If you hear matching presents, what do you consider?
Possibly it’s a serious donor who matches contributions made throughout an enormous marketing campaign. As a nonprofit skilled, you would possibly’ve even participated in a kind of. However do you know that there’s one other kind of matching presents that may really present extra worth and are sometimes simpler for organizations like yours to profit from? Introducing: company matching presents.
Many donors, together with those that give to your group, are eligible for matching presents by way of their employers. Nonetheless, nonprofits usually underutilize this fundraising technique.
As a Google Advert Grants company, we perceive the ability of harnessing each software at your disposal that may assist your nonprofit fulfill its mission. That’s why we’ve answered some essential questions on matching presents so you’ll be able to leverage this main fundraising energy. These embrace the next:
- What are company matching presents?
- How do matching presents differ from matching grants?
- How does the matching present course of work?
- What are company matching present program standards?
- What ought to the donor aspect of matching presents appear like?
- Is there a deadline to submit an identical present request?
- Why are matching presents essential?
- Why aren’t extra nonprofits utilizing matching presents?
- Which corporations supply matching presents?
- How do I get management help for matching presents?
- How can I educate my staff about matching presents?
- How can my group promote matching presents?
- What’s an identical present database?
- How ought to I handle matching presents with a number of chapters or associates?
- Are matching presents the one kind of company giving?
- The place can I study extra about matching presents?
Able to familiarize your staff with the fundamentals of matching presents? Let’s soar proper in!
1. What are company matching presents?
Company matching presents are a type of company philanthropy by which corporations match donations their workers make to nonprofits and faculties. Most matching present packages are open alternative, that means any and all fundraising organizations can profit without having to have a proper, pre-existing relationship with the company.
That’s the easy model.
Matching presents are primarily free cash. They let donors maximize the influence of their presents with out reaching again into their very own pockets. Because of this, nonprofits can double and even triple their donation income.
2. How do matching presents differ from matching grants?
Matching presents are a sort of company philanthropy the place corporations match donations made by their workers to eligible nonprofits. Because of this when a donor provides, their employer contributes an equal (or generally larger) quantity, successfully doubling the influence. Many corporations match donations at a 1:1 ratio, however some supply 2:1 and even 3:1 matches, making it a straightforward strategy to multiply fundraising {dollars} with out further asks.
Matching grants, however, are beneficiant funds put up by main donors, foundations, or firms that can multiply the giving by any donors, usually inside a restricted time-frame. Not like matching presents, that are donor-driven, matching grants require nonprofits to safe contributions first to unlock the matching funds.
3. How does the matching present course of work?
Matching present packages range by firm, however right here’s an outline of the method in a nutshell:
- A person donates to a nonprofit. A supporter donates to your nonprofit, both on-line, by examine, or by way of one other giving technique.
- The person checks to see if their employer will match their donation. Many corporations have particular tips for matching presents, resembling minimal and most donation quantities, eligible nonprofits, and deadlines for submitting requests.
- The person submits a request for a match by way of their employer. If the donor’s firm presents a match, the person should submit a request for funds, both by way of their firm’s matching present portal or paper kind.
- The employer verifies the donation with the nonprofit. As soon as the donor submits the request, the employer verifies the donation and ensures it meets their program standards.
- The employer matches the person’s donation. After approval, the corporate points an identical donation—both by examine, digital funds switch, or by way of an identical present platform. This course of can take anyplace from just a few weeks to some months, relying on the corporate.
Understanding the matching present course of is essential to unlocking this hidden income. By streamlining the expertise and making it simple for donors to take part, your nonprofit can unlock hundreds (and even hundreds of thousands) in further funding—all with out asking donors to offer extra!
4. What are company matching present program standards?
Many corporations set up a coverage round matching presents, full with outlined match ratios, minimal and most quantities, and worker/nonprofit eligibility. Let’s dive deeper into every of these classes to see which sorts of tips try to be conscious of.
Match Ratios
Most corporations match at a 1:1 ratio, which implies a dollar-for-a-dollar match. Nonetheless, match ratios can span anyplace from 0.5:1 to 4:1. For instance, a 1:1 match on a $50 donation means $100 complete, whereas a 2:1 match on the identical $50 will get you $150 complete.
Minimal and Most Quantities
Firms even have minimal and most donation quantities that they’ll match. The commonest minimal quantity is $25, however these quantities can range from $1 to $100.
In the meantime, program maximums have a good wider vary, usually between $1,000 and $15,000. Nonetheless, quantities will nonetheless range under and above these figures.
