Tag Archive for: Employee Giving

Learn about the impact of matching gifts on employee engagement in this guide.

The Impact of Matching Gift Programs on Employee Engagement

With a whopping 85% of employees actively disengaged at the workplace, implementing intentional engagement programs is crucial for ensuring your company’s success. By implementing corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs into your company culture you can access benefits on multiple sides—workforce productivity, community impact, and customer satisfaction.

One of the top workplace giving program ideas is matching gifts. Starting a matching gift program boosts engagement by allowing you to invest in your employees’ passions. However, if you’re new to CSR or don’t know where to start with matching gifts, it can be difficult to know where to start. Don’t worry—this guide will provide you with everything you need to cultivate a more engaged and effective workforce by covering these topics:

Without further ado, let’s explore the valuable relationship between matching gift programs and employee engagement.Click here to learn more about how matching gift programs can boost employee engagement.

Matching Gift FAQs

Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned pro, you likely have some questions about the vast world of matching gifts. Let’s get you the answers you need before we move into our engagement strategies.

What are the key terms to know regarding matching gifts?

If you’re new to matching gifts, there are a lot of important terms that you might not be aware of. Here are some definitions to keep in mind:

  • A matching gift program is a corporate giving initiative that enables employees to get their donation to a nonprofit matched by their employer.
  • A match ratio is a company’s ratio of how much of an employee’s donation they’ll match. For example, most companies match $1 for each dollar contributed by the employee, but some even pledge $2 for each dollar given by the employee.
  • Matching gift program eligibility requirements are a company’s rules for which employees can leverage matching gifts and to what extent. For instance, some companies allow retirees and part-time employees to submit matching gift requests, where others only allow full-time employees to participate.
  • A maximum and minimum match amount are the upper and lower limits of an eligible matching gift. Most companies set the minimum amount around $25 and the maximum at several hundred dollars per year.
  • A CSR platform is a software solution that companies leverage to manage their matching gift programs. The best CSR platforms can integrate with matching gift processing software solutions like Double the Donation, which has auto-submission capabilities.

All of these terms (and a few more) will eventually be fully fleshed out in your corporate giving policy. If you’d like to more clarity on how other organizations define them, research companies that donate to nonprofits to get a more informed perspective on how you can tailor these ideas to your employee engagement goals.

What are the primary benefits of matching gift programs?

Matching gift programs offer a plethora of advantages for both companies and nonprofits alike. Besides feeling fulfilled after committing a good deed, companies who embrace matching gifts can boost:

  • Customer loyalty. Customers increasingly favor supporting companies who give back to their communities. In fact, corporate social responsibility can give your company an edge over competitors—70% of consumers want to know that the brands they support are socially responsible.
  • Brand reputation. With increased customer loyalty comes a stronger brand reputation. Not only will giving back to nonprofits boost customer retention but it can improve acquisition as well.
  • Employee productivity and loyalty. Employees want to feel supported in their professional and personal passions by their employer, and it shows in their job performance and loyalty. Matching gifts provide a perfect opportunity to invest in each employees’ interests, make a widespread impact on the community, and cultivate a more dedicated workforce.
  • Talent acquisition efforts. The same principles that boost employee productivity through corporate giving apply to talent acquisition. You can leverage your matching gift offerings to attract and acquire the talented applicants that your competitors want.
  • Tax breaks. Depending on where your company is based, you can get tax reductions from the IRS for your matching gift contributions.
  • Community relationships. A matching gift can open the door for your company to form valuable relationships with organizations in your community, especially with nonprofits. For instance, if you notice a high volume of donations going to one nonprofit, you might decide to officially sponsor them and reap even more benefits of corporate social responsibility.

That said, you can’t harness these benefits without putting a sincere effort towards making philanthropy a core value of your company. That means actively promoting your program to employees and iterating on it.

What can affect employee engagement with matching gift programs?

