Speakers: Shawn Wood, Assistant Vice President of Development, University of Lynchburg. Carrie Chen, Executive Director, Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation
What matching gift challenges did you overcome with 360MatchPro?
Shawn Wood: Prior to utilizing the 360MatchPro
program, we depended on one on one interactions with our donors. Suggesting that they can contact their human resources department and their company to find out if it is a program that that company provides, what the ratio may be, what types of forms or hoops to jump through. Utilizing the 360MatchPro
that is automatic as soon as they make an electronic gift, they are alerted of that opportunity. Forms are readily available, the matches are provided as well. It's been set up to where actually if the donor just makes the gift and keeps moving on, an email follows up just suggesting to them such and after a certain amount of time, there's a another follow up nudge that automatically will go to those that didn't go ahead and execute that matching [gift] opportunity.
Carrie Chen: Our biggest challenge when it comes to matching gifts is ensuring that all of our donors have the information at their fingertips so that they can easily apply for a corporate matching gift. Using the Double the Donation search engine tool and 360MatchPro
has really helped us to overcome that challenge.
What would you recommend 360MatchPro to a fellow fundraiser?
Shawn Wood: I actually have already recommended the program to two other institutions who I believe are taking advantage of the services. It's saved an incredible amount of time for our small advancement shop and is consistently dependable on the messaging and the follow up process that happens.
Carrie Chen: For anyone that is considering this tool, I would first consider your current staff and volunteer capacity and what your current level of corporate match return is from your donors. Double the Donation is a great tool for those who are just getting started on engaging donors about corporate matching.
What will your organization be able to do with increased matching gifts?
Shawn Wood: The additional revenue obviously is help at any time during the year. But now as we are into a quiet phase of a comprehensive campaign, these matching opportunities have greatly helped us to reach many of the goals that we have set along the way early in the campaign, I only expect it to continue improving as we keep utilizing uh the 360MatchPro and, and capitalizing on these matching opportunities with our donors.
Carrie Chen: With increased corporate matching gift revenue, we'll be able to provide even more support to the public school district that we partner with.
