This guide explores how nonprofits can use matching gift forms to fund their missions.

How to Use Matching Gift Forms 101: A Nonprofit Guide

Most nonprofits are familiar with matching gifts. But how many organizations actually pursue them with a dedicated strategy? According to Double the Donation, $4-$7 billion in corporate matching gift funds goes unclaimed every year. When 78% of donors have no idea if their employer matches gifts, the group is not completing the matching gift forms their companies require to secure corporate revenue.

In order to bridge the gap, nonprofits are taking increasingly proactive approaches to educate donors and provide them with the matching gift forms they need. We’re here to show you how to do just that. Supply donors with the right forms, streamline the request process, and drive more matches to completion.

In this guide, we’ll cover all the essentials of matching gift forms, including:

In the end, you’ll know how to raise more revenue for your nonprofit by strategically promoting matching gifts. Let’s get started!

Bypass matching gift forms with 360MatchPro's auto-submission

What Are Matching Gifts?

Matching gifts are a unique and impact-driven fundraising initiative in which one donation is matched by another, ultimately producing double the value. These contributions take place when a company or other entity agrees to match individual donations—either to a specific organization (such as with a one-off matching gift program) or a range of charitable missions.

While various types of programs include personal matching gifts (e.g., a generous supporter matches donations up to a certain amount for an organization during a campaign) and larger matching gift campaigns (e.g., a business, foundation, group of supporters, or another benefactor matches gifts up to a certain amount), the most common by far is corporate matching gifts. In these programs, employers match the donations their employees make to eligible nonprofits, thereby incentivizing philanthropy among their staffs.

This graphic explains how matching gifts can double someone's donation to a nonprofit.

Most companies have a set match ratio (usually 1:1, though it can be higher or lower), but lots of employees don’t know their companies even offer these programs. That’s why it’s important to promote matching gifts in your marketing strategy. Many supporters won’t know to check with their employers until you suggest it!

Generally, the corporate matching gift process looks like this:

  1. An individual donates to a nonprofit.
  2. The individual looks up their eligibility for a matching gift and accesses the forms needed to submit their request (this is a big part of it, and the purpose of this article!).
  3. The individual submits the match request to their employer.
  4. Their employer reviews the request and verifies the donation with the nonprofit.
  5. The employer matches the donation.

But as you get into the nitty-gritty details of matching gift policies, there are a few other things you need to keep in mind.

Eligibility

Both your donors and your organization have to be eligible for a matching gift. First, donors should confirm that their employment status (full-time, part-time, or retired) allows them to submit a match request. From there, you’ll want to verify that your organization falls into one of the specific nonprofit categories the company donates to.

Minimum and maximum gift amounts

Most matching gift companies establish a limit on the amount of money they’ll match, typically stating the maximum each employee can request each year. Businesses also determine a minimum amount, though this is generally set at around $25 or less.

For an employee’s matching gift request to be approved, their recent gift should fall within the threshold their company has defined.

Match ratios

Though it ranges from one company to the next, most employers offer a dollar-for-dollar (or 1:1) match, with most ratios ranging from .5:1 to 4:1.

Before a donation can be matched, all of those considerations must be addressed. That’s where matching gift forms come into play!

What Are Matching Gift Forms?

Matching gift forms are a specific type of document completed by an individual donor and used by a matching gift company to review the individual’s eligibility. This form generally captures specific information regarding the donor, their recent gift, and the recipient organization to ensure the requested match adheres to the company’s program guidelines.

As donors initiate their requests, there are a few kinds types of matching gift forms they might expect to use: paper, electronic, and automated. Let’s take a look at each format below.

Paper Matching Gift Forms

While paper matching gift forms aren’t very common these days, it’s still important to offer access to a paper version if it’s available. This is especially crucial for older supporters who prefer paper materials or for certain (though few) companies that require them.

Regardless, the paper form includes the following key components:

This graphic shows the typical format of a paper matching gifts form.

  • Donor Name
  • Employee Identification Number
  • Mailing Address
  • Phone Number
  • Donation Amount
  • Recipient Organization
  • Donation Date

Here’s how it works: The donor will typically need to provide official documentation of their gift (such as a donation receipt, which your nonprofit will need to create), as well as information about the type of organization (cultural, educational, etc.) and the donation date.

Once the paper form has been filled out, the donor can submit it via the employer’s preferred method (mail, fax, etc.), and the company will review the request.

Electronic Matching Gift Forms

Electronic matching gift forms make it easier for employees to submit their matching gift requests, which is great for your organization! The entire process is more streamlined, which results in more donors filling them out.

Plus, electronic forms can be used in conjunction with matching gift software (more on that below), which nonprofits use to encourage matching gift request submissions and automate the entire process.

Here are the key components of electronic matching gift forms:

This graphic shows the typical format of an electronic matching gifts form.

  • Employee sign-in page: In order to access their employer’s electronic matching gift forms, employees typically need to sign into the company website using their employee username and password. Retirees might have to register and log in using a third-party company, but from there, it’s pretty simple to navigate.
  • Submission form: Similar to paper forms, employees will be asked to provide information about their donation. This might include the recipient organization’s name and info along with the donation amount and date.

Once the electronic form has been submitted, the employer reviews it and determines whether the donation is eligible for a match. Then, your organization will need to verify the donation for the matching gift company by confirming receipt of the original gift and verifying your 501(c)(3) status.

Automated Matching Gift Forms (From Double the Donation)

The final category of matching gift forms are those exclusive to Double the Donation, the industry’s leading provider of matching gift software. They’ve recently rolled out a few new types of matching gift forms that can make a significant difference in overall program participation rates.

These include Double the Donation’s standard matching gift form (for one-off matching gift programs) and complete auto-submission functionality (for companies using CSR platforms that integrate with 360MatchPro).

Double the Donation's standard matching gift form

From a donor’s perspective, the key difference between this type of automated submission and other types of matching gift forms is that the request process takes place entirely behind the scenes. In fact, the donor is not required to provide additional information about their donation to complete their match submission. Instead, Double the Donation leverages data from the transaction record itself, along with details provided directly from nonprofit organizations, to complete the form behind the scenes.

All the donor typically needs to do is enter their corporate email address to verify their identity and authorize Double the Donation to submit a match request on their behalf. From there, the standard match form is automatically completed and emailed to the donor’s employing company to review, approve, and disperse funding as usual.

Bypass matching gift forms with 360MatchPro's auto-submission

How Can Matching Gift Software Help?

You might have heard the term matching gift software floating around in the fundraising landscape. But has your team ever invested in or really considered these options?

Most leading matching gift software solutions (including our top recommendation, Double the Donation) encompass a few key components.

Donation page widget or search tool

A matching gift database houses information on thousands of companies that offer matching gift programs. This means the database includes details about the company, their match ratio, minimum and maximum amounts, and, most importantly, a link to their matching gift form.

Accessing matching gift forms with a databae search tool

Through an embeddable search tool that can go anywhere on your website, donors type in the name of their employer. The tool then pulls up all of the info they need about submitting a match request.

Automated email follow-ups

Some matching gift software automates the entire process. When a donor makes a gift to your organization using a form equipped with this type of tool, the platform automatically scans the information they provide to determine if they qualify for a match.

Then, depending on their eligibility, the platform triggers outreach outlining the next steps the donor should take. For match-eligible individuals, emails generally contain the recipient’s company-specific program guidelines, links to the appropriate matching gift forms, and encouragement to complete the process.

Accessing matching gift forms with an email

When choosing matching gift software, you’ll want to look at a few different factors:

  • Level of database comprehensiveness, to ensure maximal donor coverage
  • Number of matching gift forms, to simplify the submission process and drive more matches to completion
  • Data accuracy and recency, to enhance the quality of the information provided to donors and produce more completed matches
  • Search tool ease of use, to provide a positive user experience for your donors interacting with the widget
  • Integrations with current fundraising software, to streamline the onboarding and data management processes

Once you’ve settled on a solution, you’re ready to get started!

If you need a little extra advice, our suggestion is Double the Donation’s complete automation system, 360MatchPro. (Take our word for it! Get a demo of Double the Donation here.)

Double the Donation is the leading provider of matching gift solutions. Its matching gift database has collected data on more than 24,000 companies and subsidiaries, along with each one’s matching gift program information. These businesses employ nearly over 26 million individuals, who make up an estimated 99.68% of all match-eligible donors.

TLDR: You’re likely already aware that the right tools can boost your nonprofit’s ability to raise support and donations for its cause. When you employ matching gift tools alongside your donation form, you can further heighten your chances of receiving matching gifts!

How to Incorporate Matching Gifts into Your Donation Form

When people come to your donation page, they’re seriously considering donating to your organization They’re engaged with your mission and therefore receptive at this time to learning about matching gift opportunities.

Take the following scenario to help this point:

Joe, a prospective donor, visits your donation page, ready to make a gift to your organization.

While on the page, Joe notices a search tool on the donation form that says, “See if your employer will match your donation!”

Joe types in the name of his employer (Microsoft), and Microsoft’s matching gift guidelines and a link to the form come up on his screen.

Joe completes his donation and fills out the electronic form to submit a match request.

This is one of several ways you can incorporate matching gifts into your donation process. Alternatively, you can embed your matching gift search tool into your…

  • Donation page
  • Confirmation page
  • Dedicated matching gift page
  • Ways to give page
  • And more!

From there, an automation platform will automatically follow up with match-eligible donors and encourage them to submit a matching gift request. Using tools like these, such as Double the Donation’s 360MatchPro, you can:

  • Make it easier for donors to access the matching gift forms they need.
  • Boost the number of matching gift forms ultimately submitted.
  • Grow your organization’s matching gift revenue.
  • Increase engagement and individual generosity among donors.

Incorporating matching gifts into your donation form and giving process will raise even more awareness around matching gifts. And that’s exactly what needs to happen if you want donors to submit their match requests!

Drive matching gift form conversions with 360MatchPro. Get a free download here.

How to Market Matching Gifts Effectively

So you’ve invested in matching gift software and paved the way to start accepting matched gifts. But, besides promotional tactics on your donation page, how do your donors know to get on board?

Like any other opportunity to give, your nonprofit must do its part to inform supporters and request their donations by spreading the word about your fundraising efforts. The good news is that the message about matching gifts can be incorporated into all of your classic marketing channels. Here’s how!

Social media:

Especially since matching gift forms and the right software make the process so easy, a quick explainer post about matching gifts on your social media channels can encourage followers to check their eligibility and submit a request!

Email marketing:

Whether you’re sending a post-donation acknowledgment or scheduling a mass digital newsletter, your organization’s email communications provide an excellent opportunity to promote matching gifts to your audience. It’s impactful, cost-effective, and can be automated with your matching gift platform.

Your website:

Create a page dedicated solely to matching gifts. Include everything your site visitors need to know, like a definition of matching gifts, the most frequently asked questions, your organization’s contact information and tax identification number, and your embedded matching gift database.

The Google Ad Grant:

If you’re already leveraging Google’s Ad Grant program for nonprofits to draw more traffic to your website, it’s a great place to increase visibility and awareness of matching gifts. If you haven’t already taken steps to secure $10,000 worth of free advertising space for your organization, now’s a good time to look into it. Then, use your credits to promote your matching gifts page or donation form!

Flyers and promotional materials:

Pique supporters’ interest by adding a small section or reminder about matching gifts in any of your promotional materials. Include a link on your fundraising flyers or promotional posters to more information about matching gifts so supporters are reminded to check into it.

Inspiring Matching Gift Form Examples

Interested in exploring the process donors will take to request matching gifts on your organization’s behalf? We’ve pulled a sample entry for you.

This graphic shows an example of the steps a matching gifts form might take a donor through.

  • Step #1: A donor locates the matching gift search tool plugin on a nonprofit’s website or donation form.
  • Step #2: The individual types the name of their employer into the search tool and selects the appropriate company.
  • Step #3: Their employer’s matching gift program information populates, offering a direct link to the electronic matching gift form (or an option to auto-submit the request from the giving page).
  • Step #4: The donor logs into their company giving portal to access the matching gift form and submit all of the necessary information.

From there, your nonprofit will be on its way to securing more matching gift revenue!


Final Thoughts & Additional Resources

Understanding how to use matching gift forms is essential for your nonprofit. For the best results, your team should be able to guide donors to their correct forms, provide additional support when requested, and raise more revenue for your cause as a result.

When you use matching gift software to streamline this entire process, you’ll make it easier on donors and yourself.

To learn more about matching gifts, top companies that offer the programs, or corporate giving in general, check out the resources below!

Supply donors with the right matching gift forms with 360MatchPro. Get a demo today!

This article explores what makes a great Google Grant Agency and provides recommendations for top consultants.

A Great Google Grant Agency in 2024: 10 Best Partners

Google is the world’s most popular search engine, fielding at least 8.5 billion searches per day. That’s 8.5 billion reasons nonprofits should take advantage of the Google Ad Grant program, which gives $10,000 worth of ad credits to eligible organizations every month to create ads on Google.

Ad campaigns require consistent upkeep, performance tracking, and compliance with Google’s official account requirements. That’s why we recommend working with a certified Google Grant agency. 

Professional Google Ad Grant agencies devote their time to researching the program’s compliance requirements, mastering the application process, proactively researching the best keywords, and making the most of each nonprofit’s grant money. Plus, agencies that are Google Partners have a seal of approval you know you can trust.