Numerous factors can impact a company’s employee matching gift engagement, such as:

  • Employee awareness. According to Double the Donation’s guide to matching gift statistics, 78% of donors are unaware if their company offers a matching gift program, and 1 in 3 donors indicate that they’d give more if a match was available. The more employees know about your program, the better participation metrics you’ll see.
  • Ease of submission. The easier it is to submit a matching gift request, the more employees will participate in your program. Leverage a platform that integrates with an auto-submission provider to keep the process straightforward.
  • Program guidelines. The stipulations that determine who can participate in the matching gift program and how they can get involved influences the participation rate.
  • Leadership support. Employees look to leadership to embody company culture and values. If there’s a lack of support or acknowledgment of matching gifts, employees might feel discouraged from participating.
  • Flexibility in gift types. Some employees might prefer giving all at once, but others might prefer to donate smaller gifts over time. Accommodating multiple giving preferences allows you to interest more employees in getting their gifts matched. After all, our corporate philanthropy trends research found that 39% of surveyed employees wish their companies would allow greater flexibility in when and how they can participate in workplace giving.
  • Quality of feedback mechanisms. Adapting your matching gift program over time is crucial for keeping it effective as your company changes. Leveraging comprehensive and accessible feedback mechanisms is how you can tailor your programs to be more suited to your employees’ preferences.

To gauge what influences your own company’s matching gift participation rate, survey your employees and ask what aspects are beneficial and where improvements can be made. These answers usually directly correlate with your program’s effectiveness and appeal to your employee community.

Tips for Maximizing Employee Engagement through Matching Gift Programs

Now that your initial questions are answered, you might be wondering how to launch your own matching gift program. Before we go over the details, let’s review the big-picture ways that you can increase engagement.

 A diagram showing the tips for maximizing employee engagement through matching gifts as described below.

  • Create a culture of giving and volunteerism. Whether you ask potential hires about their interest in social responsibility or offer paid time off for company volunteering, you should integrate giving back into your regular schedule. You’ll attract passionate advocates to join your team and cultivate a community that values your CSR efforts, making implementing a matching gift program simple.
  • Leverage technology and software solutions. As mentioned above, using employee-facing CSR platforms streamlines program management and participation. For instance, using a CSR platform that integrates with an auto-submission platform can cut at least half of the steps in a matching gift submission process.
  • Sharing the program’s impact with participants. As donors, your employees are entitled to information about your corporate giving activities and progress. Ensure you report on your matching gift program’s metrics, such as the number of participants and the total amount donated by the company, so your employees stay informed about your progress.

Your company needs to do more than simply start a matching gift program to get employees excited about getting involved. Implementing these large-scale atmospheric and program shifts will make it easier for your matching gift program to make a lasting impact.

How to Start an Employee Matching Gift Program

These simple steps can help you start your matching gift program on the right foot:

an infographic that demonstrates the steps for starting a matching gift program, as highlighted below.

Develop a corporate giving policy

Before you lay out your specific matching gift policies, you should create a framework for your overall approach to corporate social responsibility and giving. Ensure you cover the following aspects in your policy:

  • Goals of your program
  • Bundle options, such as making a higher match ratio available when the employee have volunteered a certain amount
  • Match ratio
  • Minimum and maximum match amounts
  • Eligibility requirements
  • Types of gifts accepted
  • Affinity causes that you contribute more to
  • Tax deductibility information
  • Submission deadlines
  • Contact information for the program administrator
  • Feedback devices

Record all of these stipulations in a visible location, such as the employee handbook or in your employee-facing CSR platform, so your staff has the most essential information at their fingertips. If you make changes to your policy, communicate them to your entire team to keep your program running smoothly.

Pick a CSR platform

If you haven’t already settled on a CSR platform that supports matching gifts, now is the time to research your options and pick the best fit. Keep these important considerations in mind while you choose your platform:

  • Cost
  • Matching gift auto-submission integration
  • Employee access
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Mobile accessibility
  • Success stories/good reviews
  • Scalability
  • User-friendliness
  • Supports matching gifts and any other corporate giving initiatives you decide to take on
  • Robust reporting capabilities

Once you’ve narrowed down your prospective providers based on these criteria, schedule demos, consultations, and any other meetings to help you make your decision. Also, remember to include all relevant parties in your research and trial processes, such as your software experts, company leadership, and CSR program chairs, so you get a diverse array of perspectives on the available options.

