Matching Gift Programs

Taking Advantage of Employer “Matching Gift” Programs

Does your company match your charitable contributions? Does the parent company?

Getting twice as much out of your donation is a powerful incentive for many people. You may already have the ability to double your donation if your employer has a “matching gift” program intended to encourage personal philanthropy. In some cases, the match is twice the original amount, thus tripling your donation, but employees often don’t remember they have this benefit.

Here’s how it generally works: When an employee makes a donation of say, $25, to a favorite charity, he or she fills out a form provided by the company (usually the human resources department) and sends it to the charity with the donation. The charity fills out the second portion of the form, attesting to the amount of the donation made by the employee, and returns it to the company. The company sends a check for the matching amount of $25 directly to the charity, for a total of $50 received. Just like that, you’ve doubled your donation!

How do you know if your company offers this benefit? Ask your human resources department. In some cases, this benefit extends to retirees, sometimes there is a minimum donation threshold of $25. Here is sample information about four such programs for which AAJA qualifies as a 501 (c)(3) federally tax-exempt educational association:

• Chicago Tribune Foundation: Grants support organizations on a national level that offer programs for professional journalists that lead to journalistic excellence, promote diversity in the newspaper industry and protect freedom of the press. Support is considered for journalism programs in the metropolitan Chicago area that promote diversity. Support is not provided to high school or college newspapers. The grant range is $5,000 to $20,000. Proposals are due June 1 for a board meeting in September. Apply.
• New York Times Company: The Foundation administers the program by which The Times Company matches gifts by full-time employees, directors and retirees to qualifying organizations. Effective Jan. 1, 2008, the match is $1 for each $1 contributed, up to a limit of $3,000 in gifts each year per person. More info or contact (212)556-1091.
• The Washington Post Matching Gifts Program: The Washington Post encourages employees to provide financial assistance to those charitable organizations and educational institutions that reflect their individual interests and concerns. Through the Matching Gifts program, The Post joins with employees to support institutions and organizations that operate for the benefit of the general public good. Questions can be directed to washpost@easymatch.com or (877)702-6381. More info.
• GannettMatch: GannettMatch is a way to double a donation to your favorite charity and GannettMatch will matching your gift on a one-to-one basis. They will match any amount from $50 up to $10,000 total per year for each eligible Gannett participant. Open to all-full-time and regular part-time Gannett employees, Gannett’s Board of Directors, and an employee or director may qualify for matching funds until 30 days after retirement. More info.