Your nonprofit can raise more awareness and, in some cases, double its donations through matching gifts. If you work for a nonprofit, follow these tips to maximize matching gifts.

About matching gifts

Many companies provide a matching gift program as an employee benefit; they match all or part of their employees’ charitable donations. This means that your donor's employer will make a donation to your nonprofit as a result of your donor's contribution.

The process for getting matching gifts

When a supporter donates, they're asked if their employer has a matching gift program. If they do, they can enter their company's name and FirstGiving sends them your matching-gift message once their donation has processed. In your donor details report, you can see who has indicated their donation will be matched.

Tip: Use this information to keep track of matching gifts that come in, but also be proactive and check in with the donor to see if they need any help.

Your donor uses your matching-gift message to answer their company's required questions for matching gifts. All company's follow different processes, but most require your nonprofit's name, address, and tax ID number.

Tip: Personalize your matching gift message by adding your nonprofit’s website, phone number, and email address.

Once the request has been made, the company will send you their matching gift.

Tip: Tell your fundraiser to add this offline donation to their fundraising page (share this page if they need help),  and thank your donor for asking their employer to donate.