15 Companies with groundbreaking matching gift programs

There are so many ways to enhance online giving, but what if you could double it? Corporate matching gift programs provide a groundbreaking fundraising opportunity that you need to know about!

Though these programs aren’t deliberately kept secret, most donors have no idea that they exist or that the donors themselves qualify for matching gifts. Corporate matching gifts are donations made by a company to a nonprofit that an employee of said company has already supported.

Although the process for requesting and receiving matching gifts is quite simple, many nonprofits are still unclear on the best way to pursue this online fundraising goldmine. It all starts with recognizing the incredible corporate matching gift programs out there, such as:

1. General Electric
2. Disney
3. Soros Fund Management
4. Apple Inc.
5. Boeing
6. Coca-Cola
7. American Express
8. Home Depot
9. Microsoft
10. PepsiCo
11. Starbucks
12. Nike
13. Amgen
14. Google
15. State Farm

Here at Givesmart, we want to make sure your organizations know about these exceptional programs. Now let’s breakdown this stellar matching gift information so you can begin devising a revolutionary matching gift plan!

1. General Electric

Matching Gift Program Basics

• Minimum matched: $25
• Maximum matched: $5,000
• Match ratio: 1:1
• Eligible employees: full-time, part-time

Why We Love this Matching Gift Program

We owe General Electric a big “thank you!” GE actually created the concept of corporate matching gifts.They began offering this benefit in 1954 and have raised over $1 billion dollars in nonprofit donations since. Their program stands out not only for being the first, but also for including current employees at all levels, retirees, and even the surviving spouses of past employees. They also have a generous deadline for requesting a matching gift. Matches must be requested by April 15th of the year following the initial donation.

2. Disney

Matching Gift Program Basics

• Minimum matched: $25
• Maximum matched: $15,000
• Match ratio: 1:1
• Eligible employees: full-time, part-time

Why We Love this Matching Gift Program

It’s no surprise that the company responsible for “The Happiest Place on Earth” ranks highly on our list. They take care of their employees by offering a generous matching gift program to all current employees. Additionally, they have the VoluntEARS program, which offers competitive volunteer grants to employees who offer time (rather than money) to the nonprofits they care about. Disney will pay up to $2,000 in volunteer grants per year.  It is important to note here that Pixar has a separate matching gift program for their employees.

3. Soros Fund Management

Matching Gift Program Basics

• Minimum matched: $25
• Maximum matched: $100,000
• Match ratio: 3:1
• Eligible employees: full-time

Why We Love this Matching Gift Program

As you may have guessed from the program basics, Soros Fund Managements holds the prize for highest matching gift limit of any corporate matching gift program. By offering employees a 3:1 match ratio on up to $100,000 per year, they are actually offering up to $300,000 in matching gift revenue to each full-time employee. Though employees are eligible for that 3:1 match, partners at the company are eligible for a lower match ratio, 2:1. However, 2:1 is still an excellent and unusually high match ratio.

4. Apple Inc.

Matching Gift Program Basics

• Minimum matched: $1
• Maximum matched: $10,000
• Match ratio: 1:1
• Eligible employees: full-time, part-time

Why We Love this Matching Gift Program

This program is special because there is basically no minimum that needs to be met to qualify for a match. Even if an employee can only give $10 or $15, their gift will be matched. Plus, there is no minimum number of volunteer hours required to qualify for a volunteer grant. Every hour from the first hour worked qualifies for a $50  matching gift. It’s nice to know that Steve Jobs’ philanthropic spirit live on in their corporate matching gift program.

5. Boeing

Matching Gift Program Basics

• Minimum matched: $25
• Maximum matched: $10,000
• Match ratio: 1:1
• Eligible employees: full-time, part-time, retirees

Why We Love this Matching Gift Program

An airplane, rocket, and satellite manufacturer, Boeing matches employee nonprofit donations at a 1:1 ratio and retirees at a 0.5:1 ratio. In the wake of a natural disaster, Boeing is even known to run special appeals that match employee donations to a particular nonprofit. This corporate matching gift program also includes to types of volunteer grants: one for individual nonprofit volunteers and one for cause-related walk or exercise participants.

6. Coca-Cola

Matching Gift Program Basics

• Minimum matched: $25
• Maximum matched: $20,000
• Match ratio: 2:1
• Eligible employees: full-time, retirees

Why We Love this Matching Gift Program

Since 1984, Coca-Cola’s matching gift program has donated over 1 billion to domestic and international nonprofits. Coca-Cola’s favorite causes to support with their 2:1 ratio include women’s empowerment, clean water, education, youth development, and community building. They also have a generous matching gift request deadline of February 28th of the year following the initial donation.

