This guide explains the basics of Dollars for Doers programs, so your nonprofit can leverage these programs.

Dollars for Doers 101: How to Boost Your Volunteers’ Impact

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Around 63 million Americans volunteer, making up one-third of the nonprofit workforce. Chances are, your nonprofit relies on volunteers who work hard to fulfill your mission. The value they provide is already incalculable, but what if there was a way for them to take their impact even further at no additional cost? Dollars for Doers grant programs can help your volunteers amplify their impact even more!

Dollars for Doers grants can substantially boost your fundraising revenue and grow volunteer engagement. To tap into these corporate volunteer programs, your organization needs to understand the basics, and we’re here to help.

In this article, we’ll break down the definition of Dollars for Doers grants and guide you through effective strategies for raising more. Specifically, we’ll cover:

From educating volunteers to discovering necessary tools to invest in, you’ll know exactly how to find and take advantage of these programs. Let’s first start with a basic definition.

Don’t let volunteer grant opportunities slip by. Click here to get a demo of our software.

What are Dollars for Doers Grants?

A Dollars for Doers program is a corporate giving program in which companies provide monetary donations to nonprofit organizations based on the volunteer hours contributed by their employees. When employees volunteer their time to eligible nonprofits, the company matches this volunteer effort with a financial grant to the organization, thereby enhancing the impact of the employee’s volunteer work.

A Dollars for Doers program is a corporate giving program in which a company provides monetary grants to nonprofits where its employees regularly volunteer.

Dollars for Doers grants are also frequently referred to by other names, such as:

  • Volunteer Grants
  • Matching Time Programs
  • Dollar-for-Hour Programs
  • Grants for Time Programs
  • Community Service Grants
  • Volunteer Match Programs

These programs encourage corporate philanthropy, increase employee engagement, and provide valuable financial resources to nonprofits.

However, Dollars for Doers programs are often overlooked due to a lack of awareness by both nonprofits and volunteers. Nonprofits don’t always know whether their volunteers work for companies that offer these grants, and volunteers are often unaware their companies even offer such a program.

How Dollars for Doers Programs Work

While every company has its own participation requirements, all volunteer grant programs generally follow the same blueprint. So that your nonprofit can fold these grants into its volunteer management approach, here’s how they work:

The volunteer grant application process, written below.

  1. An individual volunteers with a nonprofit. Dollars for Doers programs require employees to initiate by volunteering like normal. At this stage, eligible supporters volunteer like any other member of your team.
  2. The individual submits a request for a Dollars for Doers grant to their employer. To earn funding from a Dollars for Does program, employees need to alert their employer to their volunteer hours, usually by submitting an application through their employers’ CSR software.
  3. The employer verifies the hours volunteered with the nonprofit. During this stage, some employers may accept employees’ reported volunteer hours without further question, while others might contact you for confirmation. In either case, be prepared by having accurate hour reports.
  4. The employer sends a check to the nonprofit. If the volunteer’s request is approved, your nonprofit should receive a payment from their employer. This payout may come from the business or a CSR software vendor depending on what technology they use to manage their Dollars for Doers program.

It’s that simple! Share this process with your volunteers, let them know you’re there to help, and meticulously track volunteer hours with your volunteer management tools. In no time, you’ll see the volunteer grants start rolling in.

Common Dollars for Doers Criteria

While most Dollar for Doers programs follow similar processes, each company that offers a Dollars for Doers program has unique requirements and guidelines.

These guidelines typically outline:

  • Nonprofit eligibility requirements. Typically, most types of nonprofits, such as arts organizations, health and human services groups, and environmental organizations, will be accepted. The most common types of ineligible nonprofits are political organizations, churches and religious groups, and nonprofits owned by the participating employee or a member of the employee’s family.
  • The minimum number of volunteer hours required to be eligible. There are usually two types of minimum-hour requirements. Some volunteer grant companies provide contributions based on a per-hour basis. Others require employees to volunteer for a certain number of hours in exchange for a flat donation.
  • Grant amounts per volunteer hour or per threshold passed. Most companies put a cap on the number of volunteer hours or the total amount they will donate per employee per year to keep their budgets in check.
  • Employee eligibility requirements. Not every employee who works for a company with a volunteer grant program will be eligible. For instance, some companies may only offer the program to full-time employees who have worked for the business for a certain number of years. In contrast, other organizations may make their program available to part-time employees and retirees.

Here’s an example of a company profile with these criteria:

Google's dollars for doers program guidelines

Dollars for Doers grants depend on a few factors, and it might not be apparent how much of an impact they can make on your nonprofit. In the next section, we’ll outline some eye-opening statistics that demonstrate why your organization should tap into this powerful form of corporate philanthropy.

Types of Dollars for Doers Frameworks

As you start researching different Dollars for Doers companies, you’ll notice a few common frameworks. So that you’re prepared to leverage these opportunities, here are the three approaches you might encounter:

  1. Grant Based on Service Hours: Companies match volunteer hours with donations to the same nonprofit based on an hourly rate. For example, 20 hours at $10/hour equals a $200 donation. Requirements may include minimum hours, budget caps, and organization eligibility.
  2. Credit Grant Per Service Hour (to Any Nonprofit): This is similar to the first framework, but employees can direct the grant to any nonprofit. For example, 20 hours at $10/hour equals a $200 credit grant for any eligible nonprofit. This framework supports company-sponsored volunteer events while also recognizing and supporting causes that employees are passionate about.
  3. Milestone Grant for Volunteer Goal (Can Be Restricted or Open): Employees become eligible for grants after reaching a set number of volunteer hours. For example, an employee becomes eligible for a $250 grant after volunteering a minimum of 20 hours.

Understanding these frameworks will allow your team to better engage with corporate partners and encourage employee participation in volunteer programs. Make sure your team members fully understand these frameworks, so they can help volunteers when the time comes to request a grant!

The Impact of Volunteer Grant Programs

Not convinced that Dollars for Doers programs should be part of your fundraising strategy? Check out these stats that our team at Double the Donation has uncovered:

Dollars for doers grants related statistics, written out below.

  • 40% of Fortune 500 companies offer Dollars for Doers programs, indicating that a significant portion of influential companies support employee volunteerism.
  • The average corporate volunteer rate participation rate is 33%, meaning your nonprofit has a substantial opportunity to engage with active corporate volunteers.
  • About 63 million Americans volunteer each year, totaling 7.7 billion hours, which equates to approximately $175 billion annually.
  • 80% of companies with Dollars for Doers programs provide between $8-15 per volunteer hour, showing that the majority of Dollars for Doers companies offer generous financial contributions.

Dollars for Doers programs are incredibly impactful because they energize volunteer engagement, drive recruitment, and improve retention by rewarding volunteers for their time. Moreover, they can significantly boost nonprofit revenue and forge stronger, mutually beneficial connections with companies, amplifying your organization’s impact and support network.

These statistics show how common Dollars for Doers programs actually are and how many individuals volunteer annually. Chances are good that at least a few of your volunteers are eligible for a volunteer grant and just need your help in learning about them.

Inspire volunteers to donate to make a bigger difference. Discover how matching gifts drive nonprofit donations and workplace giving.

Top Dollars for Doers Companies

Many companies offer generous volunteer grants. For examples of what Dollar for Doers programs look like in action, check out these examples from three top companies:

Google

Overview of This Dollars for Doers Company

Google needs little introduction, but for reference, it’s a multinational technology company specializing in Internet services and products, including a search engine, online advertising, software, hardware, and more.

To cultivate a positive reputation, create a positive work environment, and do good in the world, Google has multiple CSR programs, such as volunteer grants, Google for Nonprofits, and the Google Ad Grant.

Dollars for Doers Grant Information

For every hour of volunteer work a Google employee performs, the company will provide a $10 grant to the nonprofit. The minimum hours requirement is just 1 hour, meaning volunteers start earning for your cause immediately.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOOGLE’S CORPORATE GIVING PROGRAMS!

Microsoft

Overview of This Dollars for Doers Company

Microsoft is also a major international player in the technology space. It’s a multinational company that develops computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and more.

Similar to Google, Microsoft offers a range of CSR initiatives to engage employees, including a Dollars for Doers program.

Dollars for Doers Grant Information

With no minimum amount of hours required for a grant, Microsoft awards $25 per hour to nonprofits where their employees volunteer.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MICROSOFT’S CORPORATE GIVING PROGRAMS!

Verizon

Overview of This Dollars for Doers Company

Verizon is the second-largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving more than 144 million customers.

Dollars for Doers Grant Information

Verizon offers a Dollars for Doers program with unique requirements. Employees are required to volunteer for 50 hours to earn a $750 grant for a nonprofit. However, each employee can then volunteer another 50 hours at a different nonprofit to earn $750 for that organization each year. This encourages employees to work with multiple causes.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VERIZON’S CORPORATE GIVING PROGRAMS!

How to Get Dollars for Doers Grants

Now that you understand the fundamentals, the next step is to determine whether any of your volunteers work for a Dollars for Doers company.

To ensure as many eligible volunteers as possible earn volunteer grants, nonprofits should invest in software. A volunteer management platform is a great start for storing accurate volunteer information!

Then, go one step further and research matching gift and volunteer grant databases. This type of software provides your volunteers with access to an extensive database of corporate giving programs, including matching gifts and Dollars for Doers programs. The database can help volunteers discover guidelines, grant amounts, hour requirements, and more, so they have exactly the information they need.

When it comes to comprehensive, up-to-date, and user-friendly software, we have to recommend our matching gift solution 360MatchPro.

360MatchPro by Double the Donation

360MatchPro by Double the Donation is an extensive database that contains up-to-date information on corporate giving programs for 99% of United States businesses and 95% of Canadian companies. It’s the ideal solution for all sorts of nonprofits and universities looking to double their matching gift revenue and tap into Dollars for Doers programs.

When supporters donate on your website, 360MatchPro automatically scans the information they provide, such as their email domain or employer details, to determine their eligibility for corporate giving programs. Depending on their eligibility, the platform triggers customizable emails to the supporter detailing the appropriate next steps to submit either a matching gift or Dollars for Doers grant request.

Use Double the Donation to find more Dollars for Doers grant revenue.

Our software will alert supporters about their eligibility, follow up to drive requests to completion, and thank supporters for submitting an application to their employer, so you don’t have to. Thanks to 100+ integrations with leading nonprofit software, you can rest assured that you’re finding as many volunteer grant and matching gift opportunities as possible!

Explore our industry-leading software!

Marketing Dollars for Doers Grants

Matching gift software ensures these revenue opportunities don’t slip through the cracks, but it’s still important to promote Dollars for Doers grants to your volunteers. After all, many supporters are likely unfamiliar with volunteer grants and will need your nonprofit to give them that initial push to check their eligibility.

Here are some helpful ways to market Dollars for Doers grants:

  • On your website. Create informational content on your website about Dollars for Doers grants. You might include details about these programs on your volunteer information page, add a section to your Ways to Give page about volunteer grants, or create a new page dedicated to corporate giving programs like Dollars for Doers.
  • In your email outreach. In your newsletters, spotlight volunteer grants to encourage your subscribers to research their eligibility. Link them to educational content on your website and let them know they can reach out to you if they have any questions.
  • On social media. Regularly post information about Dollars for Doers grants, and just like with your email outreach, link to your informational content on your website.
  • In direct mail outreach. Include an insert in your direct mail outreach that explains volunteer grants and how volunteers can search for their company’s program guidelines.
  • In volunteer thank-you letters. When thanking volunteers for their hard work, let them know they might be able to take their impact further through their employers’ volunteer grants program.

The easiest way to market available opportunities is by using software like 360MatchPro to embed an employer search tool into your website. By directing your supporters to it across your outreach, they’ll be able to find their employers’ Dollars for Doers program information and successfully submit grant requests. Essentially, the easier it is to submit an application, the more supporters will do it, and 360MatchPro can make the process as streamlined as possible.

Additional Dollars for Doers Resources

Dollars for Doers programs are underutilized funding resources. Set your nonprofit up to secure the grants your volunteers have earned with proper hours recording policies, a volunteer grant education campaign, and the right corporate giving database.

To learn more about volunteer grants and how they impact the social good sector, explore these resources:

Use our software to make the most of dollars for doers programs, matching gifts, and other corporate giving opportunities.

Volunteer Time Off The Ultimate VTO Guide For Nonprofits

Volunteer Time Off | The Ultimate VTO Guide For Nonprofits

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In today’s developing corporate landscape, businesses are constantly on the lookout for new ways to engage their employees, differentiate their brands, and increase their overall revenue. One powerful tool that’s emerged as a way for companies to reach these objectives is corporate volunteerism⁠—and, specifically, offering paid volunteer time off (or VTO) for their employees.

As a nonprofit professional, these types of programs present a lucrative opportunity to incentivize volunteerism, foster meaningful supporter relationships, and expand your mission reach. However, understanding how to make the most of these endeavors and navigate the intricacies of the programs can seem daunting. That’s why we’ve crafted this comprehensive resource.

Designed to illuminate the path toward leveraging volunteer time off to its fullest potential, this guide will cover the following:

Ready to learn more about corporate volunteer incentives like VTO? Let’s get started with the basics.

What is Paid Volunteer Time Off?