With a purpose to maximize your matching present potential, it’s a good suggestion to maintain a watch out for packages with low minimums and excessive maximums. These are going to supply one of the best alternatives for income!
Eligibility
Many corporations have restrictions on the forms of nonprofits and workers which are eligible to obtain or request a matched donation.
For nonprofits, most 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible for matching present packages, together with instructional establishments, arts and cultural organizations, environmental organizations, well being and human companies, and extra. The commonest restrictions are often towards non secular or political organizations, nevertheless it’s nonetheless as much as the corporate. Immediately, most packages are open-choice, that means the worker may give (and get their presents matched) to whichever organizations they’d like.
For workers, their eligibility additionally relies on the corporate’s tips. This may embrace full-time, part-time, and retired workers. Some corporations will even match presents made by workers’ spouses or important others, permitting for even larger matching present potential for organizations!
5. What ought to the donor aspect of matching presents appear like?
As you accumulate donations out of your supporters, their expertise all through the method can decide whether or not you keep their help. That’s why it’s essential to streamline your complete donation course of, together with your matching present efforts.
Right here’s how you are able to do so!
Consider Your Present Donation Course of
As donors give to your group, do they see useful assets about matching presents? If not, the time of the donation is a main alternative to teach them. That is the place that embeddable matching present search software is useful! Permit donors to make use of the search software through the donation stage to allow them to instantly take motion.
Observe Up About Matching Presents
As soon as donors have submitted their donation, comply with up and allow them to know that their present can go twice as far—and provides them directions on how they will accomplish that. In the event that they haven’t submitted a match request to their employer, now is an ideal time to ship a follow-up e mail to get the ball rolling.
Once more, for those who select to make use of a software like Double the Donation Matching, you’ll be able to automate this course of. This matching present platform will robotically e mail donors in your behalf with the knowledge they want to determine their eligibility.
You may even transcend e mail outreach by calling donors. Contemplate making cellphone calls to a narrowed-down listing of high-value matching present donors who usually tend to submit a match request. Cellphone calls take extra of your workers’s time, however being selective about who you name can add a significant human contact to your matching present outreach.
Streamline Your Verification Course of
Whereas some organizations are unfamiliar with the verification course of for matching presents, the excellent news is that it’s easy sufficient for groups to handle nicely. Verifying the unique donation with an identical present firm means familiarizing your staff with the company giving platforms that corporations are utilizing.
A few of these prime company giving platforms embrace Benevity, YourCause, and CyberGrants. Understanding the rules for every of those main distributors will assist you reply to verification requests shortly and keep away from lacking out on any matching {dollars}. Make sure to educate your workers in order that they perceive how the verification course of works.
Thank Your Donors
Thanking your donors ought to go with out saying, nevertheless it’s nonetheless one thing we’ve got to emphasise. Use your automation instruments to thank your donors not solely following their donation but additionally after you’ve acquired the match from their employer. This may assist you domesticate the relationships it’s essential to proceed rising and serving your mission as a nonprofit.
For top-value donors, take into consideration much more customized approaches to offer your thanks. Handwritten letters, eCards, and cellphone calls from senior management workers are only a sampling of the channels you need to use.
Reviewing how your nonprofit handles the matching present lifecycle may help you streamline the matching present course of for donors. Make it as simple as potential for donors to submit their matching present requests, after which comply with up to ensure they perceive what the following steps are.
6. Is there a deadline to submit an identical present request?
The deadline to submit an identical present request will range primarily based in your donor’s employer. Nonetheless, there are three essential forms of deadlines a selected program would possibly implement. This contains necessities for donors to finish their submissions…
- Inside a set variety of months post-donation. An organization will match a present as much as a sure variety of months after the donation is made. For example, this may very well be three, six, or 9 months after the date of the donation.
- By the tip of the calendar yr. An organization will match a present throughout the calendar yr of when the donation is made.
- By the tip of the calendar yr, plus a grace interval. An organization will match donations made by way of the tip of the calendar yr after which add further months for workers to submit a request. These grace intervals often undergo the tip of January, February, or March.
Nonetheless, the extra time that passes after a supporter makes a donation, the much less doubtless they are going to be to submit a match request. That’s why it’s a must to promote matching present alternatives to them as quickly as potential.
7. Why are matching presents essential?
Past boosting your fundraising income, matching presents can even assist enhance donor retention and engagement. Do you know that 1 in 3 donors say they might give a bigger present if a match was utilized to their donation?
Simply realizing that their donation will go twice as far encourages donors to offer a bigger present on the outset. Equally, 84% of donors say they’re extra prone to donate if a match is obtainable in any respect. If in case you have a possible donor who’s on the fence about giving to your group, selling company matching presents may give them the additional push they should make their resolution.