7. American Express

Matching Gift Program Basics

• Minimum matched: $25
• Maximum matched: $8,000
• Match ratio: 2:1
• Eligible employees: full-time, part-time

Why We Love this Matching Gift Program

Though American Express typically matches gifts using a 1:1 ratio, they reward their employees who are more involved with the nonprofit they are donating to. For example, if they serve on the board of the nonprofit or volunteer for more than 50 hours a year, their first $1,000 donated to that nonprofit will be matched at a 2:1 ratio.

8. Home Depot

Matching Gift Program Basics

• Minimum matched: $25
• Maximum matched: $3,000
• Match ratio: 1:1
• Eligible employees: full-time, part-time

Why We Love this Matching Gift Program

An interesting aspect of Home Depot’s matching gift program is that they distribute matching gifts to organizations on a monthly basis. Plus, donors can track the status of their donations through their Home Depot Foundation online account or by calling their corporate giving office.

9. Microsoft

Matching Gift Program Basics

• Minimum matched: $1
• Maximum matched: $15,000
• Match ratio: 1:1
• Eligible employees: full-time, part-time, retired

Why We Love this Matching Gift Program

What sets Microsoft apart is their employee participation rate, which is reported to be 75%. In 2018, U.S. employees alone raised $181 million for 23,500 nonprofits and educational institutions. Since their program’s inception in 1983, Microsoft employees have donated more than $1 billion, including their matched gifts.

10. PepsiCo

Matching Gift Program Basics

• Minimum matched: $25
• Maximum matched: $10,000
• Match ratio: 2:1
• Eligible employees: full-time, part-time

Why We Love this Matching Gift Program

One of PepsiCo’s core philanthropic focusses is solving the global nutrition challenge. 1 in 9 people globally do not have enough food to lead healthy lives. PepsiCo is responsible for delivering 80 million servings of nutritious foods to low-income families in 19 U.S. communities.

11. Starbucks

Matching Gift Program Basics

• Minimum matched: $20
• Maximum matched: $1,500
• Match ratio: 1:1
• Eligible employees: full-time, part-time

Why We Love this Matching Gift Program

Starbucks created a philanthropic program called “Partner Match” for their U.S. and Canadian employees. This program includes matching gifts as well as a volunteer grant program that offers up to $1,000 in corporate matching funds. The volunteer grant amount an employee is eligible for depends on how many hours they volunteer.

12. Nike

Matching Gift Program Basics

• Minimum matched: No minimum
• Maximum: $10,000
• Match Ratio: 1:1
• Eligible employees: full-time employees, part-time employees

Why We Love this Matching Gift Program

Nike has launched matching programs for certain events, like the COVID-19 pandemic. In mid-March of 2020 Nike created an employee giving program that included a 2:1 match by Nike on all employee donations that support nonprofit community organizations. The match was not restricted to organizations focused on providing COVID-19 relief, but focused on all community organizations in need.

13. Amgen

Matching Gift Program Basics

• Minimum matched: $50
• Maximum: 20,000
• Match Ratio: 1:1
• Eligible employees: full-time employees, part-time employees

Why We Love this Matching Gift Program

In addition to donation matching, Amgen also supports employee volunteer efforts with Volunteer Services Grants to nonprofit organizations. For every 15 hours volunteered by Amgen staff, the nonprofit organization is eligible for a $500 Volunteer Service Grant from the Amgen Foundation.

14. Google

Matching Gift Program Basics

• Minimum matched: $50
• Maximum matched: $10,000
• Match Ratio: 1:1
• Eligible employees: full-time employees, part-time employees

Why We Love this Matching Gift Program

In addition to donation matching, Google also matches employees volunteer hours. For every 5 hours that an employee volunteers, Google will donate $50 dollars to the nonprofit organization.

15. State Farm

Matching Gift Program Basics

• Minimum matched: $25
• Maximum matched: $4,500
• Match Ratio: 1:1
• Eligible employees: full-time employees, part-time employees

Why We Love this Matching Gift Program

In 2020, State Farm reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic with a specific matching gift program for organizations like Illinois COVID-19 Relief Fund, Feeding America and the Red Cross.

Becoming familiar with these top matching gift programs is the first step your organization can take toward revolutionizing your matching gift strategy. By following up with donors who work at the companies listed above, your organization will be building relationships with donors you already know to be match-eligible. So get out there and start matching gifts!

For more information on matching gifts and online fundraising, feel free to browse our additional resources:

• 360MatchPro’s Matching Gifts: The Expert’s Guide — Looking to develop your matching gift strategy even further? Check out 360MatchPro’s ultimate guide to marketing, managing, and tracking matching gift progress.

360MatchPro’s Top Matching Gift Companies — Didn’t find the company you were looking for? Hop on over to 360MatchPro’s top picks for corporate matching gift programs for more options.

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