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In the ever-evolving landscape of nonprofit fundraising, staying ahead of the curve is crucial. While traditional methods remain important, savvy organizations are increasingly tapping into a powerful yet often overlooked resource: employer matching gift programs. Imagine a world where a significant portion of your donations could be automatically doubled, even tripled, with minimal effort on your part. This is the potential that lies dormant within employer matching, and platforms like Amply are making it easier than ever to unlock this hidden revenue stream.

The Untapped Potential of Employer Matching: A Game-Changer for Nonprofits

Studies reveal a startling truth: billions of dollars in matching gift funds go unclaimed every year. The reason? A disconnect between willing employers and well-intentioned donors. Many individuals remain unaware of their company’s matching gift programs, while others find the process of submitting requests confusing and time-consuming. This is where a dedicated employer matching platform can truly revolutionize your fundraising efforts.

Beyond the Basics: What Sets Amply Apart in a Crowded Field

While numerous tools promise to simplify employer matching, Amply stands out by going beyond basic functionality and offering a truly comprehensive solution. Here’s how it elevates the playing field:

• Seamless Integration for Effortless Giving: Amply integrates seamlessly with your existing donation pages, creating a frictionless experience for donors. Imagine a donor completing their donation and instantly seeing a prompt to check their employer’s matching gift eligibility – all without leaving your website. This level of integration is crucial for maximizing participation and capturing every potential match.
• Smart Automation for Maximum Efficiency: Amply takes the heavy lifting out of employer matching, automating everything from eligibility verification and form pre-population to submission tracking and reporting. This not only saves your team countless hours of administrative work but also minimizes the risk of human error.
• White-Glove Service and Dedicated Support: Amply recognizes that technology is only as good as the team behind it. That’s why they provide personalized support, expert guidance, and a dedicated customer success team to ensure you’re getting the most out of their platform.

Deeper Dive: Features That Make a Difference

Let’s delve into some specific features that set Amply apart:

• Robust Company Database: Amply boasts a comprehensive database of over 4,000 company matching gift programs, constantly updated to ensure accuracy. This eliminates the need for manual research and ensures you’re capturing every eligible match.
• Offline Donation Matching: Unlike some platforms, Amply doesn’t limit you to online donations. Their system allows you to upload offline donations and retroactively check for matching opportunities, maximizing your fundraising potential across all channels.
• Customizable Donor Messaging: Amply understands the importance of a cohesive brand experience. Their platform allows you to customize donor-facing emails with your organization’s branding and messaging, ensuring a seamless and consistent journey.
• Actionable Data Insights: Amply provides robust reporting and analytics, giving you valuable insights into donor behavior, matching gift trends, and overall program performance. This data empowers you to make data-driven decisions and continually refine your strategies.

More Than Matching: Amply as a Strategic Fundraising Partner

Amply is more than just a software solution – it’s a strategic partner invested in your organization’s success. Their platform offers a range of features designed to elevate your overall fundraising efforts:

• CRM Integration for a 360° View: Amply seamlessly integrates with leading CRM platforms like Salesforce, allowing you to sync matching gift data with your donor profiles and gain a holistic understanding of your supporters.
• Personalized Outreach for Increased Engagement: Leveraging CRM integration, Amply enables you to segment your donor base and send targeted communications about matching gift opportunities, maximizing engagement and participation.
• Customizable Donation Forms: Amply provides flexible options for integrating matching gift information directly into your donation forms. You can choose to embed a search tool, include a dedicated matching gift section, or even offer a post-donation checkout page option.

Getting Started with Amply: Easy Onboarding, Lasting Impact

Amply makes it surprisingly easy to get started:

• Simple Setup: Implementing Amply is typically quick and straightforward, requiring minimal technical expertise. Their team provides step-by-step guidance and support throughout the onboarding process.
• Flexible Pricing: Amply offers tiered pricing plans to accommodate organizations of all sizes and budgets, ensuring accessibility for everyone.