To ensure you partner with the right agency, this guide will walk through:

  1. What Is A Google Grant Agency?
  2. What is Google Grant Management?
  3. What is a Google Partner?
  4. The Benefits of Hiring a Professional For Google Grant Management
  5. How to Hire a Google Ad Grant Agency
  6. 10 Best Google Ad Grant Agencies
  7. Next Steps for Your Google Grant Strategy

Here at Getting Attention, we work alongside nonprofits to get their accounts approved and maximize their campaigns’ performance. As a Google Grant agency, we believe in the power that effective Google Grant management holds for nonprofits. Let’s get started so you can partner with the right Google Ad Grant manager.

Discover how you can put your $10,000 in Google ad credits to good use. Sign up for our newsletter!

What Is A Google Grant Agency?

A Google Grant agency is a business composed of experts that help nonprofits manage their Google Ads accounts. A professional agency will handle many aspects of Google Grant management, including:

  • Eligibility confirmation: An agency’s experts know everything about the eligibility requirements your nonprofit must meet and can ensure you qualify for the program.
  • Program applications: A Google Ad Grants professional can complete the application on behalf of your organization.
  • Keyword research: Unlike general marketing agencies, Google Ad Grant professionals are experts in keyword research, helping you get your ads in front of the right audience with targeted keywords.
  • Ad creation: When it comes to actual ad construction, Google Grant agencies can create well-written ads using keyword research and features like ad extensions to effectively drive conversions.
  • Compliance with the program’s rules: A grant manager will ensure your nonprofit meets the program’s extremely specific requirements and guidelines.
  • Account reactivation if needed: Failing to comply with the program’s rules can result in account suspension. Should this happen, a Grant agency will work to reactivate your account as quickly as possible.

Overall, the professional’s goal is to help each nonprofit build awareness for its cause and create high-converting campaigns that are meaningful to the organization’s work.

Some Google Ad Grant agencies are officially recognized by Google and have earned the title of Google Partner. While some start-up agencies that have yet to earn this designation may be worth exploring, Google-certified organizations have already proven their ability to maintain high-quality ad campaigns. When considering agencies, check to see if they’re a Google Partner.

 

What is Google Grant Management?

Before speaking with or even researching specific agencies, you must understand the actual services that Google Grant management entails. That way, you can determine the areas in which you need help and confidently enter your conversations with agencies.

Partner with a Google Grants agency for help with grant compliance, application, and account management.

Google Grant Application

If you don’t already have your account set up, a Google Grant agency can help you get started by checking your eligibility and guiding you through the application process. These are the application requirements they can help with:

This graphic shows the Google Grant requirements an agency can manage for your nonprofit.

  • Creating a Google for Nonprofits account: This account is necessary for Google Grants and also provides access to services like Google Workspace for Nonprofits and the YouTube Nonprofit Program.
  • Registering with Percent: As part of signing up for Google for Nonprofits, you’ll have the ability to register your nonprofit with Google’s technology partner, Percent. Follow the steps on Google for Nonprofits, and Google will submit your application for you.
  • Installing Google Analytics on your website: Google Analytics is essential for not only your own data tracking purposes, but it’s also a requirement that all websites need prior to applying.
  • Ensuring your website has valuable and promotable content: A Google Grant agency can assist in optimizing your web presence and online content. That way, your website will be ready to submit for review and remain eligible for the program.
  • Holding current and valid charity status: If your organization is based in the United States, you’ll need a current 501(c)(3) status to receive the Google Grant. The right Google Ad Grant agency can make sure that your documents and registrations are all up to date.
  • Obtaining a valid SSL certificate: You’ll need a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate to authenticate your website’s identity and enable an encrypted connection.
  • Agreeing to Google Nonprofit Terms: To apply for a Google Grant, nonprofits need to agree and comply with Google’s Nonprofit Terms of Service. Google Grants agencies can walk through the terms and ensure that their clients know exactly what they’re signing up for.

If your nonprofit organization holds valid charity status and your website is well-developed, then you’ll most likely get the Google Grant. Work with a Google Grant agency to ensure that nothing slips through the cracks and that the application process goes smoothly.

Google Grant Account Management

Compared to other marketing channels, search ads have the highest return on investment (ROI) for nonprofits using paid advertising, meaning the impact of the Google Ad Grant goes far beyond simply being approved for the program. To help you make the most of your allotted $10,000 each month and strengthen your marketing, a Google Grant agency will offer the following account management services:

This graphic shows the five account management services offered by a Google Grant agency.

  • Create, maintain, and optimize ad campaigns: Ideally, a healthy Google Grant account has 3-5 active campaigns to drive results. An expert will track these campaigns, report their performance, and refine your online content to improve your ads continuously. They can even provide reports with data from Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager so that you can get a sense of your goal progress in real time.
  • Maintain account hygiene: A Google Grant agency will carry out data hygiene best practices, eliminating outdated and unnecessary data hindering your work.
  • Optimize online website content: As your Google Grants account matures, you’ll need to create or update content to serve your audience’s needs. A Google Grant agency will research keywords that are relevant to your mission and may make suggestions to improve your landing pages to drive online traffic and conversions.
  • Consistently check up on your account: Maintaining your account is an ongoing process. A Google Ad Grant agency will consistently check in with your performance to ensure your campaigns are doing all they can to promote your cause and increase target actions.
  • Get your account reactivated and compliant: Managing a Google Ad Grants account can be confusing, and account suspensions do happen. If your account is suspended, partnering with a professional who knows the ins and outs of Google Grant compliance is your smartest option.

Managing your campaigns can be difficult, especially when you have other projects to juggle and events to plan for your organization. Your Google Ad Grant manager knows how to use it to drive conversions and see measurable results for your organization.

Google Grant Compliance

One of the most important roles of a Google Grant agency is to keep nonprofits’ accounts in compliance with the program’s guidelines. Google revisits and updates its policies from time to time, so the official compliance page will be your best bet if you want to check up on the rules.

Here are some of the most important requirements that a Google Ad Grant manager will handle for you:

This graphic shows the important requirements that a Google Grant Agency handles for nonprofits.

  • Keyword rules: To comply with Google’s Ad Grant guidelines, an agency will help your nonprofit avoid single-word and overly generic keywords that ignore the searcher’s intent. They’ll research and choose keywords with quality scores higher than two in accordance with Google’s requirements.
  • Data regulations: A Google Grant manager will keep an eye on your click-through rate (CTR), which must be at least 5%, according to Google’s program rules. They’ll also set up conversion tracking, monitor your performance, and make adjustments to ensure you’re meeting the minimum of one conversion per month.
  • Account structure guidelines: An agency will make sure your account follows the right structure, which requires two ads per ad group and at least two ad groups per campaign. They’ll also ensure you have at least two sitelink ad extensions and respond to the annual program survey.

Bottom line: A Google Grant agency will keep your Ad Grant account in check and fully compliant, even as Google updates its rules. Make sure the Google Ad Grant manager you partner with is able to support your needs as your account grows and evolves.

What is a Google Partner?

Any marketing agency can offer Google Ad Grant assistance. However, while there are some promising startup organizations that can provide high-quality service, nonprofits can ensure their Ad Grant account is in good hands by working with a certified Google Partner. 

Google Partners are agencies that manage Google Ad Grants that Google has recognized as producing legitimate, quality work. These organizations are not run by Google, but the program does provide them with additional support to ensure their clients continue receiving unparalleled service. 

Most Google Ad agencies will make it clear on their website that they are a Google Partner. However, if you want to only look at Google Partners, explore Google’s Partner Directory. Apply filters to find agencies that are near you and have the right level of certification, or enter the name of an organization you’re already considering to check if they’re a partner.

On our list of recommended Google Grant agencies, we have a mix of certified partners, like our own organization Getting Attention, as well as consultants that provide worthwhile services but have yet to enter the partner program.

The Benefits of Hiring a Professional for Google Grant Management

Partnering with a professional will drastically enhance your Google Ad capabilities. Especially when you hire an agency that’s Google-certified, you can rely on them to pick the best keywords for your cause and generate high-converting ads. Ultimately, they’ll empower you to make the most of your grant money and put your ads in front of likely prospects.

Here are some of the core benefits you should expect:

This graphic shows the core benefits a nonprofit can expect from working with a Google Grant agency.

  • Fast setup. An agency will not only handle the entire application process for the Ad Grant program but also will get your ads up and running as soon as your account is approved.
  • Ongoing optimization. A Google Grant agency will have keen insight into campaign creation and maintenance best practices. After your ads have been up and running for a while, these professionals will review the data, pinpoint potential improvements, and then implement those optimizations.
  • Clear reporting. Even if you work with data daily, understanding your ad campaigns’ performance results can be tricky. A Google Ad Grant manager will interpret this data for you, making sure you understand what’s going well and what can be improved.

These professionals have in-depth knowledge of the program’s requirements, features, and tools, so you can spend your time focusing on other areas of your nonprofit. All in all, partnering with a Google Ad Grant agency can be incredibly beneficial, as long as you spend time choosing the right one for your team!

How to Hire a Google Ad Grant Agency

To unlock the benefits of a grant manager, hiring a knowledgeable Google Grant agency is essential. Start your search by following the three stages of the hiring process:

This graphic shows the three stages of the Google Grant agency hiring process.

  1. Criteria search: Find an agency that meets your nonprofit’s preferred criteria, such as Google Ad Grant specialization, a fair pricing model, and Google Partner status. Explore different agencies’ websites to find out more about their services, case studies, and reviews.
  2. Consultation: Meet with prospective agencies to learn more about their services. Prepare a list of important questions ahead of time, such as inquiries about the agency’s communications, certifications, and willingness to help beyond their traditional offerings.
  3. Hiring: Narrow down your search to the top selection of potential agencies. Once you’ve made your choice, hire the agency that best fits your nonprofit’s needs!

Above all else, prioritize a Google Grant agency’s Ad Grant program knowledge, services, and professionalism. In turn, you’ll wind up with a professional who acts as an extension of your team.

10+ Best Google Ad Grant Agencies

Whenever you outsource work to an agency, it’s important that you explore your options before signing a contract. That way, you’ll wind up with one that’s the best possible fit for your organization and needs. While you can certainly do the digging on your own, here are 10 Google Grant agencies that we’d recommend to kickstart your search.

Getting Attention is a Google Grants agency that solely focuses on the Google Ad Grants program.

1. Getting Attention | Best All-Around Google Grants Agency

Here at Getting Attention, we specialize in Google Ad Grants and are a proud Google Partner. Our team is made up of professionals who know what it takes to develop campaigns that drive real results for your cause, no matter if you’re just getting started or already have active campaigns.

We don’t just quickly review your account and offer some tips. Our team partners closely with yours to fully understand your mission, who your nonprofit serves, and how you can drive meaningful conversions.

Here’s how we can help you make the most of your grant money:

  • Google Grant application. Don’t worry about forgetting something in your application. Our experts are here to manage every step to ensure that your account is reviewed and accepted!
  • Google Grant hygiene. When it comes to your Google Grant account, data is everything. With our Google Grant agency’s help, you’ll never have to deal with duplicate or outdated data bogging down your processes.
  • Keyword research. A big part of a healthy Google Ads account is determining what your users are searching for online. That’s why keyword research is one of our main skills. We’ll make sure your website content effectively serves your audience’s needs and inspires them to take action.
  • Reporting and goal tracking. Tracking conversions and campaign performance is an ongoing process for Google Grant account holders. Not only will we stay on top of reporting, but we can also pinpoint the most useful opportunities and goals for your nonprofit.
  • Google Grant reactivation. We know that getting your Google Grant account suspended isn’t ideal. If your account was deactivated, we can help you get it up to code and make sure it stays that way.

Getting Started with Getting Attention

Our experts are fully committed to helping you develop inspiring ad campaigns. Plus, we aim to be fully transparent in our pricing, which is why we don’t charge any upfront fees and will help you manage your Google Ad Grants account for only $500 per month.

Get a free consultation, so we can chat about how we can help your nonprofit grow through powerful Google Ad Grant management. Don’t see a Google Grants service on our website that you need? We’re open to chatting about our experience in other areas to help you make the most of your campaigns!

Skip the hard work and let our team manage your Ad Grant for you. Get a free consultation.

Nonprofits Source header.

2. Nonprofit Source | Best Google Grants Agency for Information

When it comes to the Google Ad Grant, if you’re starting at square one, the most important thing you need is information. Nonprofits Source provides marketing assistance to charitable organizations looking to grow their online impact, but where it really shines is its host of free educational information. 

While they offer general digital marketing services and don’t manage Ad Grant accounts, you can learn a lot about the Ad Grant program from them. Scroll through the Nonprofits Source blog to find detailed information about nearly every aspect of the Google Ad Grant, including:

  • Program overview. Need a basic rundown of how the Google Ad Grant works? Nonprofits Source has information on what the Ad Grant is, applying, choosing keywords, and maintaining a successful and compliant account long-term. 
  • How to hire a Google Grant Agency. If you want a second opinion on how to hire a Google Ad Grant manager, Nonprofits Source has got you covered. They have articles look in-depth at what grant managers do, why you need one, and how to assess their qualifications. 
  • Microsoft Ad Grant. If you’re interested in expanding into the Microsoft Ad Grant once the program starts up again, Nonprofits Source has the information you need to learn about the program and hit the ground running. 

Check out Nonprofits Source’s blog to learn more about the Google Ad Grant and partner with them to expand your online presence.

DNL OmniMedia is a professional nonprofit technology and Google Grants manager.

