Companies that serve their communities stand out to customers and employees. With robust corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in place, businesses can engage their employees and prove their commitment to bettering the world around them.
With 63 million Americans already volunteering with nonprofits each year, corporate volunteerism is an easy way for companies to get started with CSR. To ensure your program runs smoothly, invest in a corporate volunteering platform. This type of tool facilitates the logistics of corporate volunteerism, making it easy for employees to participate.
In this article, we’ll cover the basics of corporate volunteerism and corporate volunteering platforms, including:
Whether you’re new to corporate volunteerism or want to make your existing program more efficient, corporate volunteering platforms are an excellent investment in your company’s CSR efforts.
What Is Corporate Volunteering?
Through corporate volunteering programs, companies encourage their employees to volunteer their time with charitable causes. These programs typically involve businesses promoting or organizing volunteer opportunities for their team. They may also feature incentives for volunteering, such as volunteer time off or volunteer grants.
What Are the Benefits of Corporate Volunteering?
While corporate volunteering clearly helps nonprofits gain more volunteer support, what about businesses? Why should your company start a corporate volunteering program?
There are so many advantages your company can unlock by starting a corporate volunteering program, including:
Better working environment. Team volunteer outings allow employees to bond as they work together toward a common goal. As a result, 64% of employees involved in corporate volunteering claim that it has strengthened their work relationships. Corporate volunteering is also a purpose-driven alternative to typical office social opportunities. In fact, 70% of employees believe corporate volunteerism is a more effective morale booster than happy hours and other similar company-sponsored activities.
Increased employee retention. CSR opportunities such as corporate volunteerism help people feel more engaged with their workplace. When people help to make the world a better place through their work, they’re more likely to stay at their current company, as evidenced by the fact that employees at purpose-driven companies have 20% longer expected tenures and 64% higher levels of job fulfillment.
Improved employee performance. Some volunteer opportunities help employees work on skills that they can transfer to the workplace. Volunteerism can also improve employees’ mental and physical health, allowing them to perform at their best.
Enhanced reputation. Consumers want to support companies with strong CSR initiatives in place. Considering that 77% of customers want to purchase from companies that contribute to the greater good, businesses need to actively promote their charitable efforts to stay relevant. Snapping some photos of your corporate volunteers in action and sharing them on your website and social media channels can demonstrate your commitment to CSR.
Purpose-driven applicant pool. In addition to adequate salary, generous benefits, and opportunities for mobility, 65% of people prioritize companies with CSR programs when applying for jobs. By showcasing corporate volunteerism and other CSR initiatives, your company can attract purpose-driven applicants who will help better your workplace and community.
From employees to customers to job applicants, corporate volunteerism allows your company to develop stronger, longer-lasting relationships with a variety stakeholders.
What Are Corporate Volunteering Platforms?
Corporate volunteering platforms are a form of volunteer management software. These tools help companies manage their corporate volunteerism programs and streamline communication with volunteers. By investing in a corporate volunteering platform, you can formalize your program and take your CSR efforts to the next level.
What Are the Top Features of Corporate Volunteering Platforms?
Each corporate volunteering platform has its unique features. We’ve compiled a list of some of the top features to look for when choosing your own platform:
Volunteer listings. What’s a corporate volunteering program without volunteer opportunities? Most platforms allow a place for you to organize volunteer outings or promote nonprofit volunteer events. That way, you can keep volunteer opportunities all in one place, as opposed to relying on email or direct mail to inform your employees.
Recruitment tools. Your corporate volunteering platform should make it easy for your employees to sign up for volunteering. For example, you may upload branded sign-up forms and allow employees to apply for volunteer opportunities straight from your platform.
Volunteer scheduling tools. Create a volunteer calendar so you can manage and update employee volunteer shifts. You can also add upcoming volunteer opportunities to the calendar so interested employees can save the date.
Volunteer database. Keep track of key volunteer information using volunteer profiles. Store contact information so you can send reminders about upcoming events and communicate any necessary details. You may also add data about the types of opportunities each volunteer prefers so you can highlight volunteer outings they might be interested in. Lastly, a volunteer database can help you keep track of how many times each employee has volunteered so you can recognize those who have gone above and beyond.
Mobile app. On the day of a volunteer event, the check-in process can be quite chaotic. To save time, some platforms offer an app that allows volunteers to check in beforehand. The app may also let volunteers access other features of the platform right from their phones or tablets.
Volunteer hour tracking. There are a few reasons why volunteers may track their hours. One of the most common is for volunteer grant purposes. Companies that give volunteer grants to nonprofits usually do so based on the number of hours their employees volunteer with certain organizations. Alternatively, companies may hold volunteer challenges and offer rewards for employees who volunteer the highest number of hours during a certain period of time.
Volunteer grant support. Once employees track their volunteer hours, they can complete a volunteer grant request form and send it to their employer. Facilitate this process by allowing volunteers to submit this form and track its progress right on your platform.
Communication tools. Prevent volunteer-specific communications from getting lost in email inboxes by leveraging messaging options within your platform. Corporate volunteering platforms may offer chat functions for individual conversations and group messaging.
Reporting capabilities. To understand and highlight the impact of your corporate volunteering program, look for a platform with reporting capabilities. For example, you may report on how many employees participate in your program, how many hours they’ve contributed, and which nonprofits you work with most often.
Of course, your company may not need all of these features to successfully manage your corporate volunteer program. Take the time to sit down with your team and determine which features are necessary before investing in a platform.
How Do You Select A Corporate Volunteering Platform?
With the different potential features in mind, you may be wondering how you should proceed with choosing a corporate volunteering platform. Follow these steps to make the best decision for your company:
Determine your platform priorities. What features are essential for your corporate volunteering platform? For example, if you offer volunteer grants, you may prioritize platforms with volunteer hour tracking and volunteer grant request features.
Create a budget. Like with any new purchase your company is pondering, setting a budget is key. Platform providers may charge a flat fee or charge per volunteer, so be sure to get an estimate of how much different options cost.
Research different platforms. Now, it’s time to explore the different platforms at your disposal. In addition to the platform provider websites, check out reviews and testimonials from real users to guide your decision-making process.
Request demos. When you’re in the final stages of platform selection, request demos from the platforms you’re considering. That way, you can test out the software and see if it fits your volunteer management needs.
Select your platform. Meet with your team to make the final decision. If there’s any uncertainty about which platform is best, consider having a small focus group of employees involved in your volunteer program test your options and report back on which one they prefer.
To ensure your corporate volunteering platform is effective, you’ll want to make sure your employees know how to use it. Schedule a meeting to teach your employees the ins and outs of the platform and answer any questions they may have.
Wrapping Up & Additional Resources
Starting a corporate volunteerism program is a great first step in developing your CSR repertoire. With the right corporate volunteering platform, you can take your program to the next level, engaging more employees and helping tons of worthy causes.
If you’re looking for additional ways to enhance your corporate volunteering program, check out the following articles:
Corporate Volunteer Grant Programs: Learn the Basics. Volunteer grants allow you to encourage employee volunteerism and provide extra financial support to nonprofits at the same time. In this article, you’ll learn how you can start your own volunteer grant program.
Most match-eligible donors rely on some kind of matching gift forms to complete their end of the matching gift process. However, these forms (and the steps taken to submit them) can look wildly different from one company to the next.
In order to best simplify and guide employee donors through the submission process, it’s important that you understand the ins and outs of paper, electronic, and e-submission match forms—plus form alternatives.
From the nonprofit side, giving your supporters the tools they need to complete a match request helps maximize the matching gift revenue you ultimately collect.
As a main source of corporate philanthropy, matching gifts are not an opportunity you want to miss out on. That’s true regardless of whether you’re looking at it from the nonprofit or the business perspective.
The right matching gift forms—and an understanding of how to use them—can bring your team’s strategy to the next level.
Let’s get started!
What are matching gift submission forms?
Matching gift submission forms are a specific type of documentation used within the corporate matching gift process.
When a company launches a matching gift program, it typically provides employees with access to a blank form (note: while some companies may still offer paper options, these forms are most often made available online and hosted within a corporate matching vendor platform). This document typically incorporates a number of fields that share context into the individual donation, the receiving nonprofit, and the team member submitting the request.
The form is then completed by the donor after making their initial nonprofit contribution as a way to formally request a match from their employer.
Then, the application is submitted to the company through the business’s specified channel. From there, the employer reviews the provided materials, verifies the initial donation, ensures the gift meets the company’s matching criteria, and approves the match.
Why matching gift forms matter
From start to finish, the matching gift process encompasses a few key phases. These include the initial donation, the employee request, the match review, and finally, the corporate gift.
Of these stages, the majority of match-eligible gifts drop off before or during the employee request component. For nearly all companies, the request stage involves the employee donor filling out an online matching gift form. And the ease with which an individual can complete their match form directly correlates to fulfilled matching gift success.
In other words, the best matching gift forms result in more matching gifts.
If that’s not enough of an answer, let’s take a closer look at why corporate matching gift forms matter…
To Donors
From the donor’s perspective, a matching gift form comprises the vast majority of the matching gift experience. Without it, there’s no employer donation ultimately secured, thus inhibiting the amplified giving impact an individual is aiming to make.
Not to mention, the donor is the one who actively completes the form to request a match on behalf of their favorite organization. It makes sense that a positive user experience is a priority for this key stakeholder!
In fact, most fundraising groups see only a fraction of the matching gift dollars available to them. Since one of the most significant roadblocks facing incomplete matches is the submission process, nonprofits understand that optimized matching gift forms can go a long way toward driving matches to completion.
To Companies
Companies invest time and effort into launching their matching gift programs. It goes without saying that they want employees to partake. After all, heightened staff participation levels result in better overall CSR—and, with it, increased employee engagement, improved company culture, unique cause marketing benefits, elevated brand reputation, and more.
However, complicated request processes can be a significant hindrance to team-wide engagement with the offerings. Thus, companies want to establish easy-to-use corporate match forms that provide positive experiences for their employees.
Elements of a corporate matching gift form
Regardless of the type of form a company utilizes, most matching gift submissions request the same pieces of information. And this information generally falls into three overarching categories:
Donor Information
Companies typically request a number of personal data points relating to the individual employee within the matching gift application. Though it can vary greatly from business to business, this information might include:
The donor’s name
Employee identification number
Corporate email address
Personal mailing address
Phone number
Providing these details generally certifies that the donor is who they say they are (i.e., an employee of the company from which they’re requesting a match). Plus, it ensures the employer knows who is requesting the matching gift for their own records and to track participation and donation totals over time.
Nonprofit Information
Most match forms also ask specific questions pertaining to the organization an individual has supported. This might include:
Type of organization (e.g., cultural, educational)
Phone number
Mailing address
Information about the nonprofit can help determine that the organization meets the company’s eligibility requirements (i.e., mission type). Not only that, but it also ensures that the person in charge of the corporate matching program has appropriate contact information for the nonprofit group, should they need to get in touch to verify the initial donation.
Donation Information
This final section is typically where the company asks employees to provide details regarding the original donation. Again, this enables the employer to determine whether the initial gift qualifies for a match (falls within the donation threshold, is submitted prior to the submission deadline, etc.).
Commonly required fields include:
Gift amount
Transaction date
Payment currency
Donation method
Many companies also request proof of the original donation, which nonprofits often provide in the form of tax-deductible gift receipts. And that’s where the individual donor’s side of the matching gift submission typically ends.
However, some employers require the recipient organization to verify the initial contribution themselves. In those cases, a vital step of the matching process falls into the hands of the nonprofit group.
After an employee completes the matching gift request, the nonprofit is typically notified (whether by mail or within a CSR portal) that an employee has requested a match. At this point, the organization must log into the company’s verification system to confirm that the specified employee made a donation to the cause. They may even be asked to provide a letter verifying the organization’s IRS-sanctioned 501(c)(3) status.
3 types of matching gift submission forms (and alternatives)
There are currently three main types of matching gift forms. These include paper, electronic, and Double the Donation’s standard form. However, innovative corporate giving platforms are developing streamlined submission processes that allow donors to bypass the matching gift form altogether.
Each company that offers a matching program is able to establish its own match request process. This includes selecting one or more matching gift forms and/or alternatives to accept.
Let’s take a closer look at each submission type, and the general process asked of donors to complete it.
Paper Matching Gift Forms
When it comes to matching gift forms, paper documents are where it all started. In fact, the first-ever matching gift program was developed before the internet was even invented!
Today, however, most matching gift donors prefer electronic forms; though some companies continue to accept—or even require—traditional paper documentation.
We don’t recommend companies use this type of outdated match form. After all, it’s a lot of extra work for the donor, the nonprofit, and the company itself. Still, it’s important to understand the process should you run into a situation involving paper submission forms in any case.
And here’s how it typically works. Employees at corporations with paper match forms go through the following steps to submit their match requests:
Match Eligibility Identification
The first step involved in any matching gift process is determining match program eligibility. And there can be quite a few factors at play here, including whether the company matches employee gifts at all, whether the employee in question qualifies for matching, whether the donation amount and recipient organization meet the company’s standards, and more.
This information can be uncovered in a few ways, from the company itself to a third-party tool such as Double the Donation.
Request Form Location
The next phase of the process involves locating the appropriate matching gift form. And unfortunately, this can be a bit trickier with paper forms compared to other types of matching gift submissions.
Double the Donation or the employer may provide access to printable versions of the forms online, or they may be requested in person from the HR department or company leadership.
Paper Matching Gift Form Submission
Once the match request forms have been accessed, donors are prompted to complete and submit the document via the channel established by the company. Some employers may accept the forms in person (again, likely to the HR office or manager), while others may require match forms to be submitted via mail to a provided address. Others yet can offer some sort of fillable PDF option, which may be completed and submitted online.
Electronic Matching Gift Forms
Technology is rapidly progressing, so it makes sense that many companies have transitioned to electronic forms. Doing so not only reduces programming costs and administrative lift but also simplifies participation for employees.
Electronic forms give donors a bit more freedom regarding when, where, and how easily they complete their requests.
Here’s what the process typically looks like:
Employee Sign-In / Registration
To access and complete electronic matching gift forms, employees usually have to log into the company’s CSR platform. This step typically involves creating or signing in with a username and password for the site.
In order to locate the login page, individuals may be directed from their company’s HR department or manager, or they might receive a link through the nonprofit to which they contributed—specifically if the organization uses Double the Donation’s tools.
Match Request Submission
Once in, the employee is prompted to complete the actual request process.
Like paper forms, individuals are asked to register their match requests by providing key data points. Though the exact process can vary based on the CSR portal a company uses, donors generally begin by searching for (or adding) the nonprofit they’ve supported from the portal’s list of verified causes.
From there, individuals typically provide a number of data points pertaining to their recent gifts—such as payment type, domain amount, currency, transaction date, and more.
Then the request is complete, and donors can submit their application with a click of a button!
Double the Donation’s Standard Matching Gift Form
Somewhere between a paper matching gift request and a complete online submission portal is Double the Donation’s intuitive standard match form.
Companies can easily opt into accepting this online form, which then enables streamlined automated electronic submissions for their employees. With this offering, donors can more easily complete their matching gift requests, thus increasing program usage and impact overall.
Double the Donation aims to make matching gifts as simple as possible, and the standard form was designed for just that purpose.
Here’s what the process looks like for eligible donors submitting the standard matching gift form:
Employer Selection
As donors give to nonprofits that use Double the Donation’s matching gift software, they’re prompted to enter their employing company in an auto-completing search tool embedded in the donation form. This is done to uncover match eligibility and determine whether the company accepts the standard matching gift form.
Identity Verification and Authorization
If so, the donor is provided with an opportunity to submit their match automatically, directly from the organization’s gift confirmation screen. Typically, all they are required to do here is verify their identity by providing a corporate email address and check a box that authorizes Double the Donation to submit the match request on their behalf.
Behind-the-Scenes Submission
Once authorized, Double the Donation pulls necessary information from the donation process itself and automatically fills in the blanks on the premade standard matching gift form. Upon completion, the form is sent as a PDF document to the matching gift coordinator designated by the company to review and approve as usual.
Matching Gift Form Alternative — Auto-Submission
Online match portals that facilitate electronic request forms have long been working to streamline and improve the match submission process. And Double the Donation shares the same goal.
Now, Double the Donation is partnering with select CSR software providers to do exactly that. By providing an innovative matching gift form alternative, auto-submission allows qualifying donors to submit match requests without a matching gift form at all.
Auto-submission was recently moved out of beta and is now growing its integrated network with CSR solutions.
All they’re typically asked to do is enter their corporate email address on the gift confirmation screen and authorize Double the Donation to submit a match on their behalf. From there, the integrated software ecosystem collects necessary data points and funnels the information directly to the employer’s corporate giving platform behind the scenes.
Then, the company reviews and approves the match within the software system as usual.
This revolutionary new function benefits donors (with streamlined submission processes and fewer roadblocks), nonprofits (with increased match revenue), and companies (elevated program participation) alike. It’s a win-win-win!
And as more companies and CSR providers begin rolling out the feature in partnership with Double the Donation, an ever-growing number of nonprofit supporters will be able to leverage the matching gift form alternative.
Double the Donation has compiled the industry’s most in-depth source of matching gift information. Our comprehensive database provides access to details regarding more than 24,000 companies’ (equating to approximately 99.68% of all match-eligible donors) program guidelines and request processes.
By sharing a summary of each company’s matching gift program, we aim to make it increasingly easy for donors to complete their matches on behalf of the organizations they support.
When donors search for their employers using the associated database search tool, they’ll instantly receive any available guidelines for their employers’ programs. If available (which, over 91% of companies’ forms are), a direct link to online match forms and other related documents will be given to them, too!
