Matching Gift Opportunities: Companies in St. Louis, Missouri

Through their matching gift programs, corporations pledge to match the donations made by their employees to approved nonprofits. These programs are a powerful force for increasing donations to your organization, and you want to capitalize on them when you can! For many development directors, this is the “holy grail” of fundraising: revenue that requires no additional cultivation of new donors, but rather the maximization of existing ones.

Many cities across the nation are hubs for these programs and contain a variety of companies that practice this type of corporate philanthropy. Today, we’re going to look at one city in particular: St. Louis, Missouri.

St. Louis is more than just the Gateway to the West; it is a gateway to significant philanthropic funding. The region is home to nine Fortune 500 headquarters and a dense concentration of financial, healthcare, and industrial giants. Unfortunately, many donors are unaware that their employers offer such programs, and the responsibility often falls on nonprofits to inform these donors.

Because of this, we’re going to first look at how you, a nonprofit, can discover matching gift opportunities before detailing the robust St. Louis programs that you should know.

How To Discover Matching Gift Programs

To increase your incoming donations through matching gift programs, you first need to identify where these opportunities exist. The easiest way to do this, for nonprofits large or small, is by using a dedicated matching gift tool.

The manual method (asking every donor where they work and then researching that company’s benefits policy on your own) is simply not scalable. You might catch a few major gifts this way, but you’ll certainly miss the hundreds of mid-level donations that could be doubled effortlessly.

For this reason, nonprofits looking to improve their matching gift processes would benefit from a tool such as Double the Donation Matching. This matching gift automation platform checks a donor’s match eligibility upon receiving a donation and sends match-eligible donors information regarding how to begin the match request process. By integrating this search functionality directly into your donation forms, you catch the donor at the peak of their engagement.

Notable St. Louis Companies With Corporate Matching Gift Programs

The corporate landscape of St. Louis is diverse, with deep roots in manufacturing, finance, and brewing. Below is a detailed look at some of the most generous employers in the “Mound City.”

1. Boeing

A well-known presence in St. Louis, Boeing has a massive manufacturing footprint in the region, employing thousands of engineers and aerospace professionals. Their matching program is robust and covers a wide array of charitable causes.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches donations of up to $10,000 per individual per year.
Volunteer Grants: Boeing will donate $100 for every 10 hours of volunteer service an employee provides to an eligible nonprofit.
Team Volunteering: If a group of Boeing employees volunteers together, the company donates dollars for every hour served, often at a higher rate.

Because Boeing employs so many highly skilled professionals in the area, its donor base is often able to make significant personal contributions. The $10,000 cap allows these mid- to major-level donors to significantly double their impact. Furthermore, their volunteer grant program is one of the most accessible in the industry, with a relatively low threshold of just 10 hours to trigger a grant.

2. Centene Corporation

As a Fortune 25 healthcare giant headquartered in Clayton, Centene is a powerhouse in the St. Louis economy. Their charitable arm, the Centene Charitable Foundation, focuses heavily on healthcare access, social services, and education.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $1,000 per employee annually.
Eligibility: Most 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible, with a specific focus on organizations that address social determinants of health.

While the $1,000 cap is lower than some industrial peers, the sheer size of Centene’s local workforce makes this a high-volume opportunity. For nonprofits working in public health or community wellness, Centene employees should be a primary target for your annual fund appeals.

3. Emerson Electric

Headquartered in Ferguson, Emerson is a global technology and engineering company that provides innovative solutions to customers in industrial, commercial, and residential markets. They have a long-standing tradition of supporting the St. Louis community.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $10,000 per employee, per year.
Minimum Gift: The minimum gift eligible for matching is usually $25.

Emerson’s $10,000 cap places them in the top tier of local corporate givers. Their program is broad, supporting arts, culture, education, and civic organizations. If you are launching a capital campaign, identifying Emerson employees in your database is a strategic necessity.

4. Edward Jones

With its headquarters in Des Peres, Edward Jones is synonymous with St. Louis finance. The investment firm places a strong emphasis on community and personal relationships, as reflected in its giving programs.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $500 per employee annually.
Volunteer Grants: Employees can earn a $100 grant for every 10 hours volunteered, up to 50 hours a year.

Edward Jones may have a lower match cap, but their volunteer grant program is exceptional. The “10 hours for $100” structure is very achievable for board members, committee volunteers, or even regular event volunteers. Encouraging your Edward Jones volunteers to log their hours is an easy way to generate unrestricted revenue.

5. Mastercard

While globally recognized, Mastercard maintains a massive Global Technology and Operations hub in O’Fallon, employing thousands of tech workers in the St. Louis metro area. They are aggressive in their support for employee philanthropy.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $15,000 per employee, per year.
Volunteer Grants: Mastercard offers a generous “volunteer incentive program” that allows employees to earn grants of up to $500 for 40 hours of service.

The $15,000 match limit is one of the highest in the region. Combined with the high salaries typical of the tech sector, Mastercard employees represent some of the highest potential value for nonprofit fundraisers in St. Louis.

6. Ameren

As the region’s primary electric and gas utility, Ameren is a staple of St. Louis life. Utility companies are known for workforce stability, meaning donors from Ameren are often long-term prospects.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $2,000 per employee annually.
Focus Areas: Higher education is a primary focus, but they also match general charitable organizations under specific guidelines.