The Bottom Line: Don’t Leave Money on the Table

In a competitive fundraising landscape, ignoring the power of employer matching is simply not an option. Platforms like Amply empower nonprofits to unlock this untapped revenue stream and fuel their missions like never before. By automating the process, providing exceptional support, and offering a wealth of features, Amply becomes an invaluable partner in your quest to make a lasting difference in the world.

Here’s a table outlining the differences between Match360Pro and Amply, highlighting the advantages of Amply in employer matching products:

This table clearly demonstrates how Amply outperforms Match360Pro in several key areas, making it the superior choice for nonprofit organizations looking to maximize their employer matching opportunities.

At Amply, we’re constantly looking for ways to help our clients maximize their fundraising efforts. Today, we’re excited to announce a new initiative: Amply Live Event Matching.

This initiative focuses on unlocking the potential of corporate matching programs at live events. After all, billions of dollars in matching funds go unclaimed every year. By seamlessly integrating these programs into fundraising events, we can significantly boost donations for the causes that matter most.

Leading the charge is CK Swett, our new Director of Event Based Giving. CK brings 14 years of experience as a charity auctioneer, raising millions for various causes. He understands the power of live events and the untapped potential of corporate matching.

In his own words:

“Many people associate auctioneers with exciting items and high-profile donors. But the reality is, the majority of funds raised at galas come from direct pledges. In the past five months alone, I’ve helped generate over $6 million for 27 different charities through these ‘Fund-the-Future’ moments. But what if we could amplify that impact even further? What if we could tap into the billions of dollars in unclaimed corporate matching funds?”

CK’s vision aligns perfectly with Amply’s mission. In the coming months, we’ll be working with major event payment processors like OneCause, Classy, Givergy, and others to develop seamless solutions for integrating corporate matching into live events.

Join us in this exciting journey! Together, we can unlock a new level of fundraising potential and empower non-profits to make a greater impact on the world.

Stay tuned for further updates on Amply Event Matching and how it can benefit your organization.

— CK Swett, Director, Event Based Giving

Intro

In the dynamic world of non-profit organizations, the quest for funding is both a paramount challenge and a thrilling opportunity. You’re on a mission, fueled by a cause that demands attention, action, and resources. To truly unleash the potential of your organization, embracing innovative fundraising ideas is not just an option—it’s a necessity.

Among the most powerful and yet underutilized strategies are employer donation matching and corporate giving programs. These are not just fundraising ideas; they are gateways to transforming the impact of your non-profit. Let’s dive deep and discover how you can leverage these opportunities to not only meet but exceed your fundraising goals. Let’s ignite that spark of potential and turn it into a blazing inferno of success and positive change!

Laying the Groundwork for Success: Understanding Matching Gifts

Dive headfirst into the realm of matching gifts and unearth a treasure trove of opportunity waiting to boost your non-profit’s fundraising efforts. Imagine every donation with its powerful twin, standing side by side, ready to double the impact of your cause. But here’s the catch – unlocking this treasure requires knowledge and initiative. Your first mission? Become an expert in the who, what, and how of matching gifts. Identify those generous corporations eager to match their employees’ contributions, grasp the intricate details of their programs, and arm yourself with this crucial intelligence.

This is not merely an administrative task; it’s your stepping stone to amplifying the reach of every dollar donated. Ignite your donors’ passion by enlightening them about this opportunity to magnify their impact. Knowledge here isn’t just power—it’s potential transformed into tangible support for your cause. Begin this journey with a commitment to mastering the art of matching gifts, and watch as the doors to unprecedented fundraising success swing wide open before you.

Crafting the Perfect Pitch: Strategies to Promote Matching Gifts

Ignite a fire within your donor base with a pitch that’s not just heard, but felt. Transform the mundane into the extraordinary by showcasing the life-changing power of doubled donations. When crafting your message, tap into the heart of your cause, sharing stories that paint a vivid picture of the impact their generosity can have. This isn’t just about sharing numbers; it’s about sharing dreams, progress, and the faces behind the figures.

Make it crystal clear how simple it is for donors to leverage their employer’s matching gift programs, breaking down the process into easy-to-follow steps. Equip them with all the necessary tools and information, ensuring that doubling their donation is no more complex than a few clicks. This journey of inspiration and empowerment is pivotal, stirring your donors to action and embedding the notion that their contribution, however big or small, is a cornerstone of change. Charge forward with confidence, and let your passion be the guiding light that leads donors to unlock the full potential of their giving.