Here’s an example of what you might see when searching for an employer with Double the Donation’s matching gift database search tool:
Donors will also be provided with other relevant information, such as:
The company’s match ratio;
Minimum and maximum match amounts;
Eligible employee groups (full-time, part-time, retired, spouses, etc.);
Qualifying nonprofit mission types;
Match request processes and forms (online or offline);
A corporate database can provide powerful insights into thousands of companies’ matching gift programs and next steps. That can go a long way toward maximizing program participation for donors by simplifying the processes involved.
As for companies, make sure your giving program is included in our comprehensive database of corporate match information. This enables employees to have quick and easy access to program guidelines and forms from their favorite organizations’ giving pages! Click here to add your company to Double the Donation’s matching gift database.
Wrapping Up
Matching gift forms play a crucial role in the overall matching gift process—not to mention strategic corporate match fundraising.
At this point, your team should know all about the different types and components of corporate matching gift forms, the value for nonprofits, companies, and donors, and more. Now, it’s time to get out there and start maximizing your matching gift revenue!
Interested in learning more about matching gift best practices? Check out these additional recommended resources:
Take matching a step further with auto-submission functionality.
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DTD_The-Complete-Guide-to-Corporate-Matching-Gift-Forms_Feature.png6001600Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2023-10-25 15:13:582023-12-14 19:29:29Corporate Matching Gift Forms | The Ultimate Guide
The top companies know that sales are no longer everything. Employees, consumers, and investors want to know that businesses are committed to making the world a better place in their everyday operations. That’s where corporate social responsibility (CSR) comes in.
CSR encompasses a company’s efforts to contribute to society, from corporate philanthropy to environmental advocacy. Since CSR refers to various programs and initiatives, it can be difficult to conceptualize its impact and how companies should approach it.
To illustrate the multi-faceted nature of CSR, we’ve compiled a list of 16 helpful CSR statistics. This data will show the necessity of adopting CSR and which methods companies should use. Let’s dive into it!
When employees come to work each day, they want to feel like they’re making a difference. Even if their jobs don’t directly affect those in need, employees take comfort in knowing that the companies they work for use their revenue and team time for good.
Make sure your employees are up to date with your company’s CSR initiatives. Consider sending monthly or quarterly updates about steps your business is taking to make the world a better place. Your team will take pride in knowing their employer is committed to improving society and your local community.
2. 71% of employees think it’s important to work at a company that gives back through philanthropy and volunteering.
More specifically, employees want to get involved in your CSR efforts. The two easiest ways for them to do so are corporate giving and volunteering.
When you start a corporate giving program, you show employees that you care about their interests and want to work together to give back to the causes they’re passionate about. There are a variety of different elements your corporate giving program may include, such as:
Matching gifts. Many companies will match employee donations to their nonprofit of choice, typically at a 1:1 ratio.
Volunteer grants. To incentivize employee volunteering, companies may contribute to nonprofits based on the number of hours their employees volunteer.
Fundraising matches. Instead of matching employee donations, fundraising matches apply to funds individual employees raise for walkathons, runs, or other events.
Community grants. Nonprofits can apply for grants offered by companies in areas such as disaster relief.
Annual giving campaigns. Companies may run specific fundraising campaigns during the end of the year or dedicated giving days.
Automatic payroll deductions. With automatic payroll deductions, employees can easily donate to their favorite causes on a regular basis.
Annual grant stipends. While annual grant stipends are somewhat rare, some companies distribute a predetermined amount of money to employees each year for them to donate to their nonprofits of choice.
Internal employee fundraising. Nonprofits and companies alike may rely on their team members to raise money for worthy causes.
Scholarships. Businesses may help students pay for tuition, living expenses, food, and other associated costs.
Sponsorships. For nonprofits hosting events, corporate sponsorships can be very helpful in securing necessary funding. Additionally, these nonprofits may promote and publicly thank their corporate sponsors, allowing businesses to gain positive publicity.
To ensure your employees understand how your program works, create a corporate charitable giving policy that outlines your program’s components and requirements. For example, you may limit donations through automatic payroll deductions to only environment-oriented nonprofits if sustainability is your company’s primary focus.
In terms of volunteering, you can encourage your employees to participate by developing a formal corporate volunteer program. Reach out to local nonprofits to line up volunteer opportunities for your team. You may also survey your employees to find which organizations they already volunteer with and organize volunteer events with those nonprofits.
The two most popular forms of corporate giving are matching gifts and volunteer grants. Matching gifts occur when an employee contributes to a nonprofit, and their employer matches that donation. While most companies match employee donations at a 1:1 ratio, some may match at a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio.
No matter the matching ratio your company decides upon, matching gifts have the potential to double—or even triple—a nonprofit’s donation revenue. With this type of corporate giving, you incentivize employees to give back to their favorite causes and help worthy nonprofits earn more along the way.
Volunteer grants are like matching gifts with a volunteer twist. Instead of matching donations, companies contribute to nonprofits based on the number of hours their employees volunteer with them. As a result, companies can have a massive positive impact on their nonprofit partners by offering them additional funds and corporate volunteers.
The companies with the most successful matching gift and volunteer grant programs use corporate giving software. This type of platform allows businesses to manage components of their corporate giving programs, including:
Employee donations
Automatic payroll deductions
Matching gift requests
Volunteer hour logs
Volunteer grant requests
Team volunteer opportunities
Company corporate giving metrics
With all of their corporate giving information in one central location, companies can more easily communicate with their employees about their philanthropy programs and ensure donation request forms are completed in a timely manner.
4. 78% of donors are unaware if their company offers a matching gift program.
It’s difficult to make a large impact with your matching gift program if your employees don’t know about it. That’s why it’s so important to include matching gift guidelines in your corporate giving policy and promote matching gift opportunities to your team.
On the other hand, even knowing that your company’s matching gift policy exists doesn’t guarantee that supporters will participate. In fact, 16% of donors know their company offers matching gifts, but they’re not sure if they’re eligible or how to submit a request. Companies can make the matching gift process easier by leveraging corporate giving software.
Keep in mind that businesses like yours aren’t the only ones using corporate giving software. Nonprofits also use this technology to encourage matching gifts and volunteer grants among their supporters, which will overlap with your employees. Many nonprofits embed corporate giving database tools within their donation pages that allow donors to search for their employer, determine their eligibility, and submit a matching gift or volunteer grant request.
When your company’s corporate giving software integrates with nonprofit platforms, the nonprofit software will seamlessly send matching gift and volunteer grant requests to your system. Plus, software that specifically integrates with auto-submission tools can make it even simpler for your employers to get their gifts matched. Check out this video for an in-depth look at how auto-submission works:
Typical nonprofit corporate giving software enables donors to fill out their information and send matching gift and volunteer grant requests to their employers. With auto-submission, the process is even easier. All employees have to do is input their corporate email address, and the platform will send their employer the appropriate request on their behalf.
This approach ensures that more donors send matching gift and volunteer grant requests, increasing corporate giving participation and employee engagement. When choosing corporate giving software, look for a platform that integrates with those that have auto-submission capabilities, such as 360MatchPro, for best results.
5. 96% of companies find that employees who volunteer are more engaged than their coworkers who don’t.
In addition to benefiting those in need, volunteering can also improve employee engagement. When you organize volunteer shifts for your employees, you give them the opportunity to build valuable teamwork skills. Additionally, employees who work for companies that provide volunteer grants and facilitate volunteer outings feel empowered by their employer to make a difference.
Corporate volunteer programs give employees a hands-on opportunity to get involved in CSR. They’ll feel more invested in your company when they can directly contribute to your social good efforts, leading to higher engagement in the workplace.
6. 88% of Millennials find their jobs more fulfilling when their employers provide CSR opportunities.
With Millennials making up 39.4% of the workforce, it’s important to tailor your company culture to this large segment of working professionals. An overwhelming majority of Millennials believe CSR opportunities enhance their roles.
For many corporate employees, their job descriptions don’t necessarily include helping communities in a direct way, but most people feel best about themselves when they’re making a positive impact on others. CSR opportunities help close this gap.
Employees who give to their favorite causes or volunteer with nonprofits through their companies’ corporate giving programs feel a greater connection to the business. CSR makes jobs more than just jobs; these types of initiatives empower people to work with their employers for the betterment of society.
7. 55% of employees say they would take a lower salary to work for a socially responsible company.
Many employees feel so passionate about CSR that they would rather work for a socially responsible business than make a larger salary at a company that doesn’t prioritize CSR. This data is striking because it shows that companies in the midst of recruiting and hiring can entice applicants with their CSR initiatives.
While people certainly want to be paid in accordance with their skills and experience, there’s a growing sentiment that job fulfillment is sometimes more important than salary. As evidenced by the two previous CSR statistics, CSR programs enhance the employee experience and make people feel connected to their workplace.
Companies that want to attract purpose-driven applicants should take the time to develop comprehensive CSR programs. That way, they can demonstrate their commitment to social good and encourage prospective employees to join in.
8. 89% of corporate executives think employees are more satisfied when their company has a strong sense of purpose.
Not only do employees report that they prefer companies with a social conscience, but corporate executives also notice a difference in employee attitudes when companies are driven by CSR. Leadership teams recognize that CSR gives employees something to work toward in addition to their career goals and aspirations.
When employees feel satisfied in their roles, they’re more likely to put their best foot forward in the workplace. As a result, employees will be more productive and invested in their work, resulting in better outcomes for your business objectives.
9. 58% of companies say workplace giving programs are important in retaining employees.
One of the biggest challenges of running a business is retaining employees. Over the long run, it’s much more cost-effective to retain employees than hire new ones. Additionally, keeping the same employees around allows you to leverage their expertise and knowledge of the company to drive your goals forward.
That’s why when companies find an employee retention method that works, they stick with it. Since workplace giving programs make employees feel more fulfilled and engaged at work, they also help ensure employees stay with their current employers. Consequently, employees who participate in corporate giving have 75% longer tenures in the workplace.
10. 77% of consumers want to purchase from companies with CSR initiatives.
Your employees aren’t the only ones invested in your CSR program. CSR is becoming increasingly important to consumers, so much so that it’s influencing their purchasing decisions.
This figure indicates the potential positive financial impact of adopting CSR practices. To ensure customers know about the work your company does to better society, make sure to advertise different elements of your CSR program using a variety of platforms. Here are some examples of how you can promote your charitable efforts:
Posting pictures of your corporate volunteers on social media
Including how much your company donates to different causes each year on your product packaging
Updating your customers on your current CSR projects through your newsletter
While CSR may not directly influence sales, it can reveal your core values to consumers who feel inclined to support charitable businesses.
11. 73% of investors look to invest in companies that improve the environment and society as a whole.
Investors have the potential to skyrocket your company to success. These days, investors are not only looking for companies with high profitability but also those that are making a positive impact on the world around them.
Implementing CSR efforts and reporting on them can increase the likelihood that purpose-driven investors support your business. Be sure to research potential investors ahead of time and include information about your CSR program in your pitches, especially for investors who have shown a demonstrated interest in CSR.
In its Survey of Sustainability Reporting, KPMG explains that G250 comprises the world’s 250 largest companies by revenue. Considering nearly all of them report on their sustainability efforts, we suggest your business does the same.
Reporting on your CSR efforts, such as sustainability initiatives, increases transparency with stakeholders, including employees, consumers, and investors. When you’re compiling your annual report, you may notice gaps in your CSR strategy that you can address with your team. That way, you can ensure your strategy is comprehensive and represents your company’s commitment to its values and specific CSR interests.
13. 87% of global investors accuse companies of “greenwashing” their sustainability reports.
When reporting on your CSR efforts, especially those that pertain to sustainability, it’s important to clearly describe the specific initiatives your company has carried out. It’s easy for companies to say they’re committed to sustainability without clarifying which components of sustainability they’re targeting and the actions they’re taking to do so. This practice is called greenwashing and leads to distrust among investors and the public.
Participants in PWC’s Global Investor Survey propose that companies who are serious about sustainability should structure their sustainability reports like financial statements with reasonable assurance. That way, companies can demonstrate the specific actions they’ve taken to promote sustainability and differentiate themselves from businesses that partake in greenwashing.
14. 76% of companies use CSR reports to enhance their reputation.
After learning about the positive impact of CSR on employees, consumers, and investors, it should make perfect sense that many companies report their CSR efforts to boost brand reputation. More than anything else, a company’s CSR program illustrates that it cares about its stakeholders’ priorities and uses its power and profits to help those in need.
For accurate, data-based reporting, start by pulling relevant data from your corporate giving software. Your platform likely keeps track of metrics such as how much money your company has raised and how many employees have participated in your CSR efforts. You can also use this data to evaluate which elements of your CSR program are most successful and which need to be revamped.
Then, you can obtain qualitative data for your reports by surveying stakeholders and nonprofits you’ve worked with. For example, you may interview an avid employee about their experiences as a volunteer and speak with a representative from your nonprofit partner to learn about the impact your CSR efforts have had on their mission. These types of testimonials can provide authenticity to your CSR reports.
This CSR statistic quantifies the substantial impact CSR has on charitable organizations. Ultimately, your company’s CSR initiatives can provide much-needed revenue to nonprofits that can use those funds to better assist their beneficiaries.
Find nonprofit partners that align with your company’s core values and mission. For example, companies that sell food products may partner with an organization that fights hunger. That way, your CSR efforts will be more meaningful and authentic to your business.
CSR is not slowing down anytime soon. The majority of companies are growing their corporate giving programs to support even more causes and communities.
This data point indicates that CSR is not just a trend. It’s now a given for companies that want to stay relevant and positively perceived in the eyes of all stakeholders.
Additional Resources
Whether you’re looking to engage your employees, “wow” your consumers, win over stakeholders, or make a tangible difference in the community, CSR can help you achieve your goals. By contributing to nonprofit causes, you also satisfy your stakeholders and improve your brand image as a philanthropic company.
We hope these CSR statistics helped you better understand the trends and impact of CSR. For more informative statistics, check out the resources below:
Companies participate in corporate giving for a number of reasons. A corporate executive might be inspired to give back to a particular cause that resonates with them and their values. A different company might do so in order to engage with its employees on a deeper level, fostering a positive workplace culture and driving satisfaction and retention. Another yet may choose to give in order to receive tax benefits or boost their public image.
Tons of businesses partake in matching employee gifts, and most intend to reap all of the benefits listed above. But there are a few that truly stand out in their efforts—specifically when it comes to corporate matching gifts.
Want to find out how? We’ve compiled information to provide you with a solid understanding of the Checkr corporation, its philanthropy and matching gift endeavors, and what makes it stand out from the crowd.
Checkr, Inc. was founded in 2014 with a unique idea to modernize and advance the traditional background check process—while removing common obstacles and enabling a fairer hiring process for all.
Today, this background check screening company aims to aid other businesses with the right technology to make the right recruitment and hiring choices. Checkr is built on the idea of fair chance hiring that works to make the hiring process as even as it can be for all candidates—including those with criminal backgrounds.
And Checkr understands the importance of corporate philanthropy in an overall business plan—especially pertaining to strategic recruitment and retention practices. They’ve even written several blog posts citing matching gifts and overall corporate giving programs as key components for How to Recruit Talented Leaders and How to Increase Employee Retention at Your Small Business. Not to mention, the Checkr team offers its own corporate giving initiatives—including, but not limited to, matching employee donations to charitable causes.
Current Matching Gift Program Guidelines
Checkr matches charitable gifts made by all full and part-time employees at a 1:1 rate. With no minimum donation amount and open match availability to nearly all nonprofit causes, Checkr aims to make its employee matching gift program as accessible as possible.
Not to mention, they utilize matching gift auto-submission functionality to enable one-click matching gift requests, which ensures the process is quick and easy for employee participants.
Let’s take a quick look at Checkr’s employee matching donation guidelines:
Minimum employee donation matched – None!
Matching gift ratio – 1:1, or dollar for dollar
Qualifying employees – Current full-time and part-time Checkr employees
Eligible nonprofit recipients – Nearly all nonprofit causes qualify to receive Checkr matches. This includes:
K-12 schools
Higher education institutions
Health and human services
Arts and cultural organizations
Civic and community organizations
Environmental nonprofits
And many more 501 (c)(3) organizations
Submission process – Checkr employees can leverage auto-submission to complete the matching gift process in seconds from their favorite organizations’ donation forms or submit their match requests manually by logging into the company’s CSR portal, Millie.
New Feature! Auto-Submission With Millie and Double the Donation
Checkr’s employee donation-matching program has many admirable features that make it one of our top matching gift companies. But what really makes this employer stand out in its offering is its matching gift auto-submission functionality.
Checkr employs corporate giving platform Millie to facilitate its matching gift program. Historically, that meant providing an employee-facing portal with which team members can log in, provide basic information about their recent donations, and submit their matching gift requests.
Now, thanks to a successfully implemented beta integration between Millie and industry-leading matching gift software provider Double the Donation, the process for employee donors is easier than ever before.
In fact, all an individual has to do is enter their corporate email address from the confirmation screen of their favorite organization’s donation page. They won’t be rerouted to a separate submission platform or be required to reenter donation details. The software ecosystem handles it all seamlessly behind the scenes!
What to Know About Checkr’s CSR Partner, Millie
In order to bring their philanthropy to the next level, the Checkr team chooses to leverage a social impact platform called Millie. Millie describes itself as offering a simple and flexible matching gift solution that’s budget-friendly for all companies. And for Checkr, Millie is able to help simplify the facilitation of their matching gifts and other corporate giving programs!
