The Annual Giving Exchange

Ahh…spring.  The bells are ringing and the birds are chirping.  And many of us in annual giving are counting down to the close of another fiscal year.  As we tally our dollars and begin planning for next year, don’t forget that it’s not too late to remind your donors about corporate matching gifts.

Every year, as a benefit to employees, thousands of companies offer to match gifts that their employees have made to charitable organizations.  It’s an easy way for donors to increase the impact of their contribution – something especially meaningful in a recession.

Although some companies have indeed cut back on matching gift programs in order reduce expenses, many have not.  Some charitable organizations have, in fact, seen an increase in matching gift activity recently.  Perhaps this is a signal that donors are taking advantage of matching gift benefits for the first time as a way of sustaining their past levels of support in tough times.

Many donors make the mistake of thinking that their charity will follow up on potential matching gifts. This is almost never the case. A simple letter or e-mail reminding your donors that such benefits might exist at their company can often make the difference in meeting your fundraising goals. Your note can be a friendly reminder to your donors that they need to follow-up with their human resources department to initiate a matched gift.

There are some easy-to-use resources available to help both donors and charities.  Check out matchinggifts.com for more information.