Listed below are another eye-opening matching present statistics to assist put issues in perspective:
As you’ll be able to see, there are many advantages that include matching presents. They encourage donors to offer to your group whereas additionally boosting the preliminary present quantities.
8. Why aren’t extra nonprofits utilizing matching presents?
It seems, a lot of the time, each nonprofits and donors don’t learn about matching presents. And that results in important quantities of obtainable income being left on the desk.
For nonprofits, causes embrace a scarcity of workers, assets, and time wanted to zero in on matching present income. Many occasions, organizations don’t know who a donor’s employer is or what their matching present coverage is, in order that they’re not of a lot help all through the donor expertise. To not point out, handbook follow-ups would require an funding of assets that many organizations merely lack.
For donors, in the meantime, most don’t even know that their firm presents an identical present program. Moreover, the method of getting their donation matched could seem means too difficult or unclear to get began with, particularly with out correct steering.
The outcome? Roughly $4-$7 billion in matching present funds goes unclaimed yearly. That’s cash that may very well be reinvested into nonprofits to assist help their operations and unfold their missions. However thankfully, fixing for these points is straightforward with a devoted technique and the instruments to again it up.
9. Which corporations supply matching presents?
Excellent news: There are extra corporations that match donations than chances are you’ll suppose.
A number of the prime matching present corporations embrace Microsoft, Apple, Google, House Depot, and Disney. In actual fact, 65% of the Fortune 500 have reported providing matching present packages for his or her employers. Many of those corporations supply excessive most match limits and match donations to most forms of nonprofits.
For instance:
- Microsoft matches as much as $15,000 in donations to most nonprofits at a 1:1 ratio for full- and part-time workers.
- Disney matches as much as $25,000 in donations to most nonprofits at a 1:1 ratio for full- and part-time workers.
- Apple matches as much as $10,000 in donations to most nonprofits at a 1:1 ratio for full- and part-time workers.
Nonetheless, that is solely a snapshot of the numerous matching present corporations on the market. And it’s not simply massive firms handing out cash, both. These corporations vary in measurement and tips, which is why it’s important that you just perceive the place your donors work (and whether or not they qualify for the packages) to get in on this funding supply.
10. How do I get management help for matching presents?
Usually, step one in rallying your staff round matching presents is focusing consideration on getting management help. With out backing from management, it could be tougher to get the remainder of your workers on board within the first place.
In the beginning, it’s essential to assist management see the worth in matching presents. This momentum will then trickle right down to the remainder of your workers. Double the Donation outlines efficient methods to get your management on board with matching presents. These embrace:
- Utilizing inside knowledge. Slightly than speaking in regards to the worth of matching presents, present the influence they will have in your group by way of knowledge. Spotlight details about your variety of match-eligible donations versus precise submitted matches, complete income raised from matching presents, and the variety of donors who work for matching present corporations.
- Spending time creating a technique. Take just a few hours a month to develop your matching present technique, after which encourage your management to do the identical. This manner, you’ll make your methods much more efficient.
- Holding quick conferences with management. Schedule quick, 15-minute conferences that respect your management staff’s time however nonetheless assist you to display the worth of matching presents. Clarify the fundamentals of matching presents, their influence, and their advantages. Then, schedule future conferences to report again in your progress and progress.
When your management is on board together with your matching present plan, your complete staff shall be extra prepared to work towards your matching present objectives. Get them excited in regards to the prospect of a substantial income enhance, and you’ll want to showcase how leveraging matching presents successfully can get you there.
11. How can I educate my staff about matching presents?
Subsequent, it’s time to get the remainder of your staff on board. Sadly, many nonprofits don’t spend time educating their workers about matching present packages. That is very true for organizations that don’t understand the influence matching presents can have on their income.
That’s why we’ve rounded up some efficient steps you can take to get your staff up to the mark:
- Goal the proper workers members. This contains workers members who’re in control of campaigns and occasions, funds, advertising and marketing, and extra. For instance, marketing campaign and occasion organizers can promote matching presents of their communications with attendees, whereas finance workers can monitor and report on matching present income. Your advertising and marketing staff can then promote matching presents throughout all communications.
- Present instructional assets. Provide instructional assets (Double the Donation presents a lot of nice ones at no cost or low price) to teach your staff about matching presents in order that they’re extra receptive to the knowledge. This manner, they’ll know what there’s to learn about matching presents and may reply questions from donors as they come up.