Also known as employer-sponsored volunteerism or paid-release time volunteer programs, paid volunteer time off is a strategic mechanism through which companies empower employees to partake in philanthropy during standard work hours.

Definition of paid volunteer time off

Companies that offer these programs generally establish a certain number of VTO hours team members accrue each year⁠ for designated volunteer projects—above and beyond any existing paid leave or sick time. This approach not only encourages employee engagement but also strengthens corporate citizenship and fosters social responsibility within the workforce.

By providing paid time for volunteering, companies involve their teams in giving back to their communities. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, the portion of companies offering VTO as part of their benefits package increased by more than 2 in 3 over the last decade. Today, an estimated 66% of surveyed employers provide some sort of paid time off in their benefits packages for employees to engage in volunteer events.

Paid volunteer time off programs are a unique form of PTO for employees.

Why? Research shows that 96% of employees who participate in corporate volunteerism report having a positive company culture. And one of the best ways for businesses to encourage participation among staff is to turn it into a paid day out of the office!

Types of VTO Programs

Like volunteerism itself, there’s no single way to participate in a VTO program. While the specifics tend to vary from one company to the next, many initiatives fall into one of the following categories:

Types of paid volunteer time off

  • Individual VTO — Paid time off designed to encourage a company’s employees to spend time volunteering on the clock. Businesses offering VTO empower staff to give back independently, contributing unique skills and expertise without missing a day of pay. Plus, the programs allow individuals to choose organizations or causes that align with their interests and skill sets (like yours!).
  • Group volunteer events ⁠— Business or team-wide volunteer events that involve a company’s employees participating in organized activities or projects collectively. These types of events promote teamwork, morale, and camaraderie among employees. At the same time, it allows volunteers to make a collective impact on larger-scale projects or initiatives.
  • Skills-based volunteerism ⁠— Also referred to as pro bono services, employees use professional skills to volunteer for a cause or organization beyond traditional volunteer activities. For example, a marketing specialist could assist in developing a promotional strategy, or a CPA may donate time to facilitate an organization’s accounting efforts.
  • Disaster response volunteering ⁠— Employees assisting with relevant and timely relief efforts in the event of a natural disaster or humanitarian crisis. This may include supply distribution, shelter assistance, search and rescue, first aid, and more to provide aid to communities affected.
  • Civic time off ⁠— Paid time off designated for employees to participate in civic activities such as voting or serving on a jury. Companies offering this benefit demonstrate their commitment to responsible citizenship and engagement.

Once you’ve established which of your supporters qualify for volunteer time off, take a look at the program guidelines to determine⁠—and communicate⁠—the types of activities included in the programming.

Paid VTO vs. Volunteer Grants

Corporate volunteer grants and paid volunteer time off each represent a powerful way for companies to incentivize volunteerism among their staff. However, the two programs differ in key ways, and it’s important to understand the distinctions as you craft your organization’s engagement strategy.

First, VTO refers to a company policy where employees are granted paid time off work to participate in qualifying volunteer activities. Through these programs, employees can donate time to their favorite nonprofits and engage in community service without sacrificing their regular pay.

Conversely, volunteer grants are donations made by companies to nonprofit causes in recognition of their employees’ volunteer efforts. The biggest difference between the two is that funding is contributed to the organizations with which employees volunteer rather than to employees’ own paychecks.

Volunteer time off vs. volunteer grants comparison

What to Know About VTO Program Guidelines

Each company that offers volunteer time off first establishes a set of criteria or guidelines that dictate qualifying employees, nonprofits, activities, and more. For a nonprofit team, understanding common program guidelines enables fundraisers to identify VTO opportunities within their network.

Fortunately, most companies provide their employees with helpful documentation regarding eligibility and instructions for the program. These policies generally include the following:

  • Eligible employees ⁠— Companies may implement regulations regarding full-time versus part-time team members or establish a minimum duration of employment prior to employees becoming eligible.
  • VTO hours accrued ⁠— Some companies provide a set number of hours employees receive each year, while others allow it to accrue in smaller increments. Regardless, a recent study found that participating companies provide an average of 20 VTO hours per year per employee.
  • Qualifying organizations and activities ⁠— The mission or cause of the organization an employee volunteers with can play a role in an individual’s eligibility for time off, too. For example, most 501(c)(3) nonprofits qualify, though strictly political or religious organizations often do not. Similarly, there may be limits placed on the scope of activities covered under VTO.
  • Pre-approval or request processes ⁠— Most companies require some sort of request process for their VTO programs. Make sure eligible supporters are aware of the opportunity, and take steps to guide volunteers through their submissions as much as possible.

Take a look at this sample VTO template to get a feel for the types of programs you’ll likely encounter. This policy provides a number of exclusions to the program, too⁠—including coaching a child’s sports team, attending a PTA meeting, or participating in a religious conference.

Sample Paid Volunteer Time Off Request Form

By familiarizing yourself with corporate VTO guidelines, your organization can effectively engage corporate volunteers and maximize the impact of their volunteer efforts.

How Do Nonprofits Benefit From Volunteer Time Off?

Many organizations⁠ rely on dedicated volunteers to ensure smooth operations. Volunteers generously contribute their time, energy, and skills to benefit communities. As a result, volunteerism provides essential support without added financial costs. This expands capacity, fosters engagement, enhances programming, and more.

Paid volunteer time off (or VTO) programs go a few steps further to drive an even greater impact. These benefits include:

The value of volunteer time off for nonprofits

Low-cost labor ⁠— Empower your team to get more done for your organization while reducing the need to invest in additional hiring, recruitment, or labor efforts. According to volunteerism research, the value of a single volunteer hour is currently estimated to be $31.80.

Expanded volunteer pool ⁠— By removing financial and logistical barriers, VTO produces a larger pool of potential volunteers to engage with. That means more volunteers signing up to participate!

Diverse skillsets and expertise ⁠— When it comes to volunteerism, employees often bring their professional expertise to the table (think: copywriting, graphic design, accounting, legal services, etc.). This ultimately provides increased access to specialized skills and knowledge.

Heightened retention ⁠— Volunteers are more likely to continue their support when their time is compensated. Highlight the availability of VTO to keep supporters coming back time and time again.

New fundraising opportunities ⁠— According to Volunteer Hub, 79% of people who volunteer donate to the organization as well. VTO programs help engage volunteers with your cause, and your team can begin stewarding them as donors, too!

Growing corporate partnerships ⁠— Targeting VTO companies can heighten visibility and open doors for partnerships. Consider whether participating employers also supply matching gifts, volunteer grants, and other types of programs.

Increased community impact ⁠— With expanded resources and a growing supporter base thanks to corporate volunteer programming like VTO, your team can benefit its community and mission even more.

Learn more with the complete guide to Corporate Volunteer Incentives


Top 5 Employers With Paid Volunteer Time Off Programs

Tons of businesses offer paid volunteer time for their employees. Becoming familiar with top VTO programs allows your team to identify engagement opportunities, access valuable resources, and establish strategic partnerships.

Check out these five examples of generous employers⁠—and see if your volunteers (or donors!) work for these companies.

Patagonia's volunteer time off program

1. Patagonia

Up to 18 paid volunteer hours each year
Additional two-month paid internship opportunities
Focus: Environmental activism

Also offers matching gifts: ✔️
Also offers volunteer grants: ❌

Patagonia is an outdoor clothing and recreation gear retailer based in Ventura, California. With a focus on environmental activism, the company engages employees by offering up to 18 paid volunteer hours annually.

Not to mention, Patagonia also encourages employees to participate in an additional two-month Environmental Internship Program with the environmental group of their choice (while maintaining full benefits!). Additionally, Patagonia matches employees’ monetary donations to a wide range of nonprofits as well⁠—with each team member qualifying for up to $10,000 in matching gift funds per year.

Thomson Reuters' volunteer time off program

2. Thomson Reuters

Two paid days (16 hours) each year
Inclusive of company-sponsored volunteer activities
Focus: Local community investment

Also offers matching gifts: ✔️
Also offers volunteer grants: ✔️

Thomson Reuters is a Canadian-based multinational information and media conglomerate. With more than 25,000 employees across hundreds of locations worldwide, the company offers a number of corporate-sponsored ways for team members to give back to their communities.

While full-time team members receive two paid days off for volunteer activities each year, the program policy dictates that part-time staff (specifically those regularly scheduled for more than 20 hours per week) qualify for a prorated number of VTO hours as well.

GM Financial's volunteer time off program

3. GM Financial

8 hours VTO per quarter for full-time staff
4 hours VTO per quarter for part-time staff
Focus: Strengthening communities

Also offers matching gifts: ❌
Also offers volunteer grants: ✔️
Also offers P2P fundraising matches: ✔️

GM Financial is a financial services provider and subsidiary of General Motors with extensive operations based in North and Latin America, Europe, and China. As a way of giving back to society, GM Financial incentivizes volunteerism among employees in a few ways⁠—including both volunteer grants and paid time off to volunteer.

The good news? Full-time and part-time employees can participate! Each quarter, full-time GM Financial staff receive 8 hours of volunteer time off, while part-time workers receive 4.

Meanwhile, through its volunteer grant program, employees can earn $10 for every hour they donate to a nonprofit. However, the program policy does specify that dollars for doers (or volunteer grants) may only be requested for volunteer activities that take place outside of working hours.

Microsoft's volunteer time off program

4. Microsoft

30 hours pro bono services each year
Hack for Good tech innovation event
Focus: Accessible legal knowledge, resources, and services

Also offers matching gifts: ✔️
Also offers volunteer grants: ✔️

Microsoft Corporation is a multinational corporation with a focus on leading operating systems, productivity applications, and web browsers. The company is also known for its standout philanthropy⁠—and, specifically, its widespread employee involvement.

In a single year, nearly 50,000 Microsoft employees volunteered more than 1 million hours of their time with charitable organizations worldwide. Through its paid volunteer time off program, each team member receives 30 hours to dedicate to pro bono work annually.

Sentinel Group's volunteer time off program

5. Sentinel Group

Two paid days of service (16 hours) each year
Focus: Education, community, and health and wellness

Also offers matching gifts: ✔️ (With auto-submission!)
Also offers volunteer grants: ❌

Sentinel Group, formerly known as Sentinel Benefits & Financial Group, is a Massachusetts-based business management consulting firm. In order to engage their employees and incentivize community service, Sentinel Group launched a volunteer time off program. Through the initiative, each team member receives 16 hours (or two full days) worth of PTO to devote to volunteer activities.

Promoting VTO Opportunities to Supporters

The rate at which a company’s staff are involved in corporate volunteer initiatives can vary drastically from one employer to the next. As a nonprofit, one of the best things your team can do to increase participation is to begin driving awareness of the programs with smart marketing and promotional efforts.

Here’s what we recommend!

1. Share about volunteer time off programs on social media.

Your organization’s social media profiles are going to be some of your greatest assets when it comes to driving awareness of VTO opportunities on a mass scale. Sharing information about paid volunteer time off programs online can be just what you need to inspire action among your followers.

As usual, remember to use engaging visuals and compelling storytelling strategies to capture and retain your audience’s attention. You might also choose to share success stories of team members who have previously participated in VTO activities and highlight the tangible impact they’ve made for your cause. Then, be sure to link out to additional resources (such as a dedicated page on your website) for interested supporters to learn more.

2. Create or optimize a dedicated Volunteers page on your website.

Speaking of, creating a dedicated web page for all things volunteerism (and volunteer incentives) allows you to establish a centralized hub for volunteer-related resources. If you already have a volunteers page on your site, you’ll want to incorporate information about paid volunteer time off programs to best market the opportunity to your audience.

Be sure to illustrate the positive impact of corporate volunteerism on your mission and provide additional resources and information on how supporters can get involved. In doing so, you can reinforce your organization’s commitment to collaboration and volunteerism, too!

3. Leverage employer data to identify VTO opportunities.

Your supporters’ employment data contains a wealth of information about available engagement opportunities⁠—from matching donations to supplying paid time for volunteering. Use the information to uncover contacts in your database who work for companies with VTO. Then, adjust your strategy accordingly.

If you already know where a volunteer works, take a moment to look into the company’s volunteer incentive programs. If you don’t have an individual’s employer on file, consider a corporate giving database tool or explore an employer append service to help fill in any gaps.

4. Implement personalized outreach for eligible supporters.

Once you’ve determined which supporters work for companies with VTO programs, initiating tailored communications can go a long way. But you don’t just want to reach out to existing volunteers! In fact, identifying and engaging with donors working for VTO companies can be a surefire way to tap into new opportunities for support.

Be sure to focus your outreach while highlighting the benefits of paid volunteerism (i.e., a meaningful experience and a fun day off work!). Then, encourage recipients to take advantage of the programming. Provide information on upcoming volunteer activities and clearly communicate how supporters can get involved.

Our top recommendation? Embed a volunteer grant database (such as 360MatchPro’s Volunteer Hub tool) on your website so supporters can easily access program guidelines and instructions.

5. Familiarize yourself with local businesses offering volunteer time off.

Local businesses can become some of your most valuable corporate partners. Research companies in your area and note those offering VTO programs for their employees. (Not sure where to start? Reach out to professional services firms in your area⁠—such as advertising, law, or accounting.)