Beyond the Basics: Tapping into Employer Corporate Giving Programs

Delve deeper than ever before into the vast ocean of corporate giving programs and uncover the boundless opportunities lying beneath the surface. These programs are more than just an untapped reservoir of potential; they’re a diverse ecosystem of grants, volunteer contributions, and in-kind support waiting to synergize with your non-profit’s mission. To navigate these waters, start by crafting a meticulous map of companies known for their philanthropic spirits, especially those whose giving philosophies align with your cause.

This isn’t about casting a wide net but rather fishing with precision, understanding each company’s unique giving landscape, and tailoring your approach to resonate with their corporate ethos. Forge ahead, equipped with the diligence to research, the savvy to connect, and the vision to propose partnerships that benefit both worlds. This exploration into the realm of employer corporate giving programs is more than a strategy—it’s a voyage towards unlocking the full magnitude of support for your cause, empowering you to sail closer to your fundraising horizons.

Building Bridges: How to Foster Long-Term Corporate Partnerships

To forge lasting bonds with corporations, it’s imperative to see beyond the initial engagement, envisioning a partnership rooted in shared values and mutual growth. Embark on this journey by vividly illustrating the transformative effect of their support, through compelling narratives and immersive experiences that bring their contributions to life.

Make it a priority to weave their philanthropic efforts into the fabric of your activities, ensuring they’re not just spectators but active participants in your mission. Engage them with hands-on projects and volunteer opportunities that resonate with their team’s spirit, fostering a sense of ownership and pride in the outcomes achieved together. It’s about crafting a narrative of collaboration, where every milestone reached and every hurdle overcome strengthens the bond and reaffirms the commitment to a shared vision. Remember, these partnerships are built on trust, transparency, and a relentless pursuit of common goals. Forge ahead with the knowledge that these alliances are the cornerstone of enduring impact, a testament to what can be accomplished when passion and purpose converge.

Maximizing Impact: Creative Fundraising Ideas to Complement Matching Gifts

Elevate your fundraising to unprecedented heights with inventive strategies that go hand in hand with matching gifts. Why not launch a series of themed virtual marathons where participants can gather sponsors from their network, including those eligible for employer matching? Imagine the thrill of an online talent show, where entry fees and audience donations are subject to doubling by corporate partners, turning talent into tangible support.

Consider the impact of an art auction, leveraging the creativity of your community, with pieces donated by local artists, and proceeds boosted by matching contributions. Dive into the digital age with a hashtag campaign that spreads like wildfire, encouraging supporters to share why they believe in your cause, alongside a link to donate, effectively turning viral moments into vital funds. Each of these endeavors does more than just raise money; they galvanize your community, deepen connections with corporate partners, and most importantly, highlight the multiplying power of matching gifts. Get ready to push boundaries and creatively champion your cause, turning every dollar raised into a force for extraordinary impact.

The Power of Persistence: Overcoming Common Challenges in Corporate Fundraising

Navigating the complex landscape of corporate fundraising demands more than just strategy; it requires an unwavering spirit of persistence. Embrace the hurdles as they come, from intricate bureaucracies to stringent CSR criteria, viewing each as a stepping stone towards your ultimate goal. The journey is fraught with challenges, yet it’s your tenacity in the face of rejection that will carve the path to success.

Arm yourself with a resilience that turns every ‘no’ into a new direction, a lesson learned, an opportunity to refine your approach. This relentless pursuit is not for the faint-hearted; it calls for a bold, unyielding commitment to your cause. Forge ahead, keeping your mission in sharp focus, adapt your strategies with agility, and maintain open, transparent communication with potential corporate allies. Your determination will not only break down barriers but will also lay the foundation for enduring partnerships and fundraising triumphs. In this arena, persistence is not just a virtue—it’s your most potent weapon.