Here’s a look at Millie’s key offerings:
Essential matching donation management of programs that encourage both corporate and individual giving;
Campaign-hosting capabilities that enable companies to support and fundraise for various causes;
Remote and in-person corporate volunteer management tools;
Charitable gift cards, affinity groups, gamification campaigns, and more.
Plus, Millie has been at the forefront of corporate giving innovation with its new auto-submission partnership with Double the Donation, which is in its final stages of testing and refinement. This allows businesses like Checkr and more to streamline and elevate philanthropy, ultimately bringing advantages to every party involved. We’re excited to see what they do next, and how they bring forward-thinking companies along with them.
Other Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives
In addition to Checkr’s standout matching gift program, here are a few other CSR efforts that the background check company pursues:
Bounce Back program — Bounce Back is a unique program developed by Checkr with the help of its dedicated employees. By providing tools and resources to post-incarcerated applicants and companies looking to establish fair hiring practices, Bounce Back aids in securing a more optimal workforce for everyone involved.
Free reentry simulation — In order to provide insight into the various challenges involved with employment post-incarceration, Checkr has invested in developing an interactive virtual reentry simulator. This free and accessible tool aims to share perspective and understanding of those looking to reenter society after a criminal record.
Expungement assistance services — Checkr believes that a criminal record should not put an end to an individual’s employment potential. And when it’s possible to clear a candidate’s record and reopen opportunities, the company is dedicated to helping with a fast and affordable solution.
The Checkr website states that “Checkr has committed to the Pledge 1% corporate philanthropy movement, pledging to donate one percent of its employees’ time, one percent of its product, one percent of the equity, and one percent of the profits every year to the mission of enabling fair chances.”
But they often go farther than just one percent! In fact, much of Checkr’s corporate offerings revolve around its overall mission of fair chance hiring.
Concluding Thoughts
Matching gift programs continue to expand in terms of both prevalence and potential. And companies like Checkr are leading the pack. By enabling innovative auto-submission, Checkr is demonstrating matching gift programs of the future.
And while bringing inspiration to other corporate leaders, they’re also benefiting their employees by offering next-level engagement experiences, the nonprofits receiving increased funding through the matching programs, and even their own bottom line.
Dive deeper into corporate matching gifts! Learn more with these additional corporate giving resources from Double the Donation:
Matching Gifts: Your Guide to Growing Your Revenue with Automation. When leveraged effectively, corporate matching gifts have the potential to bring a nonprofit’s fundraising revenue to the next level. And the right tools and strategies can help—learn more in this comprehensive guide.
Corporate Philanthropy Examples: 15 Companies Doing It Right. Looking for more inspiration from charitable-minded businesses? Check out our list of fifteen companies across multiple sectors that are doing corporate giving right. See what your team can learn from these examples!
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/DTD_Company-Spotlight-Article-Millie-Checkr_Feature-1.png6001600Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2023-10-19 15:43:042023-12-15 15:39:30Company Spotlight: Get Inspired by Checkr’s Groundbreaking Matching Gift Program
With matching gifts, nonprofit organizations can double the impact of their donors’ contributions with just a tiny amount of effort. In fact, an estimated $2-3 billion is donated through matching gift programs annually. But if you need funds by a specific deadline or want to finish out your fundraising campaign with a bang, a matching donation challenge is more suited to your needs.
When organized thoughtfully, matching donation challenges can greatly increase the gifts your nonprofit receives. To help you get started, we’ll cover the following topics:
By the end of this article, you’ll be able to confidently host a matching gift challenge of your own. Let’s get started!
What is a Matching Donation Challenge?
With matching gifts, your nonprofit essentially asks your donors to check with their employers to see if they offer donation matches. If these matches are offered, then donors will typically need to fill out a form requesting the match. Then, your nonprofit receives the funds from both the donor and the employer’s match. Usually, matching gift programs work on an annual basis—even if the donation was made months ago, a donor can still request a match from their employer if it’s still the same year.
Where matching donation challenges differ from matching gifts is that they are generally a much more time-sensitive fundraising initiative. Rather than having individual donors request matches from their employers, during a challenge, a major donor or corporate partner pledges to match donations during a set time frame.
For example, they could pledge to match every dollar donated up to $20,000 at a 1:1 ratio for the weekend. This incentivizes supporters to make gifts during that time, as their donations will have a greater impact.
While matching gift challenges are usually for the benefit of a nonprofit, that doesn’t mean that only nonprofits organize them. For example, the popular convention Dragon Con designates a charity every year for a dollar-to-dollar match during the convention dates.
Benefits of Matching Donation Challenges
Matching donation challenges offer nonprofits a variety of benefits, including the following:
Additional funding. Since donations will be matched by your partner, your nonprofit will receive additional funding without having to ask donors to give more.
Increased engagement. Due to their time-sensitive nature, matching donation challenges create a sense of urgency for your supporters. This results in an increased amount of gifts and drives high levels of engagement.
Supporter retention. Through the power of donation matching, your supporters’ gifts will make a greater impact on your nonprofit. This empowers donors to play a more rewarding role for your organization, and when they witness the impact of their gifts, they’ll be more likely to give again.
Corporate partnerships. Depending on the partner you acquire, matching donation challenges provide an excellent opportunity to solidify relationships with corporations and businesses. This can lead to future partnership opportunities, such as event sponsorships.
These benefits make matching donation challenges uniquely suited to augment your existing fundraising efforts. For example, if you have a year-end giving strategy in place, take advantage of the increased generosity at the end of the year and create a matching challenge for the last few days of December. That way, you’ll maximize the gifts that your nonprofit receives.
How to Set Up a Matching Donation Challenge
To properly leverage the benefits of a matching donation challenge, you need to know how to organize your challenge. Follow these six steps to help ensure your fundraising success.
1. Identify challenge details.
The first step to creating a successful matching donation challenge is to identify the details of the challenge. Ask yourself the following questions:
Will the challenge be a part of a larger fundraising campaign?
When will the challenge take place?
Will the challenge fall on any significant dates or times?
Are there any legal requirements or restrictions to consider?
By answering these questions, you’ll lay the groundwork for a carefully planned challenge. For example, if you decide that your matching donation challenge will be your main fundraising event of the summer, your plans should look different than if it will be the grand finale of your year-end giving campaign. In the former instance, you’ll be structuring your summer fundraising around your matching donation challenge. In the latter, you’ll need to plan other fundraising events and initiatives on top of your matching donation challenge.
2. Establish your goals.
As with any other fundraising initiative, the main goal of a matching donation challenge is to increase donations to power your nonprofit’s mission. After identifying the details of your challenge, consider how your fundraising initiatives have fared in the past to help inform what your goal should be.
For example, let’s say that you’re the leader of an organization dedicated to funding breast cancer research. You host an annual Pinktober fundraising campaign, and you usually raise around $50,000. However, this year, you’d like to raise $75,000 instead—$25,000 more than usual. You can plan to use a matching donation challenge to raise this amount, making your goal $25,000.
What’s interesting about a matching donation challenge is that the match amount generally represents half of your goal. In the case of the Pinktober fundraising campaign, your goal is to raise an additional $25,000 with your challenge. To have a successful matching donation challenge and fundraising campaign, you need to secure a partner who’s willing to match at least $12,500 worth of donations.
3. Seek out a matching donation partner.
After deciding on the details of your challenge and determining your goal for it, your next step is to seek out your matching donation partner. This individual or group will be responsible for putting forth the funds to match the donations made by your supporters.
Individuals and groups that are commonly nonprofit matching donation partners include:
Local businesses. Since these businesses work in the same community as your nonprofit, they’re more likely to be interested in lending their support. Target businesses that work in a similar vertical to your nonprofit for best results. For example, if your organization is dedicated to solving food insecurity in your community, a restaurant may be open to partnering with you. Alternatively, you can work with businesses with similar values and visions for the future. For instance, an environmental conservation organization might partner with a sustainable clothing store since they both believe in preserving the world’s natural ecosystems.
Large corporations. Large corporations are also great prospects for matching partners, as they usually have larger budgets. When seeking a partner in businesses like these, check for companies that share your values or have corporate philanthropy programs. This demonstrates a vested interest in social good, making it more likely that they’ll partner with you.
Major donors.Major donors are some of your nonprofit’s staunchest supporters. You can propose a matching donation partnership in lieu of their generous annual donation, making them more likely to accept.
Board members. Your nonprofit’s board members may also be wealthy, making them another enticing option when seeking out matching donation partnerships.
Celebrities or influencers. Celebrities and influencers frequently align themselves with charitable causes—just look at Angelina Jolie, for example. If you have connections to these individuals, they have the funds to make the perfect partner.
When reaching out to potential partners, frame your ask in terms of the benefits that they’ll receive. For instance, if you share a similar target audience as a business, you might share your audience’s demographics and explain how, in exchange for their generosity, you’ll market their business in your advertising materials. As a result, they’ll gain exposure to new prospective customers. Plus, your corporate partner will get a boost in their reputation by working with your organization.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to limit yourself to a single partner! If multiple individuals or organizations are willing to be your partner for your matching donation challenge, don’t hesitate to accept multiple partnerships to help you reach your goal.
4. Promote your matching donation challenge.
It’s estimated that over $4 billion in matching gift funds goes unclaimed every year, yet 84% of individuals say that they’re more likely to donate if a match is offered. This shows that the biggest barrier to nonprofits claiming funds from matching gifts is a lack of awareness.
Generating enough awareness is also critical to matching donation challenges. To create that sense of urgency and entice your supporters into giving, you need to have a strong marketing strategy. Spread information about your challenge through the following marketing channels:
Announce your matching donation challenge in advance of the challenge’s start date to build excitement. Be sure to include the dates of the challenge, the dollar amount of donations that will be matched, and any restrictions on donations. For example, if your partner will match $25,000 at a 1:1 ratio but only if the donations are $100 or less, include that information in your materials.
By thoroughly marketing your challenge, you’ll be able to create a sense of immediacy to support your cause, resulting in more donations for your organization.
5. Monitor challenge progress.
When your matching donation challenge begins, monitor your donation progress toward the match maximum. Be sure to provide this information to your supporters as well—transparency about funds received will create a sense of trust. Additionally, if individuals see that you are nearing your match goal, they may be more likely to donate to your nonprofit.
For the best results, consider investing in a matching donation or matching gift software solution. These tools simplify matching donation challenges with data and analytics features. With the right solution, you can create fundraising thermometers or leaderboards that automatically update as gifts are made. Plus, you can even leverage your software to receive employer matches during your matching donation challenge, effectively tripling the impact of donations made during this time.
6. Follow up after the event.
At the close of your matching donation challenge, report the results to your match partner and supporters. That way, your partner will know how much they’ll need to match, and your supporters will know if you met your goal or not.
Regardless of whether your goal was met, be sure to thank all parties involved in the challenge. For instance, you might email thank you notes to all of your supporters, write handwritten thank you notes to your top donors, and spotlight your match partner on social media. By properly stewarding these relationships, you’ll ensure future support for your nonprofit.
3 Best Practices for Successful Matching Donation Challenges
Now that you know how to set up your matching donation challenge, let’s take a look at three best practices to ensure your success.
1. Simplify your matching donation challenge with software.
Without dedicated tools, your matching donation challenge will require a large amount of manual, time-consuming work from your nonprofit’s team members. The right software solutions will simplify your challenge, reduce work for your staff, and make it easier for you to garner support.
Useful tools for matching donation challenges include:
Fundraising platforms. You may already be using a fundraising platform to collect donations from supporters. These tools allow donors to conveniently and securely make gifts to the causes they care about. Leverage your fundraising platform to create a unique donation form for your matching gift challenge to increase support.
Matching gift software. Many individuals work at companies that offer matching gifts of their own. With matching gift software, you’ll be able to triple the impact of a single donation, as it will be matched by both your challenge partner and the donor’s employer.
Marketing solutions. Remember that the biggest obstacle to matching donation challenges and matching gifts is awareness. Invest in marketing tools, like a social media management platform or email marketing solution, to boost your promotional efforts and ensure that you get your challenge in front of the right people.
Nonprofit constituent relationship management (CRM) software. Even after your matching donation challenge ends, your work isn’t over. Using a nonprofit CRM, you can collect donor data, track interactions with supporters, and create histories of support. With this information, you’ll be able to tailor your communications and properly steward relationships with new donors.
Data and analytics tools. Monitoring challenge progress can be a challenge in and of itself without a data and analytics solution. Use this to monitor challenge progress and gain insights into donor behavior. Plus, at your challenge’s close, you’ll be able to conveniently generate reports to demonstrate results and impact.
Set your nonprofit up for success by investing in the right tools for your matching donation challenge. Thoroughly research your options to find the right choice for your nonprofit’s unique needs.
2. Strategically choose when to host your challenge.
At certain times of the year, individuals are more likely to give to nonprofits. If you host your matching donation challenge during these moments, you’ll be able to reap the benefits of increased generosity.
For example, the end of the year is a well-known season of giving, with 30% of annual giving happening in December. Aside from the holidays, GivingTuesday, a day of global generosity, also occurs the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. This makes year-end a particularly appealing time for a matching donation challenge, as it’s more likely that donors will give.
Other periods of increased giving include cause months, which is a month or period that is dedicated to a specific cause. For instance, February is Black History Month, March is Women’s History Month, June is Pride Month, and so on. If your nonprofit’s mission aligns with a cause month, consider hosting your matching donation challenge during that month for increased visibility for your cause.
3. Emphasize increased impact.
As you’re constructing your marketing materials for your matching donation challenge, keep in mind that the increased impact of gifts is not just the challenge’s primary benefit for your nonprofit. It is also a compelling reason for donors to lend their support.
Emphasize this benefit to donors as you make your appeal for donations. Stress that there’s no extra financial obligation on their end, as your matching partner will provide the additional funds.
Consider using the following language in your marketing materials:
Did you know you can double your donation if you make a gift between May 5th and May 11th?
Between December 1st and December 10th, our generous partner will automatically double any donation you make!
Our partner is providing a dollar-for-dollar match for donations made before July 25th. Increase the impact of your gift by donating now!
For the last 24 hours of our fundraiser, our partner will donate two dollars for every dollar you donate!
Remember, your donation helps us raise $2 for every $1 you give with our partner’s match!
Encourage donors to make gifts by strategically positioning the impact they’ll be able to generate for your organization. Since your matching donation challenge only lasts for a limited amount of time, make sure to use time-bound language like “Donate by midnight” and “Give by Friday” to spur action.
Additional Resources
Matching donation challenges are opportunities for nonprofits to generate a greater-than-usual amount of monetary support for their cause. By investing in the right software solutions, strategically choosing your challenge timing, and emphasizing the increased impact of gifts made during your challenge, you’ll be well on your way to generating the funds your nonprofit needs to power your mission.
If you’d like to learn more about matching gifts, take a look at the following resources:
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs are an effective way for businesses to engage employees while also boosting their reputation through corporate citizenship. In fact, 72% of consumers state they are more likely to recommend a brand that supports a good cause over one that doesn’t.
However, deciding you want to launch a CSR program is just the first step. To be effective, philanthropy needs to be organized. This enables you to maximize your resource allocation, ensure you’re helping reputable causes, and accurately report your impact to employees and consumers.
One key element of modern CSR programs is software. CSR software for businesses enables you to track every aspect of your philanthropic activities, helping you make the biggest impact possible.
To help, this guide will explore the essentials of CSR software by looking at:
Sponsorships, corporate volunteerism, workplace giving, and other CSR efforts have the potential to make a real difference in your community. The right software will aid your efforts to keep you on track, make your processes more efficient, and help you do good in the world.
What is CSR Software?
CSR software is essentially any business-oriented software solution that enables for-profit organizations to participate in CSR activities. As such, CSR software encompasses platforms with a variety of functionalities, including management tools for:
Employee giving
Corporate volunteerism
Grants
Relief funds
Scholarships
Sponsorships
Essentially, any philanthropic activity that your company might participate in is likely to have a corresponding CSR software solution you can invest in. Note that many CSR platforms will have features to facilitate multiple types of corporate giving. However, different software has different focus areas, so consider what type of program you want to launch before looking into platforms.
5 Features to Look for in CSR Software
Once you know what type of philanthropy program you want to launch, you can start creating a list of top CSR platforms you’re considering. Assess these candidates based on their user-friendliness, how well they align with your budget, and whether they have the necessary features.
While your priorities will depend on your specific corporate giving program, a few top features to look for include:
1. Employee Giving Features
While there are types of corporate philanthropy that don’t involve employees, using a solution with employee giving program features will put your business in a good position to start one if you later have an interest in doing so. And many corporations end up launching some sort of giving program for their employees as it lets them have an active role in helping their communities.
For example, one popular type of employee giving program that highly benefits from software is matching gifts. Here’s a breakdown of technology’s role in this specific CSR program:
Employees check their matching gift eligibility. Create a dedicated space on your website or through your employee CSR portal that outlines your matching gift requirements. Putting this information online makes it easy for matching gift databases to access it. That way, employees who donate to nonprofits that use matching gift software can easily check their eligibility.
Employees access matching gift applications. Let employees conveniently fill out your matching gift application online. Some CSR software even has matching gift auto-submission features, which allow employees to complete their applications in just a few clicks. Here’s a video walking through the basics of our auto-submission software:
The business receives and approves applications. Once applications are submitted, your CSR platform can keep them organized. This allows for a more streamlined review process compared to paper applications where it’s possible to lose forms or receive incomplete ones.
Matching gifts are an especially effective type of CSR program because they give employees an extra incentive to participate. After all, 84% of donors state that they’re more likely to make a donation if they know it will be matched.