From there, you’ll want to establish connections within the human resources department or corporate social responsibility team. Start your conversation by learning more about their volunteerism initiatives and identify opportunities for collaboration. Then, pitch a volunteer event or activity with which to engage the business’s staff through VTO.

6. Encourage volunteers at VTO companies to organize group activities.

Let’s say you have an existing volunteer who works for a large company with a paid VTO policy. One of the best ways to attract eligible volunteers is to empower supporters to rally their colleagues.

Sometimes, all you have to do is encourage a single volunteer to organize a group activity and get their teammates on board.

Be sure to provide resources to assist in coordinating volunteer projects, like team-building exercises, community service days, or fundraising events. By setting up your volunteers to mobilize their coworkers, you can maximize the impact of available VTO programs and foster a culture of collaborative volunteerism.

Final Thoughts & Additional Resources

When nonprofits and companies work together, the opportunities for social impact are endless. Paid volunteer time off programs are one example of a way businesses are meeting the increased demand for corporate responsibility. Matching gifts and volunteer grants are a few others.

Now, it’s time to tap into the VTO programs in your organization’s network. Your team can establish solid corporate partnerships, better engage with volunteers, and achieve your mission with greater efficiency.

Good luck!

There’s more to corporate engagement than paid volunteer time off. Dive into these other generous programs and initiatives to uncover new opportunities for your organization:

  • FREE DOWNLOAD: The Ultimate Guide to Matching Gifts. This must-read resource provides comprehensive insights into matching gifts, empowering organizations to make the most of these programs. Explore practical tips and strategies to navigate donation matching here!
  • Maximizing Impact With Corporate Volunteer Grant Programs. Did you know you can collect corporate funds when a company’s employees volunteer with your cause? Dive into this in-depth exploration of volunteer grant programs and discover the power of volunteerism to drive positive change.
  • Navigating Corporate Philanthropy | A Nonprofit Playbook. Forging successful corporate partnerships is a must. This complete guide supplies actionable guidance for navigating corporate philanthropy⁠. Learn to identify prospects, craft proposals, make your pitch, and foster mutually beneficial relationships.

 


Scale up your organization's corporate volunteer strategy with 360MatchPro 💡

Boost Your Broadcasts Matching Gifts for Public Media Orgs

Matching Gifts for Public Media Orgs | Boost Your Broadcasts

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Consider the following scenario: You’re listening to your regularly scheduled radio show when it’s interrupted for the station’s annual pledge drive. You hear the on-air host making an appeal⁠—“Fundraising is an essential part of what we do at Public Broadcasting Station, and it’s the most efficient way to source funds needed to supply our listeners with educational, inspirational, and entertaining content. Not to mention, thousands of employers offer matching gifts for public media like us, meaning your contributions can go twice as far for your favorite programs.”

Pledge drives and other revenue-generation efforts are crucial for obtaining sustainable funding and delivering high-quality content to widespread communities. Incorporating matching gift opportunities into your media organization’s outreach can go a long way!

In this post, we’ll explore how nonprofits in the media sector can leverage matching gifts to amplify their impact, enhance donor engagement, and ultimately boost their broadcasts. We’ll cover the following topics below:

Let’s get started!

The Basics of Matching Gifts for Public Media Groups

Matching gifts for public media groups is a category of philanthropy in which companies match donations to the public broadcasting services their employees financially support. This makes it an essential form of workplace giving for these organizations, empowering donors to double or even triple the value of their gifts without reaching back into their own wallets.

All a donor generally has to do is complete a brief online request form for their employer to review and disburse match funding to your cause.

Benefits of matching gifts for public media organizations

The benefits of matching gifts for public media organizations are significant and widespread. Successful donation-matching ensures that public media outlets, such as radio programs and television networks, are more sustainably funded to better serve the community’s needs and interests. Meanwhile, donors feel more deeply connected to the broadcasts they play a direct role in supporting through financial donations and matching gifts!


Match More Gifts With Double the Donation

Get a sneak peek of the industry-leading matching gift automation solution, 360MatchPro.





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5 Companies to Know That Match Gifts to Public Media

Over 65% of Fortune 500 companies provide donation matches to the nonprofits their employees support. Check out the examples below to explore top programs that actively match gifts to public broadcasting organizations like yours!

Warner Bros matches gifts for public media organizations.

Warner Bros. Discovery

Minimum donation amount: $10
Maximum donation amount: $1,000
Match ratio: 1:1
Eligible employees: Part-time, full-time
Eligible nonprofits: Many nonprofits, including public media

Warner Bros. Discovery is a prime example of an employer engaging its workforce through collaborative philanthropy. The company offers two generous giving programs in which its staff are encouraged to donate their money and time to qualifying nonprofits: matching gifts and volunteer grants, respectively.

Each year, full-time and part-time employees have the chance to request up to a combined $1,000 in matches and grants for their favorite causes⁠—of which your public media organization may be included.

Learn more about the matching gift program.

Disney matches gifts for public media organizations.

The Walt Disney Company (incl. Hulu, Marvel Entertainment, ABC)

Minimum donation amount: $25
Maximum donation amount: $25,000
Match ratio: 1:1
Eligible employees: Part-time, full-time
Eligible nonprofits: Most nonprofits, including public media

The Walt Disney Company is another leading corporation known for maximizing employee participation in philanthropy. With a lofty maximum threshold of $25,000, current team members are encouraged to give generously to their favorite nonprofit causes⁠—and to have those gifts matched, dollar-for-dollar.

Disney’s matching gift program is also inclusive of its subsidiaries, too, meaning Hulu, Marvel Entertainment, and ABC employees are welcome to participate.

Learn more about the matching gift program.

SONY matches gifts for public media organizations.

Sony Corporation

Minimum donation amount: $10-$50
Maximum donation amount: $1,000-$2,000
Match ratio: 1:1
Eligible employees: Full-time, select retirees
Eligible nonprofits: Most nonprofits, including public media

Sony Corporation, encompassing subsidiaries such as Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony Corporation of America, and Sony Electronics, operates a few generous matching gift programs that your team might want to take advantage of. These efforts aim to support employees’ charitable giving and reinforce the company’s commitment to social responsibility

Keep in mind that the eligibility criteria and submission processes vary across Sony’s different entities, so it’s important to select the correct employer from the database search tool!

Learn more about the matching gift program.

FOX matches gifts for public media organizations.

Fox Corporation

Minimum donation amount: None
Maximum donation amount: $1,000
Match ratio: 1:1
Eligible employees: Full-time
Eligible nonprofits: Most nonprofits, including public media

Fox Corporation is dedicated to engaging its employees and supporting the communities it serves through its matching gift program. As part of the initiative, the program matches the gifts its current full-time employees make to a wide range of nonprofits. And your public media organization is likely included!

By empowering its employees to give back and amplifying their charitable efforts, Fox Corporation reinforces its commitment to doing good, creating positive change in its staffs’ communities around the world.

Learn more about the matching gift program.

Google matches gifts for public media organizations.

Google

Minimum donation amount: None
Maximum donation amount: $10,000
Match ratio: 1:1
Eligible employees: Part-time, full-time, board members
Eligible nonprofits: Most nonprofits, including public media

In addition to its standout Google Ad Grants program, one of the primary ways Google participates in philanthropy is by matching employees’ charitable gifts. With its matching gift program, the company doubles donations to thousands of nonprofits, effectively multiplying the impact of team members’ contributions.

Then, going a step further, Google also offers an additional $10,000 match limit for donations going to disaster or international relief! Not to mention, matching funds that employees raise through peer-to-peer fundraising events like runs, walks, and rides.

Learn more about the matching gift program.

Tips & Tricks for Spreading the Word About Matching Gifts

Implementing a well-thought-out matching gift fundraising plan is an integral step in bridging the knowledge and funding gaps many organizations see. The following tips and tricks will empower public broadcasters like you to maximize donations, build stronger relationships with individual and corporate donors, and reach fundraising goals more effectively and efficiently than ever before.

1. Incorporate matching gift info in pledge drives and on-air appeals.

Public media stations often heavily rely on annual pledge drives to generate the funding needed to power their operations. Thus, you’ll want to heavily promote matching gifts throughout such efforts.

For this strategy, we recommend incorporating information about matching gift programs directly into your on-air appeals. As you introduce your campaign and make the ask of your viewers and listeners, mentioning the opportunity for gifts to be doubled can go a long way. In fact, matching gift research indicates that 84% of donors would be more likely to give if a match is offered, while 1 in 3 say they’d give a larger amount.

Top tip: Kickstart your efforts using our free matching gift appeal script below!

2. Leverage and enhance supporter loyalty with matching gifts.

Matching gifts not only increase the financial impact of one-time individual gifts but also serve as a powerful tool for building supporter loyalty. When donors see that their contributions are going twice as far, they feel double the sense of connection and pride in their support of the organization. And it makes them want to stay involved in the long run, ultimately lengthening and improving the donor journey.

For public media groups, this is essential⁠—as nonprofit broadcast services are often powered by a group of committed, long-term supporters. Additionally, highlighting matching gift opportunities demonstrates the station’s dedication to stewarding its financial assets responsibly, further strengthening the bond between the station and its donors.

3. Offer unique incentives for matching gift participation by donors.

One way to encourage donors to take advantage of matching gift opportunities is by rewarding them for doing so. Offer unique incentives for match-eligible donors who ultimately take the steps to request a match from their employer on your behalf. These might include:

  • Branded apparel (such as t-shirts, hats, and hoodies)
  • Other branded merchandise (pens, stickers, mugs, etc.)
  • Exclusive access to digital resources
  • Personalized eCards or digital greeting cards
  • Inclusion in a donor wall or on-air recognition

Not to mention, as a less tangible incentive, let your audience know that participating in matching gifts will allow your team to reach its fundraising goals sooner. You may even be able to wrap up your pledge drive and return to viewers’ and listeners’ regularly scheduled programming early.

4. Integrate a matching gift solution into your fundraising toolkit.

To streamline the process of capturing matching gifts for public media organizations like yours, it’s essential that teams integrate an automation solution into their software toolkits. Luckily, Double the Donation’s 360MatchPro integrates with the leading public media fundraising platforms to ensure quick and easy implementation.

Once equipped with a matching gift solution, your organization will be set to automatically identify matching gift opportunities, educate donors about the process, and facilitate the submission of matching gift requests. The tool simplifies the administrative burden on broadcast staff and even ensures that no matchable gifts slip through the cracks.


Match More Gifts With Double the Donation

Get a sneak peek of the industry-leading matching gift automation solution, 360MatchPro.





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Sample Scripts | Marketing Matching Gifts to Your Public Media Audience

Kick off your organization’s matching gift promotional efforts with these customizable scripts and templates. Remember: educating your audience about the matching gift opportunity increases the likelihood that donors request their matches.

On-Air Pledge Drive Script: Template #1

“Good [morning/afternoon/evening], [viewers/listeners]! As we embark on our annual pledge drive, I want to start with a pop quiz: What do companies like Disney, Google, and SONY Corporation (along with thousands of others) have in common?

If you said that they all match employees’ donations to nonprofit groups like ours, you’d be correct. That means your donation to [Public Media Organization] could be matchable, stretching twice as far for your favorite broadcast programs.

To check if your employer participates in matching gifts, head to our Match Page at [URL] to search for your company. Then, make your pledge online or by calling now at [station phone number]. Thank you for all your support, and let’s make this pledge drive one for the books!”

Phonathon Script: Template #2

“Good [Morning/Afternoon/Evening], [Recipient]! My name is [Name], and I’m calling on behalf of [Public Media Organization]. We’re reaching out to our valued supporters like you today to share an exciting opportunity to support our station.

Did you know that your donations to [Public Media Organization] may be eligible for a match from your employer? That’s right! Thousands of companies match team members’ gifts, doubling or sometimes tripling the value of each dollar an employee donates.

If you provide the name of your employer, I can do a quick search of our company database to see if you qualify for a match! Then, I’ll walk you through the process of giving and completing the request process to maximize your support for our organization.

Your generosity is instrumental in helping us deliver enriching content to our community, and we deeply appreciate your dedication to [Public Media Organization]!”

Email: Template #3

Subject: Double your support for public media like [Public Media Organization]

Dear [Recipient],

I hope this email finds you well. As a valued supporter of the [Public Media Organization] family, we wanted to see if you were familiar with corporate matching gift opportunities. If not, here’s a brief overview:

Tons of businesses double or even triple their employees’ contributions to causes like ours. This means every dollar you give could be matched by your employer, effectively doubling the impact of your support for our programming and community initiatives.

Interested? Here’s how you can participate:

  • Visit our donation page at [URL] to make your contribution.
  • Check if your employer offers a matching gift program on our website search tool: [URL]
  • If eligible, submit a matching gift request to double your impact on our community.

Your ongoing generosity plays a crucial role in sustaining our mission to produce and supply informative, entertaining, and enriching content. Thank you for considering this opportunity to maximize your support for [Public Media Organization]!

Warm regards,

[Name]
[Title/Position]
[Public Media Organization]

Tweet: Template #4

Exciting news⁠—your support for [Public Media Organization] might be able to make an even bigger impact! Thanks to corporate matching gift programs, thousands of donors’ gifts are matchable by their employers. See if your company matches by using the search tool here: [URL]

#MatchingGifts #DoubleYourImpact #NonprofitFundraising #CommunitySupport #PublicMedia

Top tip: Make the most of the resources available to you! 360MatchPro users are encouraged to leverage the platform’s library of pre-written emails and pre-made graphic design templates to scale up their matching gift marketing efforts with ease.

