Taking Advantage of Your Employee Match
Employee match programs require a small amount of effort to engage, but the work will pay off for the nonprofits you choose to support. 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 Parnassus Enrichment Organization as your nonprofit. 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.
Don’t leave money for social good on the table! Take advantage of your employee match program this year and every year.
Not sure if your employer or a potential employer offers a charitable match? Utilize the search tool and find out!
VOLUNTEER GRANT PROGRAM
Volunteer grant companies are businesses that make monetary donations to nonprofit organizations where their employees regularly volunteer. These employers aim to incentivize their staff’s philanthropic efforts by providing monetary grants according to the number of hours an individual (or team!) volunteers.
Today, thousands of businesses have established volunteer grant programs.
Where can I get a volunteer grant?
Volunteer grants (like matching gifts) fall into a category of corporate philanthropy known as workplace or employee giving. That means it’s up to individual volunteers to complete the volunteer grant request process and secure funds for your cause.
For our nonprofit’s part, simply promoting the opportunity to your volunteer base can go a long way. Increase awareness of volunteer grants by sharing information on social media, through personal outreach, at volunteer events, and more.
When possible, collect volunteer employment information (from donation pages, event registration forms, surveys, etc.) so your team can identify qualifying supporters, too.
From there, you can use a corporate giving database to supply employer-specific program insights and links to online request forms. This makes the submission process quick and easy for your volunteers.
Then, the company processes the application and makes a monetary donation to your organization.