Communicate the program’s impact to employees

As previously mentioned, one of the biggest barriers to employee participation in matching gift programs is a lack of awareness. To achieve maximum visibility, you should:

  • Create a matching gifts information page. Many companies have shared drives or Intranet pages where employees can share internal information. Create an internal information hub for your matching gift program where you can post updates and answer questions.
  • Leverage multiple channels. Whether you’re spreading the word about your program via email or in person at your all-hands meeting, pick company-wide channels to inform your employees about your program.
  • Host recognition and appreciation events. Leveraging peer feedback is a great way to get employees interested in your new program. Ask employees who have had their gifts matched before to speak to the program’s effectiveness in spreading social good. You could also ask nonprofit representatives from causes related to your company’s focus to speak about how matched donations impact their missions.

Similar to your external marketing efforts, your program will only be as popular as your communications are effective. Use marketing tools such as powerful calls to action and branded images to make your communications stand out.

Celebrate successes and recognize employee participation

Once the matching gift requests start rolling in, you should take the time to thank those who made the program successful—your employees. Showing your heartfelt gratitude can help employees feel more engaged and inspired to renew their involvement going forward. Share your thanks by:

  • Sending appreciation eCards. Make your thank-you message more memorable than a passing comment in the hallway by leveraging custom employee appreciation eCards. Take it a step further by giving peers the ability to recognize each other for their charitable activity so everyone has a chance to support each other.
  • Awarding prizes to participants. Creating a competitive, yet fun gamified atmosphere with prizes on the line helps employees get more absorbed in your program and allows you to show your thanks. For instance, let’s say you’re running a matching gift day coinciding with Giving Tuesday. Consider offering all participants a small prize as a thank-you gift and award the top five donors with more valuable gifts.
  • Creating a yearly award. You might already have a yearly awards ceremony where high performers are recognized for their contributions to the company. You could add an award for “biggest community contributor” or “advocate of the year” to show thanks to the most influential participants.

A little recognition can go a long way in securing long-term support for your matching gift program. As long as your sincerity comes through, your employees will feel the love and keep giving!

Click here to read about real companies who have leveraged matching gifts in our essential guide.

Wrapping Up + Additional Resources

Now that you know how and why matching gift programs can influence your employee engagement, it’s time to launch your own efforts! By keeping your employees at the center of your strategy and leveraging the right technology, you can achieve remarkable results for your company, both internally and externally.

Click the banner to learn more about how auto-submission impacts matching gift program participation.

 

Check out these Atlanta matching gift companies to find corporate philanthropy opportunities for your nonprofit.

7 Major Atlanta Companies with Matching Gift Programs

While Double the Donation works with nonprofits across the country, the fact that we’re headquartered in Atlanta means we have a special place in our hearts for Atlanta nonprofits.

Through corporate giving programs, nonprofit supporters can double (maybe even triple!) their contributions to eligible organizations, allowing their employers to showcase their social responsibility. These programs boost nonprofits toward their goals by contributing much-deserved revenue. Your organization does not want to overlook these opportunities.

If your nonprofit is based in Atlanta, brush up on these important areas of corporate giving:

  1. Statistics on Atlanta Matching Gift Companies.
  2. Companies in Atlanta with Matching Gift Programs.
  3. Exploring Revenue Opportunities with a Matching Gift Database.

Ready to boost your nonprofit’s revenue by learning about corporate giving opportunities in your area? Let’s get started!

Statistics on Atlanta Matching Gift Companies

From a nonprofit’s standpoint, being located in a major city like Atlanta is ideal for raising money with corporate giving programs. The city is home to many of the largest employers in the world, some of which offer extensive employee matching gift and volunteer grant programs. Here are a few statistics on Atlanta-based companies and their employee giving programs which may interest you:

  • Atlanta ranks 4th, just behind New York City, Houston, and Dallas, in the number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered within city boundaries.
  • 4 Fortune 100 companies call Atlanta home. This includes Coca-Cola, Home Depot, United Parcel Service (UPS), and Delta Air Lines.
  • 26 Fortune 1,000 companies are headquartered in Atlanta, 16 of which are in the Fortune 500.
  • 75% of Fortune 1000 companies have employees in the Atlanta market.
  • 65% of Fortune 500 companies match donations made by their employees.
  • 40% of Fortune 500 companies offer volunteer grants for employees.

Curious about employee matching gift programs and volunteer grant programs? Click here to explore more corporate philanthropy statistics.

Otherwise, let’s dive into some major companies that offer matching gifts in the Atlanta area!
Take a look at these Atlanta matching gift companies that are known nationwide.