Seizing the Moment: Leveraging Technology for Fundraising Success

In the swiftly evolving digital landscape, harnessing the power of technology is crucial for propelling your fundraising initiatives into the stratosphere. Embrace the digital revolution, utilizing state-of-the-art donor management platforms and engaging with your audience through dynamic social media campaigns. The digital realm offers a fertile ground for innovation, allowing you to streamline donation processes and ensure that every supporter, no matter where they are in the world, can contribute with ease and be matched by their employer’s giving program.

Dive into the world of crowdfunding to unlock a global community eager to support your cause, and utilize analytics tools to tailor your strategies, ensuring maximum engagement and impact. The potential of technology in fundraising is limitless, transforming traditional methods and enabling you to connect, inspire, and mobilize like never before. In this digital age, your mission’s reach is bound only by the limits of your imagination. Let’s harness this incredible power, turning every click, share, and donation into a stepping stone towards achieving your fundraising goals.

Rallying the Troops: Mobilizing Your Community for Maximum Impact

At the core of every successful fundraising venture lies the unbreakable spirit and collective power of your community. It’s about lighting a fire under every volunteer, donor, and staff member, propelling them to champion your cause with unbridled enthusiasm. Infuse your community with a sense of purpose and mission, turning every individual into a powerhouse of advocacy and action. Encourage the art of storytelling amongst your supporters, enabling them to share personal narratives that resonate and inspire action. Harness this dynamic energy by promoting peer-to-peer fundraising initiatives that amplify your reach and impact exponentially.

Create vibrant forums and interactive platforms where ideas can flourish, strategies can be honed, and the spirit of collaboration can thrive. This isn’t just about rallying support; it’s about forging an indomitable alliance, ready to tackle any challenge and soar to new heights. Together, as a united force, your community becomes the bedrock of your mission’s success, turning collective action into a beacon of transformative change.

We’ve reached a time where Millennials and Gen Z make up over half of the U.S. population, and even when many probably still think of them as loud kids that complain about everything, the truth is most are now working adults looking for ways to make this a better place for everyone. As a nonprofit, you should be learning about them, and some key factors about Millennials and Gen Z are:

• Both generations grew surrounded by tech. 
• They are more likely to support causes they feel deeply connected to.
• Social media plays a big role for them.

According to Forbes, 73% of Millennials donated to others during the pandemic, more than any other generation. This is why a shift towards a more tech-savvy approach in fundraising is essential, so if you want to take the lead, incorporating platforms like PayPal, Venmo or GoFundMe will give you an advantage over those who refuse to change. Here are some things to consider first:

Mobile-friendly

It is vastly known that Millennials and Gen Z spend most of their time on their phone, but did you know that 98% of Gen Z and 93% or Millennials own a smartphone, compared to 90% of Gen X and 68% of Baby Boomers? Millennials and Gen Z thrive in an environment of click and swipe, so making your website (specially your donation page) mobile-friendly is vital.

Simplify

With the arrival of apps like Tiktok and Instagram, the attention span of these generations can be short, so if your donation process takes too long and they have to fill in too many spaces, they might get bored or distracted and end up leaving before donating. Make donating simple and efficient by leaving unnecessary questions for later. Once you have their information and details, you can always contact them later either through an email, phone or social media.

Social Media

Sharing is caring some say, and for Millennials and Gen Z, this is true. Helping a cause is not only about the money for them. Sometimes, a like and share of a post can make a big difference to a cause, just like a small or big donation. You might get lucky and go viral one day, which will mean you’ll be seen by millions of eyes. Getting more publicity for free will also bring in funds, so always remember to ask donors to share your message. Boomers might not be scrolling past other people’s posts, but they are most definitely reading what their kids post. Hashtags on instagram, tiktok challenges or even going live on Facebook are all ways to stay in contact with your supporters in a fun and interactive way. Make sure to use as many of these as possible.

Communicate Your Nonprofit’s Impact

As mentioned above, getting the younger generation’s support will depend on if they feel a connection with your cause or not. They won’t blindly support you if they don’t see how their money will be invested and won’t be misused for personal gain, so make sure you share your story. Share pictures, share videos, share everything you can because for them, the more they see, the more transparent and real your actions feel. Make them see they are not just a dollar sign, but they really matter. If you do this, they’ll turn into committed ambassadors helping your nonprofit’s mission grow and reach more people. They’ll be loyal for as long as you prove to them their impact is real. Your nonprofit’s impact is their impact. Remember that.

