The Power of Matching: Boosting Impact Through Employer Matching Programs

Employee match programs are perks provided by companies to motivate and acknowledge charitable contributions made by their employees. Consider it as additional funds you can utilize to support We Care Arts and make a positive impact on our community. Typically, companies will match an employee's donation to a charity on a one-to-one basis. However, some organizations offer even more generous matches, doubling or tripling the donation amount with two-to-one or three-to-one matches. This effectively means that your contribution to We Care Arts could be amplified to two to four times the original amount you donate.

 CHARITY NAVIGATOR provides an excellent resource to determine whether your company participates in matching gifts and outlines the specific guidelines for donation matching, if applicable.

Here's a list of a few national and local companies that currently participate in a matching program:

• PNC
• 5/3 Bank
• Macy's Inc.
• Walmart
• Sam's Club
• Comcast
• DaVita
• Google
• Microsoft
• Apple
• Bank of America
• The Walt Disney Company
• Verizon
• The Coca-Cola Company,
• Chevron
• Starbucks
• American Express

 Here is how you can make the most of your employee match program.

Step one: Learn the rules. Some companies have a preferred list of charities they partner with, while others match gifts to any charity an employee may support. The match likely has an annual limit. If you don’t know how your company’s match program works, contact your Human Resources department today! Don’t forget to ask if they allow employees to volunteer their time with local charities. Some companies offer paid time off to staff when they volunteer with an organization in their community.

Step two: Make your donation. Within the guidelines your company provides, select We Care Arts or another one of your favorite charities.  Be sure to keep proof of your gift or volunteer time, which may require providing contact information for a receipt.

Step three: Dot the i’s and cross the t’s. Typically, companies only need a receipt as proof of contribution and a single form requesting that they match the donation. Provide these (and any other required materials) promptly to the appropriate personnel at your company, likely the Human Resources department or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team. Confirm that the match was made.

Consult with your HR department to determine if this option is available at your workplace.   Don't let opportunities for social good pass you by! Make the most of your employee match program this year!  DONATE TODAY!