3. DNL OmniMedia | Best Google Grants Agency for Nonprofit Technology

DNL OmniMedia is a well-known nonprofit technology consultant. While it’s not their sole purpose, their offerings also include Google Grant services. They’ll help you with the following:

  • Keyword strategy development. They’ll help you target terms that are central to your mission and connect with likely prospects.
  • Analytic management. They’ll create custom reports that make sense for your campaigns’ priorities.
  • Website development. Powered by skilled developers, DNL OmniMedia can help you communicate your cause and drive conversions through your website.

Start by researching DNL OmniMedia’s other offerings to see how they can optimize other areas of your nonprofit’s technology strategy!

RKD Digital is a Google Grants agency that will help you develop a holistic marketing strategy.

4. RKD Digital | Best Google Ad Grant Agency for Digital Marketing

As the first full-service direct-response company to be added to the Google Grant Certified Professional Community, RKD Digital works with nonprofits to produce effective marketing strategies. They’ll help you reimagine what marketing looks like with Google Grants services, such as:

  • Account activation. They’ll handle every part of the application process, from securing validation tokens to filling out relevant applications.
  • Campaign and ad creation. RKD Digital will build high-level campaigns that follow Google’s required account structure. They’ll even write the ad copy for you!
  • Holistic strategy development. They’ll help you determine how Google Ad Grants fit into your multichannel marketing strategy, so you can intertwine your efforts and achieve your conversion goals.

If this agency sounds like a good fit, check out their website to learn more about their approach to Google Ad Grant management. You can also dive into some of their other digital marketing services before contacting their team!

Check out Allegiance Group, an experience Google Ad Grants agency for nonprofits and associations.

5. Allegiance Group | Best Google Grants Agency for Fundraising

Allegiance Group is a full-service firm that combines fundraising, marketing, and technology, so their nonprofit clients can inspire action and make an impact. They’ll help you harness the power of the Google Ad Grant with the following services:

  • Ad creation. Allegiance Group will craft the copy for your Google Ad campaigns, monitor your ads, and make adjustments based on the metrics it generates.
  • Form optimization. They’ll optimize your landing pages by developing custom forms and surveys that you can promote with Google Ads.
  • Custom reporting. They’ll develop custom implementations of Google Analytics for your team, delivering insightful reports and granting you access to real-time dashboards. You’ll get critical metrics, data interpretations, and recommendations for your next campaign.

Explore Allegiance Group’s website to learn more about how they’ll enable you to intertwine your digital fundraising and marketing efforts through the Google Ad Grant.

WebFX is another great Google Grants agency, even though they primarily serve businesses.

6. WebFX | Best Google Grants Agency for NGOs

While their primary focus is on businesses, WebFX empowers NGOs to take advantage of Google Ad Grants and is even part of the Certified Partner Directory. As a leader in SEO, PPC, social, and web design services, they provide offerings like:

  • Industry analysis. They’ll analyze the current SEO landscape of your industry to determine what content your prospects are searching for online.
  • Ad copy and performance testing. They’ll handle the copywriting and monitor your campaigns’ performance to determine what drives users to engage with those ads.
  • Google Analytics tracking. They’ll make sure you set up goal tracking in compliance with the program’s guidelines.

WebFX is backed by a team of experts to help you make the most of your SEO strategy. Take a look at their website to learn more about their digital marketing services to make sure they align with your nonprofit’s needs.

Digital Ninjas is an Australian-based Google Ad Grants agency.

7. Digital Ninjas | Best Google Grants Agency for Advocacy Organizations

Digital Ninjas is a professional consulting firm that helps nonprofits drive greater fundraising and advocacy results through digital campaigns. Their services dedicated to Google Ad Grant management and organic search include:

  • Google Analytics. These experts will measure the metrics that matter most to your organization within Google Analytics.
  • Ad copy development. They’ll develop high-quality ads using your organization’s brand voice and goals.
  • Account development. Once they’ve pinpointed the right keywords and gotten the ad copy approved, they’ll build out your account and make sure everything’s ready to go.

Check out their website to learn how Digital Ninjas can make your search engine marketing (SEM) endeavors a breeze.

Uprise Up is a Google Grants agency located in the U.K.

8. Uprise Up | Best Google Grants Agencies for UK-Based Organizations

Located in the United Kingdom, Uprise Up is a data-driven digital media agency. As part of their relentless endeavor to further social good, they offer Google Ad Grant management services to nonprofits, including:

  • Account testing. Uprise Up will run your account through its Ad Grant policy checker to make sure you’re always adhering to the rules. They’ll also continually test your campaigns’ results to make sure they’re driving qualified prospects to your site.
  • Future-proofing. As a certified partner, Uprise Up is on top of the program’s requirements and will respond to any new algorithm changes as soon as they hear about them.
  • Compliance. This agency uses automated scripts to continually check that your account adheres to the policies. If anything is flagged, they’ll make the necessary adjustments to your account.

As one of the few UK-based Google Grant agencies, Uprise Up is a great choice for UK organizations. Before reaching out, take a look at their website to learn more about their work.

Koios is a Google Grants agency that works with libraries.

9. Koios | Best Google Grants Agency for Libraries

With a sole focus on libraries, Koios empowers its clients to make their library’s resources more discoverable online. The agency helps libraries take advantage of the Google Ad Grant program through management services like:

  • Google Grant application. Their team will set up your Google for Nonprofits and Google Ads accounts. If Google turns down your application, they’ll follow the instructions provided to reapply.
  • Ad optimization. Koios will monitor your campaigns and make sure you’re driving meaningful conversions. They even boast an average 12.8% CTR, which is well above the industry average of 3%.
  • Catalog awareness. They’ll help expose catalog records through your ads that would otherwise be invisible to Google.

Koios offers a 60-day free trial, so you can see what it’s like working with their experts. Before reaching out, explore their website to learn more about what they can do for you.

INTK is a Google Grants agency that works specifically with cultural organizations.

10. INTK | Best Google Grants Agency for Cultural Organizations

INTK works exclusively with cultural organizations, such as museums and performing arts centers, to generate awareness through targeted ads on relevant search results pages. Here are some of the core services they offer:

  • Google Grant application. INTK has a 99% success rate with Google Grant applications. On the off chance that your account isn’t approved, they’ll take the appropriate steps to ensure it is.
  • Campaign creation and maintenance. They’ll help you get your campaigns up and running. Then, they’ll perform monthly maintenance to ensure everything’s in line.
  • Website design. While separate from their Google Ad Grant management services, INTK also offers web design and development. They’ll create a website unique to your industry so you can develop valuable content to promote through your Google Ads.

INTK is certified by Google and has direct access to the Google Ad Grants team, which means they’re in the loop with the latest changes in the program’s compliance requirements. Take a look at their website to learn more about their approach.

Platypus Digital's Google Grants agency is a reliable choice for any nonprofit.

11. Platypus Digital | Best Google Grants Agency for Multichannel Strategies

Platypus Digital is a leading digital marketing agency for charities. With expert Google Ad Grant management, they’ll help you increase brand awareness and connect with motivated supporters through services like:

  • Compliance audits. They’ll analyze your account and walk you through the exact changes you need to make to be in line with Google’s requirements.
  • Up-to-date reporting. They’ll report your performance through Google Data Studio dashboards. They’ll also send you regular emails and scheduled reporting calls where they walk you through the results.
  • Multichannel strategy development. They’ll also manage paid Google Ads and GrantsPro accounts. Plus, they’ll run search, display, YouTube, and shopping ads.

If you think Platypus Digital would be a good fit for your organization, explore their website to learn more about their Google Grant services.

Next Steps for Your Google Grant Strategy

When it comes to starting your nonprofit’s online marketing on the right foot, the Google Ad Grant is your answer. However, applying for and maintaining your account is no walk in the park. Turning to a professional Google Grant agency, like Getting Attention, is your best bet.

While we shared several recommendations, Getting Attention is the only Google-certified full-service agency that focuses solely on Google Ad Grants. We’ll handle every aspect of your account, starting with eligibility confirmation through ongoing maintenance. In no time, you’ll start driving more conversions, connecting with more prospects, and generating great results for your cause!

Are you interested in learning more about Google Ad Grants or marketing your mission effectively? Explore these great additional resources:

Get clicks and get support with a Google Grant agency. Discover what Getting Attention can do for your nonprofit's online presence. Get a free consultation!

This guide will cover the fundamentals of fundraising campaigns.

The Fundamentals of Fundraising Campaign Planning: A Guide

Picture this: your nonprofit is getting ready for the end-of-year giving season. To capitalize on your donors’ charitable spirits, you’ve optimized your donation page, gotten your social media in tip-top shape, but something is still missing. You quickly realize that you need to design an engaging year-end fundraising campaign that draws donors into your mission, but you’re not quite sure how.

Brainstorming and planning a compelling fundraising campaign at any time of the year can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re working with a limited budget and small team. However, with the right strategies and tech stack, your nonprofit can pull off a donor-centric campaign that will meet (and even exceed!) your fundraising goals.

Follow these expert steps to put together a winning fundraising campaign:

  1. Set clear goals
  2. Craft your messaging
  3. Invest in the right software

A successful fundraising campaign can help your nonprofit establish a reliable donation pipeline, reach new audiences, and foster stronger relationships with donors. Before you can tap into these key benefits, you’ll need to develop a comprehensive fundraising plan. Let’s begin.

1. Set clear goals

To give your nonprofit direction as you plan your fundraising campaign and foster accountability across your team, you need to set SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound) goals. Using this goal setting framework will help you create a clear picture of what you want to achieve from your fundraiser and how you will achieve it.

For example, let’s say one of your nonprofit’s primary goals is to expand your reach and attract new donors. Here’s what this goal could look like as a SMART goal:

  • Specific: Our nonprofit will lead a robust nonprofit marketing strategy to get the word out about our fundraising campaign to new audiences. Specifically, we’ll post on social media three times a week to promote our fundraising campaign or event, share deadlines, and communicate our goal. Plus, we’ll host exciting social media contests and pair our social media posts with relevant hashtags to reach new audiences.
  • Measurable: Our goal is to increase our donor acquisition rate by 10%.
  • Attainable: When we started to produce more engaging social media content on a once-a-week basis, we were able to increase our donor acquisition rate by 5%. A 10% boost in our donor acquisition rate therefore seems within our grasp, especially since we’ll be regularly creating social media content tailored to our target audience.
  • Relevant: Increasing our donor acquisition rate helps to expand our donor base and moves us closer to reaching our fundraising goal. With a strong stewardship plan, we can push these donors up the giving pyramid towards more frequent and higher-impact gifts.
  • Time-bound: We will begin generating social media content about our upcoming campaign two weeks before it starts and aim to achieve a 10% increase in donor acquisition by the campaign’s conclusion. We’ll hold a check-in meeting to assess our progress at the halfway point of our campaign.

Make sure to lay out the timeline for your campaign and identify the point-people who will be in charge of leading your different projects—from generating your marketing materials to executing your donor recognition strategy. This will help to rally your team around your goals and ensure everyone has a clear understanding of their roles.

Your goals will also help you pinpoint the right type of fundraising campaign for your nonprofit. For example, if your goal is to expand your network of donors, a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign can be the perfect way to attract new supporters and strengthen relationships with existing ones.

Or, maybe your nonprofit is looking for a way to increase visibility around the problem you’re tackling, making an awareness campaign a great option. Aligning your goals with the right type of fundraising campaign will make it more likely that you’ll see them through.

2. Craft your messaging

Once you’ve mapped out what kind of fundraising campaign you’ll host and you’ve determined your SMART goals, it’s time to craft your campaign messaging. Your marketing and communication strategy will play a huge role in the success of your fundraising campaign, so it’s critical that you develop compelling messaging that will inspire supporters to give.

Use these tips to create the right messaging for your campaign:

  • Infuse your branding: Your branding communicates who you are to new supporters and what your organization stands for. Plus, attaching your branding to your campaign helps to boost trust and show that this campaign is being hosted by your organization. The OneCause guide to nonprofit marketing plans explains that your nonprofit needs to use both your verbal and visual branding elements when promoting your upcoming campaigns. Your verbal branding refers to the way you describe your mission and your tone, while your visual branding (such as your color scheme and logo) makes your messaging more lively to engage with. Refer to your branding guidelines so your campaign messaging is consistent with the rest of your nonprofit’s communications.
  • Leverage storytelling: Storytelling can help you emotionally connect with supporters and demonstrate how donations will drive tangible change in your community. For example, an animal welfare organization might tell the story of a dog from a hoarding incident that they successfully rehabilitated and rehomed. End your story by explaining how the donations from your fundraising campaign will enable your organization to help even more people (or animals) in your community.
  • Create a clear call to action: Supporters will wonder how they can get involved in your campaign, whether by creating their own personal fundraising page, donating, or signing a petition. Clearly define the next step supporters should take and provide relevant links so they can act on your requests with ease. You should also create a sense of urgency by using time-bound language, such as saying “Donate by midnight to have your gift matched!” This will increase the likelihood that supporters will act on your requests as soon as they read them.
  • Align your messaging across different platforms: A multichannel marketing strategy helps you create multiple touchpoints with supporters, keeping your campaign top of mind. Ensure your fundraising communications across different platforms maintain your core messaging and branding so supporters have a clear understanding of your campaign’s purpose and how to help.

As you craft your messaging, remember to consider your target audience’s interests and values so you can frame your communications to them. This way, your calls to action will be more likely to resonate with donors and prompt giving.