We’ve mentioned the importance of including corporate matching gifts programs in your fundraising plan many times before – we just can’t shut up about this untapped, yet incredibly impactful charitable opportunity. 

We also know the terms can be confusing at first, so we’ll help you understand the basics here.

Corporate matching is a philanthropic benefit where the employer will match a donation made by their employee. For example, if one of our employees at Amply made a $50 donation to Girls Who Code, a charitable organization, we as a company could then match our employee’s contribution with an additional $50 donation. This means, the organization that was to originally receive a one-time $50 donation, now gets double the benefit at $100. 

There are five key terms you need to understand regarding corporate matching programs: match ratio, minimums and maximums, employee eligibility, nonprofit eligibility, and matching deadlines.

Match ratio

A match ratio determines the amount of money a company will match in relation to what their employee’s donation was. Each organization has their own match ratio set, and they can even have different ones set for different employees, so make sure you pay close attention to them in their policy as well.

The most common ratio you’ll find is “1:1”(a dollar for a dollar), which means they will give the exact same amount to the nonprofit. Other amounts you may see are “.5:1” which would just be half, or “2:1” which would mean if the original donation was $50, the employer will match $100 (double), making it a total of $150 fundraised from just one person. There are a lot of ratios, these are just some examples.

Minimums and maximums

All organizations have a minimum and a maximum amount donated that they will match. This means that if the employee donates less than the minimum, they are not eligible for a match. If they donate over the maximum, the employer will only process up to the specified maximum. In other words, the minimum is the amount the employee must donate in order to qualify for a match. This can go from just $1 to even $100+ depending again on the company, the employee status and more. The maximum is the top amount that a company will match per employee per year.

The reason these restrictions exist is to ensure that the corporate giving budget is used to help causes their employees really care about, and that those who give smaller amounts aren’t left out due to others giving larger amounts and exhausting the designed budget.

Employee status

As mentioned above, some organizations have different match ratios depending on the employee, but they can also have different minimums, maximums and even change the employee’s eligibility depending on their status. Most are differentiated by the position, if they’re part-time employees or if they are retired. For example, some won’t match donations made by retired employees, but others will, and in some cases a spouse or child of an employee can be eligible too.

Nonprofit eligibility

Just like the employee’s status can change the eligibility, ratio, minimum and maximum set by their organization’s policy, the type of nonprofit can affect the matching too. Some companies even decide to completely disqualify donations made to certain organizations, even if they are a 501(c)(3). These restrictions are usually placed to align their support with the company’s view. This is why religious and educational nonprofits can sometimes be placed in the ineligible status, or on the other hand, some can instead assign higher ratios to them.

Deadline

Although it’s important to apply for gift matches as soon as possible, it is essential to understand that a match cannot be requested after a specific period of time. Companies usually establish either all matches to be requested by a specific date, or after a specific time period after the donation was made. For example, if ABC has a 3 months period for match requests, and an employee contributes to a cause on February 28th, they will have until May 28th of the same year to submit their forms to the corresponding department. Be very careful when reviewing this, since you could be missing out on donations made a year ago that can still be matched. Some even extended their deadline periods due to COVID-19, which means that if you do your research, you might find more funds!

Many companies offer corporate matching gifts programs for their employees, including 65% of Fortune 500 companies, so taking advantage of this will help your nonprofit raise more. We understand that often this process is left behind due to the time one has to invest, but Amply has automated it and made it customizable to your needs. By automating it you will save time and effort on checking for small changes on company policies, following up with donors and organizations and more. Schedule a demo here and we’ll talk about what we can offer and what you need in more detail.

_{It’s time to remove the roadblocks that have kept your organization from growing matching gift revenue and ensure matching gifts are processed with ease.} 

Nonprofits are always looking for ways to achieve their missions, but nothing can be done without funding. If there’s an efficient and easy way to motivate fundraisers and donors to act fast to double their impact on your cause, it is definitely gift matching.

