| Quick answer: A corporate matching gift is when your employer donates an equal (or multiple) amount to a nonprofit you’ve given to, effectively doubling your gift at no extra cost to you. Many companies offer it, but a large share of matching money goes unclaimed simply because employees don’t know it exists. To claim one, check your employer’s program, submit the request with your donation receipt, and follow their deadline. Nonprofits should promote matching prominently, it’s the single biggest lever most leave unpulled. |
There’s free money sitting on the table at thousands of companies, and most employees have no idea. Corporate matching gift programs will double your charitable donation, sometimes triple it, at no additional cost to you. Yet a large portion of that matching money goes unclaimed every year. Here’s how it works, for both donors and the nonprofits who should be shouting about it.
How Matching Gifts Work
The mechanic is simple: you donate to a nonprofit, then submit a matching request to your employer. Your employer verifies the gift and makes its own donation to the same organization, typically matching your amount dollar-for-dollar, though some match at higher ratios. Your $100 becomes $200 for the cause, and it costs you nothing extra.
Your $100 becomes $200 — and it costs you nothing extra.
| Step | Donor does | Employer does |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Donate to a nonprofit | — |
| 2 | Submit match request + receipt | — |
| 3 | — | Verify the gift |
| 4 | — | Donate the matching amount |
Why So Much Goes Unclaimed
The reason is mundane: awareness. Most employees simply don’t know their company has a program, or assume the paperwork is onerous when it usually takes minutes online. Nonprofits, meanwhile, rarely mention matching in their appeals. The money isn’t hard to get, nobody’s asking for it.
For Donors: How to Claim a Match
- Check if your employer offers it. Ask HR or search your company intranet, many mid-size and large employers have a program you’ve never heard of.
- Keep your donation receipt. You’ll need it to verify the gift.
- Submit the request promptly. Most programs have deadlines, often within a few months of the donation or by year-end.
- Check the terms. Programs vary on eligible organizations, annual caps, and whether in-kind or event gifts qualify.
| Nonprofits: give donors a place to give first — create a free giving list on MyRegistry . |
For Nonprofits: Promote It Loudly
This is the biggest under-pulled lever in most nonprofits’ fundraising. Mention matching in every appeal, add a line to your thank-you emails (‘Did you know your employer may double this gift?’), and remind donors near year-end when deadlines loom. It costs you nothing and can meaningfully increase the value of gifts you’ve already received.
| Feature | MyRegistry Giving List | Single-store list |
|---|---|---|
| Add items from any store | Yes | No — one retailer |
| Cash gift funds | Yes | Rarely |
| Your logo & branding | Yes | Minimal |
| Embed on your website | Yes | Limited |
| Real-time tracking | Yes | Within that store |
| Cost | Free | Free |
Matching and Giving Lists
Matching typically applies to cash gifts, so if your giving list includes a cash fund, that’s the natural place to point matching donors — a $50 contribution to your fund may become $100. Check each employer’s terms, since policies on in-kind gifts vary; but the cash fund on a giving list is usually the most match-friendly way to give.
A Real-World Scenario
A nonprofit sent its usual year-end appeal and raised what it always did. The next year, it added one line to the appeal and to every thank-you email: ‘Your employer may double this gift, it takes two minutes to check.’ A handful of donors checked, discovered programs they never knew existed, and submitted matches. The organization received meaningful additional funding for the cost of a single sentence, money that had been available all along and simply never asked for.
| ✔ Pros — Corporate Matching Gifts | ✘ Cons — Corporate Matching Gifts |
|---|---|
| • Doubles a donation at no cost to the donor | • Programs, caps, and deadlines vary |
| • Takes minutes to submit online | • In-kind gifts may not qualify |
| • Nonprofits: costs nothing to promote | • Requires the donor to submit a request |
| • Most match-friendly with cash funds |
| ★ Expert recommendation: Donors: check your employer’s program, it takes two minutes and may double your gift. Nonprofits: add one line about matching to every appeal and thank-you. It’s the cheapest fundraising lever available, and most organizations never pull it. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a corporate matching gift?
Your employer donates an equal (or greater) amount to a nonprofit you’ve given to, effectively doubling your gift at no extra cost to you.
How do I know if my employer matches?
Ask HR or check your company intranet. Many employees are unaware their company has a program.
Do in-kind donations qualify?
It varies by employer, matching typically applies to cash gifts, so a giving list’s cash fund is usually the most match-friendly option. Check the specific terms.
Is there a deadline?
Usually, often within a few months of the donation or by year-end. Submit promptly and check your program’s terms.
The Bottom Line
Matching gifts are free money most people never claim, donors should check, and nonprofits should ask. Give supporters somewhere concrete to give at MyRegistry for Nonprofits.