2. Reporting Tools
Employees and consumers want to interact with businesses that engage in corporate philanthropy. Make sure your CSR software will equip you with the reporting tools you need to gather data, keep it organized, and create reports showing your impact.
Reporting tools allow you to understand how well your CSR initiatives are performing, if resources should be allocated differently, and what tangible difference you have made. For a real-life example, let’s talk about a trend we saw in 2023. Many companies that previously paused their matching gift programs started them back up partly due to data demonstrating their importance.
Additionally, reporting helps you maintain transparency. Employees who participate in a workplace giving program want to know that their contributions are going to specific nonprofits that then use them to fulfill their missions. Plus, straightforward reports on your philanthropic spending will be useful when completing your business’s tax forms.
3. Nonprofit Vetting
Some CSR platforms connect corporations with a list of trusted nonprofits or provide them with the tools to vet nonprofits’ credentials. Ensuring you’re working with reputable organizations is essential for making an impact through your philanthropic efforts.
Software that provides a database of nonprofits looking for sponsorships, business partnerships, and other CSR assistance can also help you find new organizations to support. For example, you might search for small local nonprofits that do important work but get overlooked when compared to nationally known charitable organizations.
If your business only wants to work with specific types of nonprofits, databases with filtering tools can be incredibly useful. For example, you might set your parameters to exempt religious organizations, show only organizations that receive a certain amount of revenue annually, and sort by proximity to your business’s headquarters.
You can use this information to determine which organizations you’ll support and even provide a list to employees as part of your workplace giving program. They might appreciate having a range of organizations to support.
When choosing a CSR vendor, ask them about their vetting process, specifically what criteria they use. Some systems have different weights that can inadvertently penalize small but still reputable organizations.
4. Vendor Support
Purchasing any new software application is a major investment, and businesses need CSR software solutions that come from reliable vendors. Research vendor reviews from past clients to get trustable opinions on their professionalism, experience, and helpfulness. Specifically, look up whether the vendor provides the following:
Onboarding. Does the vendor hold onboarding sessions with companies to help them set up their software? Some vendors will have a team member walk you through the implementation process. In contrast, others will refer you to their trusted technology consulting partners, and a few may even leave your organization to figure it out yourself.
Training resources. Along with the software, what other resources does the vendor provide? This will likely come in the form of documentation about how to use basic features of the software, but some providers go above and beyond by creating training video series you can watch at any time. Thorough training resources are especially important to have for growing companies and those in high-turnover fields as you’ll regularly need to get new employees up to speed.
Technical support. If you encounter a technical issue, will the vendor be able to help? Vendors offer multiple types of technical support systems such as emailed support tickets, phone support, and 24-hour live chat. Ensure whatever vendor you partner with is easy to get in touch with and will provide support from a human.
Buying new software can be a lengthy process, so make the most of this time by getting to know your potential providers. Request demos, ask questions, and check reviews of their software to make a fully informed decision before committing to a purchase.
5. User Convenience
It’s possible but difficult to run a low-tech CSR program. This method involves keeping physical forms organized long-term, which means you’ll need a good printer and lots of file cabinet space. These systems also tend to be slower and require more effort on both your employees and leadership’s parts, lowering participation.
In contrast, software enables you to keep all relevant program information in one location that anyone with a computer and internet connection can access. This can help you engage remote employees, speed up your programs, and stay organized.
For example, let’s take a closer look at one CSR feature we discussed earlier: matching gift auto-submission.
Auto-submission is a new technology in the CSR space, but it can make matching gifts a significantly faster and easier process. Here’s a comparison of the matching gift request process with and without auto-submission:
Without Auto-Submission
A donor makes a contribution as normal.
A donor is provided with their match eligibility information if the nonprofit has matching gift software. If not, the donor will need to look up their employer’s matching gift information themselves.
The donor navigates to your CSR portal to fill out a matching gift application.
The donor looks up information required for the application, such as the nonprofit’s tax ID and mailing address.
If your CSR has a matching gift search feature, the donor can be automatically connected with the information they need about the nonprofit they gave to. Otherwise, they will need to fill in the information by hand and hope that it’s correct.
The donor provides the rest of the needed information about their gift, such as how much they gave, when they donated, and what payment method they used.
The donor confirms this information is accurate and submits the matching gift request.
The matching gift request is submitted and sent to the appropriate parties at your business for review.
With Auto-Submission
A donor makes a gift on the nonprofit’s website as normal.
If the nonprofit has matching gift software (which is required for auto-submission), the donor can enter their workplace email to be connected with their employer’s application form.
The donor chooses to have the gift automatically completed for them, and the matching gift request is sent to your business for review.
Any technology that can cut down an eight-step process to a three-step process is worth considering. Participating in CSR programs is entirely voluntary, and user-friendly software can make all the difference in whether or not your employees decide to engage.
How to Implement Your CSR Software: 5 Steps
Once you’ve chosen your CSR software, you’ll need to plan your implementation. This involves not just setting up your software but gaining employee buy-in as well.
This process will vary based on your business’s past experiences with CSR programs, but in general, businesses can follow these five steps:
1. Develop Your CSR Program
Your chosen software manages your CSR program, so ensure you know what type of CSR program you intend to launch and how you’ll configure the software to facilitate it.
For example, you might choose a CSR software solution with matching gift functionalities to promote your employee giving program. From there, you’ll need to develop that matching gift program and set up your CSR software to:
Allow employees to complete matching gift applications online. Consider the requirements your business will put in place for this CSR initiative, such as minimum and maximum donation amounts, which types of organizations are supported, and whether part-time and retired employees can also participate. Then, make your forms accessible on your website or an employee portal through your CSR software.
Review matching gift applications. Once applications are submitted, your software should keep them organized for review and approval. Determine how you’ll conduct the review process or even if it will be automated if all form fields are filled correctly.
Distribute matching gift funds. Consider how matching donations will be delivered. Will you use your CSR software to handle contributions automatically? How will you ensure you have enough funds available for matching gifts? Is there a target amount you want your program to distribute through matching gifts?
These questions are a combination of fleshing out your CSR program and your software’s role. Make sure the process for participating in any CSR programs is fully ironed out before presenting it to employees or consumers to avoid questions, confusion, or mishaps.
2. Host a Training Session
As with any new software you implement, determine how you will train employees to use it. This might involve sending out a recording and detailed instructions on how to use the software, hosting a live demo, or even having members of your CSR vendor’s team conduct the training session for you.
Whichever method you choose, be sure to create detailed documentation that covers how to use the software, fixes for recurring technical issues, and information on how to handle system updates. When you hire new employees or if a member of your technical team leaves, this documentation will speed up training and ensure knowledge is maintained.
3. Promote CSR Participation
Once your software is set up, it’s time to promote your CSR activities like corporate volunteer days and employee giving. To do this, you need to make your employees aware of your programs and motivate them to participate.
Lack of knowledge of CSR programs is more prevalent than you might realize. For instance, 78% of donors are unaware of whether their employer offers a matching gift program, leaving a lot of money on the table that’s earmarked for philanthropy.
Make sure your employees know about and are incentivized to participate in CSR by implementing strategies like these:
Provide regular program updates. Make updating your employees about your CSR programs a routine part of your communication. This helps communicate your impact and reminds employees to participate.
Offer freedom of choice. Employees want to give to the causes they care about in the method that works best for them. While you may want to impose certain limitations on what types of nonprofits your business will support, opening up your employee giving program to a wide range of organizations can boost participation by giving individual employees more control over their contributions.
Organize structured activities. Sometimes the easiest way to get employees involved in CSR activities is to make it a part of their day. Rather than encouraging employees to volunteer on their own time, you might plan a formal corporate volunteer day where your entire team volunteers at a nonprofit together. Or, you might discuss signing up for automatic payroll deductions with employees when they first join your business to get them to contribute to an employee assistance fund.
Additionally, employees may advocate for the creation of new CSR programs. Consider employee requests, the costs and benefits of these programs, and whether your current software is equipped to handle them. In some cases, you might find your CSR platform can already facilitate what your employees are asking for.
4. Gather Employee Feedback
After rolling out your new CSR software, be open to employee questions, suggestions, and frustrations. Workplace giving programs only succeed when employees buy into them, and ensuring that employee voices are heard and concerns are addressed is the first step to attaining that buy-in.
Create formal surveys and ask questions like:
How easy is the software to use?
Does it feel like any features or processes are missing?
Is it clear how your donations are being collected and used?
Have you experienced any technical difficulties since the software’s implementation?
Have there been any notable improvements to CSR programs since the software’s implementation?
This feedback can help you make targeted improvements to your CSR program and point to future software upgrades. For example, you might learn that many employees are unaware your CSR software has corporate volunteerism functionality and send out written directions or a recording of someone navigating the platform showing how to access them. Or, you may learn that certain processes are slow and dissuade employees from participating in them, leading you to consider a new CSR software solution altogether.
Keep a record of employee feedback and refer back to it when announcing changes in your CSR program to demonstrate your commitment to listening to employees. This can not only boost buy-in for specific CSR initiatives but also help improve your workplace culture in general.
5. Explore Newly Added Features
When implementing your CSR software, take the time to explore all of its features. CSR vendors continuously update their platforms to provide better, more convenient corporate giving experiences, and a new update might bring new functionalities that improve your CSR program.
For one example, we previously discussed new technology for matching gifts, auto-submission. As the technology sees wider adoption, more CSR vendors may allow users to turn on auto-submission, enabling businesses’ employees to submit their matching gift applications in seconds.
Since your initial purchase, check if your CSR platform offers new tools like auto-submission or any other feature that will improve your corporate philanthropy programs.
CSR Software: Final Thoughts
CSR software has evolved over the last few years, providing new, innovative ways to make corporate philanthropy as easy as possible. These platforms will continue evolving as well, inventing new features to improve convenience, transparency, and impact.
For businesses interested in getting started with CSR, choosing a software solution is a major first step. Along with what you’ve learned here, continue exploring the ins and outs of CSR with resources like these:
Corporate giving programsenable businesses to work alongside their employees to make a positive difference in the world. These programs are often driven by employee giving, allowing your team to play an active role in helping the causes they care about.
However, while most employees enjoy working for employers with giving programs, even the most passionate employees sometimes need a little push to participate. This can be for a number of reasons, from being unsure how the program works to simply forgetting about it to even not knowing it exists at all!
To help your business make better, more effective contributions to good causes, this guide will explore eight ways you can encourage employees to donate through your workplace giving program. But first, let’s dig into just why employee giving is so important.
Why does employee giving matter?
Employee giving is a win-win-win situation for businesses, employees, and nonprofits. Let’s take a closer look at what each of these groups can gain from a healthy employee giving program:
The Business Perspective
At first businesses, especially small organizations, may have reservations about jumping into corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives due to the associated costs. However, along with making a positive difference in the world, these donations can pay for themselves in a number of ways.
Today’s employees, especially economically-present Gen Z workers and consumers, are socially conscious and want to associate with businesses committed to charitable causes. Let’s take a look at just a fraction of the research on CSR:
CSR efforts can improve customer relationships as 70% of consumers state that they want to know what the brands they buy from are doing to address social and environmental issues.
Strong CSR programs have been linked to increased employee engagement, improved productivity, and even reduced turnover by as much as 50%.
86% of employees want the opportunity to participate in corporate giving.
An employee giving program is one of the easiest ways your business can get started with CSR. It’s employee-driven and is at least partially funded by them, sharing the potential financial burden.
All your business needs to do is invest in the proper resources to facilitate employee giving, vet promoted causes, establish giving requirements, provide impact reports, and regularly promote the program.
The Employee Perspective
Quite plainly, donating to a good cause makes the individual who donates feel good. They know they’re actively contributing to a cause that makes a positive difference in the world. Plus, when their employer also cares about and supports that same cause, employees know they’re working for an organization that shares their values, making them more engaged and invested in the organization.
Employee giving programs can incentivize donating. If an employee gets quarterly reports about how much the business has contributed to good causes, that can remind them to chip in a contribution of their own. Some employee giving programs even allow employees to opt-in to automatic paycheck deductions, making the donation process automatic.
The Nonprofit Perspective
Foremost, nonprofits earn valuable fundraising revenue from employee giving programs. While each individual’s donation alone is helpful, entire teams of like-minded donors all giving together can make a massive impact.
Employee giving programs are also an opportunity for nonprofits to attract attention to their organization. Nonprofits can partner with local businesses to receive funds (or get highlighted to employees looking to give in more open programs), spreading awareness of their cause and attracting new donors.
8 Strategies to Spark Employee Giving
Employee engagement programs like workplace giving programs can essentially run themselves after launch with businesses just needing to send the occasional reminder and impact report. However, to get them to that state, you’ll need to attain employee buy-in and make participation in your giving program a regular part of your company culture.
Whether you’re starting a new employee giving program or trying to reinvigorate your current one, here are eight strategies that will inspire your employees to participate:
1. Plan a formal launch.
Brand new employee giving programs face two major hurdles: letting employees know the program exists and teaching employees how to participate. You can accomplish both of these by treating your giving program’s launch like you would any other business initiative.
For instance, consider preparing the following materials for your giving program launch:
Announcement video. Part of inspiring your team means getting them excited, and a video announcement can do just that. Consider making a video announcement that both employees and customers can watch. You can use the video to present the program to your employees and then add it to your website to demonstrate your CSR to consumers.
Process documentation. Giving to charity is an uplifting but ultimately serious matter. Make sure your approach feels anything but slapdash by creating a formal policy for your giving program that’s accessible to employees. Explain the program’s goal, how it relates to your company’s values (or philanthropic statement if you have one), why certain giving requirements are in place, and what steps employees need to take to participate.
Q&A session. Plan a meeting with employees to present your employee giving program to them directly and answer any questions. This could involve a tutorial on how to navigate your giving software’s interface, receive feedback on improvements employees would like to see, and generally get a sense of how your team feels about the new program.
If you already have an employee giving program that’s seeing lackluster results, consider planning a formal re-launch to reintroduce it to employees. This can be an opportunity to respond to questions employees may have had but never got answered, re-confirm your commitment to social good, and make charitableness a more notable part of your company culture.
2. Provide bonus match incentives.
In a survey, over 84% of donors stated they were more likely to give if their donation would be matched. Companies looking to increase employee giving can leverage this data’s findings by offering a matching gift program.
In addition to encouraging more donations, corporate matching gift programs also signal to employees that their employer cares about the same causes they do. This can help increase employee loyalty and create a sense of teamwork as you and your employees contribute in equal measure to causes that matter.
Minimum and maximum donations. Establish how much employees have to give in order for their gifts to be matched. Setting a floor can help encourage larger donations, but be careful to strike a balance as too high of a minimum can also dissuade donations at all. Additionally, many companies also establish a maximum amount that they will match each year per employee.
Match ratio. Most companies match at a 1:1 rate, but some organizations offer 1:2, 1:3, or even rarely 1:4. In contrast, others go lower with a 1:0.5 rate. While a lower rate is certainly an option, it will likely result in fewer employee gifts.
Causes and types of organizations. What causes and types of charitable organizations will you match donations to? Narrowing your range of eligible organizations focuses your corporate philanthropy efforts but provides less freedom for employees.
Employee status. Can only full-time employees apply for matching gifts or can part-time and retired employees also participate? If you’re looking for an extra generous approach, some companies even match gifts for their employees’ spouses.
Application deadline. When do employees need to submit their matching gift application forms? When setting a deadline, be conscious of the end-of-year giving rush and how donors who give in late December may not have the time to fill out a matching gift application by January 1st. You can accommodate for these types of giving patterns by setting a deadline for a certain number of months after a gift is made rather than establishing a static calendar date.
If you decide to incorporate matching gifts into your employee giving program, check if your CSR software has features that can help you create and process matching gift request forms.
3. Be transparent.
Employees want to work for businesses with robust CSR programs. However, it’s also common for employees to be doubtful of corporate philanthropy, especially if businesses aren’t open about their charitable practices and spending.
You can instill buy-in for both employees and customers by being as transparent about your employee giving program as possible. For example, make it a point to:
Share program goals. Be clear about why you are launching an employee giving program, how it will work, and what you hope to accomplish through it. This is an opportunity to share your official philanthropic mission statement and cement it as part of your business’s brand.
Provide reports. Use your CSR software to monitor your philanthropic spending, what organizations you’ve donated to, and what impact those nonprofits have made. On a regular basis, such as quarterly or annually, share this report with employees and consumers.
Answer questions. If employees aren’t sure why a decision is being made or how funds bookmarked for CSR are being spent, invite them to ask questions and give honest answers. Consider holding a Q&A session when first launching or restarting your employee giving program to clear up any confusion.
Part of transparency involves having organized data so you can provide accurate reports and answers to questions. Use a CSR database that lets you keep track of all relevant activities and helps you maintain any relevant compliance regulations.
4. Provide freedom of choice.
Businesses often only match donations for specific types of nonprofits. For example, it’s common to see businesses that match employee donations to all types of nonprofits, except for religious organizations. These limitations can help focus philanthropic efforts and ensure you’re only supporting reputable organizations your business has taken the time to vet.
However, limiting employee freedom of choice can also limit employee giving. Many employees are motivated to participate in employee giving when they have the option to support causes they have a personal connection to, and not having that option can cause them not to give.
Consider your employee giving program’s goals and meet with your team to learn what causes matter to them. Then, you can determine the level of freedom you want to grant employees. This might involve allowing them to choose from a range of nonprofits that tackle a variety of issues, nonprofits with a focus area relevant to your business, any nonprofit employees can think of, or something in between.
