Maximize Your PMC Fundraising With Matching Gifts and Grants

blog post by PMC's Alison Rush (Director of Fundraising) and Justine Darmanian (Fundraising and Kids Rides Coordinator)

Looking for a great way to boost your fundraising? Matching gifts and grants are a wonderful way to do that!  Last year, the PMC received over $1.6 million in matching funds, which made up a noticeable portion of our $41 million gift to Dana-Farber. That’s quite an impressive number! 

(L to R: Justine Darmanian and Alison Rush excited to get new Matching Gift forms from #pmc2015 riders)

These days, there are so many companies that match their employees’ donations. When reaching out to your donors, always be sure to ask whether their employer matches charitable contributions. Some people may not even be aware of the fact that their company does this so a friendly reminder goes a long way. Most companies match at a 1:1 ratio but there are some, like Illinois Tool Works, which match at a 3:1 ratio. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has an overwhelming 5:1 matching ratio! 

Matches are usually done either online or by paper forms. Once we’re able to confirm that we’ve received the original donation, we credit riders with the match up front so they don’t have to wait for the check to come in from the company. That way, they always have an up-to-date record of how much they’ve raised. Contact your Human Resources department to find out which process your company uses. 

If your company doesn’t match, there are still other potential fundraising options. Many employers have grant programs that are either volunteer based or you simply need to apply for. For example, Disney has a VoluntEARS grant program that will give up to $1,000 to a non-profit of the employee’s choosing if they have volunteered for a certain number of hours.