We understand that when a Nonprofit engages their matching process manually, the process is surprisingly tedious and overwhelming. From countless steps including reaching out to thousands of various employers, to reviewing whether each of those companies has a matching program and if so what policies are applicable to each specific matching gift program. Finding out whether your NPO is eligible to receive matching gifts starts to feel like the tip of the iceberg. Executing on this process also requires a level of personalization at various levels of communication that can ultimately feel like it’s more time than it’s worth. At last there are ways to facilitate a matching gift program that is much more efficient and fast!

The first step is to make sure your donors know about matching gifts through outreach and education. Even when 65% of Fortune 500 companies have a matching program, only 7% of donors take advantage of it. Amply has long since understood this shocking gap between resources and opportunity and concluded many years ago that we needed to do something technological about it. To sum it up, we knew the easiest way to solve this was by automating the gift matching process.

What we did (and do!):

The Matching Gift Widget

We created a seamlessly integrated matching gift widget that provides donors instructions on how to have their donation matched which means we created the space for your donors to first notice, then check for matching eligibility among their employer.

Company Matching Gift Policies, Actions and Timelines

Be aware that companies all over the country have been taking action towards maintaining healthy employees and improving the way they manage their business. This translates into guidelines and policies in constant change. We create a robust and consistently updated database of company policies and guidelines. 

Personalized, Consistent, Informed and Responsive Donor Outreach.

Driving more matches to completion entirely depends on the level of well-received engagement you extend to your donors. We evaluate the appropriate language and cadence through years of understanding what’s best suited for ushering your donors through the matching gift process so that thoughtful emails and timelines are constructed for you.

If this all seems a bit troublesome, it doesn’t have to be. Amply has all the tools you need and can integrate with most CRM platforms. Automating can save you 30% of the time spent managing matches, and boost not only your matching but increase your donor retention rate.

Matching funds increase average gift size by 41%

Matching funds increase the number of donations by 110%

Matching funds increase revenue by 120%

Most of us are familiar with the concept of corporate social responsibility and yet one of the most effective ways of giving – corporate gift matching – is still considered elusive to many corporate employees. Only 1 out of 5 employee donors know about their company’s program. 

This means that the first step to getting more from matches is to introduce and educate your donors on corporate gift matching. We then make it easy for them to execute the process. 

Here are some of our favorite strategies you could use to engage donor employees:

1 Webpage – Have a space on your webpage with gift matching info available. You can use an image with details, a link to a site with more information, or a full space dedicated to this.

2 Donation process – Add it to your donation page/process for faster filling in. We suggest you only request necessary information with this step, so as to not overwhelm donors. Also, by adding the employer widget at the end of the donation process too, you can make sure those who didn’t fill it in first, have the chance to fill it in now with your “thank you” message.

3 Email – Opportunities to show gratitude to your donors are not only essential, but they are an immensely positive way to keep your organization top of mind. After receiving a donation, we highly recommend you thank the donor either by email or letter, and adding a small paragraph or image regarding gift matching can do wonders. Or if you have regular emails or a Newsletter, this is the place to share since your donors subscribed to know how your organization is improving and to learn more ways they can help!

If your donor has shared his employer and is eligible, sending matching gifts reminder emails has been shown to drastically increase the number of matching gifts submitted. So don’t be afraid to email them! They want to help your cause, and there’s no better way than to be able to give more without spending more.

4 Social Media – Sometimes we forget the power of social media, especially when it’s used consistently. Let people know how gift matching works and how it’s helped your cause, and you will increase your engagement in ways that might even surprise you. For example, if you’ve had corporation XYZ match the donations of 10 of their employees, and that money helped you feed 20 more families, sharing that story will make the support stand out even more and encourage others to donate or even finish their match process!

5 End/Start of year – Many companies match gifts made even over a year ago, so end and start of year is a great time to remind donors they can still amplify their giving. This can be done through all the above actions! And since we’re still at the beginning of 2022, today is the day.