Ameren also has a strong retiree giving program. Don’t forget to screen your database for retired Ameren employees, as they often maintain their match eligibility even after leaving the workforce.

7. Nestlé Purina PetCare

Nestlé Purina, headquartered near the Soulard neighborhood, is a major employer and a passionate supporter of animal welfare and community vitality. Their matching program is part of Nestlé USA’s larger giving initiative.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $5,000 per employee, per year.
Volunteer Grants: The “Community Care” program offers grants to nonprofits where employees volunteer significant time.

Naturally, Purina is a massive supporter of animal shelters and rescue organizations. If your nonprofit is in the animal welfare space, you likely already know this, but even if you are in human services or arts, Purina employees are eligible to have their gifts matched.

8. Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo has a significant presence in St. Louis, particularly following its acquisition of A.G. Edwards and Wachovia. They have an employee-matching gift program that matches donations to educational institutions and general nonprofits.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $6,500 (previously $2,000) per year for educational institutions, with varying limits for other causes.
Volunteer Grants: They offer dynamic volunteer grants, allowing employees to direct funds to the charities of their choice.

Wells Fargo’s system is highly integrated and automated, making it very easy for employees to participate. Their strong support for education makes them a key partner for K-12 and higher-ed institutions in the Metro East and St. Louis County.

9. U.S. Bancorp

U.S. Bancorp (also known as U.S. Bank) matches up to $3,000 in donations per employee per year to many types of nonprofit organizations. Their “Community Possible” platform focuses on Work, Home, and Play, covering a broad spectrum of charitable activities.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $3,000 per year.
Volunteer Grants: They offer a $5-per-hour grant for volunteering, encouraging employees to be active in their local neighborhoods.

U.S. Bank employees are frequently encouraged to serve on nonprofit boards. If you recruit a U.S. Bank employee to your board, you are likely securing both a personal donation and a corporate match, plus potential volunteer grants.

10. Starbucks

Starbucks opened its first shop over 40 years ago in Seattle, Washington, but it has a ubiquitous presence in St. Louis. The company offers a matching gift program for its employees, whom it refers to as “partners.”

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $1,000 (formerly $1,500) per fiscal year.
Eligibility: Full-time, part-time, and retired employees are eligible for the program.

The key takeaway with Starbucks is the eligibility of part-time workers. Very few corporations offer matching benefits to part-time baristas, but Starbucks does. This opens up a demographic of younger, perhaps lower-capacity donors who can still leverage corporate funds to double their impact.

11. Bunge

Bunge, a global leader in agribusiness and food, has its global headquarters in Chesterfield. They play a critical role in the global food chain and support nonprofits that align with food security and sustainability.

Match Ratio: 1:1
Match Limits: Matches up to $2,500 per employee annually.
Minimum Gift: The minimum is often higher, around $100, so this program is best targeted at mid-level donors.

Bottom line: There are a ton of companies in the St. Louis area that offer matching gift programs for their employees! Make sure your team is well-equipped with a comprehensive matching gift database to help locate the right opportunities for your organization.

Strategic Matching Gift Tips for St. Louis Nonprofits

Identifying the companies is only the first step. To truly unlock this revenue stream, your nonprofit needs to actively market matching gifts to your supporters. Here are three strategies tailored for the St. Louis market.

1. The “Midwest Nice” Approach to Ask

St. Louis donors are generous but humble. They may not realize that their $50 donation is “worth” matching. You need to explicitly tell them that even small gifts count.

Action: In your thank-you letters, include a P.S. line: “P.S. Did you know companies like Boeing and Emerson might double this gift? Check here to see if you are eligible.”

By framing it as an opportunity to help the organization rather than a demand for more money, you tap into the local donor base’s helpful nature.

2. Leverage the “Give STL Day” Momentum

Give STL Day is a massive 24-hour online giving event organized by the St. Louis Community Foundation. Thousands of donors give on this day.

Action: Following Give STL Day, send a dedicated email blast to all donors who contributed, specifically focusing on matching gifts.
Script: “Thank you for making Give STL Day a success! You can make your impact go even further by submitting a match request to your employer today.”

Since the donation is fresh in their minds, the conversion rate for these appeals is typically much higher than at other times of the year.

3. Don’t Ignore Retirees

St. Louis has an aging workforce, with many retirees from legacy companies such as McDonnell Douglas, Monsanto, and Ralston Purina. Many of these legacy programs still honor matching gifts for retirees.

Action: When capturing donor data, ask for “Former Employer” or “Retired From.” If a donor lists Boeing or Monsanto (or a number of other matching gift employers), treat them as a match-eligible prospect until proven otherwise.

Recommended Reading: Matching Gifts for Retirees: Companies to Know & More

Conclusion & Final Thoughts

Matching gift programs secure two donations for your organization with the cost of soliciting only one. They’re a huge opportunity to increase your donations, and you want to make use of them when you can!

If you have a large donor base in St. Louis, check whether any of them work for the above-listed companies. From the aerospace engineers in North County to the financial advisors in Des Peres, your community is full of people whose employers want to write you a check. Use a matching gift tool to continue the search and ensure you aren’t leaving free money on the table.

For more information, check out the following recommended resources:

Matching Gift Database: The world’s leading database of corporate matching gift programs.
Corporate Giving Statistics: Essential data to help you build your case for support.
Top Volunteer Grant Companies: A list of companies that pay your nonprofit for the hours you volunteer.