5. Facilitate in-kind gifts.
Some members of your team may be interested in giving back in ways other than monetary donations. For these employees, consider adding in-kind donation options to your employee giving program. In-kind donations can be broken up into two categories:
Physical objects. Many nonprofits accept item donations, such as homeless shelters appreciating donations of clothes and blankets. To encourage this type of giving, run a donation drive and designate a place in your main office where employees can bring their physical donations. Seeing items, whether they’re clothes, food, dog toys, or anything else, pile up can encourage other employees to donate as well.
Professional services. Employees can donate their specific skills to nonprofits. This is similar to volunteering but involves the employee performing a service the nonprofit would otherwise have to pay for, such as taking professional photographs, creating graphic design assets, or helping run a first aid tent at a 5K fundraiser. Research local nonprofits that could benefit from your employees’ unique skill sets.
Your business can also participate in in-kind giving as part of your CSR program. For example, you might agree to donate all of your company’s old-but-usable computers when you upgrade to a new system. Or, you might combine in-kind gifts with your employee giving program, such as by promising to match employees’ donations of perishable goods to a food bank.
6. Expand to employee volunteering.
Do your employees want a more hands-on approach to doing good in your community? If so, consider expanding your employee giving program with volunteer grants. Volunteer grants are donations businesses make to the charitable organizations their employees volunteer at. The grant amount usually depends on how long the employee volunteered.
Here are the basic steps for how employees at most organizations that offer volunteer grants apply for one:
The employee volunteers. Use your CSR software to help employees find local nonprofits they can volunteer with and record their hours.
The employee looks up their grant eligibility. Similar to matching gifts, your business will need to consider your volunteer grant eligibility requirements. Specifically, consider how many hours employees must volunteer. Some businesses provide grant amounts on a per-hour basis whereas others have minimum and maximum hour requirements.
The employee submits a grant application. Determine what information you’ll need from employees to assess their grant applications. This may include hours volunteered, the nonprofit’s tax ID, contact information for the volunteer supervisor, and anything else that helps you verify the volunteer work.
Use CSR software that allows you to track volunteering along with other relevant employee giving metrics. Encourage volunteering, and report to your employees how many total hours they spent helping charitable causes.
7. Leverage matching gift auto-submission.
While small businesses can run employee giving programs without CSR software, operating at scale makes it necessary. Luckily, CSR platforms have continued to advance to make workplace giving programs easier to participate in than ever.
One important new technology is matching gift auto-submission, which recently completed its beta testing. Businesses that have CSR software with auto-submission capabilities can essentially turn on the feature and have their matching gift form connected with matching gift databases. As a result, employees can then have their matching gift applications completed for them automatically, dramatically speeding up the process.
Take a look at the following video to see the auto-submission process in action:
Essentially, your employees can opt into matching gift auto-submission when donating to a nonprofit that uses Double the Donation. So long as your CSR software integrates with our tools, your employees won’t have to fill out a form to submit to your team.
Check to see if your CSR software has matching gift auto-submission capability and, if so, what you need to do to turn it on.
8. Set broad employee giving participation rules.
Lower the barriers for participating in your workplace giving program. The easier it is to participate, the more likely you are to inspire your employees to get involved!
Rethink employee eligibility requirements. Chances are, you’ll allow all full-time employees to get involved in initiatives like matching gifts and volunteer grants. Think about your part-time employees and retirees, too. If you’re feeling extra generous, you can even extend some of the same perks to employees’ spouses. For example, you might offer to match their donations to approved nonprofits, even if it’s at a lower rate.
Consider generous nonprofit eligibility requirements. While you can restrict which nonprofits are eligible, consider allowing any 501(c)(3) organization to benefit from your employee giving program. By allowing more nonprofits to be eligible, you’ll communicate that you care about the same causes your employees do.
Set low minimums and high maximums for matching gifts. If you offer a matching gifts program, set low minimums and high maximums. A minimum that’s too high may make it difficult for employees to meet requirements. The same goes for volunteer grants. Lower hour requirements are more likely to spark participation.
Provide flexibility for submission request deadlines. Your employees lead busy lives outside of work hours. Provide some flexibility as to when they have to submit a matching gift or volunteer grant request. Otherwise, deadlines that arrive too quickly might turn people away. One popular option is to set a deadline one year after the contribution is made.
You want employees to participate in workplace giving, so why wouldn’t you make it easy for them? Doing so will show that your company is serious about its social responsibility efforts.
Employee Giving: Final Thoughts
Your employee giving program allows your business to make a positive social impact and invite your team to participate. Give employees the opportunity to support the causes they want to, help facilitate their giving with matching gifts, and provide regular updates about the impact they’ve made.
Of course, employee giving is a complex subject, and this overview might just be the beginning of your research. Continue learning about employee giving with these resources:
At Double the Donation, we maintain the industry’s most comprehensive and up-to-date matching gift database—with records for more than 24,000 companies with matching gift programs. Since each company that offers matching gifts is able to determine its own minimum and maximum donation amounts, match ratios, qualifying employees and nonprofit types, and more, we end up with a ton of innovative and unique matching gift programs.
And truthfully, all matching gift programs are great. But there are a few that really stand out to us as offering something particularly special for their employees and the nonprofits they support.
Corporate giving engages employees’ passions and provides additional funding for nonprofits, which in turn helps entire communities. And offering creative programming and unique incentives for getting involved is a great way to drive participation and, therefore, impact.
Let’s look at a few employers with unique programs and what makes them stick out from the crowd. In this guide, we’ll explore the following companies’ initiatives:
There are a number of creative ways that businesses get their employees more involved in charitable giving. The ideas differ, but they all do a great job of helping charitable organizations increase fundraising revenue and better support their overall missions.
And when nonprofit fundraisers like yourself keep these companies at top of mind, you’ll be better equipped to make the most of such opportunities as they arise.
Let’s jump in!
General Electric — First Matching Gift Program
When it comes to matching gift innovation, General Electric is likely going to top every list. That’s because GE pioneered the first matching gift program in 1954, and its 60+ years of matching gift history and generous donation limits continue to lead the way for other businesses to follow.
Since the inception of its matching program, the company has donated over $1 billion in employee matching gifts. That means that GE is a matching gift leader not only for being first but also for staying at the top of the pack for all this time.
Today, employees may request matching gifts up to $5,000 per year at a 1:1 ratio through the GE matching gift program.
Each year, BP (formerly British Petroleum) gives employees $300 to donate to nonprofits of their choosing. That’s it—no strings attached. BP is committed to helping local communities, and they let employees feel more involved by letting them choose where the money goes. This program, known as the Fabric of America Program, is open to every current BP employee.
In addition to its charitable grant initiative, BP also offers a traditional matching gift program that matches up to $5,000 worth of donations per employee at a 1:1 ratio.
CVS Health — Incorporates Fundraising Event Matches
Some companies, such as CVS, want to prioritize certain forms of giving. CVS incentivizes its employees to raise money for nonprofit events, like the popular run/walk/ride, which is also known as peer-to-peer fundraising. To encourage participation, the company matches the donations raised by employees between $250 and $1,000 per year.
For teams of volunteers, they offer even high fundraising grant donation caps. When five or more CVS employees fundraise for an eligible organization together, CVS will match up to $5,000 worth of fulfilled pledges, with a minimum of $500 raised across the team.
Matching gifts aren’t just for American companies, either. For example, Expedia and its subsidiaries have employees in over 30 countries. But for a long time, they did not match donations to nonprofits in all of those locations.
Now, Expedia offers matching gifts to eligible nonprofits across the globe! Donations are matched at a 1:1 ratio, and employees can request matches on as much as $4,000 worth of charitable gifts per year.
Through the Expedia Cares Program, employees can give back to their communities in a number of ways, such as through matching gifts, a global ambassador program, and more.
Employing more than 58,000 people, HP is a leader in the information technology sector. It’s also a leader in the matching gift world, specifically through its Good Cards program.
Each quarter, any employee who volunteers for at least 10 hours (and tracks their time through the company’s innovative internal volunteer system) receives a $50 grant which they can donate to a charity of their choosing. Plus, HP also offers a generous matching gift program where it’ll match philanthropic employees’ donations of up to $2,500 per year.
This major company is well-represented in the philanthropic world. Since 1983, it’s hosted an annual Giving Campaign that makes a considerable impact on eligible nonprofits. It also hosts another program called Hack for Good, which tackles pressing societal problems.
But one of its most impressive successes is its matching gift program. In fact, Microsoft is currently the largest contributor of matching gift and volunteer grant funds, and it also boasts the highest level of employee participation at over 65% involvement.
Our matching gift statistics indicate that, inclusive of the corporate match, Microsoft employees have donated more than $1 billion to nonprofit causes.
RealNetworks matches employee donations at a 1:1 ratio up to $10,000 per team member per year. That’s a whole lot of good—but RealNetworks doesn’t stop there.
After five years with the business, employees receive a $500 grant that can be contributed to any eligible nonprofit. This unique corporate giving offering helps increase staff retention with the company, rewards long-term employees with a significant, mission-focused incentive, and ultimately benefits the nonprofits their employees support.
Soros Fund Management — Highest Maximum Match Amount
Because this successful company encompasses fewer than 500 people, it can afford to offer generous donation maximums and matching ratios that are significantly higher than the typical employer.
Today, employee gifts are matched at a 2:1 ratio for gifts up to $100,000 per year, with partners being eligible to request donation matches at a 1:1 ratio. Most nonprofits qualify to receive funding through the matching program, with an additional volunteer grant initiative available as well.
Pew Charitable Trusts — Religiously Inclusive Program
The Pew Charitable Trusts is a generous matching gift provider for all sorts of nonprofit causes. In fact, full-time and part-time employees qualify to request matches at a 2:1 rate for personal gifts made up to $10,000 on an annual basis. That makes the company cap per employee a bountiful $20,000 per year!
But one thing that really makes this company’s matching initiative stand out is the fact that the program is inclusive of just about all kinds of religious organizations. This encompasses places of worship like churches, synagogues, mosques, and more—which are generally excluded from many companies’ match offerings.
So if your nonprofit group is religious in nature, the Pew Charitable Trusts is a top matching gift company to be aware of!
Nike is another company that matches employee donations to most nonprofit causes, including educational institutions, health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and environmental groups, and more.
Then, in order to further amplify impact for the causes most closely aligned with the company’s athletics-focused mission, Nike offers a unique triple match for employees giving to community sports-related organizations. For qualifying nonprofits, employee gifts are matched at a 2:1 rate, ultimately tripling the initial donor contribution up to $25,000 per team member per year.
Blue Shield of California — Special Board Member Match
Some companies also want to incentivize employee participation with nonprofits on a deeper level—such as by volunteering on the organization’s board of directors. That’s exactly what Blue Shield of California does!
This company offers a traditional matching gift program open to all current employees who support qualifying California-based nonprofits and select national organizations. Then, they offer an additional matching initiative for employees who serve as board members of nonprofit causes. This unique board member match goes above and beyond the typical match program, offering elevated match rates and increased maximum donation amounts.
Speaking of innovation, legal services provider Innovative Discovery offers a particularly standout matching gift program in the way that employees can get involved. By introducing matching gift auto-submission through their corporate giving platform in partnership with Double the Donation, ID team members can complete their part of the matching gift request process more easily than ever before.
Now, with just a few clicks from their favorite nonprofits’ donation confirmation screens, employees can authorize Double the Donation to submit the matching gift request on their behalf—no separate forms or redirected pages required!
While these programs are certainly unique, there are tens of thousands of other companies that match gifts, too. It’s too many to keep up with on your own! Thus, to effectively uncover available opportunities and identify your organization’s eligibility, you’ll likely need the help of a matching gift database like Double the Donation.
Double the Donation is the industry’s leading provider of matching gift software, and we work with some of the largest organizations across the globe. We also boast the most accurate and up-to-date database of information regarding these programs. As such, we work to equip nonprofits and their donors with the tools they need to implement matching gift efforts in their overall fundraising strategies with ease.
The matching gift tool, which can be integrated across your organization’s website, donation form, email communications, and more, allows fundraisers to maximize corporate giving revenue by…
Enabling donors to search for their employers with an auto-completing company information field to identify and flag match-eligible donors;
Providing users with company information and matching gift eligibility criteria in real-time;
Guiding donors to request their matches with direct links to their employers’ online submission portals;
Tracking donors’ progress throughout the matching gift request and fulfillment processes.
Not to mention, it’s all automated—allowing your team to reallocate more time and effort to your highest-value priorities!
Next Steps
Plenty of companies offer matching gift programs, so it’s important for nonprofits to promote corporate giving to donors. After all, one of the biggest roadblocks facing matching gift success is a lack of awareness of corporate giving. According to our research, that results in more than $4 to $7 billion dollars worth of potential matching gift funds going unclaimed each year.
Don’t let your nonprofit add to that statistic. Now that you know how to pinpoint available matching gifts, get started boosting your corporate fundraising efforts.
Stay up-to-date with your donors’ employers and keep your eyes peeled for top matching gift opportunities. You’ll be sure to come across even more unique programs!
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/DTD_Companies-with-Unique-and-Innovative-Matching-Gift-Programs_Feature.png6001600Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2023-10-15 13:44:342023-12-15 19:02:54Companies with Innovative and Unique Matching Gift Programs
The impact of matching gift programs on nonprofit organizations is undeniable. Recent matching gift reports indicate that 84% of donors are more likely to donate if a match is offered, while 1 in 3 would give a larger gift if matching is applied.
But if you want to take a look at the specific ways corporate matching benefits your institution—and have the data you need to justify investing in workplace giving further—a smart matching gift reporting strategy is essential.
At its core, matching gift reporting involves the systematic tracking and analysis of metrics related to your organization’s matching gift fundraising efforts.
This data can encompass various aspects, from the number of match-eligible donors identified to the total revenue collected through the programs and beyond.
And in this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to begin making the most of your matching gift metrics. This includes:
Ready to get reporting? Let’s dive in with the basics of why matching gift metrics matter in the first place.
The Critical Value of Matching Gift Reporting
According to research from Nonprofits Source, 73% of firms aspire to be data-driven in their fundraising efforts—but only 29% of firms actually succeed at turning data into action. When it comes to your nonprofit’s matching gifts initiatives, you want to ensure your team falls into the latter category.
After all, a data-driven fundraising strategy informed by your organization’s matching gift metrics can go a long way in empowering your team to better…
Analyze donor behaviors and identify emerging trends
Predict future matching gift fundraising outcomes
Target initiatives according to segmented groups
Optimize communication channels for engagement
Measure the impact of your matching gift campaigns
Track matching gift success year over year
Establish realistic fundraising goals
And more!
So if your organization is accepting matching gifts without collecting and analyzing the data each transaction produces, you’re likely missing out on a ton of valuable insights.
Tracking Matching Gifts Through the Conversion Funnel
Of all the donations an organization receives, only a small portion (approximately 1.31% at an average nonprofit) are typically matched by the donors’ employers. But around ten times that amount generally qualifies for corporate matching opportunities.
In order to uncover where the discrepancy comes in, you’ll want to have a system in place for tracking matches as they progress through the matching gift process.
At any point in time, you should be able to determine how many gifts are at each stage in the conversion funnel—and those totals are some of your simplest matching gift metrics, to begin with!
Total Individual Donations
First off, knowing how many total donations your nonprofit receives on a monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis will help your organization going forward. When you have an indication of your regular donation flow, you’ll be better prepared to measure your matching gift success proportionally.
Total Donations Flagged as Match Eligible
Out of the donations that you’ve already received, you might know which companies your donors work for based on the employment information you collect during the giving process.
Use this data to determine which of your donors are eligible to have their donations matched—either by conducting manual research or by scanning your information against a matching gift database like Double the Donation.
While it is unlikely that all of your matching-gift-eligible donors are doubling their donations, your nonprofit can benefit by knowing what percentage of your total donations have the potential to be matched by their employers. And you’ll know that these are the donors you’ll want to focus your matching gift efforts on!
Total Matching Gifts Submitted
While you might want to jump into measuring the matching gifts your nonprofit receives, it’s worthwhile to first determine how many requests your donors are actually submitting.
Unfortunately, you might find that you aren’t getting all of the matched donations that your donors are requesting.
This gap may boil down to:
Matching gift deadlines not being met.
Donors having previously reached their annual maximums.
Your organization falling into an ineligible recipient category.
Any other corporate stipulations.
While your nonprofit can’t do much to shift the specific matching gift criteria that companies set up, it can help you adjust your marketing strategy going forward. For example, if you see that many of your donors’ match submission windows were closed by the time your team began pushing to encourage requests, you can make a note to start driving match submissions immediately after an initial gift is made going forward.
Total Matching Gifts Verified
Before disbursing the money from a matching gift donation, many companies that offer these programs require that an organization verifies that it received the employee’s initial gift in the first place. This typically involves logging into a CSR platform and confirming the transaction.
If you are only verifying a portion of the matching gift donations that your donors indicated having submitted, then you could be missing out big time. Keeping track of this metric can be useful for filling in those gaps and uncovering “hidden” matches.
However, it’s important to note that, with the continuous development of the matching gift process through auto-submission and other innovative functionality, many donations are able to skip ahead of this step with no further action needed.
Total Matching Gifts Received
Finally, this vital metric tracks the matching gifts you actually receive.
Once the corresponding corporate donation makes its way to your organization’s bank account, you can mark it off as “Match Completed!”
Top tip: Upon calculating the total number of donations that fall into each of the specified categories, you’ll want to hold onto this number. It will be used to calculate other metrics below!
8 Matching Gift Metrics Every Nonprofit Should Monitor
Beyond the status of individual matching gifts, your matching gift coordinator or development team should take a look at these recommended metrics as well.