Final Thoughts

Harnessing the power of matching gifts presents an invaluable opportunity for public media organizations. When integrated into a fundraising strategy effectively, broadcasters are equipped to amplify impact, engage supporters, and ultimately elevate programming. And this opportunity is only expected to grow⁠. That means now’s your chance to ramp up your efforts, invest in technology, and drive more matching gifts to completion.

Watch the video below to see how Maine Public has boosted matching gifts at their organization by leveraging 360MatchPro!

Maine Public- Matching Gift Success with 360MatchPro from Double the Donation on Vimeo.

Interested in more tips and tricks to drive matching gifts for public media groups like yours? Keep reading these additional recommended resources:

Make the most of matching gifts for your civic or community organization.

Advancing Matching Gifts for Civic & Community Organizations

Advancing Matching Gifts for Civic & Community Organizations

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Organizations dedicated to fostering positive social change often struggle to maximize their impact with tight budgets and limited resources. Fortunately, matching gifts for civic and community organizations present a powerful opportunity for individuals to double or even triple their generosity at no added cost. In doing so, these programs allow nonprofits to grow their revenue and tap into one of the most prominent sources of corporate philanthropy funding.

In this guide, we aim to overview everything your team needs to know to navigate the opportunity effectively.

We’ll cover the following:

Despite significant potential, many civic and community fundraisers have yet to harness the full power of matching gifts. By implementing the strategies and insights below, you can set your team up for double the success in no time.

Let’s dive in!

Gift-Matching for Civic and Community Groups 101: The Basics

Matching gifts for civic and community organizations, such as advocacy groups, youth development initiatives, civic engagement programs, and more, offer donors an enticing chance to double their support for the social causes they care about.

These match funds, supplied by donors’ employers, effectively double (or sometimes even triple) the impact of each dollar gifted. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

  1. An individual makes a financial contribution to the civic or community organization of their choice.
  2. The donor determines if their employer matches team member donations. If so, the individual accesses eligibility criteria (incl. donation thresholds, ratios, causes, and deadlines) and submission forms.
  3. The donor completes the donation match request process outlined by their employer, generally by filling out a brief online form.
  4. The nonprofit verifies the initial donation with the donor’s employer.
  5. The donor’s employer reviews and approves the matching gift request and contributes match funding to the organization in question.

Matching gift process for civic and community organizations

Overall, matching gifts provide significant value to civic and community organizations. These programs can be powerful tools for mobilizing resources, building nonprofit capacity, and driving collective action among individuals and corporations alike.


Match More Gifts With Double the Donation

Get a sneak peek of the industry-leading matching gift automation solution, 360MatchPro.





request a free personalized demo

5 Community-Focused Companies That Match Employee Gifts

Thousands of employers match gifts to all sorts of nonprofit causes⁠—of which civic and community organizations are generally included. However, these five programs stand out as excellent examples of companies to keep in mind as you uncover match-eligible donors in your community.

Baxter matches gifts for civic and community organizations.

Baxter International

Baxter International is a leading healthcare company employing over 60,000 team members across the globe. In order to support the communities where its employees live and work (and encourage individual staff to do the same), Baxter offers a generous giving program, matching between $25 and $5,000 in donations per person each year.

By empowering its employees to give back and amplifying their charitable efforts, the company strengthens its corporate culture of social responsibility and fosters positive change in communities around the world.

Learn more about the matching gift program.

Airbnb matches gifts for civic and community organizations.

Airbnb

Airbnb, a vacation property rental company, also matches its employees’ gifts to eligible nonprofits. Fortunately, this includes civic and community organizations.

With a minimum donation of $25, full-time and part-time Airbnb team members are eligible to get up to $1,000 worth of donations matched with company funds in a single year. That means more dollars flowing into civic and community engagement efforts, empowering individual donors to make a greater impact on the causes that matter most to them.

Learn more about the matching gift program.

Checkr matches gifts for civic and community organizations.

Checkr

Checkr is a corporate employee background screening tool that focuses on fair chance hiring practices. In addition to its mission of transforming hiring for a fairer future, the company pledges to donate at least 1% of its employees’ time, product, equity, and profits each year to philanthropic causes.

One way Checkr supports philanthropy is through its matching gift program! Checkr is committed to rallying its employees to give back by encouraging participation and streamlining the engagement process. In fact, it was one of the first companies to offer Double the Donation’s groundbreaking auto-submission functionality through an integration with its CSR portal!

Learn more about the matching gift program.

UPS matches gifts for civic and community organizations.

United Parcel Service (UPS)

United Parcel Service, or UPS, demonstrates its commitment to corporate social responsibility through its generous matching gift program. The program aims to support its employees’ philanthropic efforts by matching eligible employee donations to a wide range of nonprofit organizations, including civic and community groups. However, gifts must be contributed directly through the company’s giving portal to qualify for a match.

In addition to its matching gift program, UPS also offers volunteer grants for the organizations with which its employees volunteer. When an employee with 1+ years of service spends 50 hours volunteering, the company contributes a $250 grant to the nonprofit.

Learn more about the matching gift program.

 

Comcast matches gifts for civic and community organizations.

Comcast

Comcast, a multinational telecommunications and media conglomerate with more than 186,000 employees, boasts a top matching gift program designed to empower its employees to make a difference. To incentivize giving back within their communities, Comcast offers a generous company match to many nonprofit organizations, including those in the civic and community sectors.

Note: Comcast employees must donate to their favorite nonprofits directly through the company’s corporate giving platform in order to qualify for matching gifts. Employees with questions are encouraged to contact comcastnbcuniversalsupport@cybergrants.com.

Learn more about the matching gift program.

Tips for Driving Civic Engagement With Matching Gifts

A well-thought-out fundraising plan enables an organization to amplify its efforts, effectively engage supporters, and make a greater difference in the communities it serves. To begin building a strategy for your team, check out the following expert-recommended practices.

1. Educate your team and your donors about matching gift opportunities.

One primary cause of unclaimed matching gifts is a lack of knowledge about existing programs. To begin bridging the awareness and subsequent funding gaps, we recommend actively promoting the opportunity to your donors and fundraising team alike.

By educating your internal team about matching gifts, you empower them to be your greatest advocates to your donors. Take time to review common matching gift programs (and how to locate additional company guidelines), eligibility requirements, submission processes, match tracking and verification, and more.

At the same time, it is essential to educate donors about matching gift opportunities. An estimated 78% of match-eligible individuals have no idea if their companies match gifts! When donors are provided with clear information about matching gift programs and how they can take advantage of them, though, they’re generally happy to do so. And that means more awareness = more matching gifts completed!

2. Encourage ineligible donors to advocate for matching to their employers.

While not all supporters will qualify for matching gifts at the time of giving, it’s important to remember that even ineligible donors can play a crucial role in your organization’s strategy. And a big part of that is by advocating for new matching gift program development on your behalf.

Companies match gifts largely as an employee engagement opportunity. When an employee pitches the idea of a matching gift program to their boss, the boss is often inclined to consider the proposal positively. The donor may even get their initial gift matched after all!

Top tip: The less intensive your ask, the more likely a donor is to complete the intended action. Provide interested individuals with a customizable template designed to assist in pitching a new matching gift program to one’s employer.

3. Use impact-driven language to communicate matching gift value.

Effective communication is essential for conveying the positive impact of matching gifts to donors⁠—not to mention inspiring them to take action and get involved. Using impact-driven language emphasizes the programs’ tangible benefits and highlights the specific impact they can have on your organization’s mission. For example, if you typically inform donors that a $100 donation will feed a family of four for a week, you can frame a matching gift opportunity as empowering your team to feed two families for the cost of one.

When possible, emphasize real-world outcomes and achievements made possible through matching gifts for your organization in the past, too! This could mean sharing success stories, testimonials, metrics, and more.

4. Automate the matching gift fundraising experience.

Identifying and following up on matching gifts is an extremely valuable fundraising practice. However, doing so manually can involve a number of time-consuming and resource-intensive activities.

Fortunately, automating the matching gift fundraising experience streamlines the process for donors and maximizes efficiency for your organization’s internal team. By implementing an automated matching gift solution like 360MatchPro, you’ll reduce administrative burden and ensure no matching gift opportunity falls by the wayside.

Plus, when you integrate 360MatchPro into your existing software ecosystem, you can incorporate matching gifts directly into the giving experience. Then, trigger tailored matching gift follow-ups that encourage donors to request their matches and provide company-specific guidelines and submission forms. The end result is a significant increase in matching gift participation, revenue, and more.


Match More Gifts With Double the Donation

Get a sneak peek of the industry-leading matching gift automation solution, 360MatchPro.





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Free Customizable Templates to Grow Matching Donation Impact

Use the following matching gift outreach examples to inform your organization’s messaging. As you do so, consider how you can customize the templates to fit your nonprofit’s voice and branding to best connect with your audience.

Email Blast: Template #1

Subject: Double Your Impact for [Nonprofit or Initiative]: Matching Donation Opportunity Inside! 💰💰

Dear [Recipient],

As a valued supporter of [Nonprofit], we wanted to share an exciting opportunity that may enable you to DOUBLE your impact on our cause. That is with corporate matching gifts!

Did you know that tens of thousands of businesses—including over 65% of the Fortune 500—match employees’ donations to charitable causes as part of their social responsibility efforts? More than 26 million individuals work for companies that match… and you might be one of them.

To check if your employer offers a matching gift program, please

  1. Click here to visit our matching gift page. [URL]
  2. Type your company name in the search tool widget.
  3. Review the provided guidelines to determine eligibility and access the online forms.

Then, make your donation using our online giving page (if you haven’t already) [URL] and follow the instructions to submit your matching gift request!

As always, your support is critical in helping us [description of mission or current initiatives]. With the power of matching donations, we can do even more to [describe the impact of donations on your organization’s work].

Warm regards,

[Name]
[Title/Position]
[Nonprofit]

LinkedIn Post: Template #2

Attention donors! 📣

Did you know that your generous gifts to [Nonprofit] could have double the impact?

With corporate matching gift programs, millions of donors’ employers provide generous donation matches to the organizations their staff cares about. This allows supporters like you to stretch their gifts and better support [description of mission or current initiatives].

Here’s how you can make a difference:

📲 Visit our donation page at [URL].
💸 Make your contribution and check if your employer offers a matching gift program.
📤 If eligible, submit a matching gift request to double your impact!

Together, we can [description of tangible donation impact] one (matched) donation at a time! 💙 #MatchingGifts #CommunityImpact #DoubleYourImpact

Facebook Post: Template #3

What do Comcast, Airbnb, and the United Parcel Service have in common?

They all offer generous philanthropy initiatives—which include matching gifts for civic and community organizations their employees support.

At [Nonprofit], we’re incredibly grateful for the support of these businesses and the 23,000+ other companies that match gifts for causes like ours. With their help, we amplify our efforts and create lasting change in our communities.

Does your employer participate? If you’ve never checked your eligibility for a match, now is the time to do so. Head to the Matching Gifts Page on our site here [URL] to learn more about the opportunity and see if your company matches!

🙌 #CorporatePartners #CommunityImpact #MatchingGifts #CivicEngagement

Top tip: Keep in mind that triggering matching gift outreach has never been easier than with 360MatchPro! Current clients are provided with a number of pre-written emails to implement through the engagement process, along with customizable graphic design elements and Canva templates.

Wrapping Up

Pursuing an optimized matching gift strategy will bring your civic or community organization to new heights in fundraising, donor engagement, mission impact, and more.

By educating your organization inside and out, encouraging advocacy for new program development, and communicating the tangible value of matching gifts, you empower your team to tap into the resource effectively and efficiently. Then, invest in automation technology to streamline the process from start to finish.

Watch the video below to learn how Pi Beta Phi Foundation uses 360MatchPro to scale matching gift revenue.

Pi Beta Phi Foundation- Matching Gift Success with 360MatchPro from Double the Donation on Vimeo.

Looking for more? Check out our other recommended resources below:

Make the most of matching gifts for your civic or community organization.

Canadian Companies With Matching Gift Programs

Double Donations With Canadian Companies That Match Gifts

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Matching gifts play a large role in many nonprofits’ fundraising strategies. These opportunities aren’t just limited to the United States, either. Organizations in Canada⁠—and worldwide⁠—can benefit from corporate philanthropy, too. Specifically, Canadian companies that match gifts supply a powerful opportunity for Canadian charities to maximize funds and engagement alike.

In this guide, we’ve selected a few standout programs that your team should be aware of. Plus, we’ll share expert-proven tips and tricks for making the most of the initiatives. This includes:

To learn more about Canadian companies that match gifts and matching gift databases that cover the Canadian matching gift market, read on!

But before we jump in, let’s cover the basics of matching gifts.

Managing Canadian companies that match gifts with Double the Donation - CTA

The Basics of Matching Gifts Across Any Market

Understanding the matching gift process in Canada and beyond

What are matching gifts?

