Your Employer (and Your Donors’ Employers) Can Help
You Fundraise!
Did you know that many
companies offer gift matching programs that can double (or even triple)
donations that their employees make?
This process is often a very
simple one through the Human Resources Department and can really help your
fundraising efforts. AFSP has made it easier for you to see if your employer
participates in a gift match program by providing a database of companies and
their matching gift offerings.
Simply visit http://www.matchinggift.com/afsp/
and type your company name into the search bar to see if they have a matching
gift program.
If your company participates
in a matching gift program, click your company’s name and you can learn
important information such as the minimum and maximum matched donations, the
maximum an employee can have matched per year, the gift match ratio, and you
can even find the form you need to fill out and send to your employer.
If you don’t see your
company listed, don’t get discouraged. Talk to your Human Resources Department
(for smaller companies, speak with your boss) and see if you have a matching
gift program. Although the Matching Gift database is extensive, it is very
possible that some companies, particularly smaller ones, are simply not listed.
Don’t Stop There – Your Donors’ Employers May Match
Donations
There are other ways you can
take advantage of this tool:
- Include a message and a link to the Matching Gift database in your thank you e-mail. Your donors may find that their employer will match their donation and submit the paperwork.
- Do the extra work for your donors: If you know where a donor works, search their company in the database. Then, when you send your thank you message, let them know that their company will match their donation. Provide them with the form and share how to get it processed. The easier you make it, the more likely it is to get submitted.
- Add this message to every thank you message:
"Many employers sponsor
matching gift programs and will match any charitable
contributions made by
their employees. Contact your Human Resources Department
to see if your gift
can be matched to maximize your donation's impact."
If you have any questions about
Matching Donations or about the Overnight Walk in general, please contact us at
888-THE-OVERNIGHT (888-843-6837) or coaches@theovernight.org
and we will be glad to help.
