An estimated $4-$7 billion in matching gift funds goes unclaimed per year.
This, according to American Charities, a 501(c)(3) membership-based nonprofit that promotes workplace giving. In their Facts & Statistics on Workplace Giving, Matching Gifts, and Volunteer Programs, here is what they gathered on Matching Gifts:
- 65% of Fortune 500 companies and 28% of small to mid-size companies offer matching gifts – the total represents a 58% increase since 2006.
- Average employee participation in employer matching gift programs is 10%, demonstrating a marked opportunity for growth.
- Corporate matches rate near the very top of incentives for employees to donate to charities through workplace initiatives. 84% say they’re more likely to give if a match is offered, and one in three say they would give a larger gift if it was matched.
- More than half of employee matching gift programs are ‘open’ , where employees can choose the nonprofit to benefit.