Matching gifts are a unique and widespread form of corporate philanthropy in which companies match donations their employees make to eligible nonprofits. Matching donations are typically made at a 1:1 ratio, but some companies match at a higher rate, such as 2:1, 3:1, or even 4:1.

This type of giving is particularly valuable because it essentially supplies free money for your nonprofit. However, they’re often overlooked by donors due to a lack of program awareness and by nonprofits lacking the necessary staff, resources, or time to pursue the opportunity.

Who qualifies for matching gifts?

Companies that match gifts typically implement a program policy with specific eligibility guidelines. In order for a donor to qualify, their donation and the organization to which they gave must adhere to the pre-determined criteria.

While the criteria will vary from one company to the next, one overarching stipulation is that receiving organizations are generally required to be registered charities in the region in which they operate. In Canada, that means a nonprofit registered under the nation’s Income Tax Act by the Charities Directorate of the Canada Revenue Agency.

Meanwhile, American nonprofits should be registered with the Internal Revenue Service and have received 501(c)(3) status.

Top Canadian Matching Gift Companies

With the 9th largest economy in the world, Canada headquarters many well-known companies with generous employee giving benefits. In fact, Canadian corporations have a long history of philanthropy⁠—which is great news for the nonprofits that call Canada home.
Take a look at the following Canadian companies that match gifts, and find out if your donors work for the generous employers below:

BCE is a top Canadian company that matches gifts

1. BCE Inc.

  • Minimum donation amount: $1
  • Maximum donation amount: $1,000
  • Match ratio: 1:1
  • Employee eligibility: Full-time, part-time
  • Nonprofit eligibility: Select organizations, including United Way, Canadian higher education institutions, and the Canadian Mental Health Association

BCE Inc., formerly known as Bell Canada Enterprises, offers a focused matching gift program benefitting a few specific organizations as well as colleges and universities within the country. The company also offers individual and team volunteer grants, where employees or retirees donate their time throughout the year to earn substantial grants for their favorite nonprofits.

Specifically, employees who volunteer at least 50 hours in a year can acquire a grant amount of $500. Meanwhile, teams are required to volunteer a combined 500 hours within a year-long period to qualify for a $2,500 grant!

Learn more about this Canadian company’s matching gift program here.

Gildan is a top Canadian company that matches gifts

2. Gildan Activewear

  • Minimum donation amount: $25
  • Maximum donation amount: $2,500
  • Match ratio: 1:1
  • Employee eligibility: Full-time, part-time
  • Nonprofit eligibility: Charitable organizations in Canada, the U.S., and Honduras

Headquartered in Montreal, Gildan Activewear matches nonprofit donations from both full- and part-time employees. The matching gift program is open to organizations in Canada, the United States, and Honduras.

In addition to matching donations, the Canada-based company also supplies volunteer grants and multiplies select fundraising collections by employees, too!

Learn more about this Canadian company’s matching gift program here.

GSC is a top Canadian company that matches gifts

3. Green Shield Canada

  • Minimum donation amount: $25
  • Maximum donation amount: $2,000
  • Match ratio: 1:1
  • Employee eligibility: Full-time
  • Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, health and human services, and more

Green Shield Canada matches gifts of up to $1,000 per full-time employee on an annual basis. The company’s matching gift program is inclusive of most schools and nonprofit organizations, including a variety of institutions ranging from K-12 schools to arts and cultural organizations.

Learn more about this Canadian company’s matching gift program here.

RBC is a top Canadian company that matches gifts

4. Royal Bank of Canada

  • Minimum donation amount: $10
  • Maximum donation amount: $1,000
  • Match ratio: 1:1
  • Employee eligibility: Full-time, part-time
  • Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more

The Royal Bank of Canada, also known as RBC, matches employee donations to nonprofit causes, and is inclusive of gifts made between $100 and $5,000 per year. A key perk of RBC’s matching gift program is that part-time employees and retirees alike are encouraged to participate with the standard 1:1 ratio.

Like many of these other organizations, RBC also offers dollars for doers grants for active volunteers! After volunteering for a minimum of 40 volunteer hours, the company will provide up to a $500 grant.

Learn more about this Canadian company’s matching gift program here.

TC Energy is a top Canadian company that matches gifts

5. TC Energy

  • Minimum donation amount: $25
  • Maximum donation amount: $1,000
  • Match ratio: 1:1
  • Employee eligibility: Full-time, part-time
  • Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more

TC Energy offers two main types of employee giving programs. The first is its standard matching gift program, where the company will match up to $1,000 annually to most nonprofits. The program is open to all employees and retirees.

The second program is TC Energy’s Dollars for Doers program. Through this initiative, the company matches its employees’ volunteer hours with monetary grants. It’s easy for employees to get involved in the program, too, as there is only a one-hour minimum for volunteer hours in a calendar year!

Learn more about this Canadian company’s matching gift program here.

AstraZeneca is a top Canadian company that matches gifts

6. AstraZeneca Canada

  • Minimum donation amount: $50
  • Maximum donation amount: $500
  • Match ratio: 1:1
  • Employee eligibility: Full-time, part-time
  • Nonprofit eligibility: Any CRA-registered charities

AstraZeneca is an international Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company with a large corporate presence in Canada. The company, which participates generously in corporate philanthropy, also offers different employee giving programs across various markets.

In Canada, active AstraZeneca employees are encouraged to donate between $50 and $500 to the CRA-registered charity of their choice. After doing so, the company matches the gift to stretch its impact even further for the nonprofit cause!

AstraZeneca Canada offers multiple volunteer grant programs, too. Canadian employees or retirees who volunteer 40 hours with an organization can request a corresponding grant of $500. At the same time, the company provides $250 grants to organizations where employees serve as board members or coaches.

Learn more about this Canadian company’s matching gift program here.

Enbridge is a top Canadian company that matches gifts

7. Enbridge Inc.

  • Minimum donation amount: $50
  • Maximum donation amount: $10,000
  • Match ratio: 1:1
  • Employee eligibility: Full-time, retired
  • Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more

Enbridge Inc., a Canadian multinational pipeline and energy company, is renowned for its robust and multi-faceted CSR initiatives. This includes a generous matching gift program and a volunteer grant program designed to empower its employees to make a difference in the communities they serve.

These programs and more not only foster a culture of philanthropy within the company but also strengthen Enbridge’s commitment to social impact across Canada and beyond.

Learn more about this Canadian company’s matching gift program here.

Suncor is a top Canadian company that matches gifts

8. Suncor Energy Inc.

  • Minimum donation amount: $25
  • Maximum donation amount: $2,000
  • Match ratio: 1:1
  • Employee eligibility: Full-time, part-time, retired
  • Nonprofit eligibility: Eligible Canadian and international post-secondary educational institutions

Suncor Energy is dedicated to making meaningful contributions to society through its corporate philanthropy efforts. Through a targeted and impactful matching gift program, the company encourages its employees to give generously by matching their donations to eligible charitable causes and higher education institutions.

Learn more about this Canadian company’s matching gift program here.

Sun Life is a top Canadian company that matches gifts

9. Sun Life Financial Inc.

  • Minimum donation amount: N/A
  • Maximum donation amount: $1,200
  • Match ratio: 1:1
  • Employee eligibility: Full-time
  • Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more

Sun Life Financial is committed to giving back through a generous matching gift initiative, in which it empowers its employees to demonstrate their own philanthropy as well. When eligible full-time employees support nonprofit organizations of their choice, the company doubles their giving to produce an even greater impact.

One of the best things about this specific program? With no minimum donation amount required, employees can get involved with matching gifts to their favorite organizations with ease.

Learn more about this Canadian company’s matching gift program here.

Canadian Pacific Railway is a top Canadian company that matches gifts

10. Canadian Pacific Railway

  • Minimum donation amount: N/A
  • Maximum donation amount: $1,500
  • Match ratio: 0.5:1
  • Employee eligibility: Full-time, part-time
  • Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more

Canadian Pacific Railway (or CP) is deeply committed to corporate citizenship and community engagement, as evidenced by its matching gift program. Through the program, the company encourages its employees to support charitable organizations by matching their donations at a rate of 50 cents to every dollar.

By fostering a culture of philanthropy and supporting causes that matter to its employees, the Canadian Pacific Railway demonstrates its ongoing commitment to social responsibility.

Learn more about this Canadian company’s matching gift program here.

Cenovus is a top Canadian company that matches gifts

11. Cenovus Energy

  • Minimum donation amount: $25
  • Maximum donation amount: $25,000
  • Match ratio: 1:1
  • Employee eligibility: Full-time, part-time
  • Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more

Cenovus Energy, a Calgary, Alberta-based oil and natural gas company, aims to enact positive change in the communities in which it operates through its generous corporate philanthropy initiatives. Currently, these include a comprehensive matching gift program that empowers individual employees to request up to $25,000 per year for their favorite causes.

Learn more about this Canadian company’s matching gift program here.

Scotiabank is a top Canadian company that matches gifts

12. Scotia Bank Canada

  • Minimum donation amount: N/A
  • Maximum donation amount: Up to $15,000
  • Match ratio: 1:1
  • Employee eligibility: Full-time
  • Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more

Scotiabank Canada offers a robust matching gift program, through which the company empowers its employees to support charitable organizations by matching their donations. With no minimum donation amount required and a lofty maximum threshold, individual team members have the chance to make an even greater difference for the nonprofit missions they care about.

Learn more about this Canadian company’s matching gift program here.

Magna is a top Canadian company that matches gifts

13. Magna International

  • Minimum donation amount: $500
  • Maximum donation amount: $2,500
  • Match ratio: 1:1
  • Employee eligibility: Full-time
  • Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more

Magna International offers a unique matching gift program through which groups of employees are encouraged to support nonprofit organizations in their communities. Specifically, teams of 10 or more employees should contribute a collective minimum donation of $500. Then, the company contributes its match up to $2,500!

By encouraging team-focused employee engagement in philanthropy and supporting causes aligned with its values, Magna builds its workplace culture and gives back at the same time.

Learn more about this Canadian company’s matching gift program here.

Brookfield Properties is a top Canadian company that matches gifts

14. Brookfield Properties

  • Minimum donation amount: $20
  • Maximum donation amount: $2,500
  • Match ratio: 1:1
  • Employee eligibility: Full-time
  • Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more

Brookfield Properties is a multinational corporation with a substantial Canadian employee base. Through its generous matching gift program, Brookfield Properties encourages its employees to donate time and funds to eligible nonprofit causes by supplying matching funds to the organizations they support.

Currently, full-time Canadian and U.S.-based employees (excluding the Chicago office) with a one-year minimum service are invited to take part in the program.

Learn more about this Canadian company’s matching gift program here.

Nutrien is a top Canadian company that matches gifts

15. Nutrien

  • Minimum donation amount: N/A
  • Maximum donation amount: Varies
  • Match ratio: Up to 1.5:1
  • Employee eligibility: Full-time, part-time
  • Nonprofit eligibility: Educational institutions (K-12 included), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, environmental organizations, and more

Canadian fertilizer company Nutrien is dedicated to making a positive impact in communities through its comprehensive matching gift program and more. Through the match program, Nutrien empowers its employees to support charitable organizations with matching gifts worth up to $1.50 for every $1 initially donated.

Learn more about this Canadian company’s matching gift program here.

Identifying Other Canadian Companies That Match Gifts

We covered fifteen standout Canadian matching gift companies above. But there are a ton of additional programs available from companies everywhere. In fact, there are so many companies that match gifts⁠—based in Canada and otherwise⁠—that it’s nearly impossible to keep track of each program’s guidelines on your own.

And that’s where a database solution comes in handy! With a matching gift database like Double the Donation, donors are automatically supplied with direct links to their companies’ match request portals along with program guidelines (minimums and maximums, eligible nonprofits and employees, match ratios, submission deadlines, etc.).

Steps for using Double the Donation's matching gift database

Alternatively, if a donor works for an unknown company (or your organization lacks a database tool), your team can encourage the individual to reach out to their HR department to learn more about any available giving programs.

How Double the Donation Can Help

360MatchPro by Double the Donation is a complete automation system that screens match-eligible donors and triggers tailored outreach accordingly. As a result, your staff saves time and maximizes its revenue.

With over 24,000 company listings, Double the Donation represents 26+ million match-eligible individuals worldwide. When it comes to Canadian companies that match gifts, recent analyses indicate that the tool remains the country’s most accurate and up-to-date source of matching gift information.

Check out these findings:

  • 93-99% of individuals who work for Canadian companies that match gifts will find their employer in Double the Donation’s database.
  • $99,000 of $102,000 in matching gifts received by a global organization’s market in Canada were covered by Double the Donation’s database.
  • 483,760 match-eligible Canadians were covered by Double the Donation’s database, while 4,124 were not.

Double the Donation's coverage of Canadian Companies That Match Gifts

All in all, Double the Donation’s database offers substantial coverage of the market⁠, making it a great fit for Canadian-based organizations and their donors.

Meanwhile, additional benefits of 360MatchPro include:

  • More matching gift opportunities. By automatically flagging match-eligible gifts using emails, donation forms, and more, your organization increases the number of potential matches identified.
  • More matches driven to completion. Donors are presented with matching gift information or encouraged to supply employment data after giving. Then, automated outreach guides donors through the request process and ultimately drives more submissions to increase overall revenue.
  • More time to focus on top opportunities. Your team can primarily focus its efforts on tailoring follow-ups to your most valuable match-eligible donations. With everything else automated, you’ll have time to take an increasingly personalized approach with top-dollar donors.