Remember: the metrics you establish as your highest priority will then become your KPIs (or Key Performance Indicators) for defining matching gift success. We recommend trying to track the most actionable information—and then have a plan for how you’ll use the information you collect to increase your matching gift revenue!
Total Number (and Value) of Matching Gifts
The first matching gift metric represents the combined count (and, subsequently, monetary value) of all matching gifts received within a specific period.
If you’ve been tracking your matches through the conversion funnel demonstrated above, this number will be comprised of all the gifts that made it to the bottom tier. From there, calculate the monetary value by adding the sum values of each matched donation.
Ex: Match 1 Value ($50) + Match 2 Value ($40) + Match 3 Value ($200) + Match 4 Value ($500) + Match 5 Value ($1,000)…
# of Matching Gifts = 5
$ Value of Matching Gifts = $1,790
These figures provide an overview of the scale of your organization’s matching gift participation and the potential impact on your fundraising efforts.
Matching Gift Eligibility Rate
While it’s good to know how many matching gift donations your nonprofit receives, it’s equally important to put that number into perspective. To do so, your eligibility rate gauges the percentage of donors in your database who are marked as eligible for corporate matching gift programs through their employers.
Calculate this figure by dividing your match-eligible donor count by the total number of individual donors, then multiply by 100 to receive your percentage.
Ex: (Match 1 + Match 2 + Match 3) ÷ (Match 1 + Match 2 + Match 3 + Ineligible Gift 1 + Ineligible Gift 2 + Ineligible Gift 3 + Ineligible Gift 4 + Ineligible Gift 5) = 37.5%
Matching Gift Completion Rate
Next, this metric reveals the percentage of eligible donors who successfully complete the matching gift process—ultimately resulting in your organization receiving a corporate match.
To calculate, simply divide the number of completed matches by the total number of eligible donors, then multiply by 100.
Ex: (Match 1 + Match 2 + Match 3) ÷ (Eligible Gift 1 + Eligible Gift 2 + Eligible Gift 3 + Eligible Gift 4 + Eligible Gift 5) = 60%
The donors included in the not completed side of things represent your untapped potential and can help inform your strategies to encourage more donors to leverage matching gifts.
Unfortunately, it can be tricky to track this figure accurately because matches are often fulfilled according to different disbursement schedules throughout the year. But that’s why top automation software allows you to more easily follow matches through the process and determine when donors initiated and verified their matches.
Average Matching Gift Amount
This figure can help quantify the mean value of the matching gift donations you receive. And to calculate, you’ll be going back to your Total Number of Matching Gifts and Total Value of Matching Gifts from Step #1—and dividing the latter by the former.
Understanding the average dollar amount of a matching gift for your organization can help quantify the value of your matching gift fundraising efforts. Plus, it can provide insight into the level of donors typically engaging with your matching gift program.
For example, if you brought in 50 matching gifts, but each one was only worth around $10, that’s still an extra $500 for your organization. But you may need to start targeting your larger givers and encourage them to look into matching gift programs as well!
The higher your matching gift average amount comes out to be, the more major donors have likely participated in their employers’ match initiatives for your cause.
Revenue Increase Due to Matching Gifts
For this metric, your organization will determine the increase in total fundraising revenue that came about through matching gifts.
To calculate, begin by subtracting the value of your completed matching gift donations from your total fundraising revenue (including matching gifts).
Then, divide your total matching gift revenue by the total revenue without matching gifts to determine the percentage increase that your fundraising grew.
Ex: Total fundraising revenue ($15,000) – Matching gift revenue ($2,000) = Revenue without matching gifts ($13,000)
Matching gift revenue ($2,000) ÷ Revenue without matching gifts ($13,000) x 100 = 15.4%
This figure quantifies the additional funds raised due to matching gift programs, emphasizing the impact on your overall revenue—and, thus, your mission.
Matching Gift Retention Rate
Your organization’s matching gift retention rate is defined as the percentage of donors who complete a matching gift on your behalf in one year and then repeat the action in the next year.
To calculate this figure, you’ll need to determine the number of matching gift donors who had their gifts matched in the most recent time period that also had their gifts matched in the period before. So you’ll need to have been focused on matching gift reporting for at least two years (or other pre-determined time periods) in order to establish this number.
To do so, divide the number of donors who made repeat matching gift contributions by the total number of matching gift donors from a previous period. Then, multiply by 100.
Ex: Repeat matching gifts from this year (Match 1 + Match 3 + Match 4) ÷ Matching gifts from last year (Match 1 + Match 2 + Match 3 + Match 4 + Match 5) = 60%
Like any retention-focused metric, your matching gift retention rate assesses the effectiveness of your strategies in retaining donors who participate in matching gift programs year after year. Remember: it’s always the hardest the first time around!
Growth in Matching Gifts Over Time
Another helpful figure that you can explore after you’ve been tracking other matching gift metrics for some time is your rate of growth.
You can calculate growth in matching gifts over time by subtracting the previous period’s total matching gift value from the current period’s value. Divide the result by the previous period’s value, then multiply by 100.
Ex: Current period’s matching gift total ($3,500) – Previous period’s matching gift total ($2,000) = YOY increase ($1,500)
YOY increase ($2,000) ÷ Previous period’s matching gift total ($2,000) x 100 = 75% YOY growth
Recording this particular metric over time helps your nonprofit see the increases in matching gifts as they relate to your overall fundraising. As you get more established in your marketing and promotional efforts, your audience will become more familiar with the opportunity, and you can expect to see your matching gift results continue to trend upwards.
Matching Gift Fundraising ROI
Matching gifts are an excellent source of fundraising revenue for nonprofits. But, as they say, it costs money to make money. And though matching gifts are essentially free “bonus” donations contributed by donors’ employers to match their own charitable efforts, it does involve some investment of your organization’s time and resources to pursue. Thus, your matching gift fundraising ROI assesses the return on investment for your matching gift efforts.
To calculate, simply subtract the cost of managing and promoting the opportunity to your donors from the total revenue generated through matching gifts. Divide the result by the initial cost, then multiply by 100.
Ex: [Revenue generated from matching gifts ($10,000) – Initial cost of matching gift fundraising ($1,000)] ÷ Total cost ($1,000) x 100 = 900%
This figure helps evaluate the efficiency of your program in generating additional funds and can also help make the case for investing further into the revenue source—such as with a dedicated software.
Key Insights Gleaned From Matching Gift Analytics
Analytics takes your data a few steps further than basic metrics and can, in turn, provide your fundraising team with some particularly useful (and actionable!) findings. Specifically, matching gift analytics is the aspect of reporting that help uncover underlying trends, patterns, and recommendations.
To fully unleash your organization’s matching gift potential, analyzing the data produced through your efforts to glean key insights is essential.
We suggest exploring the following recommended benchmarks.
Optimal Match Communication Timing
The timing of your matching gift appeals is key. In fact, it’s often the difference between a donor taking the next steps to submit a matching gift and your email going unnoticed in their cluttered inbox.
By taking note of the times when your audience seems most receptive to matching gift communications, you can use the data collected through your reporting strategy to adjust your timing accordingly.
For example, studies based on Double the Donation data report that matching gift emails sent anytime within the first 24 hours of a donation being made results in a 53% open rate—or 2.6 times higher than the average nonprofit email open rate. But if you notice that your audience tends to respond particularly well to match reminders sent immediately post-donation, feel free to trigger automated follow-ups within minutes.
Not to mention, tracking matching gift responses over months and years can help identify longer-term timing strategies as well.
For instance, if you notice that you receive more matching gifts after your year-end appeals have been made, take a look at the matching gift marketing strategies you used leading up to December 31st. If you aren’t already, implement those tactics for your fundraising all year round for greater matching gift success.
Matching Gift Conversions by Marketing Channel
Like timing, the communication channels you use to promote matching gifts to your donors can make a huge difference. And focusing your resources where conversions are highest can enhance your ability to effectively communicate the opportunity and drive action.
For example, if you notice that your email click rate is lower than average, you might want to take another look at the matching gift emails you’re sending. Is it coming from your nonprofit’s own domain and branded to match your existing communications style? That’s a must for establishing a sense of trust and familiarity with your supporters.
On the other hand, if you suspect that your matching gift emails are just getting lost in donors’ inboxes, you might want to explore other messaging channels—like SMS.
High-Value Match Opportunities in Your Database
An automated approach to matching gifts can save your fundraising team loads of time and effort. But when it comes to some of your highest-value opportunities, you might want to make a more personalized effort to engage about matching gifts. So you should have an easy way to identify these types of gems from within your donor base!
First, determine what defines a “high-value” matching gift opportunity. Perhaps it’s a major donor who works for a company with a particularly high annual matching cap. Though it may be a mid-level donor whose employer offers an extremely generous triple—or even quadruple—match.
By identifying donors whose matching gifts can bring you significant amounts of revenue, you can prioritize engagement accordingly. You may decide to pick up the phone, send a handwritten letter, or even meet face-to-face with some of these high-value matching prospects.
Leading Business Affiliations within Your Network
Similar to the standout individuals in your support network, you may have a few companies that match their employees’ gifts to your organization. Thus, your leading business affiliations are the companies that employ particularly large segments of your donor base.
This insight can help inform broader partnership-building strategies with businesses that align with your mission, even beyond your typical matching gifts. And remember: your donors, who may work for some of the most philanthropically-minded companies, can be some of your greatest advocates!
Driving Results With Matching Gift Reporting Tools
Now that you know what information to track and the types of insights you can pull, what can you actually do to get started?
If you don’t want to perform all the calculations by hand (and trust us: you don’t), equipping your team with the best tools for effective matching gift reporting is a must. And that means Double the Donation’s 360MatchPro—the industry-leading matching gift automation platform.
Matching Gift Reporting With 360MatchPro
360MatchPro streamlines the entire matching gift process by automatically identifying and triggering personalized outreach to eligible donors and tracking their matches from start to finish.
Along the way, it also utilizes your data to analyze trends, provide targeted recommendations, and produce user-friendly reports that present your findings in an easy-to-understand way.
Pre-built reports within the platform include:
Top companies leaderboard with recommended actions for pursuing broader corporate giving goals
Match-eligible donations leaderboard that displays the match-eligible donations with the highest matching gift potential
“Ripe for the picking” eligible but not submitted view that filters for donors marked as match-eligible with an online form available but have not yet submitted their match request
Repeat matching gift filter that pulls a list of donors who previously had their gifts matched but currently have an un-submitted match in the system
Campaign Comparisons report that easily compares highest-earning time-boxed fundraising campaigns in terms of matching gift eligibility
Missed Matches reports that highlight recent transactions that may be match-eligible, despite being marked otherwise or skipped over in email outreach
Key statistics, such as total emails delivered, open and click rate, match revenue identified per month, total match revenue identified, matching gift engagement level, total donor events, and more
Breakdown of current match statuses, including Waiting for Donor, Match Initiated, Pending Payment, Match Complete, Unknown Employer, and Ineligible
Additionally, 360MatchPro users can customize different views in their “Donations” tab, choosing to configure lists of recent donations according to match eligibility, request status, and more.
Next Steps
Data produced within the matching gift process is one of your most valuable assets—but you need to have a system in place for tracking, storing, and analyzing the information you collect.
Get with your team to determine which matching gift metrics best represent your organization and its fundraising goals. While each of the above-mentioned analytics can provide invaluable insights as they guide and inform your matching gift marketing initiatives, consider centering your reporting strategy on one or two points to get started.
From there, establish a plan to track appropriate data, conduct an analysis of the information you’ve gathered, and continue to adjust your overarching plan as needed.
Keep learning! Grow your knowledge of all things matching gifts with these additional recommended resources:
Double the Donation’s Matching Gift Academy. Dive into Course 1, Module 9 to learn more about which matching gift metrics to track and how to use them to inform your ongoing plans!
Top 24 Matching Gift Companies: Leaders in Philanthropy. Wondering who the leading players in corporate philanthropy and matching gifts are? Check out our list of these matching gift companies that go the extra mile to stand out.
Your nonprofit needs funds to power its mission, but how do you communicate this need to potential donors? Fundraising letters are a time-tested, impactful way to reach out to supporters and encourage them to play a role in your impact.
Whether you choose to send them via email or direct mail, if you’re looking for smart and effective appeal letters, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled common types of donation requests, plus carefully crafted templates that your team can use to jumpstart your outreach.
With the right tips, tricks, and tools, your team can connect with more donors and cultivate lasting relationships to strengthen your work. Let’s cover the basics of writing fundraising letters, then explore the specific types of requests your nonprofit may decide to send.
How to Send Fundraising Letters
Before crafting your letters, you’ll want to know how you’re going to deliver each one. That way, you can tailor the formatting appropriately. Certain outlets lend themselves better to letters than others. Of course, you’ll want to deliver your solicitation letters using each recipient’s preferred contact method. Bearing that in mind, let’s explore the most common channels nonprofits use to solicit donations.
Via eCards
Who doesn’t love receiving a thoughtful greeting card? From special occasions to “just because,” there’s a card for everything! With a bit of creativity, you can elevate your fundraising letters by sending them as digital greeting cards. Each donor will receive a virtual greeting card alongside your letter. Delivering them in this format is more creative and effective than a plain letter.
Here’s a peek into why nonprofits use this approach to drive greater fundraising results:
Visual Appeal: eCards are visually captivating since you can use images, graphics, and videos to grab the recipient’s attention. This enhances the overall impact of the message and encourages the recipient to read more of your message.
Interactivity: Using this format, you can incorporate interactive elements like animations that activate when hovered over and clickable links to your donation page. Not only do these features make letters more engaging, but they also make it convenient for recipients to donate.
Timeliness: You can deliver eCards instantly, ensuring that the message reaches your recipient promptly. There’s no need to wait for it to be delivered in the mail, making eCards especially valuable for time-sensitive appeals.
Shareability: Recipients can forward eCards to friends, family, and anyone else who might be interested in supporting your cause. This amplifies the reach of your fundraising letter!
Not to mention, this approach is extremely cost-effective, eco-friendly, and personable. No need to waste paper or money on printing and postage. You’ll get the speed of email and the authenticity of direct mail!
To leverage this approach, choose an online eCard platform. We recommend using eCardWidget. The platform enables nonprofits to create digital greeting cards that communicate their missions. To fundraise with them, you can either sell them to supporters or send them directly to donors to solicit gifts.
Via Email
Many nonprofits connect with donors by delivering fundraising letters via email. Regular email communication allows you to build relationships over time by keeping supporters informed about your organization’s initiatives and fostering a sense of belonging to a larger cause.
Through targeted email campaigns, you can reach your entire donor base while customizing solicitation messages to resonate with individual donors. You’ll want to:
Craft compelling subject lines that grab attention and encourage recipients to read your letters.
Segment email lists based on donor history, interests, and engagement levels.
Include clear calls to action, guiding recipients to take action by either donating or sharing the campaign with their networks.
Review performance metrics such as open rates and click-through rates to gauge the success of your fundraising letters.
The versatility, speed, and cost-effectiveness of email make it an essential tool in your nonprofit’s fundraising and digital marketing arsenal. You’ll have everything you need to deliver thoughtful fundraising letters and drive contributions that support your work.
Via Direct Mail
Deliver your fundraising letters via direct mail to donors who prefer a more personable touch. Known for its authenticity, direct mail allows you to connect with donors on a more intimate level.
Fundraising via direct mail makes it a bit more challenging to segment your outreach, but still take donor-specific details like giving history into account when crafting your letters. Then, you’ll want to vary your approach slightly by including easy response components. For example, include a pre-addressed envelope or QR code that leads to your donation page. This will simplify the donation process, enhancing the effectiveness of your solicitations.
Overall, the tactile nature of direct mail makes it a valuable tool for your nonprofit to engage donors, reinforce its mission, and drive meaningful contributions.
How to Write a Fundraising Letter
When crafting a fundraising letter for your nonprofit, the key to success lies in not only communicating your funding needs clearly, but inspiring recipients to take action and make a gift. To set your appeal up for success, follow these essential steps:
Address the donor by their preferred name. Including the recipient’s name demonstrates that you value their support as an individual, rather than a nameless source of revenue.
Incorporate storytelling. Make it easy for potential donors to understand the importance of your mission by sharing a story that elicits empathy and demonstrates how your nonprofit makes a real difference in the lives of those you serve. For instance, a wildlife rescue nonprofit might introduce an injured fox that it’s working to rehabilitate and release.
Add compelling visuals. Adding an image or two can immediately grab the attention of your recipients, enhance your messaging, and allow them to better understand why they should contribute to your cause.
Emphasize the impact of donations. Empower potential donors to act by situating them at the center of your nonprofit’s impact. Be specific as to how their gifts will further your mission. For example, a nonprofit that trains and provides assistance dogs to military veterans might communicate that a $25 gift will provide a month’s worth of food for one dog, and a $100 gift will cover all of its vaccination costs.
Include a call to action. Once you’ve emphasized the importance of donations, use a call to action to encourage recipients to act immediately. Then, include a link to your donation page or, if you’re sending the letter via direct mail, add a QR code along with a pre-addressed return envelope.
To make your fundraising appeals stand out from the crowd, consider sending them as fundraising eCards. These online cards provide an efficient, memorable, and sustainable way to engage your supporters—not to mention they’re low-cost.
14 Types of Fundraising Letters (+ Templates)
Now that you have a clearer understanding of what it takes to draft a compelling fundraising letter, let’s take a closer look at some common types and templates that may come in handy:
Nonprofit fundraising letters are typically sent by charitable organizations to individual donors and/or prospects in order to solicit donations for a cause. They can be sent on their own or included in a welcome packet that contains pamphlets, booklets, and additional information.
