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Double your Gift. Strengthen your Community.

If you could double your gift to the ENF without personally giving twice as much, would you do it?  With more than 19,000 companies offering a matching gift program, there’s a good chance you could double the impact of your donation by requesting a matching gift through your employer. To learn more about matching gifts, we asked Donor Services Associate Jon Flaherty to answer some frequently asked questions about company-sponsored matching gift programs.  Here’s what he had to say.

Q. What is a matching gift?
    A.  It’s when an employer will match a donation dollar-for-dollar to an organization.

Q. What is a volunteer grant?
    A. It’s when a company will match volunteer hours with a check to the ENF. When employees volunteer at the Lodge, they record their hours volunteered and turn them into their employer. Then, their company matches the time volunteered by writing a check to the ENF.

Q. How do I know if my employer does matching gifts?
    A. There are several ways to find out.  The easiest way to check is by using our online database to see if your company sponsors a matching gift program. Search now! Your Lodge’s ENF Fundraising Chair also has a printed copy of companies who participate in workplace giving. Ask him or her if your company is on the list. Or you can always check with your HR department.

Q. How do I start the matching gift or volunteer grant process?
    A. Simply donate to the ENF, and let your employer know. After your company confirms that we received the monetary donation or volunteer hours, it will write a check to the ENF to match the donation. Some companies even allow spouses or retirees to participate in the matching gift program! 

Q. How do I send in my donation?  
    A. You can donate to the ENF as you normally would, either through your Lodge or by sending the donation directly to our office. Read through your company’s matching gift guidelines beforehand, and follow the instructions for requesting a matching gift.  Some employers will ask you to send the matching gift form to us with your donation, while other companies will ask you to submit the matching gift request online.

Q. Will my Lodge get credit for my company’s contribution?
    A. Yes.  Any matching gift or volunteer grant sent from your company will count towards your Lodge’s per member-giving total, and it will count toward your personal recognition total too.

Q. Who do I contact at the ENF with questions about matching gifts?
    A. I’d love to hear from you! Contact me, Jon Flaherty, at JonF@elks.org or 773/755-4862.
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