360MatchPro essentially serves as your own matching gift team. Where you don’t have the staff, time, or resources necessary to perform matching gift outreach, the platform can step in and handle the rest!

Integrations & Customizations

If you’re thinking about investing in a matching gift database to supercharge your organization’s fundraising efforts, there are a few things to consider in your selection. As a Canadian-based organization, you’ll want to look for a solution that adequately covers the Canadian market and integrates with your existing tech stack for easy implementation and data management.

Fortunately, Double the Donation’s 360MatchPro does just that! Offering 100+ integrations with the leading Canadian and global fundraising tools, the software provides users with direct access to the industry’s most comprehensive database. These ready-built and simple-to-use integrations include:

  • CRMs
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising solutions
  • Online donation tools
  • CSR platforms

To get started, all you typically need to do is subscribe to Double the Donation’s tools⁠. Then, activate 360MatchPro by entering your API keys into your fundraising platform.

Demonstrating how to set up Double the Donation for Canadian matching gift fundraisers

Additionally, Double the Donation is designed to accommodate nonprofits operating in one or more geographic markets. For Canadian-based organizations, this means you can customize the database search results by adjusting the geographic regions that apply to your nonprofit.

360MatchPro will then tailor the matching gift search results and information your donors receive based on your selections.

Managing Canadian companies that match gifts with Double the Donation regional functionality

Top tip: If your nonprofit’s tax status is based in Canada and you primarily have Canadian donors, it’s recommended that you only select Canada. However, if you’re registered as a nonprofit in multiple markets, such as the U.S. and Canada, or have a large number of donors in those markets, it’s recommended that you select both the U.S. and Canada.

Wrapping Up

Choosing the right matching gift database is essential. Make sure to look for a solution that’s designed to enhance your organization’s fundraising. That means seeking tools that specifically cater to Canadian organizations⁠—and Canadian matching gift companies.

While we’ve listed some of the largest Canada-based employers and overviewed their matching gift opportunities, they aren’t the only businesses that offer such initiatives. Be sure to constantly research your donors’ employers and stay up-to-date on companies in your area. And remember: the right matching gift database can help!
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Managing Canadian companies that match gifts with Double the Donation - CTA

Keep learning! Check out these additional resources to continue exploring matching gifts for your organization:

Matching Gift Marketing Guide


Marketing Matching Gifts Guide

After identifying match-eligible contributions, you’ll need to promote the matching gift opportunities to your donors.

Check out our free downloadable resource to get best practices and expert marketing strategies.


DOWNLOAD

Top Matching Gift Companies


Many volunteer grant companies also offer matching gifts.

Once you’ve uncovered top matching gift companies based in Canada, consider expanding your focus globally!

Explore these top employers that match employee gifts, and see if your donors work for these businesses!


READ NOW

One-Off Matching Gift Programs


Consider One-Off Matching Gift Programs with Canadian Matching Gift Companies

One-off matching gift programs are defined by agreements between a single nonprofit and a single corporate donor.

Browse the guide to see how your team can begin making the most of these exclusive opportunities.


READ NOW

This article is an FAQ guide for businesses interested in launching a corporate volunteer program.

Corporate Volunteer Programs: 7 Key Questions Answered

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Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a hot topic in the business world, especially when it comes to engaging employees. There’s a growing sentiment among the Millennial and Gen Z workforce that employers should provide ways for employees to give back, and the research supports this, with companies seeing a 52% reduction in turnover for new employees who participate in CSR initiatives, like corporate volunteer programs.

Among CSR programs, corporate volunteerism stands out since it enables employees to take a hands-on approach to giving back. However, volunteer initiatives fall short in number when compared to other employee giving programs, like matching gifts and donation drives.

These other initiatives are certainly helpful and often run themselves, but your business shouldn’t hesitate to offer a volunteer program. To help your business go the extra mile and provide a program your employees will love, we’ll provide a crash course on corporate volunteerism by answering seven burning questions business leaders commonly have about these programs.

Let’s get started.

Find CSR software that lets you launch the volunteer program you've been dreaming of. Explore our guide.

1. What are corporate volunteer programs?

Part of the reason why businesses tend to have questions about corporate volunteer programs is because there are so many of them. Just like there’s a wide range of corporate philanthropy and CSR initiatives your business can invest in, there are many ways to host an employee volunteer program.

To provide a straightforward definition, corporate volunteer programs are volunteer initiatives for a business’s employees that the business arranges or supports. For instance, three popular types of volunteer programs include:

The types of corporate volunteer programs, written out below.

  • Corporate volunteer days. Partner with a nonprofit in your area to arrange a day for your team to volunteer together. This might involve planting a community garden, helping pick up trash during a beach clean-up, sorting through donations for a homeless shelter, or any other activity a team can do.
  • Volunteer time off. Add additional days specifically for volunteering to your employee’s paid time off plans. Volunteer time off allows employees to volunteer during work hours without worrying about missing a paycheck. This program can be especially effective for businesses that want to provide employees with flexibility in choosing what nonprofits they volunteer for.
  • Volunteer grants. Also known as a Dollars for Doers program, volunteer grants encourage employee volunteering by providing monetary support to the nonprofits employees donate their time to. Businesses usually base their volunteer grant contributions on a per-hour basis or after a certain number of hours have been volunteered with a nonprofit. For instance, you might donate $10 to a nonprofit every hour an employee volunteers, or you might make a flat donation of $100 after an employee volunteers for 20 hours.

When choosing what volunteer program to offer, consider your CSR and employee engagement goals. If you want to support the causes your employees care about, offer volunteer grants. To encourage more volunteering and community involvement in general, consider offering volunteer time off. Or, build teamwork and camaraderie by hosting a team volunteer day.

2. What are the benefits of a corporate volunteer program?

Employee volunteer programs are an investment, whether it’s of your employees’ time or profits spent on volunteer grants. As with any program, business leaders must weigh whether the benefits make up for the resources that will be expended.

For corporate volunteer programs, the primary two benefits are:

  • Engaged employees. CSR is about impacting your community, partly to prove that your business is committed to social and environmental good. Volunteer programs allow employees to be a part of your impact, making them feel like they personally are making a difference. When employees feel their work has meaning, their engagement, loyalty, and productivity all increase.
  • Improved reputation. Businesses with reputations for supporting their communities will likely be supported in return. Volunteer programs allow you to build connections with nonprofits, linking their work to your business and gaining access to their support base.

To access these benefits, your business needs to promote its employee volunteer program. Employees and customers alike will only appreciate your corporate volunteer program if they’re aware of it.

Feature details about your volunteer program in key places related to your CSR initiatives, like your employee handbook, CSR employee software portal, and website.

For customers and other third parties share what your volunteer efforts have accomplished on your website. For instance, you might have a CSR or “Impact” page that discusses your CSR goals and ongoing programs. Highlight how many hours employees have volunteered, how much you’ve given through volunteer grants, or even just one successful volunteer day you organized.

3. What nonprofits should my company partner with?

As part of your corporate volunteer program, you will likely work with specific nonprofits. This might be organizations you arrange formal volunteer days with or nonprofits you promote to your employees to volunteer at on their own.

There is a wide range of worthy causes out there, and no business has the capacity to support all of them. Make you choose organizations that will benefit your business and you can make an impact at by taking the following steps:

  • Consider your philanthropic mission. As part of establishing your CSR program, your business should form a philanthropic mission. This mission statement is usually broad— such as promoting sustainability or seeking to empower future generations—and will apply to several programs. When considering nonprofits to partner with formally, ensure their missions align with yours. For instance, if you’re committed to supporting education, partner with a nonprofit that provides free school supplies rather than one dedicated to mental health awareness.
  • Interview employees. Your employees are the ones who will be volunteering, so make sure you pick causes they will be motivated to give their best effort to. Ask what causes or even specific organizations they want to see your business support. Additionally, discuss what skills employees can provide nonprofits. This can create extra valuable volunteer experiences where nonprofits receive professional help, and your employees can expand their skill sets.
  • Research trusted organizations. When partnering with a nonprofit, you link their reputation to yours. Ensure you work with reputable organizations that produce real results you can share with employees and customers. Look at each nonprofit’s impact reports and use online tools like Candid and Charity Navigator to conduct background checks.

Outside of corporate volunteer programs, businesses should still follow these steps for other types of nonprofit partnerships, such as choosing what types of organizations are eligible for your matching gift program.

4.  How widespread are corporate volunteer programs?

When launching a corporate volunteer program, know you’re not alone. Employee volunteer programs are rising in popularity among businesses of all sizes.

For a more specific breakdown of these programs’ popularity, let’s take a look at the research:

Several volunteer program stats, written out below.

  • 47% of U.S. companies offer volunteer programs. This includes all types of volunteer programs and companies with multiple programs, such as providing both volunteer time and volunteer grants.
  • 92% of HR executives promote volunteering as a way to improve employees’ skills. Volunteering gives both employees and job candidates experiences working in new environments and learning new skills, including both soft skills like communication and hard skills like using bookkeeping and Google Suite expertise.
  • 80% of companies with volunteer grant programs donate between $8-$15 per hour volunteered. If you’re not sure how to offer a budget-friendly volunteer grant program that’s still worth employees’ time, try looking at businesses similar to yours. Organizations of similar size and in similar fields can be a useful benchmark for keeping your CSR programs and benefits competitive.
  • 60% of companies offer paid volunteer time off. This number is also only rising an additional 21% plan to implement a volunteer time off program sometime in 2024.
  • 71% of employees rate a business supporting volunteering as imperative or very important.

This research emphasizes the importance of offering a volunteer program and ensuring your business’s culture supports employee participation. These things may seem like they go hand-in-hand, but at large corporations, it’s common for leadership to support the idea of volunteerism but middle managers to hesitate to approve volunteer time off requests and other volunteer initiatives.

If you have concerns about your business encountering problems like this, make plans to address it, such as stressing the importance of supporting your employee volunteer program at all-hands meetings or providing bonuses for participating. This might be a gift as simple as a company t-shirt, an appreciation eCard, or a more public award such as taking the department with the most accumulative volunteer hours out to lunch.

5. What tools does my company need to run an employee volunteer program?

Corporate volunteer programs are easier to manage when software does the heavy lifting for administrative tasks. To run your employee volunteer program or any other type of workplace giving initiative, you need CSR software.

An example screenshot of CSR software for managing your corporate volunteer program.

Look for CSR software with features that support corporate volunteerism, such as the ability to:

  • Record volunteer hours. Hour tracking is relatively straightforward, but software is necessary to document each employee’s volunteer hours over multiple years. Choose a platform with a user-friendly interface that allows employees to easily report their volunteer hours and provide the nonprofits’ information.
  • Connect employees with nonprofits. If you want to encourage employees to volunteer on their own, choose a volunteer platform that lets you connect employees with volunteer opportunities. Some CSR software solutions will list reputable nonprofits the CSR platform vendor works with, while others allow you to promote specific organizations.
  • Generate reports. Reporting capabilities are essential for ensuring your volunteer program produces results. Monitor how many employees volunteer, how many hours they volunteer, and which nonprofits they volunteer with. Then, create reports you can share with relevant stakeholders to demonstrate your corporate volunteer program’s value.

When investing in a CSR platform, consider what other CSR initiatives you’re interested in launching. For example, if you also want to host a matching gift program, consider a CSR vendor that enables matching gift auto-submission, an innovative feature that massively streamlines the matching gift application process.

Offer your employees even more ways to give back with matching gifts! Download our complete guide.

6. How can my business increase participation in my volunteer program?

Why should an employee volunteer through your business rather than volunteering on their own? Does your program entice employees who don’t regularly volunteer to change their minds? How can I sustain participation in my volunteer program long-term?

These are the types of questions you should ask yourself to make your program appealing to employees and increase participation. While everyone volunteers for different reasons, three ways you can get employees involved include:

  • Work with causes your employees care about. Employees will be more motivated to volunteer if their support goes to a cause they feel strongly about. For instance, you might limit what types of organizations are eligible for a volunteer grant to focus your philanthropic efforts. However, limiting flexibility also limits participation as employees may not volunteer if the causes they want to support won’t benefit.
  • Make participating easy. There’s only so much time in the week, and employees may lack the energy or time to volunteer. Help connect employees with volunteer opportunities that fit their schedule, like online positions or roles with low-hour commitments.
  • Promote your volunteer program regularly. After your initial program launch, maintain momentum by continually promoting it to employees. This might take the form of email reminders, recognition for those participating in all-hands meetings, or regular formally organized volunteer days.

Ultimately, the best way to get employees involved depends on your business. Talk to employees to understand how they feel about volunteering, how they want to volunteer, and what you can do to support them.

7. What are some examples of employee volunteer programs?

Corporate volunteer programs come in all shapes and sizes, so let’s explore some aspirational examples of real-world employee volunteer programs. These examples are from larger companies, but it’s possible for your business, no matter its size, to create similar initiatives at your own scale.