3. Invest in the right software

Rather than haphazardly piecemealing multiple fundraising tools together, work with an all-in-one fundraising solution to manage your campaign. A comprehensive fundraising platform will provide your nonprofit with everything it needs to plan and execute fundraisers of all types and formats.

Invest in a platform with the following key features:

  • Online fundraising: Your software should empower your nonprofit to create and customize online donation forms, develop a branded fundraising microsite in just moments, and drive giving with built-in gamification tools. Backed by these features, you can create a seamless online giving experience that will allow donors to give to your campaign anywhere and anytime.
  • Event management: To maximize your fundraising campaign’s engagement, you might pair it with an exciting in-person, online, or hybrid event. Look for a fundraising solution that helps your nonprofit host live-streams with ease, manage RSVPs, and facilitate simple event check-in and out with mobile tools.
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising: Thinking of handing the fundraising reins over to your loyal supporters? Re:Charity’s guide to fundraising software recommends investing in a solution that empowers supporters to easily create their own personal fundraising pages (customized to their preferences) and share them widely online using social media integrations.
  • Text-to-give: With people on their phones more than ever before, you need a way to break through the noise online and reach your supporters directly with your fundraising requests and updates. Leverage a fundraising solution with text-to-give capabilities so you can capture donations year-round and keep donors tapped into your organization.
  • Auction management tools: Ending your fundraising campaign with an auction is a great way to create an unforgettable donor experience and bring in significant funds. Your software should come with auction features like mobile bidding, leadership scoreboards, real-time analytics, and more to take your auctions up a notch.

Investing in a sound fundraising platform might sound costly, but the right solution will provide value to your organization year over year, earning you a high ROI. Do your research to find a comprehensive platform suited to your nonprofit’s needs.


Running a well-designed fundraising campaign doesn’t have to be difficult. These tips will provide your organization with the necessary foundation to bring your campaign to life, but make sure to regularly assess your fundraising progress and make changes to your strategy as needed to maximize your funding. Once your campaign concludes, remember to thank your donors so you can retain their support for your next fundraiser.

This guide explores how schools can create winning strategies to combine matching gifts and higher education and examples of successful initiatives.

How to Win With Matching Gifts And Higher Education: A Guide

If you work for a higher education institution, you know that marketing your mission is essential to bring in generous donations that fund your school. But did you know you could maximize existing donations through corporate matching gifts?

To pair matching gifts and higher education, you need an actionable plan. That’s where this guide comes in. Here’s what we’ll cover:

Double (and even triple!) your donors’ generous contributions to maximize funding for your institution. Let’s dive in to learn how!

Click this graphic to learn more about how nonprofit marketing can help pair matching gifts and higher education.

How to Get Started With Matching Gifts for Higher Education

When it comes to minimum or maximum gift amounts, gift ratios, and all other matching gift logistics, you might think everything is determined by the donor and their employer. Think again! Your school can pave the way to accepting matching gifts by following these five steps:

This image shows the five steps to launching a matching gift program at a higher education institution.

1. Get your team on board with matching gifts.

Before you can effectively promote matching gifts to your institution’s donors, it’s important to build a solid internal foundation, starting with your fundraising and development team members! Prepare your team for matching gifts by:

  • Presenting all the details: Host a meeting about matching gift fundraising. Explain what it is, the most effective way to implement matching gift fundraising, and how it will help your school achieve its goals.
  • Providing team-wide training: Teach the team how to raise matching gifts and how the new initiative will be incorporated into their roles.
  • Incorporating matching gifts into onboarding: Once your existing team is up-to-date, implement matching gifts training into the onboarding process for new team members as a part of your updated processes.

When you set apart time for team-wide training on matching gifts, you’ll help everyone see the enormous potential of the initiative.

2. Set Your Goals

HubSpot’s goal-setting guide highlights a study that shows that 76% of people who write down their goals and make a list of goal-driven actions achieve what they set out to do. Craft a plan that details your matching gift revenue goals for the year, how you’re going to meet those goals and stay on track, and any deadlines you’ll want to meet in the process.

Consider the SMART goal framework to craft well-thought-out and detailed objectives to follow:

  • Specific: What exactly are you looking to achieve?
  • Measurable: What number would designate success?
  • Attainable: How realistic is your goal?
  • Relevant: How is your goal related to the initiative?
  • Time-bound: What is the deadline for reaching your goal?

For example, “Our matching gifts goal is to collect $10,000 in completed company matches by the end of 2022.” With tangible objectives in place, your team is in a better position to actively work toward those goals.

3. Collect Donor Information

When it comes to matching gifts for higher education and otherwise, donor information is critical. Let’s say you’re performing prospect research to find major donors for your university. As you do this research, include a matching gift specification to target alumni working for companies with matching gift programs. You might look for:

This graphic shows what institutions of higher education should look for when conducting prospect research to identify matching gift opportunities.

  • Employer information: What companies do your prospective donors work for? Do these companies offer matching gift programs?
  • Giving history: Consider your engagement with the alumni who work at companies with matching gift programs. Have these alumni donated to your institution before? If so, how much and how often do they give?
  • Campus involvement: Categorize alumni by their activities during their time as a student. Were they involved in any clubs or activities that might point to an affinity for your school’s mission?

Thorough donor research enables your team to locate high-value matching gift opportunities and leverage an informed perspective of your donor’s capacity to give.

To take your donor research to the next level, request employer appends. For higher ed universities especially, employer appends can be helpful to determine graduation year, email address, or any other missing data that would inform you of your donor’s matching gift eligibility and donation history.

4. Promote the Opportunity

Next, tell people about the opportunity to give! After collecting information about your donors, use a donor database to track all the details you’ve collected. Then, you can segment your communications to ensure different groups of people receive relevant communications.

Whether you’re reaching out to new alumni, older alumni, small- or large-dollar amount donors, or donors who work for top matching gift companies, every message should be different. Consider incorporating the following details into your communications to make personalize your messaging:

  • The donor’s name (or preferred nickname)
  • Their previous engagement or most recent donations
  • Information about their employer’s specific matching gift program guidelines

Sending your donors highly personalized outreach is an effective way to encourage them to participate in their employer’s matching gift program. After all, when you customize your communications to individual donors and create targeted campaigns, you’re more likely to find higher engagement and response rates from your donor pool.

5. Follow Up

After promoting your matching gift initiative, donations should start rolling in. Following up with donors is important for supporter engagement and capturing as many donations as possible, so you should consider it another step in the matching gift process!

Your donors want to know your institution appreciates their gift and that you value them as a supporter, alumni, or whatever their relationship may be. Here are a few keys ways you can do this:

  • Thank your donors for the initial donation. This might seem obvious, but it’s worth mentioning. Thank your donors immediately for their donations. Email is the quickest and most efficient way to do this, but you can also send a printed letter in addition to the initial email confirmation, depending on their donation level and your institution’s budget.
  • Thank your donors for submitting a match request. If you’ve been tracking which donors submit a match request to their employer (which you should be!), make sure you thank them for getting the matching process started. This is a huge step they’ve taken to make their donation go twice as far, so showing your appreciation is crucial.
  • Thank your donors after the company match has been received. Once the company’s matching donation has come through, you owe it to your donors to update them and thank them once again. Let them know their donation has gone twice as far and how much of a difference this has made for your school. This also serves as a point of reference for them so they understand how long the process actually takes.

On the other hand, some people will look into matching gifts and fail to follow through with a donation. Your school can seamlessly reach out to these potential donors and follow up through a matching gifts automation platform.

360MatchPro by Double the Donation’s automated platform tracks matching gift submissions from start to finish. When donors give a gift on your donation form, the platform determines their eligibility for a matching gift using the information they provided. If it finds a link between a donor and a matching gift program, it will trigger a follow-up email to the donor explaining how they can submit a match request.

You’ll be able to choose how often follow-up emails go out and easily track any incomplete matches. That way, your team will be able to spend more time on high-value matching gift opportunities and see more requests through to completion.

How to Promote Matching Gifts and Higher Education

According to Double the Donation’s matching gift statistics, 84% of donors say they’re more likely to donate if a match is offered—but 78% of donors don’t know if their company offers a matching gift program! That’s why promoting matching gifts and program basics is extremely important.

Your key audience: alumni donors. If you’re keeping tabs on the employment statuses of your students after graduation, you already have a robust database of potential donors. Plus, those with a connection to your school and its mission will be more motivated to give.

How can you promote matching gifts to alumni donors? Here are a few ideas:

This graphic shows the four channels higher education institutions can use to promote matching gifts.

  • Email communications. Whether you’re sending out an email to thank a donor for their specific gift or sending out an alumni newsletter, it’s important to include information about matching gifts to raise awareness about this giving opportunity.
  • Text messages. For a more personal outreach method (and to guarantee your message will be seen), send a direct text message. This is a great channel to use when bringing up matching gifts since everyone checks their text messages! Plus, matching gifts are so easy to explain, you can grab people’s attention with just one, short text.
  • Direct mail. You likely already send direct mail to students and alumni, so it should be easy to incorporate matching gifts into this communication channel! Include a flyer within your other mailings or send out a postcard that specifically highlights matching gift opportunities.
  • Website. Your website is the hub for all information about your school and various fundraising initiatives. For matching gifts specifically, it might also host your donation form or auto-submission tool. Set up a dedicated matching gifts page to prominently feature matching gifts on your institution’s website.

As an added bonus, you can use other marketing techniques to promote information about your matching gift initiative. For example, promote your landing page on Google to help alumni stumble upon it, even if they’re searching for something else! If search engine marketing (SEM) is the route you want to go, check out Google’s grant program for educational institutions.

Click this graphic to learn how to promote matching gifts and higher education through search engine marketing.

Be sure to demonstrate the impact donations and matching gifts will have on your school. This means specifically noting what certain dollar amounts will go toward.

For example, will $200 go toward new books for the school library? Will $500 go toward establishing a new student scholarship fund? Associating dollar amounts with a tangible item will encourage more donations, which could then be amplified by a company match!

Matching Gift Tools For Your School

Setting goals, promoting matching gifts, and every other step of starting a matching gift initiative can actually become easier if you invest in matching gift software for your school. The right tools will streamline the entire matching gift process from start to finish.

How? Matching gift software gives you direct access to a matching gift database, which offers information on thousands of companies with matching gift programs. Here’s how it works:

This graphic shows what a matching gift database looks like on the website of a higher education institution.

The software’s company name search tool can be embedded anywhere on your website. It allows donors to quickly look up their company’s matching gift program without needing to ask their HR departments or look it up on their own (or even more importantly, without leaving your website).

After making their search, the tool will immediately populate with essential info about the company’s program, such as:

  • Employee eligibility
  • Nonprofit eligibility
  • Minimum and maximum match amounts
  • Match ratios

It will also typically include a link to the company’s matching gift forms so your donors can fill out the match request right then and there. Immediacy is important—donors are most engaged with your school as they’re donating, so offering them a direct link to the necessary forms at that moment will result in more completed match requests.

5 Higher Education Institutions That Mastered Matching Gift Initiatives

Everyone prefers different learning styles, from auditory resources to hands-on learning experiences. If you’re a visual learner, we’ve compiled a list of matching gift initiative examples—that way, you can look at universities that did it well and understand how they succeeded!

These five universities exemplify effective fundraising through matching gifts by utilizing:

This image shows the shared elements of the matching gift initiatives of the five higher education institutions discussed in the text below.

  • University branding
  • Easily accessible navigation
  • Matching gift information
  • Matching gift submission options
  • Company search tool
  • Extra contact information

These five institutions mastered their website’s matching gifts pages and even leveraged other digital marketing channels to draw attention to their matching gift initiatives. Let’s take a look at each one in closer detail!

1. University of Georgia

The University of Georgia made our list because its dedicated matching gifts page offers both educational and actionable information to encourage donors to submit a match request. Here are the top things to note about their page:

  • It’s easily accessible: Users can find UGA’s matching gifts page from the navigation bar (How to Give → Matching Gifts), even if they weren’t looking for it.
  • It’s visually appealing: The page immediately captures attention with a graphic that illustrates how matching gifts can maximize impact.
  • It leverages a company name search tool: UGA has embedded a company name search tool from Double the Donation, which makes it easy for donors to find the information they need about their employer’s matching gift program.
  • It’s informative: UGA’s matching gift page outlines simple instructions for submitting a matching gift, as well as a contact form for any additional questions. They also list some top providers who match donations and matching gift contact information for anyone with questions.

However, UGA’s matching gift efforts aren’t just limited to this page. They’ve also embedded the same matching gift search tool into their donation form, and the tool is branded to match the rest of their page.

UGA sends out automated emails once a match-eligible donor has submitted their donation. This email identifies the donor’s employer and offers direct links to start the matching gift submission process and indicate their status. Additional information about their employer’s matching gift program is listed in the email, as well.

2. Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon offers actionable verbiage and options to encourage donors to match their gifts through their employers. Their matching gifts page is easily accessible from their “Give” page (Ways to Make Your Gift → Matching Gifts). It offers:

  • Brief but useful information about matching gifts, along with instructions on how to submit a matching gift directly to the university or process it online.
  • An embedded search tool (also from Double the Donation), automatically pulls up company names and information once the donor starts typing in it.
  • Contact information, including a phone number, email address, and mailing address, for those who have questions and want to reach out to CMU’s Gift Administration office

But again, the matching gift information isn’t limited to this page. On CMU’s donation form, there’s a checkbox where donors can indicate “My company will match my gift.” If selected, an option to search for the donor’s employer pops up along with the company name search tool.