Companies in Atlanta, GA with Matching Gift Programs

With over 75% of Fortune 1000 companies having a presence in Atlanta, there are definitely opportunities for your nonprofit to increase fundraising from employee giving programs. A great place to start is by looking at the largest companies based in Atlanta.

Let’s take a look at a few of the employee giving programs at some of Atlanta’s leading employers.

Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola is an Atlanta matching gift companies that matches employee donations at a 2:1 ratio.

Coca-Cola offers a very generous employee giving program. The company offers a 2:1 match, which means eligible employee donations are tripled! They’ll match donations anywhere from $25 to $20,000, as long as they’re made to eligible nonprofits.

Coke is willing to match donations to nearly all nonprofits but does have a few restrictions on their matching gift program. For instance, part-time employees are ineligible to participate.

Another aspect of Coca-Cola’s program worth mentioning is that the company does a great job promoting the programs to Coke employees! Read more about this in our previous article that covers employee matching gift participation rates at various companies across the nation.

Click here for additional info on Coke’s matching gift program.

Home Depot

Home Depot, an Atlanta matching gift company, matches donations anywhere from $25 to $3,000.

As one of the major companies based in Atlanta, Home Depot is also a generous supporter of nonprofits in the city. They match donations anywhere from $25 to $3,000 at a 1:1 ratio.

Similar to Coca-Cola, the company has few restrictions in place. For instance, both full-time and part-time employees are eligible, but unlike some other major companies, retired employees are ineligible.

The company has an easy-to-use electronic matching gift submission process, which means your donors can submit matching gift requests in a matter of minutes.

If you’re interested in learning more about the typical process a donor goes through to submit a matching gift request electronically, learn more about Home Depot’s electronic submission process.

Click here for additional info on Home Depot’s matching gift program.

IBM

IBM matches donations made by both current employees and retirees.IBM is an Atlanta matching gift company that matches donations with either monetary and equipment grants.

The matching gift ratio varies depending upon whether it’s an employee or retiree making the donation. For instance, IBM will match eligible contributions of up to $5,000 per institution per current employee at a 1:1 ratio. For retired employees, they’ll match at a .5:1 ratio.

Plus, they provide volunteer grants for employees and retirees who prefer to donate their time rather than money. They offer both individual and team volunteer grants. Depending on the amount of volunteered hours, employees can request from $500 to $5,000, starting at 40 hours.

Charitable employees who volunteer for eligible organizations can request either a monetary grant or an equipment grant. Specifically, team volunteer grant requests for eligible schools and nonprofits can be up to $7,500 in equipment. For individuals volunteer grant requests, IBM employees and retirees can request up to $3,500 in technology grants or $1,000 in cash awards each year.

Click here for additional info on IBM’s matching gift program.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines matches employee donations up to $5,000.Delta matches employee donations to a wide range of educational institutions, including those that are both public and private. Plus, they make the match request process simpler through electronic forms.

Delta matches up to $5,000 annually per eligible individual at a dollar-for-dollar rate. This is up from a 50% match on up to $2,000 annually just a few years ago.

The program is offered to full-time employees, part-time employees, and retirees.

Click here for additional info on Delta Air Lines’ matching gift program.

AT&T

AT&T, an Atlanta matching gift company, offers a Cause Cards program as a way to match donations.AT&T is the largest provider of mobile and fixed telephone systems in the United States. As of 2018, it’s the ninth-largest company in the U.S. by total revenue.

While AT&T doesn’t offer a matching gift program, the company supports organizations that full-time employees are passionate about through its Cause Cards program.

Cause Cards are grants from AT&T given to eligible charities recommended by employees. All employees that participate in the annual Employee Giving Campaign are eligible to receive a Cause Card.

The grant amount depends on each individual employee’s total giving amount. These Cause Cards are expected to range from $25 to $250, and once they’re approved, employees are notified of the amount offered by AT&T and the deadline to select an eligible charity.

Click here for additional info on AT&T’s matching gift program.

United Parcel Service (UPS)

UPS, which was originally an Atlanta matching gift company, no longer offers a match program.We get more questions from our nonprofit clients asking us about UPS’s matching gift program than any other company. Unfortunately, this confusion arises from the fact that UPS is still listed on the majority of the random lists of matching gift companies found on various websites.