Salesforce

Software giant Salesforce encourages employees to volunteer by creating a milestone system. Each employee is given seven days of volunteer time off each year and is challenged to complete various goals related to volunteering, such as:

  • Repeated volunteering with the same organization
  • Organizing a team volunteer event
  • Joining a nonprofit board

While not every employee will hit these milestones, those who do get entered into a lottery where the winner receives a grant for the nonprofit of their choice. Since the program’s inception, over 13,000 employees have been entered into this lottery.

Focusing on volunteering has also led Salesforce to form new nonprofit partnerships. For instance, Salesforce leadership noticed many employees volunteering with The Marcy Lab School, a nonprofit that provides high school graduates with job training to become software engineers.

This connection built a relationship between Salesforce and The Marcy Lab School, resulting in a $100,000 donation to The March Lab School through Salesforce’s grant program for emerging nonprofits. The prior years of employee volunteering helped Salesforce learn about the Marcy Lab School and build trust in their organization.

Microsoft

Microsoft is an international technology company that needs little introduction. However, their generous volunteer grant program is likely less known.

Microsoft launched their volunteer grant program in 2005, promising to donate $25 per hour employees volunteered. With almost 5,000 employees volunteering 430,000+ cumulative hours, Microsoft has donated over $10 million to nonprofits through their grant program alone in just one fiscal year.

Henkel

Henkel is a parent company that owns several brands related to cleaning products and adhesive technology. Across their brands, Henkel has instituted the Make an Impact Tomorrow (MIT) program. This initiative has been running for over 20 years, funding the volunteer efforts of both current and former Henkel employees.

In 2022 alone, MIT supported 80 charitable organizations, serving over 110,000 beneficiaries. These organizations included nonprofits such as the Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, and Feeding America.

Corporate Volunteer Programs: More Resources

Is a corporate volunteer program right for your business? If so, your next steps are to assess your corporate philanthropic goals, talk with your team, and invest in the right tools. Explore CSR software options and how they can elevate your future program.

Of course, another important step is to continue learning about and getting inspired by corporate volunteerism. Jumpstart your research with these resources:

Your CSR software might already give you a leg up in making an impact. Discover if your CSR software has auto-submission functionality. Get in touch!

The title of the post overlaid with images of volunteers.

Mandatory Volunteering: Unique Tips for Boosting Impact

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Whether it’s a sorority, a food bank, or a socially responsible business, some organizations require their members to volunteer to build their skill sets and give back to their communities. Many nonprofits benefit from the temporary extra hands that mandatory volunteering provides, but there are many ways that you can convert these short-term volunteers into committed supporters, even after they’ve hit their hourly quota. 

In this guide, we’ll go over the basics of mandatory volunteering programs and how your nonprofit can leverage them. Specifically, we’ll cover:

Let’s explore how your nonprofit can help your mandatory volunteering program reach its full potential.

Click here to learn how Double the Donation can help you transform volunteer hours into dollars with volunteer grants.

Mandatory Volunteering FAQ

What is mandatory volunteering?

Mandatory volunteering is when an organization requires individuals to volunteer for a certain amount of time to receive benefits. Some examples of mandatory volunteering in practice include:

  • Educational institutions require students to volunteer as a graduation requirement.
  • Membership-based organizations require individuals to volunteer as a membership requirement.
  • Social service organizations require individuals to volunteer to receive social services, such as food banks where beneficiaries contribute volunteer hours for meals.
  • Judicial systems require individuals to volunteer in the form of community service as rehabilitation or restitution for minor offenses.
  • Businesses require their employees to volunteer as a team-building exercise.

Chances are, your nonprofit has an organization in your area that mandates volunteering. Volunteers for these organizations can make great additions to your program—we’ll explore the benefits in-depth in a later section.

How does mandatory volunteering work?

Before you add mandatory volunteering outreach into your nonprofit’s recruitment strategy, you should understand how it works. While each organization is different, most mandatory volunteering programs function like this:

  1. The organization providing volunteers defines the objectives, rules, and structure of its mandatory volunteering program to complement its overall goals. Program guidelines might include the number of required volunteer hours or the type of volunteering the participant must complete.
  2. Often, the organization providing volunteers reaches out to a nonprofit and establishes a partnership. While a partnership isn’t required, it ensures that the nonprofit has a steady stream of volunteers while guaranteeing placements for those who are required to volunteer.
  3. The nonprofit provides custom onboarding and training for mandated volunteers based on their skill set, experience, and motivation for volunteering.
  4. Once the volunteers have hit their required hours, the nonprofit thanks them for their work and gives them an exit survey to see how it can improve their program.

As you can see, mandatory volunteer programs benefit from open communication and mutual understanding between nonprofits and the organizations that mandate volunteering.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of mandatory volunteering for nonprofits?

Recruiting mandated volunteers isn’t the best solution for every nonprofit. Before deciding to add it to your outreach strategy, take these pros and cons into account:

The pros and cons of mandatory volunteering for nonprofits as mentioned below.

Pros:

  • Expanded volunteer base. Mandated volunteers can improve your recruitment efforts and fill out your work schedule.
  • Consistent availability. Mandated volunteers will make a greater effort to schedule and attend volunteer shifts so they can hit their hourly quota.
  • Enhanced donation potential. Showing the importance of your mission through mandatory volunteering can inspire them to donate to your cause.
  • Improved community engagement. Forming partnerships with volunteer providers can help you make connections with other organizations in your community.
  • Potential for a long-term commitment. By being exposed to your nonprofit and mission, mandated volunteers might genuinely appreciate your staff, beneficiaries, and other aspects of your nonprofit and become long-term supporters even after they’ve hit their hours. 

Cons:

  • Lack of connection to your cause. Since mandated volunteers come to your nonprofit to fulfill a requirement, they might not have a strong affiliation with your cause, which can lead to burnout.
  • Capacity challenges. Depending on the size of your mandated volunteer base, you might have to turn people away to avoid overwhelming your team or depleting your resources. 
  • Mismatch of skills and needs. Since your mandated volunteers might have specific hour requirements and limited choices in their placements, it’s possible that their skills won’t be a good match for your nonprofit’s needs.
  • Various reasons for participating. Some of your volunteers might feel more or less enthusiastic about volunteering with you depending on their reasons for being there, which can impact their productivity and your overall performance.
  • High turnover rate. Since many mandated volunteers are motivated by their hourly benchmark, they’re more likely to move on after they’re done working with your organization.

How can you gauge if recruiting mandated volunteers is right for your nonprofit?

Adding mandatory volunteering to your recruitment strategy can be a big decision. Use this decision tree to evaluate whether your nonprofit would benefit from recruiting mandated volunteers. Any “no” answers mean it might not be right for your nonprofit currently and any “yes” answers mean you should proceed to the next decision.

A decision tree to help nonprofits decide if recruiting mandated volunteers is right for them (nodes described below).

  • Do you have a consistent need for volunteers?
  • Can you accept the costs of training mandatory volunteers knowing that they may not stay engaged long-term?
  • Can you provide meaningful and varied volunteer opportunities?
  • Do you have the capacity to manage and train a large number of volunteers?
  • Are there businesses, educational institutions, or social services organizations nearby to partner with?
  • Can you ensure a positive experience for volunteers?
  • Can your nonprofit accept the increased liability of working with mandated volunteers, including those fulfilling volunteer hours as part of court-ordered community service?

Please note that this is only a baseline decision tree. Each nonprofit is unique, so you should incorporate your own needs, goals, and preferences into account and adjust accordingly. Also, work with your legal team to review any potential legal issues or risks.

How to Turn Mandatory Volunteers into Lifelong [or Long-Term] Supporters

Accepting mandated volunteers into your program provides new opportunities to convert casual audience members into passionate donors and volunteers. You can convert them, boost fundraising, and secure your long-term success with these tips.

1. Spread awareness of volunteer grants and other CSR programs.

Many companies that mandate or highly encourage volunteering also offer other corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, like volunteer grants and matching gifts.  Mandated volunteers can amplify their positive impact by contributing volunteer grants to your nonprofit

Volunteer grants are a CSR program in which corporations promise monetary donations if an employee volunteers for a certain amount of hours with a nonprofit. Here’s how your nonprofit can promote and collect volunteer grants from mandated volunteers:

The steps for promoting and collecting volunteer grants, as explained below.

  1. An individual volunteers extensively at your nonprofit
  2. Your team identifies volunteer-grant-eligible participants with a CSR database like Double the Donation 
  3. Your nonprofit reaches out to them, promoting volunteer grants and providing instructions for researching their policy
  4. The volunteer researches their company policy
  5. If the volunteer has met the policy requirements, they submit volunteer grant forms
  6. The company reviews the volunteer grant application
  7. If the application is approved, the company donates funds to the nonprofit

Besides volunteer grants, you can also promote other CSR programs to boost support for your mission. For instance, you can spread awareness of matching gifts, a CSR program in which employees can get their charitable contributions matched by their employer if they meet the program’s criteria. Research the types of CSR programs that your mandatory volunteers might respond well to and spread the word at an upcoming shift.

2. Focus on making lasting connections.

While their reasons for supporting your nonprofit may differ, mandated volunteers should be treated the same as other volunteers, which means you should strive to forge a personal relationship with them. Furthermore, mandated volunteers who feel welcomed and valued are more likely to continue working with your nonprofit. Here are some ways you can make mandated volunteers feel like part of the team:

  • Get to know them personally. Simply learning all of your new volunteers’ names when they show up for their first shift demonstrates that you put effort into getting to know them as people. You can take it a step further by asking about your volunteers’ hobbies, experiences, and other personal information on their intake form.
  • Offer social activities. Facilitate a welcoming community by allowing your volunteers to get to know each other outside of their shifts. For instance, you could organize a dinner at the end of a shift so mandated volunteers can make connections while bonding over great food.
  • Invite them to fundraisers and other events. Introduce volunteers to new aspects of your organization by inviting them to fundraisers and other events. This can help them feel more connected to their work and gives you the chance to strike up a conversation with them.
  • Provide progress updates. Show your volunteers the real impact of their work by updating them on your nonprofit’s progress. For example, you could let food bank volunteers know that a week’s worth of work yields an additional three hundred meals.

Genuinely showing that you care about your mandated volunteers as people is the most important component of motivating them to stick around after they’ve hit their quota. Take every opportunity to talk to them, compliment them on a job well done, and integrate them into your volunteer community.

3. Show your appreciation.

Your nonprofit relies on the help of your volunteers to execute your programs and give back to your beneficiaries at a high caliber. Showing your appreciation for their efforts isn’t just a nice thing to do—it also improves volunteer satisfaction and retention. Try these strategies for showing your gratitude to mandated volunteers:

  • Create custom awards. Whether they’re performance-based or superlative, invite your volunteers to an awards ceremony where you recognize them for their accomplishments. Just make sure you get permission from each attendee to be recognized publicly.
  • Take extra steps to improve your program. Go above and beyond to make your program stellar so mandated volunteers will want to stay. Ask them for feedback once they’ve completed a few shifts with your nonprofit and keep them updated on which items you plan to implement. For instance, you might start offering snacks for shifts that occur around a meal or adjusting your shift times so more people can attend.
  • Offer volunteer development days. Skill development is a valuable perk that you can provide to show your thanks for their hard work and help them advance to a higher role within your program. For example, a food bank might offer training in floor management and more hours to high-performing individuals, giving them skills that they can add to their resumes.
  • Send personalized thank-you messages. No matter how long they work with your nonprofit, you should thank each volunteer for their time. A handwritten note adds a unique personal touch that can feel more authentic than an email, so try to send those when you can. If you can only send emails, make sure each one is addressed to the recipient by name and mentions the specific project they worked on.
  • Involve beneficiaries. Getting a thank-you message from a beneficiary can be an unexpected, yet welcome surprise for your mandated volunteers. Ask beneficiaries if they’d like to be part of a thank-you email or video. Your volunteers will feel more emotionally connected to your nonprofit when you match a face to the cause.

Thanking volunteers is a simple gesture that makes their work feel valued by your team and beneficiaries. Also, remember that not everything has to be a planned gesture—simply thanking volunteers verbally at the end of a shift can go a long way.

Wrapping Up + Additional Resources

Now that you know the details of mandatory volunteering, it’s time for your nonprofit to decide if adding it to your volunteer offerings is worthwhile. Once you’ve reviewed the pros and cons and conducted a needs assessment, evaluate your current community connections to gauge if you could easily forge any partnerships.

If you decide to integrate mandatory volunteers into your nonprofit’s ecosystem, personalize your stewardship approach and focus on providing a rewarding experience.

Looking for more information about how to incorporate corporate volunteerism into your nonprofit’s volunteer strategy? Start with these additional resources:

Launch your volunteer program’s value with matching gifts and volunteer grants. Watch your contributions skyrocket with Double the Donation. Click here to get a demo today.

Team volunteer grants

Team Volunteer Grants | Leveraging Company-Sponsored Events

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You’ve probably already heard of employee matching gift and volunteer grant programs, but has your organization looked into the benefits of corporate team volunteer grants?

What are corporate team volunteer grants?

Team volunteer grants are corporate giving programs in which a company provides a monetary donation to nonprofits when a group of employees volunteer together.

Corporations offer these programs to promote team building and community service.

These corporate grant programs have the potential to be a win-win for everyone involved. If your organization can design appealing opportunities for groups of corporate employees to come out and volunteer, everyone wins!

