What is a matching gift?

A matching gift is an arrangement where a third party — most often an employer — agrees to match donations made by their employees to eligible nonprofits, dollar-for-dollar or at a set ratio. An employee who gives $50 might trigger a $50 (or $25, or $100) match from their company, which the nonprofit then receives separately.

Eligibility usually depends on the employee's company having a matching-gift program, the nonprofit being qualified (often a US 501(c)(3) or international equivalent), and the donor submitting the match request through their employer's portal. Nonprofits sometimes follow up with donors to remind them to file the match.

CrowdCreate doesn't run a matching-gift program or integrate with corporate matching portals — it's a single donation widget on your site. Matching gifts happen outside it: the donor submits the match with their employer, and the matched amount arrives in a separate payment.