UPS does not offer an employee matching gift program. Upon hearing this news, our team reached out to the UPS Foundation for confirmation and received the following response:

“The UPS Foundation formerly offered a gift matching program for educational and cultural organizations. However, on February 20, 2009, UPS’s Board of Trustees approved the action to suspend the Gift Matching Program due to the economic climate. At this time, there are no current plans to restart the program.”

While they don’t match employee donations, they are avid supporters of their local communities. For instance, in recent years, they’ve invested over 1.8 million volunteer hours and over $100 million to charitable organizations.

Equifax

Equifax, an Atlanta matching gift company, matches donations from $50 to $5,000.Equifax matches employee donations to nearly all 501(c)(3) organizations. While the company provided us with a paper matching gift form copy, we always encourage employees to check the company intranet to ensure it’s the most up-to-date version.

Both full-time and part-time employees are eligible to participate in the program. Donations of $50 to $5,000 may be matched at a 1:1 ratio. In other words, donations to eligible nonprofits can potentially be doubled!

As with many corporate giving programs, Equifax aims to enable employees to use a part of the company’s budget to support their own philanthropic interests.

Click here for additional info on Equifax’s matching gift program.

Additional Atlanta Matching Gift Companies

Hundreds of other major employers in the Atlanta area also match employee donations. Check out some other Fortune 1,000 companies in Atlanta that offer matching gift programs:

  1. Southern Company
  2. Truist Bank
  3. First Data Corporation
  4. Pulte Group
  5. Aaron’s, Inc.
  6. Carter’s, Inc.
  7. Global Payments, Inc.

By familiarizing yourself with employers who offer corporate giving programs, you set yourself up for a successful fundraising strategy. Otherwise, you may miss out on important revenue opportunities.
A matching gift database can help your nonprofit pinpoint Atlanta matching gift companies.

Exploring Opportunities with a Matching Gift Database

By adding a matching gift database (like Double the Donation) to your nonprofit’s tech toolbox, you’ll substantially increase your revenue potential.

Double the Donation’s database has data on more than 20,000 companies that represent 15+ million match-eligible individuals, making it the world’s leading matching gift database. Here’s how it works:

  1. You embed the search tool across your fundraising channels (e.g. your website and donation webpage).
  2. Donors/Volunteers search for their employers.
  3. Your supporters instantly receive updated info on their employers’ giving programs.

Larger nonprofits may benefit even more from 360MatchPro by Double the Donation. It recognizes match-eligible donors through email domain screening and enables email automation to drive matches to completion.

Want to find out how these tools can help your Atlanta nonprofit increase its fundraising potential?


Atlanta is home to many of the nation’s leading companies that match employee donations. Make sure everyone in your organization is familiar with major employers that offer giving programs in your area.

At the very least, your organization should share the above companies with both your team and your supporters. Making sure they’re familiar with these major companies can help your organization boost its revenue.

You should also consider taking it a step further by providing donors and volunteers with detailed information on their company / their spouse’s employer. By raising awareness and simplifying the match process for supporters, you should increase your fundraising revenue.

Take a tour of Double the Donation’s matching gift service to see if we can help your organization raise more money from these programs.

Small Companies Matching Gifts

10 More Companies with Volunteer Grants Greater Than $15/hour

Volunteer Grants (aka Dollars for Doers) programs are an up and coming form of corporate giving. Unlike matching gift programs, in which corporations match donations from employees, these programs match volunteer effort from employees with corporate donations.

If you haven’t been following Double the Donation’s blog, catch up on part 1 of this topic where we introduced 10 companies which provide grants of at least $15 per volunteer hour.

Due to the positive feedback we received from readers, we’re doing a followup post. So without further ado, here are 10 additional companies which have truly embraced Dollars for Doers programs with generous grants per hour volunteered.

Companies with Volunteer Grants Greater than $15 per hour:

Travelers CompanyTravelers Offers Multiple Types of Employee Donation Programs

Travelers offers two types of employee giving programs.

  1. Matching Gifts of Money
  2. 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, the company directs a $500 grant to nonprofit organizations when an employee has volunteered for at least 24 hours with the organization ($20 per hour).

View additional details on Travelers Company’s volunteer grant program.