Carnegie Mellon does an exemplary job of educating their donors and web visitors about matching gifts and guiding them through the process.

3. Utah Valley University

Another great example of a higher ed institution that puts matching gifts front and center during their cultivation and donation process is Utah Valley University. Here’s what their matching gifts page does well:

  • It’s easily accessible from the menu of their main Institutional Advancement page (Ways to Give → Matching Gifts).
  • It provides matching gift basics, including a brief but precise description of what matching gifts are and how donors can search for their company to determine their own eligibility.
  • It includes a company name search tool donors can use to look up their employer’s program.
  • It makes additional help easy to find by displaying the name and contact information of the Director of Annual Giving.

For supporters who are ready to make a donation, UVU offers the same search tool on their donation page. The tool matches the rest of the form and helps donors find their company guidelines on a subsequent page:

UVU also sends out automated emails to donors who have been identified as match eligible. This email identifies:

  • The donor’s employer
  • The steps they can follow to submit a match request
  • Additional contact information
  • Extra information about the specific company’s guidelines

UVU offers numerous ways for donors to learn about matching gifts through multiple channels, as well as provides actionable tools donors can use to submit their match requests.

4. Syracuse University

As soon as donors land on Syracuse University’s matching gifts page, they’re greeted with helpful information about corporate matching gifts and a company name search tool. The page’s top benefits include:

  • Straightforward instructions: Donors can follow the brief and easy instructions on the page to search for their company and click on the appropriate button to submit a match, if they’re eligible.
  • Notable branding: Every element is branded to match the university’s colors, creating a consistent experience for donors and a visually appealing page and form.
  • Prominent call-to-action: To get visitors started on the donation process, the page urges donors to “Give now!” with a prominent button that leads them straight to the donation form.

Syracuse also sends out automated emails to match-eligible individuals who have completed a donation. The emails include specific information about the employer’s matching gift guidelines, including their:

  • Match ratio
  • Minimum and maximum match amounts
  • Employee eligibility
  • Deadlines

Syracuse does an excellent job maintaining a consistent brand, communicating with donors, and guiding them through the matching gift process.

5. University of Michigan

The University of Michigan’s matching gift page can be accessed from the navigation bar of the university’s philanthropy website (Giving → Make an Impact → Matching Gifts). From there, the page offers information about different ways to submit a matching gift request:

  • Use their embedded company name search tool. Donors can read the step-by-step instructions on the page before using the search tool and beginning the gift process.
  • Reach out to the employer directly. The page notes that donors can contact their employer’s human resources department to learn about the company’s matching gift program and the procedures for making a gift.
  • Contact the university. Donors can direct their matching gift questions to the university via email, phone number, or direct mail.

The University of Michigan offers substantial information to its supporters to ensure they understand what matching gifts are, how to determine their eligibility, and what steps they can take to submit a match request.

Additional Matching Gifts and Higher Education Resources

The learning process is never over! If you’re part of a higher education institution and you’re looking for ways to boost your fundraising efforts (with matching gifts or other strategies), check out the following resources:

Click this graphic to learn more about online marketing to promote matching gifts and higher education.

In this article, you’ll learn about 20 festive Christmas fundraising ideas to earn more for your cause this holiday season.

20 Christmas Fundraising Ideas to Ring in the Holiday Season

With 30% of annual giving occurring in December, it’s not surprising that the holiday season is also the ultimate nonprofit fundraising season. People feel inclined to give back to their favorite causes during the holidays, and nonprofits should lean into that giving spirit to maximize their fundraising results.

However, there are so many nonprofits for donors to choose from. How do you make yours stand out and capture the attention of potential donors?

When you implement Christmas-specific fundraising ideas, you make holiday giving fun. There’s no better way to entice people to give during the holiday season than to give your fundraising efforts a little Christmas spin. Let’s walk through 20 Christmas fundraising ideas so your nonprofit can engage donors and earn more this holiday season.Click through to check out our recommended holiday eCard software provider and jumpstart your Christmas fundraising.

1. Christmas eCards

Christmas cards are a classic way to spread holiday cheer with family and friends. What if you could make Christmas cards more convenient and use them to encourage holiday giving?

Enter Christmas eCards. With eCards, people can connect with their loved ones—no matter where they are—with the click of a button. Your nonprofit can use dedicated holiday eCard software to create Christmas eCards and sell them on your website to raise money for your cause. Then, donors can add personalized messages and share their eCards. This image shows an example of a Christmas eCard used for a fundraiser.

Another way to fundraise with Christmas eCards is to offer them as tribute gifts. Donors can contribute to your nonprofit in honor of a loved one and send them an eCard detailing the donation and your cause. In that case, eCards act as Christmas cards and presents, spreading double the holiday cheer.

If you’re curious about what a Christmas eCard fundraising campaign looks like in action, eCardWidget provides a few examples from organizations like UnitingWorld and Habitat for Humanity South Africa.

2. Christmas Auction

Another Christmas fundraising idea is hosting a Christmas auction. This type of fundraiser is very versatile because you can pair it with other fundraising methods. For example, if you’re hosting a Christmas party or other holiday-themed event, you can include an auction as part of the festivities.

Plus, auctions are a great way to not only earn money for your cause but also offer donors something in return for their contributions. Include an array of holiday-themed items, such as wreaths, ornaments, sweaters, gift baskets, gift cards, and holiday event tickets.

To offset the costs of procuring items, reach out to local businesses to obtain corporate sponsorships. Then, companies can donate items to be auctioned off to your supporters. In exchange, you can promote these businesses on all marketing materials, including your website, newsletter, and social media pages.

3. Holiday Matching Gift Campaign

What could be better than a fundraising idea that comes at no additional cost to donors but has the potential to double—or even triple—your fundraising revenue? When you promote matching gifts, you make it more likely that donors will submit matching gift requests to their employers in an effort to double the impact of their donations for your cause.

While you may already advertise matching gift opportunities to your donors, doing so during the holiday season when giving is at an all-time high can be an effective way to raise even more. Since the matching gift process almost exclusively occurs online, leverage a digital fundraising campaign to promote matching gifts, using methods such as social media, Google Ads, and email.

To facilitate the matching gift process, consider using matching gift software. Double the Donation’s guide to matching gift software vendors explains that since many donors don’t know if they’re eligible for matching gifts, they don’t fill out matching gift requests, leaving extra money on the table that nonprofits could benefit from.

When you implement matching gift software, donors can check their matching gift eligibility and send matching gift requests right from your donation page, guaranteeing you’ll receive the associated company matches.

4. Christmas Cookie Exchange

Nothing screams Christmas joy like Christmas cookies. Host a Christmas cookie exchange to get your supporters’ creative juices flowing and bring your community together this holiday season.

Charge participants a small fee for entry. Then, all you’ll have to provide is a space for people to exchange cookies! This type of fundraiser is an easy and fun way to engage donors and their families during the holiday season.

You can raise even more with your Christmas cookie exchange by:

  • Selling cookie dough. For supporters who want to participate but aren’t the best bakers out there, make it easy by selling pre-portioned packages or tubs of cookie dough. That way, you can earn even more for your cause and increase engagement rates.
  • Turning it into a cookie-a-thon. If you want to bring out your supporters’ competitive sides, transform your Christmas cookie exchange into a cookie-a-thon. During a cookie-a-thon, participants can obtain pledges for the number of cookies they bake during the event. Then, those funds will go back to your organization. After the cookie-a-thon, participants can opt-in to share their cookies during your Christmas cookie exchange.
  • Hosting a cookie-eating contest. Don’t know what to do with all those cookies after your Christmas cookie exchange? Host a cookie-eating contest! You can charge participants a small fee to enter and provide a prize to whoever can eat a certain amount of cookies the fastest.

No matter whether you host a traditional Christmas cookie exchange or combine it with other Christmas fundraising ideas, you’re sure to entice your supporters with the prospect of enjoying a treat and contributing to your cause at the same time.

5. Tree Decorating Contest

When you think of Christmas, the traditional Christmas tree likely comes to mind. There are so many different ways you can incorporate a tree decorating contest into your holiday season fundraising strategy.

One option is to have supporters team up to decorate and pay an entry fee to participate. If your nonprofit has the means, you can provide each team with a tree or work with a local Christmas tree farm to offer trees to your supporters.This image shows kids decorating a Christmas tree.

If you want to host your tree decorating contest virtually, you can have supporters pay a small fee and submit pictures of their decorated trees from home. This way, you can reach a wider audience and encourage anyone who’s confident in their home’s tree decorations to join in on the fun.

In order to judge the entries, have members of your staff evaluate trees based on their creativity, festivity, and overall quality. To earn even more from this fundraiser, you can have supporters pay a small fee to vote on their favorite entry and determine the winner that way.

6. Holiday 5K

Get your supporters active this holiday season with a festive 5K. Have runners pay an entry fee so you can raise money for your cause.

It’s easy to host a 5K—all you have to do is secure space for the course. Then, you can focus on making the run fun and filled with holiday cheer!

For example, you can encourage participants to dress up in holiday attire. From Santa suits to ugly sweaters, there are a variety of ways participants can dress according to the theme.

As a final touch, sell Christmas-themed branded merchandise. Consider offering t-shirts to commemorate the event and other smaller items such as mugs and stickers. That way, you can raise even more for your cause.

7. Online Shopping Fundraiser

What’s better than a fundraiser that doesn’t require supporters to contribute any additional money to your nonprofit? Online shopping fundraisers allow your supporters to give back to your cause while they purchase holiday gifts for their loved ones.

Check out how an online shopping fundraiser works:

  1. Supporters download an online shopping fundraiser app or browser extension.
  2. Then, supporters shop online using the app or browser extension.
  3. Supporters choose their nonprofit of choice, and a percentage of their purchases goes toward a worthy cause!

To facilitate this fundraiser, your nonprofit can partner with a provider like ShopRaise so your organization can be included in online shopping fundraiser apps. As a result, you’ll also have access to metrics about which supporters have used the app and how much they’ve contributed through their holiday shopping.

8. Polar Plunge

Challenge your supporters to a frigid polar plunge! For this fundraiser, supporters jump into a cold body of water to raise money for your nonprofit. They collect pledges from family and friends ahead of time, encouraging them to brave the cold for your cause.

When it comes to a polar plunge, safety is key. Here are some steps you can take to ensure all participants stay safe at your event:

  1. Have participants sign waivers when registering for the event.
  2. Hire EMTs and lifeguards to attend the event in case of emergency.
  3. Provide towels and blankets for participants after they take the plunge.

With safety precautions in place, you’re equipped to host a polar plunge event that brings out the daredevil in your participants and raises funds for your nonprofit.

9. Gingerbread House Contest

Inspire a little healthy competition among your supporters with a gingerbread house contest. Participants can pay a small fee for entry. Then, it’s time to get creative!

Work with a local bakery to provide participants with gingerbread and a variety of decorating supplies. Supporters of all ages can create their ideal gingerbread house and enter it into the running.

Then, have your staff and supporters vote on their gingerbread house of choice. You can even open up the contest to your social media followers to include a wider audience.

10. Breakfast with Santa

Family holiday fun awaits with a breakfast with Santa event. Invite your supporters to a festive holiday breakfast featuring special guest, Santa. Charge supporters an entry fee to attend.

Make the breakfast element easy by offering pancakes and waffles. That way, all you’ll have to do is buy pancake mix and ask your supporters to lend their griddles of waffle makers. If you want to provide a wider variety of food options, consider partnering with a local restaurant or catering company.This image shows a stack of pancakes decorated to look like Santa.Don’t forget about the guest of honor! Have a member of your staff dress up as Santa and engage with families at the event. Then, you can feature pictures of Santa and your supporters on your social media to ring in the holiday season.

11. Christmas Text-to-Give

Take advantage of the giving season with a text-to-give campaign. You can make it easy for people to lend their support by offering the option to contribute right from their phones.

Choose a holiday-related keyword for supporters to text to a designated number. Then, they’ll be directed to your donation page where they can make a contribution.

For optimal success, make sure your donation page is mobile-friendly. Adjusting text size and image formatting can make your page more accessible, allowing more people to lend their support.

12. Holiday Gala

A holiday gala is a great way to gather your community together during the holiday season. Sell tickets for the event on your website and entice people to attend by offering sneak peeks on your social media.

Reach out to restaurants and catering companies to see if they’d be willing to cater the event. That way, you can provide a delicious dinner to your supporters at little to no cost to your organization.

Holiday galas also present an opportunity to look back at your successes from the past year. Create a slideshow that highlights your accomplishments and thanks attendees for their continued support.

13. In-Kind Donation Drive

Chances are that your beneficiaries could benefit from certain items in addition to typical donations. Encourage your donors to show their support in a different way with an in-kind donation drive.

Make a list of items your supporters can contribute. For example, an animal shelter may accept pet food, leashes, and bowls whereas a homeless shelter may look for holiday gifts, personal care items, and clothing for their residents.

Ensure it’s clear where supporters can drop off their contributions. You may create a festive donation box with wrapping paper and put it in a visible location outside your organization’s headquarters or in the building.

14. Holiday Movie Night

One of the easiest ways to fundraise during the holiday season is with a movie night. All your organization has to do is sell tickets and provide a space to show the movie!

To engage your supporters, have them vote on which holiday movie they’d like to see. You can even turn the event into a holiday movie marathon by showing multiple festive movies back to back.This image shows a family watching a Christmas movie.Earn even more from your holiday movie night by selling snacks and drinks to enjoy. Ask your supporters if any of them have a popcorn machine they’d be willing to lend for the event. Then, you’ll really create an authentic movie theater atmosphere!