  • Your organization receives volunteer support from a group of individuals
  • The group of employees has an enjoyable and rewarding team-building event
  • The corporation gets to give back to the community
  • Your organization receives a grant from the company

Examples of team volunteer grant programs:

AMD Team Volunteer Grants

AMD:

Through Advanced Micro Devices’ Grant Incentives for Volunteer Efforts (GIVE), the company provides grants of $15 per hour volunteered when individual employees volunteer with a nonprofit.

To make AMD’s volunteer incentive program even better, the company provides grants when groups of employees volunteer together. Through AMD’s Team Development Grants, when teams of five or more employees volunteer together for at least 10 total hours (2 hours each), the school / organization is eligible for a $500 grant.

Learn more about AMD’s volunteer grant programs.

 

CarMax:

CarMax Cares Team Volunteer GrantThrough The CarMax Foundation, an Associate can make a team-building event more impactful. When groups of employees volunteer together they’re able to earn a grant from The CarMax Foundation for the nonprofit they’re volunteering with.

Volunteer Team Building Grant amounts are:

  • $500 for eligible donation drives (excludes blood drives) or when five-24 Associates volunteer (see below for runs and walks)
  • $1,000 when five or more Associates participate in a run or walk benefiting an eligible non-profit
  • $1,000 when 25 or more Associates volunteer

Even better is that most of the above grants are doubled for activities taking place in June in celebration of CarMax Cares Month.

Learn more about CarMax’s volunteer grant programs.

 

IBM:

IBM offers both individual and team volunteer grants.

When IBM employees and retirees volunteer individually they are eligible for up to $3,500 in technology grants or $1,000 in cash awards a year for organizations where they regularly volunteer. Employees must volunteer for a minimum of 8 hours a month for five months.

Groups of IBMers or retirees who volunteer together may request up to $7,500 in IBM equipment grants for eligible schools and not-for-profit organizations.

Learn more about IBM’s volunteer grant programs. 

 

Xcel Energy Volunteer Grants

Xcel Energy:

Xcel Energy offers multiple types of employee giving programs. Through Xcel Energy’s individual volunteer grant program, the company provides grants worth $10 per hour volunteered when an employee volunteers with a nonprofit. The company also matches up to $2000 of employee donations to a wide range of nonprofits.

Through Xcel Energy’s team volunteer grant program, when teams of six or more employees participate in a community volunteer project, Excel Energy will donate $500 to the associated nonprofit.

Learn more about Xcel Energy’s volunteer grant programs.

 

Kohl's Volunteer GrantsKohl’s:

When a minimum of five Kohl’s Associates from one location volunteer at least three consecutive hours of their time with a qualifying organization, the nonprofit is given a $500 grant.

Learn more about Kohl’s team grants.

 

Verizon Volunteer GrantsVerizon:

Verizon provides individual volunteer grants worth $750 when an employee volunteers for 50 hours and matches donations up to $5,000 per employee per year.

But perhaps the greatest award comes through Verizon’s team program, where teams of 10 or more Verizon employees who collectively raise funds for a nonprofit or school can have their funds matched up to $10,000 per team and event.

Learn more about Verizon’s volunteer grant programs.

 

Walmart:

Walmart Team Volunteer Grants

Walmart provides $250 for each individual in their volunteer grant program who volunteers at least 25 hours and allows up to four individual grant requests per year.

When five or more associates volunteer at least an accumulated 25 hours, Walmart will grant the team $500. Also, Walmart associates from any department or any facility can volunteer together as a team. Walmart will grant up to $5,000 if associates make a team of 50 volunteers, and each department or facility may submit up to four team grant requests per year.

Learn more about Walmart’s volunteer grant programs.

Team volunteer grants can be a great way to raise additional funds for your organization. Did you know the easiest method for managing these opportunities is with 360MatchPro Volunteer Hub? See how Volunteer Hub can help your team uncover potential for individual and team volunteer grants, volunteer time off, and more here.

For more information on team volunteer grants, check out Double the Donation’s additional resources:


Scale up your organization's corporate volunteer strategy with 360MatchPro 💡
Nonprofit Leadership Traits

Volunteer Grants and Matching Gifts from Board Members of Nonprofits

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Many nonprofit organizations have a Board of Directors that make annual monetary contributions. Did you know that certain companies offer bonus matches or higher ratios and limits on matching gifts if their employees serve on nonprofit boards?

Here are some of these companies that offer higher limits on matching gifts from board members:

U.S. Companies Corporate Giving Policies

usbanklogoUS Bancorp/US Bank

US Bancorp is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association (based in Minneapolis, Minnesota), ranked the fifth largest bank in the U.S. based on assets ($364 billion), and fourth largest based on total branches. The company employs over 64,000 people.

US Bancorp/US Bank Matching Gift Policy

US Bank offers a 1:1 matching ratio of gifts up to $1,000 by all employees. When a board member makes a donation, this limit is raised to $3,000 (still a 1:1 match ratio). US Bank matches donations to most nonprofit organizations.

WestRock

Learn more about US Bank’s matching gift program.

WestRock

WestRock is an American packaging company based in Richmond, Virginia. It has approximately 23,000 employees.

WestRock Matching Gift Policy

WestRock matches all employee donations up to $2,500 to education institutions (K-12 included). It also matches donations from employees who serve on the board of directors (or other governing body) of the organization to which the contribution is being made.

Learn more about WestRock’s matching gift program.

DominionDominion Resources, Inc.

Dominion Resources, Inc. (aka Dominion), is a power and energy company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia that supplies electricity in parts of Virginia and North Carolina, and supplies natural gas to parts of West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and eastern North Carolina. As of 2012, Dominion employed 15,500 people.

Dominion Matching Gift Policy

When Dominion employees or retirees serve on the board of directors for a nonprofit organization, Dominion will make a 2:1 match up to $2,500. So, if the employee donated $2,500, Dominion will make a $5,000 donation, totaling $7,500!

Learn more about Dominion’s matching gift program.

pnm-volunteering

PNM Resources

PNM Resources, headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, serves electricity to 498,000 homes and business in northern New Mexico and parts of west Texas. PNM employs about 2,000 people.

PNM’s Volunteer Grant Program

PNM provides 3 different levels of monetary grants for volunteer service provided by an employee:

  1. For every 12 volunteer hours donated, PNM will provide a $100 donation to an eligible nonprofit organization.
  2. For every 25 volunteer hours, PNM will provide a $300 donation.
  3. If an employee volunteers at least 25 hours AND serves on the nonprofit’s board of directors, PNM will provide a $500 donation.

Learn more about PNM’s volunteer grant program.

BSOCBlue Shield of California

With 4,500 employees, Blue Shield of California is based in San Francisco. It is a nonprofit health plan provider that serves more than 3.4 million health plan members and almost 65,000 physicians across California.

BSOC Volunteer Grant Program

Healthcare Organizations:

When a BSOC employee volunteers at a healthcare organization and makes a monetary donation up to $3,000, BSOC will match the donation at a 2:1 ratio, effectively making the total donation $9,000! When a BSOC employee serves on the nonprofit’s organization governing board and makes a monetary donation up to $5,000, BSOC will also match the donation at a 2:1 ratio, totaling $15,000!

Civic and Community Organizations:

BSOC employee volunteers at civic and community organizations can have donations of $1,500 matched at a 1:1 ratio. BSOC employee volunteers who are on the governing body of these organizations can have donations up to $2,500 matched at a 1:1 ratio.

Learn more about BSOC’s volunteer grant program.

Global Companies Corporate Giving Policies

SchneiderSchneider Electric, Square D NOAD & Subsidiaries

Schneider Electric is a France-based multinational corporation with nearly 10 U.S. business acquisitions that specializes in electricity distribution and automation management. It employs more than 152,000 people as of 2012.

Schneider Electric Matching Gift Policy

Schneider Electric, Square D NOAD & its subsidiaries provide a 1:1 match on all donations up to $10,000! If an employee is also an active member of a nonprofit organization’s board of directors, the match ratio is increased to a 1.5:1 ratio (that would total a $25,000 donation for a board member!)

Learn more about Schneider Electric’s matching gift program.

TakedaTakeda Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Takeda is the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and Asia, boasting 30,000 employees worldwide. It is focused on metabolic disorders, gastroenterology, neurology, and inflammation. Despite being headquartered in Osaka, Japan, Fortune Magazine ranked the Takeda Oncology Company as one the 100 best companies to work for in the United States in January 2012.

Takeda Volunteer Grant Program

When an employee of Takeda Pharmaceuticals serves on the board of directors for eligible nonprofit organizations, said employee can request a $2,500 volunteer grant for the organization.

Learn more about Takeda’s volunteer grant program.

novartisNovartis International AG

Novartis is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland. In 2010 it ranked number two among the worldwide pharmaceutical industry in sales ($46.8 billion). Novartis employs nearly 120,000 people.

Novartis Volunteer Grant Program

Novartis offers three types of volunteer grants:

  1. Individual Volunteer Grants: employees who volunteer at least 40 hours with an eligible nonprofit organization can request a $250 volunteer grant.
  2. Board Service Grants: employees who serve on the board of directors of an eligible organization can request a $750 volunteer grant after one year of board service. These grants are renewable every year for up to three years.
  3. Team Volunteer Grants: when five or more employees volunteer as a team on a special project for an eligible nonprofit, Novartis will donate $500 to the organization. (This is exclusive of Community Partnership Day.)

Learn more about Novartis’ volunteer grant program.

Small Companies Matching Gifts

Have Retirees who Volunteer? Receive Grants from their Former Employers!

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Volunteer grants for retirees are one of the most overlooked sources of fundraising for nonprofits. But given that retirees are the most committed volunteers for many organizations, there’s value in promoting volunteer grants to these supporters.

At Double the Donation, we help nonprofits raise more money from employee matching gift and volunteer grant programs. While we’re the first to admit that many company programs are geared exclusively towards current employees, some companies extend their grant programs to retirees who volunteer on a regular basis.

Companies with Volunteer Grant Programs for Retirees

Chevron:chevron-matching-gifts

Like most major oil and gas producers, Chevron has generous employee giving programs. One aspect that differentiates the company from its peers is that its matching gift and volunteer grants are not limited to current employees. Retirees are also eligible to submit grant requests for much of their philanthropic giving.

Each employee or retiree who volunteers for at least 20 hours in a year can request a grant for $500. At $25 per hour, that makes Chevron’s volunteer grant program one of the top ones in the world. And to make it even better, each individual can request up to two grants (either for the same organization or different organizations) for a total of $1,000 annually.

Learn more about Chevron’s Volunteer Grant Program.

PNM Resources:pnm-volunteering

PNM Resources, which stands for Public Service Company of New Mexico, is an energy holding company headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company owns both PNM and Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP). As a long-time employer in both markets, the company has a strong passion for giving back.

In addition to PNM Resources’ matching gift program, the company also encourages employees and retirees to volunteer with nonprofit organizations by providing financial grants to the organizations as a way to recognize volunteerism. There are three tiers of grants:

  • 12 volunteer hours = $100 grant
  • 25 volunteer hours = $200 grant
  • 25 volunteer hours and employee or retiree serves on the board of directors = $500 grant

Learn more about PNM Resources’ Volunteer Grant Program.

Aetna:aetna matching gifts

As one of the nation’s largest insurers, Aetna has a presence in nearly all states. Given its size and scope, it’s great to hear that the company offers multiple employee giving programs.

In addition to Aetna’s matching gift program where the company matches donations to nearly any nonprofit, Aetna also provides grants to nonprofits when active employees and retirees volunteer. Once an individual volunteers for at least 20 hours, Aetna will provide a $300 grant to the nonprofit where the employee or retiree volunteered. Coming out to $15 per hour, Aetna’s program is on the upper end of volunteer grant rates!

Learn more about Aetna’s Volunteer Grant Program.

Pfizer:pfizer volunteer grants

Not many companies provide volunteer grants of $1,000 but Pfizer is one of them. In addition to matching up to $5,000 in employee donations at a 1:1 ratio and matching retiree contributions at a 50% ratio, the company also is a huge advocate for ongoing volunteerism.

At the heart of Pfizer’s volunteer grant program is a goal of encouraging regular and long-term volunteerism. Pfizer provides $1,000 grants to nonprofits where employees and retirees volunteer as long as the following requirements are met:

  • Volunteer for at least 6 month
  • Serve an average of six hours per month for a total of 72 hours in a calendar year

Learn more about Pfizer’s Volunteer Grant Program.

IBM – International Business Machines:ibm-volunteer-grants

As one of the largest and most respected companies in the world, it’s no surprise that IBM also excels in the corporate philanthropy space. In addition to providing matching gifts to thousands of organizations which employees donate to each year, International Business Machines also offers multiple forms of volunteer grants for both current employees and retirees.

Specifics vary, but IBM employees and retirees who volunteer for a minimum of eight hours a month for five months can apply for cash grants of up to $1,000 or technology grants worth up to $3,500 for their favorite nonprofit.

Learn more about IBM’s Volunteer Grant Program.

Additional Resources on Volunteer Grant Programs

Want to learn more about volunteer grant programs and how they benefit your organization? Check out the following resources:

  1. Volunteer grant basics
  2. Team volunteer grants
  3. Top volunteer grant companies