{"id":4661,"date":"2023-04-13T18:49:54","date_gmt":"2023-04-13T18:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-1195505-4214693.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=4661"},"modified":"2024-05-15T14:36:49","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T14:36:49","slug":"uncovering-matching-gifts-5-ways-to-identify-eligible-donors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.giveffect.com\/uncovering-matching-gifts-5-ways-to-identify-eligible-donors\/","title":{"rendered":"Uncovering Matching Gifts: 5 Ways to Identify Eligible Donors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

According to research from Double the Donation<\/a>, more than 26 million people work for companies that match employee gifts. Unfortunately, the vast majority (approximately 78%) of this segment has never been made aware of the programs in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why nonprofit organizations are increasingly promoting the initiatives to their audiences and taking the necessary steps to uncover these opportunities themselves. And in this guide, we\u2019ll walk you through five easy ways your team can do so to drive more matching gifts<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Donation form fields<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Confirmation page search tools<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Email domain screening<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Follow-up messaging<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Employer appends<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    When it comes to uncovering matching gift potential, the single most important data point you can prioritize is your donors\u2019 employm<\/a>ent information. Once you have access to this knowledge, you can screen against top-giving companies and identify matches to pursue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Donation form fields<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Some of the best opportunities to identify the potential for (and engage donors with<\/a>) gift-matching programs take place directly within the giving process. It all starts with locating an individual\u2019s employing company\u2060\u2014and simply asking them for this information while they\u2019re actively supporting your cause is a great way to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    After all, your donors are likely used to providing a number of personal data points within the giving experience\u2060\u2014from their name and phone number to their email and mailing addresses. What\u2019s one more optional field to donors in the grand scheme of things?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019d like to request employment information from your donation page, keep in mind that sharing context relating to matching gifts can inspire more individuals to provide the detail. It can be as simple as adding a blurb like this: \u201cSee if your employer matches donations! Enter your company name here to find out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Not to mention, research indicates that donors are more likely to give\u2060\u2014and to give in larger amounts\u2060\u2014when they know that a match is being offered. In fact, the above-cited study reports that 1 in 3 donors would make a larger donation, resulting in over 51% increase in the average donation amount, when matching opportunities are highlighted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Confirmation page search tools<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Once an individual has submitted their donation, they\u2019re likely redirected to an online confirmation screen, thanking them for their support. This page is another key opportunity to collect employment information, specifically for those who hadn\u2019t opted to provide their company in the previous step. And it\u2019s easy when you embed a matching gift database search tool<\/a> within the page!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And for those that did <\/em>enter their company name during the giving process, the confirmation screen can serve as a detailed call to action for donors to take the next steps outlined by their employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Email domain screening<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    As donors complete your online giving form, they are typically prompted to enter an email address. This data point enables your team to keep in touch, thanking donors for their support and providing additional opportunities for involvement. But it can also allow you to identify matching-eligible donations\u2014particularly when supporters provide their corporate email addresses in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For example, let\u2019s say a donor makes a gift to your organization through an online donation page. When filling out their personal information, the individual enters \u201cjennytaylor@thehomedepot.com\u201d in the email box. From there, you can assume that your donor, Jenny, works for Home Depot\u2060, which you know offers a generous matching gift program for employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Email domain screening for match-eligible donations results in a 1% increase in total <\/em>revenue for nonprofits. For a small nonprofit receiving less than $500K per year, that\u2019s an additional $5,000. Meanwhile, a large organization that brings in over $50 million in annual revenue may see upwards of $500K in increased matching gift funds\u2060\u2014just by enabling email screening!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4. Follow-up messaging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Another way to collect employment information from donors who had not provided it within the giving form or confirmation page, nor used a corporate email address, is by leveraging strategic follow-up communications. This type of digital outreach<\/a> can encourage donors, once again, to search their employing company in your nonprofit\u2019s corporate giving database.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here\u2019s some sample text you can use: \u201cDear [Donor], our records indicate that your recent donation of $[gift amount] may qualify for a matching gift from your employer. Want to learn more? Click here to find out if your company matches employee donations.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Once they do, they\u2019ll be provided access to company-specific program guidelines and next steps\u2060\u2014including minimum and maximum match amounts, qualifying nonprofit and employee types, submission deadlines, direct links to request forms, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    5. Employer appends<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Unfortunately, you might get through all four of these top practices without uncovering some donors\u2019 employing companies. In that case, third-party service data appends companies can be an additional aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re not familiar with this idea, employer appends<\/a> essentially enable organizations to fill in their missing donor data points using information that they do <\/em>have. For example, a nonprofit typically provides as many of the following details as possible about each donor record they\u2019d like to append:<\/p>\n\n\n\n