15. Ice Skating Event

Skate the night away at an ice skating fundraiser! Get in touch with your local ice rink to see if they’re willing to host a proceeds night. That way, a percentage of your supporters’ ice skating entry fees can go toward your cause.

To give this wintry event a holiday touch, consider selling hot chocolate or Christmas cookies for skaters to enjoy when they get off the rink. Just make sure to check that the rink allows outside organizations to sell items at their venue.

16. Christmas Bingo

Add a Christmas spin to the classic bingo fundraiser. Make this family-friendly activity suitable for the holidays by using Christmas-themed bingo boards, playing Christmas music, and giving away Christmas-themed prizes to the winners.

To make the event profitable, sell tickets for entry or depending on how many rounds people play. You can raise additional funds by adding a raffle or silent auction to your event.

17. Holiday Candy Grams

Allow your supporters to sweeten up their loved ones’ holiday seasons by selling holiday candy grams. Provide candy and paper for personalized notes, and you’re good to go!

From candy canes to peppermint bark, there is a variety of fun holiday-themed candy you can use for your candy gram fundraiser. Spread awareness of the event by promoting it on social media and allowing non-local supporters to purchase candy grams on your website. You can even have people send their candy grams with a festive eCard in lieu of a physical note.

18. Holiday Lights Festival

Want to provide a magical experience for your supporters? Transform your nonprofit’s facility into a winter wonderland! Depending on the size and nature of your building, you can create an indoor or drive-by lights display that gets your supporters into the holiday spirit.This image shows a house decorated with Christmas lights.

Collect donations before supporters view the display. You can earn more from the event by selling holiday treats, such as hot chocolate and candy canes, for people to enjoy as they experience the display.

19. Christmas Scavenger Hunt

A Christmas scavenger hunt can get supporters of all ages excited about the holiday season. Hide Christmas-related items around your facility. Charge participants for entry, and whoever finds all the items first wins a prize!

You can also open up the scavenger hunt to people outside of your local area. Create an online version of the scavenger hunt by allowing supporters to send in pictures of the items on your list. Then, you can post the winning entry on social media.

20. Gratefulness Challenge

The true essence of the holiday season is being grateful for everything you have. Inspire supporters to share what they’re grateful for with a social media challenge. In December, you can encourage supporters to post a photo of something they’re grateful for, such as loved ones or pets.

Raise funds with a gratefulness challenge by having participants share a link to your donation page. They can contextualize their post for supporters by explaining the challenge in the caption and how their support can help your nonprofit propel its mission forward.

Your supporters can amplify their impact by tagging friends and family members and encouraging them to participate in the challenge as well.

Wrapping Up & Additional Resources

The holiday season is all about three things: friends, family, and fun. Let your Christmas fundraising campaign reflect what this time of year truly stands for.

Provide opportunities for donors to participate in fundraising with their loved ones and support your organization in a way that also gets them excited about the holiday season. That way, everyone can enjoy the fundraising process and ultimately help your organization meet its year-end fundraising goals.

Looking for more fundraising resources? Check out these articles:

In this article, explore strategies for boosting your nonprofit's year-end fundraising success and help you achieve your goals.

5 Strategies for Achieving Year-End Fundraising Success

Navigating the complexities of year-end fundraising can be a daunting task. With approximately a quarter of your revenue for the entire year at stake, it’s crucial to have a well-defined plan in place to maximize your organization’s fundraising potential.

In this guide, we’ll explore five best practices for achieving year-end fundraising success. Whether you’re looking to establish new fundraising strategies or revamp your existing ones, these insights will help you secure the funding you need to further your mission.

1. Analyze your data from last year.

Analyze past fundraising data stored in your organization’s database. Use this information to determine what your organization does well and where you have opportunities for improvement.

For example, if a significant portion of your supporters RSVP’d for your virtual event and gave a donation on top of their registration fee, you should continue this activity as part of your year-end campaign. However, you may also find that your email open rate is lower than expected, meaning there’s an opportunity to optimize your email marketing strategies.

Keep these discoveries in mind as you construct your year-end plan.

2.  Make a plan to start early.

Year-end fundraising isn’t just about November and December. In fact, many nonprofits start their planning in late summer, as this allows them to prepare far in advance of the busiest months of the year.

As approaches, create a plan that accounts for:

  • Your Giving Tuesday campaign. Giving Tuesday is the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving and will likely be one of your most successful donation days of the year. Make sure you’re prepared for the day by rolling out a marketing plan several weeks ahead of time on your social media accounts, your website, and your email newsletter.
  • Holiday considerations for your supporters. Lean into the holiday cheer by emphasizing the idea of the “season of giving” and focus your messaging and communication materials on this idea. Offer supporters the ability to donate on behalf of their friends and family or send seasonal greeting cards in exchange for a donation.
  • The last few days of the year when fundraising is most lucrative. Plan your biggest communications push for the last few days of the year when donors have their last chance to make a tax-deductible gift. Work closely with your matching gift officers to arrange phone calls and in-person meetings with major donors to secure their support, as these are the donors most receptive to tax deduction incentives.

If your nonprofit finds itself starting the planning process later than ideal, immediately prioritize key tasks to maximize its success. Firstly, it should conduct a thorough assessment of its current resources, including staff, volunteers, and existing donor relationships. This will help identify any gaps that need to be filled and provide a clear understanding of the organization’s strengths and limitations

3. Prepare your communications.

Effective communication is key to engaging donors and inspiring them to support your cause. To prepare your communications for a successful year-end fundraising season, you should:

  • Segment your audience. Segmenting your audience based on their giving history, interests, and engagement level can help you tailor your communications to their specific needs and preferences. Send targeted messages to each supporter segment to increase the relevance and effectiveness of your communications.
  • Craft compelling stories. Use storytelling techniques to spark emotional connections with your donors. Share impactful stories that highlight the impact of your organization’s work, demonstrate the importance of donors’ support, and create a sense of urgency to encourage them to act quickly. Engaging narratives can inspire donors to give and help them understand the value of their contributions.
  • Create a multi-channel approach. Utilize multiple communication channels, such as email, social media, direct mail, and phone calls, to reach donors through their preferred platforms. Be consistent in your messaging to reinforce your campaign’s key messaging across channels.

In the months ahead of the year-end season, consider revamping your brand guidelines to differentiate yourself from other organizations and highlight your unique value proposition. Gather feedback from donors, staff, and other stakeholders to gain insights into how the brand is perceived and what changes may be necessary, such as refining your messaging or updating certain graphic design elements.

4. Look for new revenue sources.

For the new year, consider diversifying your revenue sources to increase your nonprofit’s sustainability. For instance, in addition to your current year-end fundraising plans, you might try:

  • Incorporating matching gifts and volunteer grants. Corporate matching gifts are opportunities for companies to match contributions that their employees make to nonprofit organizations. Volunteer grants work in a similar way—companies reward a nonprofit with a donation once an employee volunteers a specified number of hours with that nonprofit. Encourage your supporters to investigate if their companies already have these programs or are interested in starting them.
  • Launching a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign. In a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, individuals raise money on behalf of your nonprofit by reaching out to their personal networks and encouraging them to donate. Creating a rolling peer-to-peer campaign, which supporters can join at their own discretion, provides an additional source of revenue your staff can be more hands-off with than you would other fundraisers.
  • Seeking grants for specific projects. Take this opportunity to revamp your grant-writing strategy by identifying certain projects that would benefit from grant funding. Follow effective grant-writing best practices, such as creating a unique proposal for each application, explaining how your project aligns with the funder’s mission statement, and emphasizing your project’s impact, effectiveness, and sustainability.

Expanding your funding sources can help you discover areas of untapped fundraising potential. Additionally, if one fundraising source ever falls short, you have multiple other revenue streams that can pick up the slack.

5. Prepare your technology stack.

A well-prepared technology stack can significantly streamline and improve your fundraising efforts. With the right tools, you can send personalized messages, track engagement, and leverage automation to nurture donor relationships, helping you raise more funds.

Depending on your goals, you can benefit from investing in new technology or upgrading your existing tools ahead of the year-end season. These new platforms may include:

  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system: Partner with a CRM provider known for platforms with robust reporting capabilities, like Blackbaud or Salesforce. These systems will enable you to better track the success of your year-end fundraising campaign. Analyze your year-over-year fundraising performance as a whole, as well as granular data, such as if mid-level donors sustained or increased their annual donations.
  • Online fundraising platform: Invest in a user-friendly online fundraising platform that facilitates easy and secure donation processing. Look for features like customizable donation forms and recurring giving options that will streamline the donation process for supporters and help you track contributions effectively. Ensure your fundraising platforms integrate with your CRM to capture donor data effectively.
  • Text-to-give solutions: Text-to-give platforms accommodate donors who prefer to give via their mobile devices. The platform should be straightforward for donors to use, supporting quick and simple mobile giving.
  • Email marketing software: Enhance your email marketing efforts with dedicated email marketing software. Select a solution that includes email automation, segmentation, A/B testing, analytics, and an integration with your CRM. Personalized and targeted email campaigns can be especially effective during the year-end fundraising season.

If you need assistance throughout this process, consider working with a nonprofit technology consultant. An expert can decide whether or not you need an entirely new system or an upgrade and provide guidance on how to leverage your technology to meet your goals.


By following these recommendations, you can get a jump start on your year-end fundraising plans. Although the end of the year might seem far off, it’s never too early to create a game plan for your year-end strategy and make sure you’re maximizing the fundraising opportunities available to you.

In this blog post, you’ll learn some tips for how to improve internal communication at your nonprofit.

5 Tips to Improve Internal Communication At Your Nonprofit

In any kind of workplace, how you communicate internally affects your outputs. This is true whether you’re an advertising agency preparing a pitch for a prospective client, a restaurant getting ready for dinner service, or even a rock band rehearsing for a concert. 

The same principle applies to nonprofits. To succeed in serving your community, your team members must know how to effectively communicate with one another. Effective communication has a trickle-down effect, enhancing how you fundraise, run your programming, and make progress on large-scale projects. It’s also critical for running a workplace where people enjoy their jobs and want to stay for the long term

To help you improve internal communication at your nonprofit, we’ve put together this quick guide consisting of five practical tips. If you’re ready to level up how your team works together, this post is for you! Let’s get started. 

 

1. Equip your employees with the right communication tools.

Great communication starts with the right tools, especially in an age of flexible work arrangements, where some employees may be working from an office and others may work from home. 

To connect all the dots and keep information flowing through your organization, consider using these tools: 

  • Specific email guidelines. Your nonprofit probably already relies heavily on email as an internal communication channel, but you could likely make emailing more efficient and effective. Create guidelines that outline email expectations, like when it’s appropriate to cc or bcc a coworker or when employees should avoid selecting “reply all” to team-wide emails. 
  • An intranet or internal website. A secure, internal intranet or website creates a place to store all documents, policies, and information that your employees need to succeed in their roles. 
  • Instant messaging or chatting apps. Tools like Slack or Google Hangouts Chat can instantly put one team member in touch with another. For instance, say one of your employees is getting ready to submit your Google Ad Grant application, but has one last question for your team. Instead of typing out a full email or calling on the phone, they quickly send out their question and get a response within minutes or even seconds. 
  • A video conferencing tool. Depending on what the format of your workplace looks like, you may need to take meetings with your team members remotely. A tool like Zoom or Microsoft Teams makes it easy to host meetings, chat with fellow participants, and record it all to refer to later. 
  • Document sharing and other collaboration tools. Sometimes your team will work on projects where more than one person will need to be completing tasks in a document or slide deck at the same time. That’s where a collaborative workspace tool like Google Workspace or Microsoft Teams comes in handy. 
  • An integrated CRM system. Any new digital or web-based communication tools your organization uses should ideally integrate with your central database or CRM. A steady flow of data about both your internal operations and donors will give your team a broader and more useful view of the organization as a whole. 
  • Project management software. If your nonprofit is looking for a better way to manage deliverables and communicate where a deliverable is in the process of being created, you’ll benefit from using project management software like Trello, Monday, or Asana. 
  • Surveys. Wondering how your employees feel about a new policy or project? Go ahead and simply ask! A survey tool like Google Forms or SurveyMonkey can empower you to quickly send out open-ended questions and get thoughtful responses. 

As with email, any tool you decide to use for internal communications should be introduced along with guidelines for its appropriate use. This will help ensure your tools help rather than hinder internal communication and encourage a healthy workflow at your organization.

2. Be transparent about compensation. 

Let’s now get into how to communicate about a big topic that is intimidating for many employers: compensation. Compensation, how your organization pays and rewards employees for their work, plays a major role in determining the overall tone of your internal culture. However, this doesn’t simply mean employees are only happier and more engaged when they’re paid higher salaries. 

As you’re well aware, the topic of nonprofit salaries is particularly complex and sometimes controversial. Generally speaking, nonprofits experience much tighter or more inflexible budgets than for-profit businesses of similar sizes, which is why Astron Solutions recommends you take a total rewards approach to compensation. This means taking into account both direct and indirect forms of compensation.

Direct Compensation

Organizations of all types tend to avoid talking very openly about direct compensation. Employees are rarely aware of exactly why they or their coworkers are paid what they’re paid. This can lead to a lot of easily avoidable confusion, secrecy, and feelings of dissatisfaction. 

However, new pay transparency laws are becoming more ubiquitous throughout the U.S., requiring employers to be more forthright with their employees and job candidates about compensation. 

