Double your IMpact:
Are You Eligible for a Matching Gift or Volunteer Grant?
What are matching gifts?
Corporate matching gifts are a type of philanthropy in which companies financially match donations that their employees make to nonprofit organizations.
When an employee makes a donation, they’ll request the matching gift from their employer, who then makes their own donation. Companies usually match donations at a 1:1 ratio, but some will match at a 2:1, 3:1, or even a 4:1 ratios.
How do matching gifts work?
The matching gift process generally follows these steps:
A donor makes a donation to a nonprofit.
A donor determines if their donation is eligible for a company match from their employer.
If their employer will match their donation, the donor can submit a request via the companies process.
The employer reviews the forms and follows up with the nonprofit to confirm the donation.
The employer makes a matching donation.
Nonprofits can receive twice as many donations as they normally would as a result of matching gift programs. It takes little effort on the employees’ end and companies can contribute to a cause their employees care about.
What are volunteer grants?
Volunteer grants are corporate giving programs that encourage volunteerism in communities where employees live and work. Through these programs, companies provide monetary grants to organizations where employees regularly volunteer.
Many nonprofits are eligible to receive volunteer grants, and these programs effectively turn supporter time and effort into tangible funds.
How do volunteer grants work?
Volunteer grants come in two forms:
A monetary donation for every hour an employee volunteers
A set grant amount once employees have volunteered a certain amount of time
The volunteer grant process generally follows these steps:
The volunteer gives their time to a nonprofit.
The volunteer determines if their time spent is eligible for a volunteer grant using a volunteer grant database.
If it’s determined that their employer does offer volunteer grants, the volunteer can submit the request to their company.
The volunteer’s employer will review the forms and verify with the nonprofit that the employee volunteered.
The employer will send the nonprofit a monetary grant.
Volunteer grants are important corporate giving programs because they provide extra support to nonprofits as a result of their established volunteers. Companies typically provide grants to one nonprofit per employee per year.
Why do companies match donations?
Companies of all sizes match donations their employees make to nonprofits because it’s an easy, structured way for them to support good work in their communities. CSR, or corporate social responsibility, is an important factor in how the public perceives brands and companies these days.
Corporate matching gifts are an efficient and straightforward way for companies to build relationships with charities.
