Matching Gift Software: The Essential Buyer’s Guide

Make the most of doubled donations.

Educate your donors about the process.

Simplify matching gifts.

Matching Gift Software: The Essential Buyer’s Guide

What are matching gift programs?

Companies who offer matching gift programs donate the same amount of money to the charities that their employees do. Typically, employees must submit paperwork to their employers to initiate the process. Companies may also specify what percentage of their employees’ donations they will match or which employees are eligible.

What is matching gift software?

Many different software platforms exist to help nonprofits with all stages of the matching gift process. From software that allows individuals to search databases for information about their employers’ matching gift programs to full service software that will facilitate the giving process, a wide range of levels of support are available.

Why should nonprofits use matching gift software?

Because many employees are unaware of their employers’ matching gift process, nonprofits leave a significant amount of revenue on the table each year. Matching gift software can be a huge help in spreading awareness about matching gift programs and helping guide employees through it.

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Understanding Matching Gift Software

What are the benefits of matching gift software?

Most employees don't know a lot about matching gift programs.

Awareness

Lack of awareness is an obstacle for many nonprofits hoping to benefit from corporate matching gift programs.

Employees can’t participate in corporate charitable giving programs they know nothing about, even if they care about charitable causes and want to support them.

Matching gift software goes a long way toward filling the knowledge gap! Through software, it’s easy for employees to find information about their employers’ programs.

Matching gift software simplifies a complicated process.

Simplicity

Matching gift programs can seem complicated to participate in, but luckily there are ways to simplify the process.

Don’t let donors get bogged down in a maze of paperwork — some may decide to not follow through instead of untangling the finer details!

Software can help by simplifying the procedural elements. Automated online forms and guidelines lead employees through the submission process, leaving no gifts unclaimed.

Keep matching gift information organized with software.

Organization

Your donor database is one of the most important resources you have, so why not use it to its full potential?
Employment information is an important detail to include in your CRM because it allows you to reach out to doors eligible for matching gifts or other corporate giving programs.
Matching gift software can help keep you and your donors on top of their matching gifts. Some can even automate the process for you.

What is the best option for matching gift software?

Double the Donation

Double the Donation is arguably the best option for nonprofits to get the word out about matching gift programs to eligible employees.

This company aims to simplify the matching gift process for nonprofits and their donors from start to finish. Their innovative product, a complete automation platform called 360MatchPro, streamlines the matching gift process.

From collecting donor employment information to identifying matching gift opportunities to triggering personalized email follow-ups and tracking donors’ submissions, Double the Donation makes matching gifts as easy as can be for everyone involved.

Highly customizable and automated, 360MatchPro takes the hardest elements of matching gift programs out of nonprofits’ hands, allowing them to focus on other initiatives that need their time and resources.

Double the Donation has a great nonprofit matching gift software.

Explore Double the Donation

What features should you look for in matching gift software?

Integration

You shouldn’t just consider the merits of the matching gift software on its own.

Finding a software that integrates well with your website and current solutions will make things easier for you later on.

Identify where you want to incorporate matching gift software and make sure the product you choose will allow seamless integration in those areas.

Customization

Your nonprofit has a mission, vision, and procedure that are all its own.

A matching gift software should reflect your individuality in its design and format.

Plus, donors are more likely to trust and follow through with a seamless donation process — think of a form branded the same way as the main website that works the same way as the other forms on the website.

Support

You shouldn’t have to dedicate your time and energy to troubleshooting problems with your software. You’ve got more important things to worry about!

Look for a matching gift software that offers reliable online and phone support if something goes wrong.

Any amount of time your software isn’t running is time your donors can’t match their gifts, which means you lose out on that revenue for your cause.

What should you consider before purchasing matching gift software?

Budget
The cost of matching gift software, especially more all-inclusive options, can run high. Make sure you’re budgeting for a software solution that your organization can afford. The more features offered, the more expensive the software, so don’t go for a fancier software if you’ll end up paying for features you don’t use. Don’t forget to think beyond the list price when determining your budget. Integration, training, and support might also contribute to the cost of software in the end.
Scope
What exactly is it that you need to do? Think about what you need from your matching gift software, not just what would be nice to have. Purchasing a software that offers far more bells and whistles than you need isn’t just financially wasteful — the more complicated the software is, the more chances you have to run into a problem you’ll waste resources fixing.
Security
Keeping your donors’ information safe is always high on your priority list. Ensure that you only purchase software that passes industry standards for information security. Look for PCI compliance as an important industry standard.