Macy’sMacy's Employees can Have their Donations Doubled and are Rewarded with Grants for Volunteering

Whereas most companies apply very few restrictions to their volunteer grant programs, Macy’s only provides volunteer grants to educational institutions (including K-12). Through Macy’s “Earnings for Learnings” program, the company provides a $250 grant to schools where employees volunteer for at least 15 hours ($17 per hour).

Macy’s also offers a very generous matching gift program where the company will match each employee’s donations up to $22,500 annually to nearly all nonprofits.

View additional details on Macy’s volunteer grant program.

Kimberly-ClarkEmployee Giving Programs at Kimberly Clark

While Johnson & Johnson made our 2012 ranking of top corporate employee giving programs, Kimberly-Clark isn’t far behind. The company matches donations to nearly all nonprofits up to $10,000 per employee per year.

The Kimberly-Clark Foundation also recognizes the volunteer efforts of employees and their spouses or domestic partners. The company provides $500 grants to nonprofits where employees / spouses / domestic partners volunteer for at least 30 hours in a year ($17 per hour).

View additional details on Kimberly-Clark’s volunteer grant program.

PNC FinancialPNC's Grants for Great Hours

Through PNC’s “Grants for Great Hours” volunteer grant program, employees who volunteer for 40+ hours with a nonprofit early education program earn a grant of $1,000 for that organization ($25 per hour).

Additionally, PNC offers a less restrictive matching gift program where the company matches donations dollar for dollar to nearly every nonprofit and school.

View additional details on PNC Financial’s volunteer grant program.

AmgenAmgen Matching and Volunteering Grants

The Amgen Foundation supports volunteer efforts by providing grants to organizations where employees volunteer. Once an Amgen employee volunteers for 15 hours in a year with a nonprofit, he or she can request a $500 grant ($33 per hour).

Full time employees are eligible for up to $2,000 annually in grants for their nonprofit while part time staff can earn up to $1,000 in grants annually.

Amgen also matches employee contributions of up to $20,000 per employee annually to nearly all nonprofits.

View additional details on Amgen’s volunteer grant program.

PPG IndustriesPPG Grants for Employees and Retirees

PPG Industries offers one of the most generous volunteer grant programs. Through PPG’s “Grant Incentives for Volunteerism by PPG Employees & Retirees (GIVE)” program, after an employee or retiree volunteers for 10 hours with a nonprofit organization, he or she can request a $500 grant for the organization ($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 ($100 per volunteer hour).

PPG Industries also matches donations to select organizations.

View additional details on PPG Industries’ volunteer grant program.

Devon EnergyGrants when Devon Energy Employees Volunteer

Whereas most companies base their volunteer grants off the annual number of hours volunteered, Devon Energy provides grants for regular volunteering during shorter time periods.  The company offers two ways employees can request $250 grants ($20 per hour) for their organization:

  1. Six hours of volunteering per month for two months.
  2. Three hours of volunteering per month for four months.

View additional details on Devon Energy’s volunteer grant program.

Soros Fund ManagementGrant Programs at Soros Fund Management

Soros was recently recognized on our list of companies with the top employee giving programs. The company provides volunteer grants of $50 per hour up to $4,000 annually.

Additionally, the company is one of the many employers which triple or quadruple employee donations.

View additional details on Soros Fund Management’s volunteer grant program.

Chevron CorporationChevron's Grant for Good

Through Chevron’s “Grant for Good” program, the company provides grants as a way to recognize employees and volunteers 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 either a single nonprofit or two different nonprofits.

Chevron also doubles donations made by employees and retirees through the company’s Humankind Program.

View additional details on Chevron’s volunteer grant program.

PfizerEmployee Grant Programs at Pfizer

Pfizer encourages regular volunteerism among employees and retirees. The company provides $1,000 volunteer grants to organizations where employees volunteer on a regular basis.

After an employee or retiree volunteers for six hours per month for six consecutive months, he or she can submit a request for a $1,000 volunteer grant.

The company also matches donations made by employees and retirees up to $5,000 annually.

View additional details on Pfizer’s volunteer grant program.

Utilizing Resources:

Tour Double the DonationAll of these companies have embraced employee giving programs by offering grants above and beyond corporate averages. While the corporations may benefit from increased employee engagement, your nonprofit can also reap rewards.