- Make matching presents a part of onboarding. Prepare new staff members on the matching present course of in order that they learn about them from the outset. You too can give out one-pagers, arrange calls or conferences, and attend webinars to assist educate all present workers. Double the Donation’s Matching Present Academy generally is a nice asset for this, too!
Educating your new workers members and giving these refreshers to your complete staff will assist make matching presents simpler throughout your group. Make sure to supply useful assets that they will entry and supply coaching in order that they’re able to deal with something matching gift-related that comes throughout their desk.
12. How can my group promote matching presents?
We’ve made it clear {that a} ignorance is an enormous difficulty relating to matching presents. So, how can your group market matching presents to your donors?
We’ll cowl among the prime advertising and marketing strategies under!
Google Advert Grants
Do you know Google presents eligible nonprofits $10,000 in month-to-month advert credit to advertise their web sites? The Google Advert Grant is a superb advertising and marketing software for selling matching presents.
For the reason that Google Advert Grant program requires you to arrange advert campaigns with particular objectives, you’ll be able to create a marketing campaign for selling matching presents. Then, you’ll be able to create adverts directing customers to your matching present web page to encourage them to take part.
At Getting Consideration, we’re dedicated to serving to nonprofits navigate Google Advert Grants, from figuring out program eligibility to managing advert campaigns. We’d be completely happy to seek the advice of with you to find out how we will finest serve your Google Advert Grant wants.
E-mail Outreach
E-mail outreach can take just a few completely different varieties: affirmation emails, newsletters, thank-you letters, and extra. If you ship out these kinds of messages, it’s essential to say matching presents for one of the best outcomes.
Right here’s some textual content you’ll be able to embrace in your thank-you e mail after a donor has contributed to your trigger:
Thanks for supporting our group! Do you know that many corporations match their workers’ donations to our nonprofit? Examine your eligibility and entry the suitable varieties and directions to submit a match at the moment.
You may even embrace a hyperlink to study extra about matching presents inside your e mail!
Social Media
In case your nonprofit has a powerful social media presence or is within the technique of constructing one, make the most of post-scheduling instruments to submit about matching presents all year long.
Social media impacts donors—in truth, 32% of donors who give on-line say that social media is the channel that the majority evokes them to offer. Whether or not you’re utilizing Fb, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or different platforms, you’ll want to embrace hyperlinks that direct supporters to the knowledge they’ll have to submit a match request to their employer.
Double the Donation even offers its customers with free, customizable social media advertising and marketing templates throughout the platform that can assist you get began!
Donation Web page
When supporters are already in your donation web page, which means they’re critical about donating to your trigger. Since donors are most engaged at this step, that is the proper time to advertise matching presents.
All it’s essential to do is immediate every donor to offer their employer’s title instantly inside your donation kind as they provide—both with an non-compulsory freeform textual content area or utilizing a devoted matching present search software. From there, you need to use your matching present database to display screen donor info for matchable transactions!
Devoted Matching Present Web page
By making a devoted matching present web page, you’ll be able to present donors with normal instructional details about matching presents, in addition to company-specific matching present varieties, tips, and directions.
Having a selected web page that homes all the info donors want will make it simpler for supporters to submit a match request. You can ship donors there by way of social media posts, emails, and different forms of communication.
Matching Present Search Software
By investing in matching present software program that provides entry to a matching present database, you’ll hand-deliver donors up to date and complete details about their employer’s matching present tips and varieties. For one of the best outcomes, this software will be embedded in your donation varieties, affirmation pages, Methods to Give pages, and extra!
13. What’s an identical present database?
Talking of embedding an identical present search software, making the funding in matching present software program can present simply the increase it’s essential to drive these match-eligible donations to completion. Extra particularly, a matching present database may give you entry to details about hundreds of firm matching present packages.
How does an identical present database work?
An identical present database is definitely accessible by way of a search software plugin. This plugin can go anyplace in your web site, together with donation varieties and devoted matching present pages, and permits donors to seek for their eligibility in seconds.
Right here’s the way it works:
- The donor accesses the search software in your web site.
- The donor varieties their employer’s title into the search software.
- The search software then populates with details about their employer’s matching present program.
Sounds nice, proper? When you’re searching for efficient matching present software program, we suggest testing Double the Donation, the main supplier of matching present instruments. In any case, Double the Donation presents a strong matching present automation software that empowers donors to entry Double the Donation’s complete matching present database. This useful resource homes info on greater than 24,000 corporations and subsidiaries and their matching present packages, making it simpler than ever to find the proper knowledge once you (or your donors) want it.