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Maximizing Your Matching Gift Software

How can you incorporate matching gifts into your fundraising campaign?

At Events

While you’ve got everyone together, why not use the occasion to educate your supporters about matching gifts?

You could hand out informative flyers or even show a demonstration of your software at work on the big screen.

In-person information sessions are also great opportunities to clear up any confusion your donors may have about matching gifts. Keep this in mind while planning your event.

Online Updates

Chances are you’re already sharing updates about your fundraising efforts online with your donors.

Emails and social media posts about your current fundraiser are great avenues to share information about matching gift programs, especially if your donors already receive online communication from you.

Including direct links to matching gift information or plugins in your communications makes it easier for donors.

Thank-You Messages

One of the most effective ways to elicit matching gifts is by asking those who have already donated to you.

Donors who see the page have already made a contribution to your current fundraising efforts, so you know they care about your cause.

You can incorporate matching gift information in your thank-you messages to show that you appreciate your supporter’s donation as well as future (doubled!) gifts they’ll give.

How can you market matching gifts to your donors?

Direct donors to your matching gift software tool before they make their gift.

Before Donation

One of the most effective places on your website to include information about matching gifts is the page dedicated to online giving.

By presenting information where anyone from a casual visitor to a loyal supporter can see it, you ensure that everyone who decides to donate has the facts they need to proceed with the matching gift process.

An easy way to integrate matching gift information is to find software with a plugin you can code directly into your website. This seamless integration makes matching gifts a natural part of the donation process.

Social media is also a great way to spread the message about matching gifts. Consider including a link to your donation page in the descriptions or bios of your profiles. You can (and should!) also schedule regular posts reminding your followers about matching gifts as you remind them about your current campaigns to combat the lack of awareness challenge and drum up doubled donations for your current fundraiser.

Emphasize your matching gift software opportunities while supporters are completing their donation.

During Donation

Here’s a useful exercise: Break up your donation process into steps from beginning to end. Now brainstorm ways in which you could encourage matching gifts in each of those steps. Links, copy and paste, and plugins can make including this information seem natural.

Don’t limit your brainstorming to your online donation forms, though. If you accept direct mail or phone giving, you can also incorporate the matching gift process into those channels. Include flyers with paper donation forms, and ensure that whoever answers the phone is knowledgeable about matching gift programs.

If a donor is already thinking about donations (as they surely are during the process), it’s the perfect time to emphasize the good that matching gifts can do. Don’t miss opportunities to make it easy for them!

Use your matching gift software to direct donors who have already given to see if they are eligible to have their gift matched.

After Donation

If a donor didn’t engage with your matching gift information during their donation, that doesn’t mean they won’t. It’s important to include matching gift information in the confirmation message you send them, either electronically or otherwise. In your message, after thanking them for their donation, ask your donors if they submitted matching gift paperwork.

Make sure to tell them that there are limits on how long companies will allow them to wait to submit those forms after they’ve made a donation, and point them to a resource with that information.

In future acknowledgement emails or letters after your campaign ends, make it a habit to include information about how your supporters can make their donation go twice as far next time.

Learn More About Marketing Matching Gifts!

Who are the top matching gift companies?

General Electric

With all full-time, part-time, and retired employees (including spouses of retirees) eligible for matching gifts, General Electric matches all donations between $25 and $25,000 on a 1:1 ratio.

General Electric will match gifts made to almost all 501(c)(3) organizations. Employees should submit paperwork online before the first April 15 after the date the donation was made.

Gap

Full-time, part-time, and retired employees of Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy can have gifts between $25 and $10,000 matched on a 1:1 ratio. Most nonprofits are eligible for matched gifts, and employees must register their requests online within 120 days of donation.

It’s worth noting that Gap spreads its match limit out throughout the year, so some employees may have to wait a month or two before their gift can be matched.