These Dollar for Doer programs are a chance to double dip. Earn monetary grants along with benefiting from the assistance volunteers can provide. Make sure your nonprofit is encouraging volunteers to log their volunteer hours and submit these grants to their employers.

Tour Double the Donation to see how we help nonprofits raise more money from Dollar for Doer and matching gift programs. 

Learn how to use social media to promote matching gifts today.

Social Media: 12 Matching Gift Posts to Schedule Today

Social 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:

  • Sample Matching Gift Posts for Twitter
  • Sample Matching Gift Posts for Facebook

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.

Learn the best way to market matching gifts.

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.

Twitter is a great tool to market matching gifts.

Learn how to use Twitter in your matching gift marketing.Sample Matching Gift Posts for Twitter

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 is a great tool for marketing matching gifts.

Learn how to use Facebook when marketing matching gift programs.Sample Matching Gift Posts for 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.

Small Companies Matching Gifts

Five Companies Providing Volunteer Grants when Retirees Volunteer

If your organization has a large number of volunteers, you’ve probably received volunteer grants, also known as Dollar for Doer grants.

Not familiar with volunteer grant programs?
Check out this article which outlines the basics of volunteer grant programs. It also provides an overview on how organizations can benefit from this source of corporate giving.

At Double the Donation, we help nonprofits raise more money from employee matching gift and volunteer grant programs. While we recognize that many company programs are geared exclusively towards current employees, some companies extend their grant programs to retirees who volunteer on a regular basis.

Five Companies which Provide Grants when Retirees Volunteer

Bank of AmericaBank of America Retiree Volunteer Grants

Bank of America offers both a matching gift and volunteer grant program. Through Bank of America’s dollars for doers program, the bank offers the following two different thresholds of volunteer grants:

  • 50 volunteer hours = $250 grant
  • 100 volunteer hours = $500 grant

Learn more about Bank of America’s Volunteer Grant Program.

ConocoPhillipsVolunteer Grants for ConocoPhillips Employees and Retirees

Like many other energy providers, ConocoPhillips offers generous employee giving programs. In addition to the ConocoPhillip’s matching gift program, the company also provides donations to nonprofits where employees volunteer on a regular basis. ConocoPhillips also offers two different levels of volunteer grants:

  • 20 volunteer hours = $500 grants
  • 40 volunteer hours = $1,000 grants

Learn more about ConocoPhillips’ Volunteer Grant Program.

Prudential

In addition to matching up to $5,000 of each employee’s donations, Prudential also offers grants when employees volunteer on a regular basis.

Specific grant amounts vary between $250-$1,000 and are based upon the number of hours and type of volunteer work performed. Each employee must volunteer for a minimum of 40 hours before being eligible for a volunteer grant.

Learn more about Prudential’s Volunteer Grant Program.

Alliant EnergyAlliant Energy Grants for Employee and Retiree Volunteerism

Through Alliant Energy’s Volunteer Program, the company recognizes personal volunteerism performed by employees and retirees by providing grants to the nonprofit. The company has three different volunteer grant thresholds:

  • 50-149 volunteer hours = $100 grants
  • 150- 199 volunteer hours =  $300 grants
  • 200+ volunteer hours = $400 grants

Learn more about Alliant Energy’s Volunteer Grant Program.

ExxonMobilVolunteer Grants for ExxonMobil Employees and Retirees

In addition to ExxonMobil’s generous matching gift program to higher education and arts & cultural organizations, Exxon Mobil also offers two types of volunteer grant programs:

ExxonMobil Individual Volunteer Grants

  • 20 volunteer hours = $500 grants
  • 40 volunteer hours = $1,000 grants
  • 60 volunteer hours = $1,500 grants
  • 80 volunteer hours = $2,000 grants

Spouses and dependent children (ages 12-25) of both employees and retirees are also eligible to participate and request volunteer grants for their volunteer hours.

ExxonMobil Team Volunteer Grants

A $500 grant is awarded to nonprofit organizations when a team of at least five ExxonMobil employees and retirees volunteer together for at least 20 combined hours. Click here to read about other companies providing grants when groups of employees volunteer.

Learn more about Exxon Mobil’s Volunteer Grant Program.

We also encourage you to explore Double the Donation’s matching gift and volunteer grant service to see if it can help your nonprofit raise more money from employee giving programs.