Double the Donation Matching additionally scans info donors present through the donation course of, determines their matching present eligibility, and triggers automated emails that define the following steps particular to the donor. Plus, Double the Donation Matching integrates with greater than 100 of the main nonprofit CRMs, peer-to-peer fundraising software program, and donation software program, so it’s a superb alternative for those who’re already utilizing a number of of these instruments.
14. How ought to I handle matching presents with a number of chapters or associates?
For a lot of organizations, encouraging matching presents means retaining monitor of your donors’ employers and having a set course of in place for outreach. Nonetheless, bigger organizations which have a number of chapters or associates might run into points when managing matching presents.
For one of the best outcomes, these kinds of organizations ought to consolidate their matching present course of. In keeping with Double the Donation’s full information for chapters and associates, consolidation implies that every unit will comply with a central course of to safe matching presents.
Listed below are some prime tips about how you are able to do this:
- Select the way you’ll consolidate. Whether or not that is on a nationwide stage, a regional stage, or impartial by chapters, you’ll need to base this resolution on how constant you need your donor expertise to be and the way you need reporting to happen.
- Develop an motion plan. Your motion plan ought to embrace understanding your present course of, placing collectively an identical present staff, optimizing the verification course of, and figuring out your income objectives.
- Standardize the follow-up course of. Set clear tips to make sure particular person chapters are figuring out and following up with match-eligible donors. This manner, you’ll be able to proceed the dialog round matching presents and create a extra constant donor expertise.
These methods could make an enormous distinction in case your group runs in a number of areas. A constant course of will assist your groups keep away from lacking out on matching present alternatives and create particular tips every unit ought to comply with, all whereas offering a extra seamless donor expertise.
15. Are matching presents the one kind of company giving?
Along with matching presents, there are a lot of different forms of company philanthropy. From financial grants for volunteer hours to occasion sponsorships and extra, listed here are among the prime company giving packages:
Volunteer Grants
Also referred to as “{Dollars} for Doers” packages, volunteer grants are a sort of company philanthropy by which corporations present financial grants to organizations the place their workers repeatedly volunteer.
Right here’s how volunteer grants work:
- A person volunteers with a nonprofit.
- The person tracks their hours and submits a request for a volunteer grant with their firm.
- The corporate verifies the hours with the nonprofit.
- The corporate offers a examine to the nonprofit.
If you have already got a devoted group of volunteers, encourage them to examine their eligibility for a volunteer grant. You would possibly have the ability to get some further company {dollars} this fashion.
Volunteer Time Off
Volunteer Time Off (or VTO) is a sort of company giving program by which corporations present workers with paid time without work to volunteer with nonprofit organizations. Not like conventional PTO used for holidays or private days, VTO permits workers to offer again to their communities with out sacrificing their wage or work hours.
When correctly utilized, VTO can grow to be a win-win for each companies and nonprofits. Staff get to make a distinction with out monetary limitations, corporations construct stronger group connections, and nonprofits achieve priceless volunteer help to additional their mission.
Fundraising Matches
Fundraising matches are much like matching presents in that donations are matched by an organization.
The distinction?
Fundraising matches apply to fundraising occasions, like walk-a-thons or 5Ks. The participant’s employer will then match the cash the participant raises (quite than provides instantly) by way of sponsorships or different donations.
Computerized Payroll Deductions
One of many easiest types of company giving is automated payroll deductions. By means of this company giving program, workers have a portion of their paychecks donated to a nonprofit regularly.
Particular corporations might have tips on which organizations they’ll donate to. Usually, the group has to share comparable values with the corporate, like environmental causes or different points. As soon as your group has been permitted, it is a nice supply of recurring donations.
In-Variety Donations
Many corporations donate extra than simply cash to nonprofits. Some additionally present in-kind donations, which implies items or companies. To provide you an instance, an organization would possibly donate computer systems, consulting companies, and even meals to organizations.
In-kind donations not solely profit nonprofits but additionally give corporations a way of satisfaction in serving to a worthy trigger.
Sponsorships
One of the impactful types of company giving is sponsorships, the place companies present monetary or different help to nonprofits in change for recognition, branding alternatives, or group goodwill.
Sponsorships usually kind mutually helpful partnerships—corporations achieve visibility and improve their company social duty efforts, whereas nonprofits obtain important funding or assets to additional their missions.
16. The place can I study extra about matching presents?
Now that we’ve answered the commonest matching present questions, it’s best to have a deeper understanding of what matching presents are. Now you can begin encouraging participation out of your supporters and watch as your donation income will increase exponentially.
When you want some further details about matching presents earlier than you get began, we’ve compiled some useful assets under:
