comprehensive source for all things corporate giving, Double the Donation’s database allows corporate employees to quickly check their match eligibility, submit matching gift requests, and submit volunteer grant requests to their employers. With more than 24,000 companies that represent over 15 million match-eligible individuals, it’s the world’s leading matching gift database. A database like this can pinpoint major revenue opportunities for nonprofits!

Plus, Double the Donation’s matching gift software goes above and beyond providing the necessary forms and guidelines. It recognizes match-eligible donors through email domain screening and will automatically follow up with these individuals until they complete the match process. This automation is crucial because the number one reason donors fail to submit matches is simply that they forget or do not know how.

Think your organization may benefit from Double the Donation’s tools? Corporate philanthropy is a driving force in the nonprofit world. If your organization isn’t taking advantage of it, you may be missing out on major revenue opportunities.

Conclusion & Final Thoughts

A substantial number of Seattle businesses offer these programs, so make sure to familiarize yourself with your donors’ employers. That way, you can boost your revenue and double (maybe even triple!) your donors’ impact. Don’t let these important opportunities slip through the cracks.

By leveraging the generous programs of companies like Microsoft, Starbucks, and the Gates Foundation, you can transform your fundraising strategy. Start researching your donors’ employers now and unlock the full potential of Seattle’s corporate philanthropy.

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

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