Whether or not your state or local government has yet to pass a pay transparency law, it’s a general best practice to take an open approach to communicating about compensation with your employees. On a one-on-one basis, each employee should clearly understand why they’re paid their particular salary. 

Especially for nonprofits that can’t afford to offer extremely competitive salaries for all staff members, you can foster a more engaged, satisfying work culture by taking an open, realistic approach to direct compensation and paying close attention to the quality of your indirect compensation.

Indirect Compensation

While direct compensation refers to salaries, indirect compensation includes elements like:

  • Benefits, like healthcare, PTO, and retirement savings
  • Your performance management styles
  • How you recognize achievements
  • The work-life balance you promote
  • The quality of your internal culture 

By including culture (which is greatly determined by an organization’s approach to internal communication) as an element of indirect compensation, nonprofits can more accurately examine their compensation strategies and then take a more flexible approach to adjust them. 

This is particularly important when you consider that it’s elements of indirect compensation that tend to be the most important factors in your employee retention rate. Indirect compensation is an integral part of why employees stay engaged with their work. Understanding that will help you better develop strategies for improving it (like streamlining internal communication) and help you recognize when you’re falling short.

3. Prioritize transparency and engagement in general.

Most managers of teams understand the value of transparency, but it can be easy to let this priority fall by the wayside under the stresses of day-to-day operations. 

Just as you develop stewardship plans to grow your donors’ investment in your cause, you can easily take steps to do the same for your employees. More transparent communication and big-picture views of your operations are great ways to start. 

As a nonprofit grows and new processes and policies are built out, not every member of your team will have as much insight into their coworker’s tasks or the priorities of other departments as they once did. In your internal communications and announcements, think carefully about whether you have a good reason not to share particular updates or information. 

Many managers worry that sharing too much information about ongoing activities across the organization will be distracting for team members and derail focus. However, increasing transparency around new strategies and updates can significantly increase employee engagement

This is because team members will be more understanding of changes and feel more invested in new developments when they can contextualize why your organization is making certain decisions or prioritizing certain projects. 

Another strategy you might consider is expanding your training or onboarding process to include overview presentations or shadowing in different departments. Siloing staff members into very specific roles without giving them the chance to see how their work contributes to the bigger picture can contribute to burnout or low engagement. 

4. Share internal knowledge and documentation freely.

Organizational history and process documentation can be invaluable resources for your staff as they make day-to-day decisions and contribute to your nonprofit’s growth. 

However, internal knowledge and documentation might be intentionally kept secret. This is typically more common in for-profit businesses than in nonprofits, but you should still avoid this practice in general. (Of course, legal and privacy concerns should always be taken into account.) 

If you have no pressing reason to limit the visibility of certain information or documents, though, you should make sure employees can easily access and benefit from resources like: 

  • Your employee handbook
  • The employee’s job description, contract (as applicable), performance evaluations, and benefits information
  • Organizational policies and bylaws 
  • Training and educational materials
  • Board meeting materials
  • Financial reports and grant and funding details
  • Your strategic plan
  • Program descriptions
  • Project plans and timelines 
  • Meetings minutes and agendas 
  • Brand and style guide 
  • Updated employee directory 

Remember, as mentioned above, an intranet or internal website can be an excellent place to store these resources securely. 

Opening up your store of internal knowledge for employees whenever possible is a best practice for any organization. Not only does it communicate trust, but it also increases employee engagement by letting your team know that they’re a valuable part of your organization’s ongoing story.

5. Connect internal goals to your mission and communicate them.

As a nonprofit, you have the benefit of being fully guided by your mission, not necessarily by market forces or competing organizations. Chances are your team members have all pursued work in the nonprofit space because they feel personally compelled to contribute to the social good. They’ve all been drawn to your mission in one way or another. 

Fostering that sense of mission buy-in is critical for your organization. 

Your internal communication style can support mission buy-in by simply being more direct. Whenever you’re sharing updates about a new goal or development, think about how it ties into your mission, and then explain how they’re related. When fully tied into your driving mission, even unexciting internal projects become more engaging for your employees. 

This practice is especially important for high-stakes or critical projects, as mission buy-in will likely be a major factor that pushes your team over the finish line. 

When it comes to setting internal goals and building structures to motivate your team, working with a nonprofit HR expert early on in the development of your organization can have positive, long-lasting impacts. Growth can cause teams to lose focus, and developing a concrete roadmap around your central mission is a smart safeguard. 


An organization’s approach to internal communication plays a major role in determining the quality of its workplace and its ability to connect with beneficiaries and supporters

By implementing one or more of these tips into how you handle your internal communication, you can encourage healthy shifts and growth in your organization’s culture. Take a flexible approach, and find what works for your unique mission and team. You can do it!

 


Author: Jennifer C. Loftus, MBA, SPHR, PHRca, GPHR, SHRM-SCP, CCP, CBP, GRP

Jennifer C. Loftus is a Founding Partner of and National Director for Astron Solutions, a compensation consulting firm.  Jennifer has 23 years of experience garnered at organizations including the Hay Group, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Eagle Electric Manufacturing Company, and Harcourt General.  

Jennifer has held volunteer leadership roles with SHRM, New York City SHRM, and WorldatWork. She serves as a subject matter expert to the SHRM Learning System and as a SHRM instructor.  Jennifer is a sought-after speaker for local & national conferences and media outlets.

Jennifer has an MBA in Human Resource Management with highest honors from Pace University and a BS in Accounting summa cum laude from Rutgers University.  

Jennifer holds Adjunct Professor roles with Pace University, Long Island University, and LIM College.

Jennifer received the 2014 Gotham Comedy Foundation’s Lifetime Ambassador of Laughter Award.

Matching Gift Software Accessibility in the Higher Ed Sector [Feature Image with Title Text]

Matching Gift Software Accessibility in the Higher Ed Sector

In this post, we’ll walk you through how your nonprofit can get started with the Google Ad Grant program.

How Your Nonprofit Can Get Started With the Google Ad Grant

Whether supporters find out about your nonprofit and its cause through social media, your website, or flyers, it’s all thanks to the power of marketing. With a strong marketing strategy, you can communicate to the general public what issue your nonprofit is working to resolve and how people can get involved.

Of course, having a sophisticated marketing strategy is often easier said than done. The term “marketing” itself probably makes you picture late nights spent planning out social media content, busy days writing blog posts, and hundreds of dollars poured into printing posters, flyers, and mailers.

But what if we told you that there was a digital marketing tool your nonprofit could tap into for free? One that has driven over 14 billion clicks worldwide to over 65,000 nonprofits’ websites?

We’re talking about the Google Ad Grant, a program that can empower you to capture new supporters’ attention online without paying a dime. Let’s dive into how your nonprofit can get started with this marketing tool!

A Quick Overview of the Google Ad Grant

So, what exactly is the Google Ad Grant?

The Google Ad Grant allows your nonprofit to tap into the power of Google Ads for free. You’ve likely seen a Google Ad before—search something like “dog sitter” and you’ll see a number of Google results pop up at the top of the search engine results page that are labeled “Sponsored.”

These are Google Ads, which companies pay for to get more visibility for their products and services. The Google Ad Grant lets you do the same—for free.

Here’s how it works. According to Getting Attention’s complete guide to the Google Ad Grant, select charitable organizations can apply for the grant, which gives organizations $10,000 in monthly Google Ad credits. And this isn’t a one-time grant—as long as the organizations comply with the program rules, the grant automatically renews every month.

So, if you want your nonprofit’s website to be visible for search terms related to your cause, like “beach clean up” or “animal shelter volunteering,” the Google Ad Grant can help you stand out.

On top of helping you reach more people, using the Google Ad Grant also comes with other benefits, like:

  • Increased donations and support. While the Google Ad Grant is primarily a marketing tool, you can use it to promote things like your donation page, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming events. Thus, the Ad Grant can help you get more people clicking on these important action pages and doing something to move your mission forward.
  • No competition for the funding. While your nonprofit will have to meet certain requirements to be eligible for the Google Ad Grant, there are no limits to how many organizations can take advantage of the opportunity. This means once you ensure you’re eligible and apply, the grant is yours!
  • Data into supporters’ online behavior. To get the most out of the Google Ad Grant program, you’ll be using a tool like Google Analytics to monitor your website visitors’ behavior. As a result, you’ll understand what does and does not encourage them to take action on behalf of your cause. This means you can improve your Ad strategy and also gather a wealth of insights to work with to optimize your website and other aspects of your online presence!

To take full advantage of all the Google Ad Grant program has to offer, your nonprofit needs to get a strong start to its Ads strategy. Let’s look at the three major steps you need to get up and running with the Ad Grant.

1. Meet the eligibility requirements.

To be eligible for the Google Ad Grant, your nonprofit must meet several requirements:

  • Have a current and valid charity status. In the United States, this means having a current 501(c)(3) status. Also, note that the Google Ad Grant is not for governmental entities, healthcare organizations, or academic institutions (although the fundraising arm of an academic institution is eligible).
  • Agree to the terms and conditions of the program. You’ll need to agree to comply with how Google expects your nonprofit to receive and use any donations received as a result of the grant. You’ll also need to agree to the terms of service for Google for Nonprofits and Google Ads.
  • Have a functioning website with high-quality content. To ensure your website is Ad Grant-ready, you should have your own domain, plenty of high-quality, user-friendly content, and a description of your organization’s specific mission and work.
  • Have a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate on your website. The SSL certificate ensures there is security between a web server and a browser. If your website’s address starts with https, you already have an SSL certificate. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to get one. Check out this helpful resource from Google to get started.

As you assess your organization’s Google Ad Grant eligibility, you may find that your website could use some fine-tuning before you apply for the program. Apply these best practices to ensure that your website is the best that it can be:

  • Get inspired by roundups of high-quality nonprofit websites, like Morweb’s full guide to the best nonprofit websites
  • Streamline your site’s navigation by creating a simple menu that links to your most important pages, generating calls-to-action (CTAs) that point to action pages, and adding internal links to guide users to your top resources
  • Optimize your “About Us” page so that it clearly communicates your organization’s mission, values, and vision for a better future
  • Focus on your action pages, like your donation form or event registration form, ensuring they’re primed to convert visitors that land on them
  • Ensure the site is optimized for mobile devices, meaning the site should resize to fit any screen size
  • Make the site accessible to people of all abilities by adding alt text to images, ensuring your text and background colors have a high color contrast, and embedding an accessibility widget

Of course, you’ll continue to improve your website even as you start running Google Ads. But putting in a little extra effort now will help you start seeing results faster once you begin!

2. Apply for the program.

Once you know that your nonprofit is meeting all of the eligibility requirements, it’s time to apply for the Google Ad Grant program. Here’s how the process will work:

  • You register your nonprofit with TechSoup. TechSoup partners with Google to provide technology and other resources to nonprofit organizations. Join TechSoup by signing up for an account on their website. After your organization is verified by TechSoup, you’ll receive a validation token to provide to Google.
  • You enroll in Google for Nonprofits. To enroll, provide your tax ID number, contact information, and the validation token received from TechSoup. Once you’re enrolled, you’ll also be able to tap into other Google tools besides the Ad Grant, like Google Workspace and the YouTube Nonprofit Program.
  • You submit your application. Once your Google for Nonprofits account is approved, you’re ready to apply for the Ad Grant. To submit the application, go to Google for Nonprofits, click on “Products,” and then “Get Started.” You’ll fill out the eligibility form and then select “Activate” to submit the application.
  • Google approves your account and sends further instructions. After a few business days, you’ll get an email from Google. Accept the invitation and the billing profile in the email. From there, your Google Ad journey can begin!

To begin leveraging the Ad Grant, set up an ad campaign.

First, conduct thorough keyword research for your campaigns that have decent traffic and are relevant to your mission. Next, follow the required account structure: For each campaign, you should have at least two ad groups. (An ad group contains one or more ads with similar targets.) Within those ad groups, you should have at least two active ads. Finally, enable sitelink extensions so you can link to specific parts of your website below your ads.

3. Manage and maintain your account.

Remember, the Google Ad Grant isn’t a one-off grant—it will renew every month if you properly manage and maintain your account! Ensure you maintain your eligibility (as discussed above) and follow these requirements so you can keep running your Ads:

  • Follow the keyword rules. Don’t use single-world keywords or keywords that are too generic. You must also ensure your keywords have a Quality Score higher than one or two.
  • Comply with the Ad rules. You should have at least one responsive search ad per group and have at least two sitelink ad extensions.
  • Ensure you’re getting clicks on your ads. Specifically, Google requires that you maintain at least a 5% click-through rate (CTR) each month. Google also asks that you track these conversions through Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager.
  • Respond to Google’s annual survey. Google will send your organization a survey each year to get feedback on the Ad Grant program. Make sure you fill it out—not only is it required to continue receiving Ad credits, but it will also ensure that Google can make useful updates to the program.

On top of proactively staying in line with these requirements, check the Ad Grants Compliance Guide often. This is the most up-to-date resource that you can reference to manage and maintain your account.

Bonus: Work with a Google Ad Grants agency.

Managing your Google Ad Grant (in a way that gets you real results) is essentially a full-time job. As a result, it’s often put on the back burner or farmed out to team members who already have plenty of responsibilities on their plates.