Typically, an effective donation request letter will include:
A summary of your mission and vision
How you’ll use donated funds
A direct and specific call to action that creates urgency
Bonus: We suggest giving donors the option to reply to your letters by mailing a traditional check or directing them to give through your organization’s website.
To whom should you send them?
Send your nonprofit fundraising letters to anyone in your network of support, including:
Current and past supporters
Prospective donors
Volunteers
Event attendees
Board members
In other words, reach out to anyone who has previously expressed interest in your cause. Tailor your messaging to different groups based on their relationship with your organization. Keep in mind that while older generations of donors may prefer direct mail communications, younger millennials and Gen Z supporters may prefer a digital approach.
When should you use them?
You can send nonprofit fundraising letters at any time of the year! However, they are particularly effective toward the end of the calendar year when donors are calculating their pre-tax season finances. People also tend to be more charitable in December, which means that your appeal has a better chance of securing a donation.
Nonprofit fundraising letter template
Dear [Donor],
[Begin with an emotional appeal: A success story or a narrative that tugs on donors’ heartstrings and hooks your readers. Keep it short and sweet, though!]
Our community/nation/world is facing [problem(s) your organization aims to solve]. While we are actively [insert current solutions or related programming], we need your help to make our efforts go even further.
Your support is crucial to our efforts to improve the world around us by [tangible steps toward your overall mission]. We’d love it if you could make a donation of $[suggested amount] to help us achieve our mission and [solve the problem].
Thank you in advance for your contribution. Your donation will go toward [insert ongoing effort, recent accomplishment, or current project].
Here are the ways you can make a donation:
Donate online at [URL to donation page]
Call us at [phone number]
Send a check in the pre-stamped envelope
Text [keyword] to [text-to-give phone number]
Thank you again!
Sincerely,
[Signature of Organization Leader]
[Name of Organization Leader]
[Title]
[Nonprofit]
P.S. [End with an update about an upcoming event, volunteer opportunity, or other information on how to get further involved].
Nonprofit fundraising eCard example
The eCard above depicts two hands uniting through flood waters. This creative design is ideal for a disaster relief organization seeking support for communities affected by flooding. While a simple design, the hands communicate the impact just one donor could have.
2. Seasonal Fundraising Letters
What are seasonal fundraising letters?
Seasonal fundraising letters are sent during specific times of the year and are typically aligned with holidays, annual events, or seasons that hold significance for the cause or donors.
These letters play into the emotional and thematic connections associated with specific seasons to engage donors and encourage contributions. Since these fundraising letters are time-oriented, the timing and context help foster a sense of urgency and prompt recipients to take action.
To whom should you send them?
These types of fundraising letters are ideal for anyone who’s shown interest in your cause, including:
Existing donors
Lapsed donors
Prospective donors
Volunteers
Event attendees
Board members
If you’re sending a holiday-themed letter, just make sure that the recipient celebrates the holiday. For example, you wouldn’t want to send a Christmas card to someone who celebrates Hanukkah instead.
When should you use them?
By considering the timing of each seasonal fundraising letter, you can maximize the impact of your outreach and encourage meaningful contributions. Key times to send seasonal fundraising letters include:
Around holidays: From Valentine’s Day to the Fourth of July, any holiday is the perfect time to send a solicitation letter. Whether you’re fundraising during Christmas, Mother’s Day, or Thanksgiving, you can encourage people to give back.
At year-end: Considering that December accounts for 30% of annual giving, the end of the year is the perfect time to send seasonal fundraising letters. Capitalize on the spirit of giving during the year-end holiday season, and emphasize the importance of making a last-minute tax-deductible donation.
During cause awareness months: Determine if there’s an awareness month, week, or day devoted to your cause. If so, send fundraising letters during that time. For example, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is October, Earth Day is April 22nd, and National Suicide Prevention Week falls in September each year.
Back-to-School (August/September): As the school year begins, nonprofits focused on education or youth development can send letters that emphasize the importance of investing in children’s futures.
Summer Campaigns (June-August): Summer months can be a great time to send letters, especially for environmental causes, youth programs, and other outdoor initiatives that align with the season’s themes of growth, adventure, and relaxation.
There are plenty of other times you can send your seasonal fundraising letters beyond these. In any case, the timing should align with the occasion’s theme and your nonprofit’s mission. This will ensure the message resonates.
Seasonal fundraising letter template
Dear [Donor’s Name],
Greetings from [Your Nonprofit’s Name]! As the [Season] season unfolds, we find ourselves reflecting on the incredible journey we’ve embarked upon and are humbled by the unwavering support of individuals like you who have been a beacon of hope for our cause.
This [Season], we are excited to share the remarkable strides we’ve taken toward [Mission]. With your support, we’ve been able to [Highlight a specific achievement, project, or initiative]. We invite you to join us once again in making a profound difference in the lives we touch.
Your generosity has been instrumental in [Describe the impact of their previous contributions]. With every dollar you contribute, you are sowing the seeds of positive change and empowerment.
As we approach [Specific Occasion or Date], consider making a [Seasonal] donation to [Your Nonprofit’s Name]. Your gift, no matter the size, will help us [Highlight the purpose or project that the seasonal campaign is supporting].
Here’s how you can contribute:
Online: Visit our website at [Website Link] to donate.
Mail: Fill out the enclosed donation form and send it to [Your Nonprofit’s Address].
Phone: Call us at [Phone Number] to make a donation over the phone.
Your belief in our mission is the foundation upon which we build a brighter future. Together, we can create lasting change that resonates far beyond [Season].
Thank you for being a pillar of support for [Your Nonprofit’s Name]. Your generosity is a gift that keeps on giving, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to making the world a better place.
Wishing you and your loved ones a meaningful [Season] season!
With gratitude,
[Signature]
[Name]
[Nonprofit]
Seasonal fundraising eCard example
Valentine’s Day is one of the best holidays for sending seasonal fundraising appeals since people are in a loving state of mind. If you need examples to spark your inspiration, the Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County designed a collection of Valentine’s eCards that donors could purchase to send to loved ones. Each design featured one of their furry residents, the nonprofit’s logo, heart graphics, and animal puns.
While you can always sell eCards like this, try sending them alongside your fundraising letters to donors!
3. School Fundraising Letters
What are school fundraising letters?
School fundraising letters are a popular way for educational institutions (K-12 and higher ed, public and private alike) to solicit support for various school-related purposes. They generally provide a summary of the school’s specific fundraising needs, such as:
To maximize results, highlight your school’s recent accomplishments, specify how the funding will make an impact on your student body and community, and provide instructions on how the letter recipient can choose to give.
To whom should you send them?
Send school fundraising letters to your school’s supporters—and those you think may be interested in getting involved. Often, this will include:
Students’ parents
PTA members
Other volunteers
Alumni
Community members
You can even take a peer-to-peer approach, encouraging students to send their own fundraising letters to family members and friends who may be interested in giving.
When should you use them?
Send your fundraising appeals at any time during the school year!
However, popular campaign periods include the beginning of the school year, leading up to the holiday season, and prior to large-scale events and initiatives.
School fundraising letter template
Dear [Name],
We hope this letter finds you well. As we begin the new school year here at [School Name], we are excited to share with you some of the exciting initiatives we have planned for our students.
At [School Name], we are committed to providing the best possible education and learning opportunities for our students. We believe every student deserves access to the resources and support they need to succeed, regardless of their background or financial situation.
To help us achieve this goal, we are launching a fundraising campaign to support various school-related initiatives, such as [list specific initiatives].
We are reaching out to our dedicated parents, alumni, and supporters to ask for your help in achieving our fundraising goals. Your generosity can make a significant impact on the lives of our students, helping us to provide them with the best possible education and prepare them for a bright future.
Any contribution, no matter the size, will be greatly appreciated and put to good use. [Include instructions on how to donate, e.g., online donation platform, mailing a check, etc.]
We value your continued support. Thank you in advance for considering a donation to [School Name] and for committing to helping us create a brighter future for our students.
Best wishes,
[Signature]
[Name]
[Title]
Seasonal fundraising eCard example
If you’re designing an eCard for school fundraising, create an engaging design like the one above. Your eCard platform will likely provide plenty of graphics related to education, like graduation caps, apples, and anything else you need. Be sure to incorporate childlike elements like handwritten font to make your design more authentic.
Churches commonly send out fundraising letters to notify congregants when church events or other fundraising initiatives are occurring. These types of fundraising letters can be used to share the details—date, time, location, etc.—of the event and encourage those who can’t attend to give in advance.
To whom should you send them?
Depending on your specific needs, you can send church fundraising letters to your congregation or to a broader community audience.
For instance, a fundraising appeal to collect donations in support of a new church building will likely be sent only to those involved with the church, while a campaign to raise funds for sending youth to a summer camp might solicit donations from students’ family members and friends, regardless of their affiliation with your ministry.
When should you use them?
You can send out church letters whenever you have a fundraising need! Churches rely on the generosity of their congregants to keep the doors open and the lights on.
Of course, you’ll want to limit your fundraising letters to a few per year and rely on in-person appeals during a church service for the majority of your fundraising efforts.
Church fundraising letter template
Dear [Name],
We hope this letter finds you well. Because you’re an important part of our church family, and we’ve so appreciated your support in the past regarding our [example campaign the individual supported] initiatives, we thought you’d want to know about our big plans for this new year.
As you surely know, our congregation is growing. Just like any family, the more members you have, the more room you need. We’re pleased to invite you to be an important part of this exciting process!
[Church Name] is raising money for a brand-new sanctuary and bell tower. How blessed are we to have so many members like yourself that we need to build an entirely new structure?
That said, we are currently accepting donations that will make this exciting new project possible, and we ask that you consider giving to support our efforts.
Your donation, no matter the size, will be greatly appreciated and put to good use. We invite you to be a part of this new chapter in our church’s history and help us create a space where we can come to worship, learn, and grow together.
If you would like to contribute, please visit our website at [URL] or mail or drop off a check to [church office address].
Feel free to reach out to our special projects coordinator, [Name], at [phone number] or by email at [email address] if you have any questions about our fundraising initiatives or the new sanctuary or bell tower.
As always, have a blessed week. We hope to see you Sunday!
In Him,
[Pastor’s Signature]
[Pastor’s Name]
Church fundraising eCard example
When designing an eCard for a church, be sure to infuse spiritual elements like this eCard does. The graphic on the card design shows stained glass in the shape of a cross, helping the reader to draw a connection between eCard Recipients will immediately understand what the rest of the email is about by simply reading “In Every Act of Giving, We Feel God’s Grace.”
Nonprofits aren’t the only ones with fundraising needs! Sometimes, individuals aim to raise money for a cause, project, or life event, whether on their own or as part of a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign.
Common individual fundraising letter needs include:
Personal medical expenses
Disaster relief
Political campaign funding
Grassroots advocacy needs
Travel or education expenses
Make it as easy as possible for supporters to contribute. You can set up a crowdfunding campaign to supplement your fundraising efforts and use the fundraising letter to direct people to your campaign page to give. This can be highly impactful, as in North America alone, crowdfunding generates around $17.2 billion each year.
To whom should you send them?
Depending on the specific fundraising need, an individual may send personal fundraising letters to their family members, friends, acquaintances, colleagues, and more.
Consider tailoring your recipient list based on the purpose behind your efforts. For example, an individual raising funds to go on a religious mission might prioritize individuals within their church community.
When should you use them?
You can send individual fundraising letters whenever you need to raise money for a cause that means a lot to you. If you’re collecting donations for an upcoming event or project, be sure to start planning, drafting, and sending your letters at least a few weeks in advance.
Individual fundraising letter template
Dear [Donor],
My name is [Name], and I am [describe your position/situation/background]. I am looking to raise [amount of money] to help me pay for [project/expense/cause/etc.].
[Include information about why the cause or project is important to you and how it could potentially impact the reader or those you serve].
I’m writing to ask you to support me and my [cause/project/etc.]. Just a small donation of [amount] can help me [accomplish task/reach a goal/etc.].
Your donation will go toward [describe exactly what the contribution will be used for].
[When possible, add a personal connection to tie the donor to the cause. For example, if you’re raising money to help build a school in a developing country and you’re writing to a teacher, emphasize the fact that everyone deserves a quality education].
Thank you in advance for your contribution. You have no idea how much it means to me to have your support.
Here are the ways you can make a donation:
Donate online at [URL of your crowdfunding page]
Send a check in the pre-stamped envelope I’ve included
Thank you again!
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Name]
Individual fundraising eCard example
While you can use drawings and graphics for individual fundraising eCards, you’ll evoke emotional connections by featuring a picture of who the donations will impact. This eCard is the perfect example of this strategy in action! The sender draws an emotional reaction instantly and can use their fundraising letter to dive into storytelling and their request for support.
6. In-Kind Donation Request Letters
What are in-kind donation request letters?
In-kind donation requests are often sent by nonprofit groups that ask for gifts of tangible goods or services instead of traditional monetary donations.
Most often, these letters will request a specific gift from the recipient, such as:
Office equipment or technology
No-cost meeting spaces or venue rentals
Food supplies
New or gently used clothing or shoes
Pro bono services like free marketing, accounting, or legal assistance from an associated firm
In-kind donations can allow charitable organizations to offset some of their largest operational costs with goods and services made available by supporters. A well-written donation request letter lets your audience know what kinds of things you’re looking for and how they can be of assistance!
To whom should you send them?
You can send in-kind donation letters to individual supporters as well as corporations, foundations, and even other nonprofit groups.
Remember: these letters should be specific. If you’re seeking free marketing assistance, be sure to reach out to a local marketing agency. If you’re looking for appealing items to auction off in your upcoming fundraising event, you might reach out to a wider range of individuals or businesses. This might include restaurants, travel agencies, salons, retail stores, and more.
When should you use them?
You can send these types of letters whenever you have a specific need! Some of the most common use cases include fundraising events (e.g., requesting auction item donations), community food or clothes drives, or a new campaign or initiative that would benefit from in-kind gifts.
In-kind donation request letter template
Dear [Individual Donor or Corporate Sponsorship Manager],
I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. I am writing to request your support for [Nonprofit], a nonprofit organization that is committed to [mission statement or general purpose of the organization].
As we strive to fulfill our mission, we rely heavily on the generosity of donors like you. We are reaching out to request an in-kind donation of [specific goods or services needed], which we believe would make a significant impact on our efforts by [description of benefits made available by such a donation].
Your contribution would be an invaluable asset to our organization and would help us to [achieve a specific goal or outcome]. In return, we would be happy to offer [recognition or publicity for the donor, such as inclusion in event materials or social media shoutouts]. We will also provide a receipt for the value of the donation for tax purposes.
We appreciate your consideration of our request, and we welcome the opportunity to discuss this further with you. If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at [phone number or email address].
Thank you for your generosity and support.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Name]
[Title]
[Nonprofit]
In-kind donation request eCard
This eCard is perfect for food banks seeking in-kind donations of food. Within the design, the depiction of people working together communicates the collective effort necessary to end hunger. The text really drives that point home by saying, “From your pantry to their plates, every meal matters.” In turn, the organization can retain donors by emphasizing the vitality of their continued support.
7. Matching Gift Fundraising Letters
What are matching gift fundraising letters?
Matching gift fundraising letters are a specific type of outreach that nonprofits send donors to inform or remind them about relevant matching gift opportunities.
Matching gifts are a popular (yet continually underutilized) type of corporate giving program. In fact, it’s estimated that $4 to $7 billion in matching gift funds goes unclaimed every year. The process typically follows these basic steps:
After an employee donates to an eligible nonprofit, they submit paperwork to their company to match
If the donation meets the company’s predetermined requirements, the business will make a contribution to the nonprofit as well.
Though companies often match gifts at a dollar-for-dollar ratio, many are willing to triple or even quadruple their employees’ gifts!
Unfortunately, many donors are unaware that their employer offers a matching gift program.
That’s where a matching gift fundraising letter comes in!
In this letter, you’ll inform the donor about their employer’s specific workplace giving initiatives and how to get involved. If you don’t have a record of a supporter’s employer, simply use your matching gift letter to direct them to your online matching gift web page and company search tool.
To whom should you send them?
All donors should receive matching gift letters after making their initial gifts to your organization.
However, since direct mail can be costly, we recommend sending email follow-ups to the majority of your supporters. Reserve your direct mail letters for your most lucrative matching opportunities or for particularly high-value donors who have a known preference for physical communications.
When should you use them?
The best time to promote matching gifts is immediately after a donor gives. Your nonprofit is still fresh in their minds, so they’ll be more likely to submit a matching gift request when encouraged to do so promptly.
After a donor makes a gift, send out an email that:
Thanks them for their donation
Encourages them to submit a matching gift request
Furthermore, you can consider leveraging matching gift auto-submission to streamline the process even further and make it easier for donors to submit their requests. Once they’re determined to be eligible for matching gifts, all they need to do is provide a few key pieces of information, and the software automatically completes the request for them. Check out this video to see how auto-submission simplifies the match-fulfillment process:
Matching gift fundraising letter template
Dear [Donor],
Thank you for your generous support in the amount of $[gift size]. Your donation is helping us make a real impact in the lives of those we serve.
We wanted to let you know about an exciting opportunity to make your gift go even further. Did you know that many employers offer matching gift programs? This means that they will match their employees’ charitable donations, doubling or even tripling the impact of your gift.
We encourage you to visit our matching gift page here [URL] to see if your employer participates in a matching gift program. This resource provides an intuitive company search tool with easy-to-follow instructions on how to take advantage of this opportunity and make your donation do more.
By taking a few minutes to submit a matching gift request, you can make an even greater impact on our mission. Thank you again for your generous support, and we look forward to continuing to work together to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Name]
[Matching Gifts Coordinator]
[Nonprofit]
8. Event Fundraising Letters
What are event fundraising letters?
