Revamping Your Matching Gift Program: A Guide to Enhancing Employee Engagement
In today’s workplace, employee expectations have shifted. People want more than just a paycheck. They want to know their employer is doing good and making different. This shift means that corporate social responsibility (CSR) is no longer a side initiative but a core part of a company’s offering. One key way to demonstrate your commitment to CSR while also increasing employee engagement? Investing into your matching gift program.
Companies that offer matches not only double the impact of their employees’ donations, but also see measurable gains in morale, loyalty, and public perception. This guide explores how thoughtful design and smart technology can help businesses maximize both participation and outcomes.
In this article, we’ll cover:
Understanding Matching Gifts and Engagement
Matching gifts are employer-sponsored programs that match charitable contributions made by employees to eligible nonprofit organizations. 65% of companies offer these programs as open-choice programs, giving employees the freedom to give back to any mission that’s meaningful to them.
These programs, especially when they’re offered as open-choice programs, influence employee engagement in meaningful ways. Research consistently shows that when employees see their companies supporting the causes they care about, they feel more connected, appreciated, and motivated. That emotional connection often results in greater job satisfaction, stronger retention, and higher productivity.
In short, these programs make employees feel valued and excited to work for a company that wants to do good.
Why Matching Gifts Matter for Business
Beyond just those philanthropic and employee engagement outcomes, matching gifts can create even more strategic business value. For examples, companies with strong matching gift programs have seen benefits in:
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Attracting and retaining talent: Talented workers (especially Millennials and Gen Zers) increasingly prioritize employers that support social causes. Matching gifts are a tangible way to demonstrate that support.
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Deepening employee loyalty: Participation in giving programs helps employees feel aligned with a company’s mission and values. That means they’re going to be stickier employees who are less likely to job surf and look for new opportunities.
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Enhancing CSR impact: Matching gifts drive measurable social good while also enabling better reporting and tracking of corporate contributions. The impact of these programs is definable and measurable.
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Boosting brand reputation: Companies seen as generous, modern, and value-aligned enjoy stronger stakeholder trust and media attention. With a matching gift program strengthening the company culture and showing their commitment to giving back, it’s no wonder that companies with programs in place benefit from positive brand associations.
The impact is not just theoretical. Companies with robust giving programs often rank higher in employee satisfaction and are more likely to be featured on “best places to work” lists.
What Holds Participation Back
Despite the appeal of matching gifts, participation rates tend to only hover around 10 percent. The reasons vary, but most boil down to three issues:
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Lack of awareness. Many employees are unaware their employer offers a matching gift program. If employees aren’t reminded that the program exists regularly, it can be easy for them to overlook this as one of their key benefits.
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Complicated processes. Submitting a matching gift request often involves finding the right portal, logging in, entering donation details, and uploading receipts. If your company doesn’t make it accessible and easy for employees to complete the matching gift request process, this can lead to drop-off and lower program usage.
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Poor timing. The delay between making a donation and being reminded to submit a match request can lead to drop-off. Many employees never follow through because the gift is no longer top-of-mind by the time they’re made aware that the program exists and educated on the submission process.
The reality is that even the most generous program won’t perform well if it’s difficult to use. This is where smarter design and user-focused technology come into play.
Designing Better Programs
A high-impact matching gift program starts with simplicity. Employers should approach design from the employee’s point of view, making it simple for them to understand that the program exists and what it looks like to request a match.
Key strategies to achieve this include:
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Clear communication: Promote the program regularly via email, onboarding packets, intranet banners, and internal events.
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Defined eligibility: Make it easy to understand which donations qualify and how to participate. Explain match ratios, maximum match amounts, minimum match amounts, which employee groups are eligible, and more.
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Responsive support: Provide an easy way for employees to get help if they hit a roadblock. It should be clear which department they should reach out to at your business should they have any questions on getting involved.
Companies may also consider incorporating matching gifts into broader employee engagement efforts, such as volunteer grants, giving campaigns, or social recognition events. These programs work best when they’re not treated as separate offerings or isolated offerings. Instead, offer a variety of employee giving programs.
The Case for Auto-submission Technology
Auto-submission is a game-changer in corporate philanthropy. It allows employees to submit their matching gift requests directly from a nonprofit’s website, eliminating the need to visit a separate portal or complete manual forms.
Why Auto-submission Improves Participation:
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Convenience. When the request process is part of the donation experience, there is no follow-up needed.
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Speed. Requests are filed immediately, increasing the chance of approval and reducing administrative lag.
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Accuracy. With fewer manual steps, there is less chance of user error or incomplete submissions.
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Engagement. Employees are more likely to participate in a system that feels modern and responsive.
From a corporate operations standpoint, auto-submission reduces friction on both sides. It minimizes internal support needs, improves data collection, and supports better reporting.
Platforms like Double the Donation offer this technology to nonprofits, and companies can partner with them to activate this functionality for employees.
The result is a more efficient, employee-centric giving program that meets expectations without creating new burdens.
Becoming a Certified Leader in Matching Automation
Some companies are taking their commitment to streamlined giving a step further by pursuing recognition as a Certified Leader in Matching Automation.
This distinction recognizes businesses that enable auto-submission and demonstrate a commitment to employee-driven philanthropy. By obtaining this certification, you can signal to employees, applicants, and customers that your company takes giving seriously and is committed to reducing barriers to impact.
Companies with this certification stand out not only for their generosity but for the systems they put in place to make generosity scalable.
Tracking Success and Improving Over Time
Just like any other business initiative, successful matching gift programs are grounded in data.
Metrics to Monitor:
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Participation rate: What percentage of eligible employees are submitting match requests?
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Average match amount: Are employees giving at levels aligned with company expectations?
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Time to submission: Are requests coming in promptly, or is there a drop-off after donation?
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Support requests: How often do employees need help with the submission process?
These insights allow CSR leaders to adjust messaging, clarify eligibility, simplify touchpoints, and identify opportunities for further automation.
Moreover, data can support better storytelling in annual impact reports, recruitment materials, and investor updates. It helps quantify not just what the company gave, but how it enabled employee-led impact.
Conclusion: Matching Purpose with Performance
Matching gift programs are more than a perk you can offer employees. They are a strategic investment in culture, retention, and social impact. Companies that make participation easy, integrate technology like auto-submission, and seek out best practices create a workplace where employees feel valued and motivated to give back.
If your organization is ready to see major employee engagement benefits, refining your matching gift approach is one of the most effective and scalable ways to do it.