This is why many nonprofits opt to work with a Google Ad Grants agency. Google Ad Grants experts can take over the heavy lifting for your team and offer services like:

  • Helping you apply for the Google Ad Grant and providing recommendations if your organization is rejected
  • Conducting thorough keyword and competitor research
  • Creating an ad strategy to grow awareness of your mission and bring in new support
  • Setting up campaigns and keeping them organized
  • Creating ad assets (text, headlines, ad extensions, and images)
  • Managing your $10,000 Ads credit budget

Of course, working with a Google Ad Grants agency is an investment. However, the money you spend on working with Ad Grants professionals will feel like nothing once you’re seeing results for your mission!

There are many different ways to help your nonprofit stand out in its marketing and fundraising efforts, but the Google Ad Grant program is by far one of the most effective. Now that you know about this key resource, you’re already on your way to getting free advertising credits for your mission.

Use this mini guide to continue on your journey, and consider working with a Google Ad Grant agency to streamline your strategy and get the most out of the program. You’ve got this!

In this guide, we'll review the basics of corporate giving and how the Google Ad Grant fits into corporate giving programs.

What to Know About Corporate Giving and the Google Ad Grant

Corporate giving comes in a variety of forms, from sponsorships and direct monetary donations to scholarships and grant programs. One unique corporate giving program is the Google Ad Grant, which provides nonprofits with the resources to market their cause online. 

Few corporate giving programs are similar to the Google Ad Grant. Nonprofits interested in tapping into the resources provided through corporate giving initiatives may be curious about how the Google Ad Grant fits into their strategy. 

To help kick off your nonprofit’s research, this guide will answer a few essential questions about corporate giving and that Google Ad Grant, including:

Navigating the Google Ad Grant and corporate giving relationships in general can be a challenge. If your nonprofit needs additional guidance or assistance choosing which corporate philanthropy programs to pursue, consider working with a consultant.

Start earning free money through corporate giving. Explore Google's top corporate giving program: The Google Ad Grant. Get a free consultation.

What is corporate giving? 

Corporate giving is a form of corporate philanthropy wherein for-profit organizations give resources to nonprofits. These resources are usually monetary donations, but they can take other forms, such as:

  • Volunteer grants. When employees volunteer with nonprofits regularly, companies that offer volunteer grants will contribute to those organizations based on the number of hours their employees volunteer. For example, a company may vow to donate $15 per volunteer hour. Alternatively, businesses may opt to contribute a flat fee for volunteer time, such as a $250 grant for 15 volunteer hours and above.
  • In-kind donations. Some companies offer goods and services to nonprofits in need. These in-kind donations help nonprofits obtain the supplies and equipment they need to help their beneficiaries. A company that has partnered with a soup kitchen may collect non-perishable food items to contribute.
  • Pro bono work. Businesses can also offer their specific expertise to nonprofits at a free or discounted rate. From legal consulting to event planning, charitable organizations can benefit from access to professional services that they might not otherwise have room in the budget to invest in.
  • Scholarships. To help students in need, companies can offer scholarships. Typically, these scholarships are open to college and university students to cover costs such as tuition, living expenses, and educational materials. Education-related nonprofits can promote these opportunities to their beneficiaries and encourage them to apply.
  • Event sponsorships. Sponsorship agreements are a win-win situation for nonprofits and businesses. Nonprofits receive the funding they need to cover costs like venue fees, security personnel, and refreshments. The businesses, on the other hand, obtain positive publicity and marketing.

To get a sense of how widespread corporate giving is, check out these statistics:

The graphic details three corporate giving statistics, written out below.

Essentially, these numbers show that consumers and corporations agree: the more corporations participate in corporate giving, the better. 

How does the Google Ad Grant relate to corporate giving?

The Google Ad Grant provides marketing resources to nonprofits. While these resources may not directly benefit nonprofits’ programming, they take pressure off of nonprofits’ budgets, allowing them to allocate more resources to their initiatives. 

Plus, by giving nonprofits the resources they need to reach more supporters, Google can help them increase donations and spread awareness to a wider audience. Strategic nonprofits can use the $10,000 in ad credits Google provides and receive tens of thousands in donations from supporters they connected with through the grant program.

Why does Google partake in corporate giving?

Many corporations use corporate giving as an opportunity to promote their products and services. However, Google is a globally known company that controls over 85% of the search engine market. That means it likely won’t benefit from a few nonprofits telling their supporters to use Google. 

Regardless, Google still hosts multiple corporate giving programs. While few companies’ leadership will outright state why they give to charitable causes, there are several common reasons most companies, including Google, participate in corporate giving. These include:This image shows the benefits of corporate giving for businesses, as outlined in the text below. 

  • Improved reputation. Most consumers want to make ethical purchasing choices, even when it comes to free services like Google Search. Businesses can stand out in consumers’ minds by publicizing their corporate philanthropy efforts. Ultimately, this helps them associate their brand with charitableness, sustainability, and ethics. 
  • Tax deductions. Corporations that make major charitable contributions receive tax deductions in return. These deductions help offset the amount spent on corporate giving, making corporate philanthropy a strategic business decision just as much as an act of good. 
  • Employee satisfaction. Consumers want to buy from ethical corporations, and employees want to work at ethical corporations. In fact, 71% of employees state that it’s very important to work at an organization that participates in philanthropy. Providing employees with matching gift programs, corporate volunteer days, and charitable funds can increase employee satisfaction and retention.

Outside of these general reasons, most businesses attempt to be more specific with why they give and what causes they support. Many businesses have stated philanthropic values that focus on a specific issue related to their products or services, such as supporting the arts, helping low-income schools, or fighting food insecurity. 

As a worldwide company, Google supports an array of nonprofits through the Google Ad Grant, exempting only government organizations and establishing a separate ad grant program for educational institutions. 

Outside of the Google Ad Grant, Google focuses its philanthropic efforts on causes related to technology, skill development, and education, which makes logical sense from a technology-based company.

What corporate giving programs from Google can my nonprofit benefit from?

Google offers multiple corporate giving programs with which different types of nonprofits can engage. Determine your nonprofit’s needs, whether they are related to marketing, finances, or finding skilled volunteers. When you know what your nonprofit hopes to gain from corporate giving programs, finding organizations that provide the services you need will be much easier. 

Nonprofits looking to Google for assistance can take advantage of the following corporate philanthropy programs:

The graphic outlines the three types of corporate giving offered by Google, detailed below.

Google Ad Grant

What is the Google Ad Grant?

The Google Ad Grant is an advertising grant Google provides nonprofits, allowing them to market their websites on Google Search for free. Essentially, Google provides nonprofits with monthly ad credits they can use to bid on keywords related to their cause. When the nonprofit wins a bid, its ad will be shown to users searching their target keywords.  

Nonprofits can use the Google Ad Grant to promote a variety of projects, including:

  • Donation drives
  • Volunteer recruitment 
  • Awareness campaigns 
  • Current programs and resources for constituents 
  • Upcoming events and fundraisers 

The Google Ad Grant also allows nonprofits to market multiple projects in an organized manner. For each project, nonprofits create an ad campaign. For example, a nonprofit might create an ad campaign to recruit volunteers in their area. 

In the ad campaign “volunteer recruitment,” there are multiple ad groups that focus on different keywords related to the main topic. In this example, these might be “volunteer opportunities near me,” “X [nonprofit type] volunteer opportunities,” and “group volunteer opportunities.”

For each of these groups, the nonprofit then creates multiple ads. In the “volunteer opportunities near me” group, the nonprofit might create one ad about how its volunteer positions can make a difference in their community and a second ad focusing on how the opportunity benefits the volunteer to attract as wide an audience as possible.

How can my nonprofit access the Google Ad Grant?

Nonprofits can apply for the Google Ad Grant by following these five steps:

The graphic details the five steps for submitting a Google Grant application, written out below.

  1. Check eligibility. Ensure your nonprofit is eligible for the Google Ad Grant or take steps to become eligible otherwise. The qualifications include being a registered nonprofit in your country and having a secure website with valuable content related to your mission. Additionally, the nonprofits must not be a government, healthcare, or educational organization. Educational institutions can instead apply for Google for Education
  2. Register with TechSoup. Google requires nonprofits to validate their nonprofit status with TechSoup. TechSoup provides nonprofits with a variety of technology-related services, and after filling out a short registration form, nonprofits can receive free or discounted technical services from a variety of companies, including Zoom, Microsoft, and Adobe. 
  3. Create a Google for Nonprofits account. Once nonprofits are verified by TechSoup, they can complete the short Google for Nonprofits registration process. In addition to being able to apply for the Google Ad Grant, nonprofits that register for Google for Nonprofits will also have access to services like Google Workspace and YouTube for Nonprofits, both of which provide additional free organizational and marketing tools. 
  4. Prepare their website. Nonprofits must have websites Google feels are valuable to searches before they will promote them. High-quality websites have a clear mission statement, landing pages with relevant information about the nonprofit’s programs, short load times, consistent branding, intuitive navigation, and an SSL certificate. 
  5. Submit their application. Once your nonprofit has completed the above steps, you can apply for the Google Ad Grant. Simply log into your Google for Nonprofits account, click “Get Started” under the Google Ad Grant label in the “Products” section, complete the eligibility form, and return to Google for Nonprofits to finally hit the “Activate” button to submit your application. From there, you will receive an email inviting you to join the Google Ad Grant program in a few days if accepted. 

If you need assistance at any step of the application process or help later on managing your Google Ad Grant account, consider partnering with a Google Ad Grant agency. Google Ad Grant agencies have up-to-date knowledge of Google’s latest policies as well as experience with the types of ad campaign strategies that tend to find success.

Need help applying for the Google Ad Grant? Get in touch with Google Ad Grant experts. Get a free consultation.

Matching Gifts

What are matching gifts?

Matching gifts are a corporate giving program wherein corporations make donations to the same nonprofit organizations their employees support. Essentially, if an employee gives $50 to a nonprofit, they can fill out a matching gift application form with their employer, and then the employer will also donate $50. 

Most organizations with matching gift programs, like Google, match donations at a 1:1 ratio, but some at a 2:1 or even 3:1 rate.

How can my nonprofit access the Google matching gifts?

Your donors who work at Google can fill out matching gift requests to double the donations they make to your nonprofit. In addition to their matching rate, Google has a few other restrictions employees should consider as well, such as:

  • The minimum and maximum donation match amounts. Google has no minimum requirement and will match all gift amounts up to $10,000 annually per employee.
  • Whether full-time, part-time, and retired employees’ gifts are matched. Full-time and part-time Google employees are eligible for matching gifts, but retired employees’ gifts will not be matched. 
  • The types of nonprofit organizations are eligible for matching. Google matches gifts to educational institutions (including K-12 schools), health and human services, arts and cultural organizations, civic and community organizations, and environmental organizations. 
  • When matching gift applications must be submitted by. Matching gift applications must be submitted by January 31st of the year after the donation was made to be considered. 

Each organization has its own rules and regulations for matching gifts. You can help your supporters learn more about their employers’ specific matching requirements by using a matching gift database. Matching gift databases allow users to search their employers’ name and be paired with their matching gift application form.

Google.org

What is Google.org?

Google.org is Google’s grant program for nonprofits. In contrast to the Google Ad Grant, Google.org operates similarly to other grant foundations. Google.org provides nonprofits with funds to advance projects related to their core areas, which include:

  • Economic empowerment
  • Technology and innovation
  • Learning

Additionally, while Google funds causes around the globe, they focus on U.S.-based initiatives, given their operations as a company located in the United States.

How can my nonprofit get involved with Google.org?

Google.org has the following four-phase process for nonprofits and other groups interested in applying for the grant:

  1. Applications open. Google announces when applications are open, and potential grant recipients have a set timeframe to submit their proposals. 
  2. Ideas are selected. Google assembles a team of experts on the subject matter they receive proposals for to assess their merits, feasibility, and potential impact. 
  3. Announcements and celebrations. Google selects their grant recipients and announces them. 
  4. Ongoing support. Selected grantees receive their awarded funds for up to three years, allowing them to turn their proposals into a reality. 

Essentially, the key to winning the Google.org grant is the same as for any other grant: writing an effective grant proposal that differentiates your organization, aligns with the funders’ philanthropic goals, and demonstrates the potential to significantly impact social good.

Are there corporate giving programs similar to the Google Ad Grant?

The Google Ad Grant is fairly unique in that few other organizations own major search engines they can provide nonprofits advertising space on. The only other organization to offer a similar corporate giving program is Microsoft with the Microsoft Ad Grant.

While the Microsoft Ad Grant is currently paused following the launch of its pilot program, it functions similarly to the Google Ad Grant, and interested nonprofits will follow roughly the same application process. The details of this process are subject to change when the program is relaunched, however, so be sure to follow updates closely.

Outside of grants provided directly by Google and Microsoft, nonprofits can also look to marketing grant opportunities. Few grant programs offer funding specifically for marketing, but nonprofits can look for grants that provide unrestricted grant awards.

While most grant awards must be spent on specific proposed projects, unrestricted grants provide funding that can be spent on operating expenses like marketing. Regularly check top grant databases like GuideStar and Grants.gov for new grant opportunities that might align with your nonprofit’s cause and goals.

Additional Resources

Corporate giving is an underutilized resource for nonprofits, and the Google Ad Grant is an effective and unique way nonprofits can take advantage of corporate philanthropy programs. 

Of course, before jumping into the Google Ad Grant application process, nonprofits still need to familiarize themselves with a few essentials. Get started with these resources before taping into this corporate giving opportunity:

Want to get more resources for your nonprofit? Discover how to access thousands of dollars through the Google Ad Grant. Get a free consultation today.