A fundraising event can be a highly impactful way for nonprofits to generate revenue. However, before the event takes place, it’s crucial to mobilize donors and the greater community to participate.
You can achieve this through event fundraising letters. These letters provide details about the event and encourage the recipient to attend in support of the nonprofit’s mission.
When drafting the letter, include a clear and persuasive case for support, as well as an explanation of how funds will be raised during the event (for example, through ticket sales, donations, or auction bids). A well-crafted fundraising event letter should make the reader feel enthusiastic about supporting the cause and eager to register for the event.
To whom should you send them?
For an in-person event, send fundraising letters to all of your organization’s supporters who reside in your local area. However, hybrid and virtual events open up the possibilities, allowing your team to engage attendees over any distance.
As you craft your recipient list, include donors, volunteers, board members, previous event attendees, and even businesses that have interacted with your organization in the past.
When should you use them?
Send your fundraising letters well in advance of your event date. While the perfect timeline can vary from one organization to the next, aim to notify your supporters at least six to eight weeks before the big day. This will allow them to make any necessary arrangements for attending and enable your nonprofit to maximize the overall turnout.
Event fundraising letter template
Dear [Supporter],
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to invite you to [Nonprofit]’s upcoming event, [Event Name], which will take place on [date] at [time] at [location].
[Event Name] is a [type of fundraising event, like run/walk/ride, charity auction, gala, etc.]. This annual fundraising event helps us to raise funds for our organization, [Nonprofit], which is dedicated to [summary of mission statement or purpose].
We believe that every member of our community deserves access to [insert services provided by your organization], and your support helps us to achieve this goal.
We have exciting activities planned for the evening, including [details about the event such as entertainment, keynote speakers, or other activities]. And the best part is that all proceeds go towards supporting our programs and services.
We would be honored if you could attend this special event and support our cause. Your ticket purchase or donation will help us make a difference in the lives of those we serve.
Learn more about the opportunity at our event page here [URL].
We appreciate your consideration and hope that you can join us for this meaningful evening.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Name]
[Title]
[Nonprofit]
Event fundraising eCard example
Designed by Vineyard Church North Phoenix, this event invitation was originally designed for congregants to invite their friends and family to an upcoming service. However, you can copy their approach by featuring photos you’ve taken and featuring welcoming text such as “You’re Invited” or “Join us!”
9. Recurring Gift Fundraising Letters
What are recurring gift fundraising letters?
Recurring donations provide nonprofits with steady and predictable income that allows them to plan for and maintain effective operations over time. In fact, recurring donors contribute 42% more each year than one-time donors. Whether you’re looking to expand your recurring gifts program or get started for the first time, well-written recurring donation letters can be immensely useful.
Recurring donation letters are tailored to appeal to dedicated supporters who may be interested in supporting your cause on a regular, automated schedule. These letters should provide an overview of the benefits of recurring gifts (for your mission as well as for the donor) and provide instructions on how they can sign up if interested.
To whom should you send them?
Send recurring gift letters primarily to donors who have already recently supported your cause, especially those who have made several one-off donations. However, first-time donors can also be good candidates for these programs if they’ve shown a commitment and a willingness to support your cause in the past.
When should you use them?
You should send a recurring donation letter to an existing supporter after they contribute a one-time gift to your organization—ideally within a few weeks following the most recent donation.
Additionally, you might decide to host a “recurring gift campaign” and promote your monthly giving program to all supporters. This can take place at any time during the year but may be particularly effective during the end-of-year holiday giving season. You can even set and communicate a goal for the number of recurring donors you’d like to sign up by a target date to drive urgency and leverage a sense of social proof.
Recurring fundraising letter template
Dear [Donor],
I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to reach out to you about joining [Nonprofit]’s recurring gift program. By setting up a recurring gift, you can provide ongoing support for our mission to [summary of mission statement or purpose] and provide services for [primary audience benefitting from your organization’s programming].
Recurring gifts are a convenient and effective way to support our organization. By making a regular monthly gift, you can help us to offer [list specific services provided by your organization] to those in need.
To sign up for the program, go to our website here [URL for recurring donation page] or text [recurring donation keyword] to [fundraising shortcode].
Thank you for your generosity.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Name]
[Title]
[Nonprofit]
Recurring gift fundraising eCard example
Imagine you receive a fundraising letter paired with an eCard of a cute dog with pleading eyes. Wouldn’t you be compelled to donate to whichever animal rescue organization sent it to you? Try creating a greeting card like the one above and featuring text that communicates the impact of ongoing support.
10. Capital Campaign Fundraising Letters
What are capital campaign fundraising letters?
A capital campaign is a fundraising initiative that aims to meet a high-dollar goal over a relatively long time frame (often one to three years). Dedicated fundraising letters are an excellent choice for soliciting support for this campaign.
This letter should explain the purpose behind the dedicated fundraising effort, which is often used to reach a significant goal. Oftentimes, nonprofits launch capital campaigns to collect funding to build a new facility, purchase high-cost equipment, or establish an endowment fund, so you’ll want to specify the need and how it will impact your cause as a whole.
To whom should you send them?
Capital campaign letters are generally sent to your nonprofit’s existing donors. And don’t count them out if they’ve recently given to a different fundraising initiative, either. A capital campaign donation is generally considered an “above and beyond” contribution. Just be sure to acknowledge their other gifts and explain how the efforts are differentiated.
To produce optimal campaign results, segment your contact list according to donors’ previous engagement with your organization, giving history, and estimated capacity to give.
When should you use them?
Since a capital campaign is split into two key phases (the Private Phase and the Public Phase), it’s important to understand when you should employ your fundraising letters.
Generally, the Private Phase kickstarts your campaign by exclusively engaging major donors, board members, and other particularly high-value individuals. While you may opt to utilize capital campaign letters as a cultivation or stewardship strategy in this phase, you’ll likely make your largest asks in person (or, at the very least, over the phone). Nonprofits typically raise at least 75% of their goals in this phase.
Once you get to the Public Phase, however, your well-crafted fundraising letters can be an excellent tool for driving your campaign to the finish line with donation appeals sent to low- and mid-level supporters.
Capital campaign fundraising letter template
Dear [Donor],
On behalf of [Nonprofit], we are excited to announce a new and exciting capital campaign. And we’d like to invite you to join us in our efforts!
This large-scale fundraiser has a lofty goal of $[fundraising goal] to [summary of campaign purpose].
As you know, our organization is committed to [brief description of mission]. With your support, we’ve been able to make great strides in these areas, but we know that there is still much work to be done. That’s why we’re launching this campaign to raise the funds we need to [reiterate campaign purpose], which will have a transformative impact on our ability to fulfill our mission.
This is a critical time in our organization’s history, and we need your support to make our vision a reality. We believe that with your help, we can [describe the impact of the campaign, such as improving the lives of those we serve, expanding services, etc.].
This campaign will span over the next three years, and we are committed to transparency throughout the campaign. We’ll provide regular updates on our progress and milestones achieved.
We appreciate your consideration and hope that you can join us in this important endeavor.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Name]
[Title]
[Nonprofit]
Capital campaign fundraising eCard example
Capital campaigns require substantial amounts of support. If you’re building something, try including a stock photo of blueprints or actual project renderings on your nonprofit eCards. This will show you’re serious about the end result and your plans are already underway. You can also include a witty phrase like “Lay the foundation for tomorrow” or “Help build our future.”
11. Annual Fund Fundraising Letters
What are annual fund fundraising letters?
An annual fund is a nonprofit’s ongoing fundraising campaign that seeks to collect unrestricted funds—money not set aside for a particular project or program—for the organization. These funds often cover facility costs, staff salaries, and other “non-mission related” expenses. Annual fund fundraising letters solicit donations that go toward the fund.
These letters should focus primarily on the good work your organization is doing, highlighting recent, ongoing, and future projects made possible by generous donor funding.
To whom should you send them?
Just about anyone who has shown interest in your organization and its mission can be a great candidate for your annual campaign fundraising letters! This includes:
Existing donors
Prospective donors in your pipeline
Volunteers
Event attendees
Newsletter subscribers
Social media followers
You can also send these letters to try and re-engage lapsed donors, so consider sending your annual fund letters to that segment as well.
When should you use them?
An annual fund is typically a never-ending initiative with no set “finish line,” so organizations often collect donations for their annual funds year-round!
Aim to have a few annual fund pushes throughout the year to devote a good deal of time and resources toward driving support for the campaign. Then, you may decide to send one-off annual fund letters as a way to engage new supporters as they get involved with your cause.
Annual fundraising letter template
Dear [Donor],
I am writing to you on behalf of [Nonprofit] to invite you to support our annual fund campaign. Your donation helps us to provide [summary of services provided by your organization] to those in need. Plus, it allows us to continue our mission to [brief overview of mission statement or purpose].
This year, we aim to raise $[fundraising goal] from generous donors like you. We collected a record $[funds raised in the previous annual fund campaign] for our annual fund, and I think we can surpass it this year.
We appreciate your ongoing support and hope that you can consider making a donation to our annual fund campaign today. If so, please mail a check using the enclosed pre-stamped and pre-addressed envelope or make an online donation by scanning the QR code below [QR code redirects to your online giving form URL].
Thanks again for your generosity.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Name]
[Title]
[Nonprofit]
Annual fund fundraising eCard example
This eCard is perfect for an environmental organization to solicit donations year-round. It features a nature-inspired design complete with green, Earth-themed graphics. An alluring eCard like this can help capture attention for your fundraising letter.
12. Corporate Sponsorship Letters
What are corporate sponsorship letters?
Corporate sponsorship letters are used by nonprofits, schools, or other organizations looking to receive support from for-profit companies for a specific project or event.
Though they can vary depending on the company or nonprofit, sponsorship letter packages typically include the following components:
A sponsorship proposal cover letter, or the formal request for a sponsorship donation. It explains the nonprofit’s fundraising need and details how the funds will be used.
A sponsorship level document, which determines how companies decide how much they’d like to give. This resource often lists a few sponsorship levels to choose from and the perks that come with each. The higher the donation, the more perks the company receives.
Plus, there’s typically a sponsorship acknowledgment letter sent afterward to thank the company for its contributions.
To whom should you send them?
Send your corporate sponsorship request letters to any businesses with which you’re interested in partnering. A few ways to locate top prospects include identifying companies already in your network, such as your donors’ employers and top matching gift-givers, local businesses in your own community, and companies known for being particularly charitable.
When should you use them?
Sponsorship letters should be sent out well in advance of your event or project. This gives companies enough time to consider and respond to your donation request.
Furthermore, your nonprofit should send sponsorship acknowledgment letters immediately after a donation has been made and after the event has ended.
Corporate sponsorship letter template
Dear [CEO/CSR Manager/Business Owner],
I am writing on behalf of [Nonprofit], an organization dedicated to [summary of your mission, vision, and how you serve your community].
We are hosting our [event name] on [date] at [location]. Last year’s event was such a huge success that we decided to host it again!
In the past, this event has raised $[amount] and has [list out specific accomplishments using statistics and figures].
This year we’re hoping to raise even more! Our goal is $[amount], and we were hoping you could help us reach that goal.
By becoming one of our corporate sponsors, you’ll be able to [list projects that corporate donations could help accomplish].
We’ve also listed out some of the incentives and perks that your company can enjoy should you decide to become one of our corporate sponsors in our attached Sponsorship Levels Document. Regardless of the amount you choose to give, your company name will be included in our event program, and you’ll be mentioned in the press release that we’ll publish on our website.
We’re accepting cash donations as well as gifts-in-kind of goods or services.
Please browse the Sponsorship Levels Document to find the giving level that’s right for your company. If you’re ready to make a donation, tear off the perforated section of the following document and send it back to us in the self-addressed envelope we’ve enclosed.
I’d like to thank you in advance for your generosity. Please don’t hesitate to contact me directly at [phone number] or [email] if you have any questions.
All the best,
[Signature]
[Name]
[Title]
[Nonprofit]
Corporate sponsorship eCard example
Connect with prospective sponsors on an emotional level by including images of your beneficiaries. You can showcase their situations and make your case for support that much more compelling when sending your sponsorship letters.
Donor thank-you letters are pretty self-explanatory. These letters (or emails!) thank supporters for their contributions to a recent fundraising campaign. Sending personalized gift acknowledgments is an excellent way to deepen your relationship with supporters and keep your cause at the forefront of their minds.
Best practices for effective thank-you notes include:
Greeting the recipient by name
Acknowledging the donor’s specific means of support
Addressing the impact made possible through their gift
Plus, you can share additional involvement opportunities (without asking for another gift). Encourage supporters to follow your social media pages, subscribe to your newsletter, or request a matching gift from their employer!
To whom should you send them?
Send thank-you letters to all of your supporters. In addition to traditional donors, this includes volunteers, in-kind givers, corporate sponsors, peer-to-peer fundraisers, matching gift donors, and more.
When should you use them?
Thank-you letters should be sent out as soon as possible after receiving a contribution. Ideally, this should be done within 48 hours of the initial gift being made.
It’s not a bad idea to use multiple channels, either. Consider sending an automated acknowledgment email immediately and following up with a tangible note in the days or weeks afterward. You can never be too appreciative of your donors!
Donor thank-you letter template
Dear [Donor],
I can’t tell you how much all of us at [Nonprofit] appreciate your generous support of our cause. Thanks to your donation of $[amount], we’ll be able to [list out specific goals, objectives, etc., made possible through the gift].
We are so grateful for your belief in our organization’s work.
At [Nonprofit], we are committed to transparency and accountability. Therefore, we’ll be sure to keep you informed about how your donation is making a difference in the lives of those we serve. We couldn’t do it without you!
I also wanted to let you know that we’ll be hosting an exclusive donor appreciation event on [date]. We’d love to extend an invitation to you to participate in this opportunity, with more details to come! Our current donors have all enjoyed developing a stronger partnership with our organization, and I’m hoping you’ll do the same.
Thanks a million,
[Signature]
[Name]
[Title]
[Nonprofit]
Donor thank-you eCard example
Show donors some love with an eCard alongside your thank-you letters. Youth for Understanding offered several eCards that past beneficiaries could send to thank anyone who made their experience with the organization memorable. Add a custom note alongside an eCard like this, and the recipient will have a thoughtful keepsake that inspires them to keep giving!
Fundraising update letters are post-fundraising campaign communications sent to supporters. These messages allow you to wrap up loose ends, celebrate success, and look to future plans and goals.
This letter should contain a summary of your recent campaign (e.g., event, crowdfunding effort, peer-to-peer fundraiser, capital campaign, etc.) and your overall level of success (whether you reached or exceeded your fundraising goal). Plus, you’ll want to provide additional context, reminding your audience how the funding will be used to further your mission. And don’t forget to thank each recipient for the role they played in driving your fundraising efforts forward.
To whom should you send them?
Anyone involved with your fundraising campaign should receive a campaign update letter! This includes donors of all giving levels, volunteers, corporate sponsors, peer-to-peer fundraisers, and more who made your fundraising success possible.
You might even decide to send fundraising update letters to existing supporters who opted not to partake in your fundraiser. This can allow them to stay up to date on organization happenings and celebrate the generosity of their fellow donors.
When should you use them?
Like donor thank-you notes, fundraising campaign update letters should be sent as soon as possible. Rather than following each donor’s contribution, however, wait until the entire campaign has wrapped up. Then, send your letters in the following days or weeks to celebrate their support.
Think of this type of fundraising letter as the big finale after your solicitation letters and other engagement efforts!
Fundraising update letter template
Dear [Donor],
I wanted to reach out and provide an update on our fundraising efforts at [Nonprofit].
Thanks to your generous support, we were able to surpass our fundraising goal of $[insert fundraising goal] by over $[amount raised beyond your goal]. All in all, we collected $[total raised through the campaign] that is going to make a huge difference in the lives of [primary audience benefitting from your organization’s services].
Now, we will continue to work toward [nonprofit vision] by [list several specific projects or programs receiving funding from the recent campaign].
And we’ve already gotten started! Check out this photo to see how things have been going over here:
[Insert picture showcasing your organization’s efforts; ideally, a new project or program. Ex: breaking ground on a new building]
We are so grateful for your ongoing support and appreciate your commitment to our mission to [summary of mission statement or purpose]. We could not do this important work without your help.
Thank you for your ongoing generosity.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Name]
[Title]
[Nonprofit]
Donor thank-you eCard example
Perfect for an environmental nonprofit, this eCard emphasizes a core mission of rebuilding the planet. It features a nature-inspired design that reminds the recipient of the cause at hand. Then, the sender can use the thank-you letter to provide concrete updates and explain the donor’s role in making the mission possible.
Wrapping Up (& Sending Off!)
Crafting effective fundraising letters is vital to just about any giving campaign. This is true for nonprofits as well as churches, schools, and even individuals.
To make your appeals impactful, it’s essential to understand your recipients and personalize your message accordingly. From there, you’ll want to convey your organization’s mission in a way that resonates with your audience and provide a clear call to action to support your cause.
For more valuable fundraising tips and tricks, check out these additional resources:
What Is an Email Append? All Your Questions Answered. Want to make sure your fundraising letters are reaching their recipients? Use email appends to keep your supporter contact information accurate and up to date.
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Fundraising-Letters_Feature.png300800Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2023-08-02 14:00:382023-12-06 18:10:2514 Fundraising Letters & Templates to Inspire More Support
Analyze donor behaviors and identify emerging trends
![Learn how eCardWidget can help you revamp your fundraising letters and send them as eCards.]](https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Fundraising-Letters_Large-CTA.png)
