1. Launch Challenge Match Campaigns to Double Giving Without Employer Matching
Challenge match campaigns harness the excitement of contribution-matching, even when traditional employer programs are unavailable. These campaigns are fueled by a lead supporter, foundation, or business offering to match donations up to a set amount, and often within a defined timeframe. When donors see their gifts multiplied, they feel their impact is amplified, which encourages action and inspires community participation.
To run a successful challenge match campaign, start by identifying a lead donor or small group willing to serve as the match backer. This could be a board member, a generous supporter, or a local business wanting to demonstrate community leadership. It could even be the major donor whom you’ve just discovered is ineligible for corporate matching gifts.
Then, share the campaign’s goals and the potential collective impact their leadership gift can inspire. Once you’ve reached an agreement, you’ll want to define the total value of the match, specify which gifts will be eligible, and set a clear campaign window. Phrases like “All donations doubled up to $10,000 until Friday at 5 p.m.” allow other supporters to understand the urgency and potential scale of their involvement.
From there, you’ll want to build public momentum by tracking your challenge grant progress. Add visual progress bars or thermometers to your online giving pages, and commit to frequent updates across all communication channels. Thank early participants, update your audience on milestones, and keep excitement high as the deadline approaches.
See it in action. One zoo’s local animal conservation campaign saw gifts doubled thanks to a donor-funded match drive. A kickoff event, online progress tracking, and frequent updates encouraged the community to reach the goal ahead of schedule and helped secure funding for a key project. This approach can energize your base, build urgency, and multiply donor engagement even if employer matches are unavailable.
Challenge match programs help foster a sense of collective achievement within your donor community and fully engage those who might otherwise feel their impact is limited.
2. Explore Spouse and Family Member Matching Gift Opportunities
If a donor’s own employer does not offer matching gifts, another household member’s employer might. After all, many businesses extend matching gift benefits to spouses, domestic partners, and even retirees. Nonprofits that recognize and leverage these underappreciated opportunities can significantly grow their funding without increasing overall donor acquisition efforts.
Encourage donors at every stage to explore household-based matching opportunities. Begin by adding simple prompts to your donation forms and communications to known ineligible donors. For example, “Does your spouse’s employer match gifts?” or “Household members may be eligible for matching programs; check today!” These reminders in thank-you notes, confirmation emails, and annual appeals nudge donors to consider options they may have overlooked.
Then, ease the process by providing up-to-date resources on your website. List major companies that include spouses in their matching programs and offer guidelines for how donors can check eligibility, such as speaking with their or their spouse’s HR representative. A searchable company database or FAQ page can further reduce confusion and barriers. Consider providing step-by-step instructions, sample HR inquiry emails, and quick guides for staff to use when answering donor questions. Making these resources easily accessible demonstrates your commitment to helping every donor maximize their impact.
Facilitating awareness and ease of access to family-based employer giving programs inspires donors to look within their networks, sometimes resulting in a larger share of gifts being matched.
3. Help Donors Advocate for New Employer Matching Gift Programs
Although some supporters may not have access to employer-sponsored giving today, they can still help spark change at their workplaces. When donors champion the launch of new matching programs, both your nonprofit and future employees stand to benefit.
Begin by educating donors about the benefits workplace giving programs offer companies. These include improved employee engagement and retention, as well as an enhanced corporate image. Consider creating content such as guides, infographics, or webinars that frame workplace giving as a win-win.
You can also empower your donors with practical tools to start conversations with their HR departments. Offer customizable email templates, helpful conversation starters, or detailed advocacy packets. These resources can include key statistics, summaries of peer company programs, and sample policies that make the case for new giving initiatives.
Then, offer to support the process directly when donors feel comfortable doing so. Nonprofits can provide informational materials for HR personnel or participate in presentations to company leadership. Being available to assist demonstrates professionalism and makes the transition smoother for everyone involved, while supporting donor advocacy not only puts matching programs on more employers’ radars but also deepens loyalty and enhances your network for future campaigns.
Quick tip: Be sure to celebrate any successes that result from these advocacy efforts. Share with your community stories of donors who helped launch new programs or inspired their employers to join an industry-wide movement for corporate citizenship. Recognizing these leaders highlights your community’s collaborative spirit and may prompt others to follow suit.
4. Boost Fundraising with Recurring Gifts and Payroll Giving
Recurring giving and payroll deductions are practical, sustainable, and increasingly convenient fundraising options for your donors. These ongoing giving alternatives create financial stability for your nonprofit while helping donors demonstrate their support for your mission year-round.
Start by making recurring donations the default or an otherwise highly visible option on your donation pages. Use persuasive messaging to illustrate the year-round impact of a modest monthly or quarterly gift, and show donors how simple their participation can be. From there, automated thank-you communications, reminders, and annual impact summaries are valuable touchpoints for maintaining relationships with recurring givers. These ongoing messages reinforce the impact of their loyalty, encourage upgrades, and foster long-term engagement.
Payroll giving, in which employees authorize their employer to deduct a set amount directly from their paychecks, offers an even simpler way for supporters to contribute regularly. To maintain a streamlined process for your donors, be sure to include enrollment guidelines, outline the benefits, and link to their employer’s payroll giving system, if known.
Recognition also matters. Develop programs such as “Sustainer Circles” or “Champion’s Clubs” for recurring and payroll donors, offering exclusive updates, special invitations, or unique tokens of appreciation. Publicizing these efforts by highlighting their impact in newsletters or featuring donor testimonials demonstrates the value you place on sustained support.
Key takeaway: Recurring and payroll giving strategies are crucial for building a predictable, diversified, and resilient funding base.
5. Activate Peer-to-Peer and Team Fundraising in Workplaces
Peer-to-peer and team fundraising initiatives harness social motivation and community connections. These campaigns transform donors into advocates, foster camaraderie, and help bring new supporters into your cause, especially in workplaces without a formal giving match.
Launching team challenges is an effective start. Allow departments, workgroups, or circles of friends to form fundraising teams, set goals, and compete for recognition or incentives. Providing custom giving pages, clear instructions, and team progress tracking encourages participation and nurtures friendly competition.
For even better results, add gamification elements by featuring digital badges, leaderboards, or rewards for top teams. Use newsletters, social media shout-outs, and in-person events to share team stories or celebrate victories. By making giving a social activity, these initiatives drive higher participation and repeat engagement at companies with engaged givers.
Top tip: Try syncing team fundraising drives with signature annual events, such as awareness months or local giving days, to amplify overall results. Empowering teams to allocate funds to specific projects or community needs can give participants a personal stake in the outcome and further motivate participation.
Be sure to equip teams with outreach resources, including email templates, graphics, and recruitment guidelines. Encouraging participants to share their campaigns on their professional networks or social media, and promptly thanking both leaders and new supporters, builds long-lasting enthusiasm and loyalty.