6 Automate the process – The gift matching process can be very tedious for your donors and employees, so making sure you have automated this process will save time not only for your organization, but for the donors too. It can double or even triple the number of matches processed. Email reminders are essential when it comes to match-eligible donors. With every email sent, the percentage of  matches processed increases! Amply offers tier 1 service in this category, so if you want more details you can schedule a demo here.

7. Follow up – Once your donors have indicated they are interested in matching, make sure you are there to help them. If you see someone’s process is left unfinished, make sure to contact them by email or phone. Sometimes people are busy and want to help you but forget. It’s ok to send an extra email checking in to see if they need help.

I understand you can be scared to reach out and feel like you are spamming your donors, but in reality, in this saturated world you are just sharing information that, if not diversified, most people will not see, and so, expanding your reach is the best way to go. You are not bothering donors, you are empowering them.

Engaged donors are repeat donors.

In the last couple of years, more and more organizations have been shifting to digital giving, and engaging with your donors might seem more difficult without having that face-to-face interaction, but here are some things you can implement to stay in your donor’s mind and make the most out of these.

Improve your donor retention rate

To improve your donor retention it’s important to know how to calculate it. Here’s a simple formula:

(# of last year donors giving this year / # of total donors last year) x 100 = retention rate %

Once you have this information, you can plan accordingly. Track how different approaches work and make sure to always have your donor in mind. Using corporate matching is a great way to improve donor retention since it will keep your organization on your donor’s mind, and make them feel like they’ve donated more to a cause they care about, without using more of their own money.

Build relationships

We all know that donors offer more to your organization than simply the money they contribute. They are the heart of your mission and without them, your cause can’t flourish. Make sure they feel valued. If they are donating to your cause, it’s because they care about it. They want to help you, and simple things like a tier list for donors with simple rewards can help.

Use social media

Having a social media presence is very important. People love sharing their likes and interests online, so if you post your organization’s story or invite donors to be part of your social media campaigns, they’ll feel more connected to you.

Everyone wants to feel like they’re part of a bigger cause.

Also try using hashtags to raise exposure, but don’t overdo it! Using 1 or 2 for tweets and facebook posts, or less than 10 for Instagram will make them more likely to be retweeted/shared.

Reduce donation page abandonment

Remember donors can be busy with life. If donating takes a long time, they are more likely to get distracted and forget. Make donating simple and efficient by leaving unnecessary questions for later.
Instead:

• Use an employer search widget to quickly know if they can get their donation matched.
• Offer recurring donation options and make it attractive to donate again. A way to do this would be to have a tier list with special titles or even prizes when they reach a certain level.
• Provide suggested giving amounts for faster giving. Click and go!

Send follow up emails

Once your donor has donated for the first time, make sure you thank them. From here, make sure the emails you send have valuable information to them regarding your cause and organization. Ask yourself if you really need to send that email, and if not, then wait. The least you want to do is end up on their spam mail. Their inbox is probably already saturated, so if you want to stand out, make sure you are sending what your donors want to receive.

Women’s March Foundation, a women-led movement committed to dismantling systems of oppression, has partnered with Amply to raise more for social change.

Amply has launched an integration with ActBlue allowing thousands of organizations to boost fundraising through matching gift software that connects online donations with employers and non-profits.

The first Women’s March was a worldwide protest held on January 21st of 2017, the first full day of Donald Trump as the president, and it originated from the need to fight what Trump’s actions reflected. From his 2005 “locker room talk” leaked recording, to other remarks he made through the election process, women felt he was being anti-women, and so there was a big need to let him know women weren’t going to ignore that. It was even the largest single-day protest in U.S. history.

The Women’s March Foundation created a new awareness of women’s political power, leading to an historic number of women being elected into public office during the 2018 midterms. They also tirelessly fight to serve a range of other causes, from equal rights and affordable healthcare, to helping immigrants.

How to support!

There are a lot of ways you can support this cause:

• Volunteering
• Become a digital defender
• Keep learning about feminism
• Buy from their store
• Donate

These are just some of the ways you can support Women’s March, but sharing online and talking with friends and family about it helps to! Remember that even just a small action or donation can go a long way.

About ActBlue: Fundraising platform for tens of thousands of campaigns and organizations fundraising for democracy.