About Matching Gifts

A matching gift is a fundraising tool where a lead donor commits to matching contributions from other donors up to a maximum amount. When donors contribute to a campaign with an active matching gift, their donations are matched dollar-for-dollar (or at a custom multiplier) up to the maximum limit, effectively doubling (or multiplying) the impact of their contribution.

Matching gifts are a powerful way to incentivize donations and increase fundraising momentum. They create a sense of urgency and encourage donors to give, knowing their contribution will be matched. Matching gifts can run for a limited time period or until the match limit is reached.

Key features

• Lead donor commitment: A donor commits to matching other donations with their own funds
• Flexible matching: Set a multiplier (1:1, 2:1, etc.) to control how donations are matched
• Automatic matching: Enable automatic matching so donations are matched in real-time as they come in
• Maximum amount: Set a cap on the total matching obligation the lead donor will cover
• Time-based campaigns: Set start and end dates to create urgency and control when matching is active
• Anonymous or named: The lead donor can choose to be named publicly or remain anonymous
• Progress tracking: Display real-time progress toward the matching goal on the giving page
• Donor visibility: Show recent contributions to build momentum and encourage more giving

Example matching gift scenarios

Scenario 1: Dollar-for-dollar match - Lead donor commits to matching $10,000 - Donor contributes $100 - Their donation is matched with $100 from the lead donor - The match limit is now $9,800

Scenario 2: 2:1 match - Lead donor commits to matching $10,000 with a 2:1 multiplier - Donor contributes $100 - Their donation is matched with $200 from the lead donor - The match limit is now $9,800

Scenario 3: Time-limited match - Lead donor commits to matching $5,000 from now until the end of the month - This creates urgency for donors to contribute before the deadline

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Setting up a Matching Gift

Matching gifts require a Stripe account to process donations. Once your Stripe account is connected, you can create matching gifts for any campaign.

Start by logging into your MemberDrive organization dashboard at memberdrive.org.

In the left sidebar, click Payments and then select Matching Gifts.

Click the Create Matching Gift button. You'll be asked to provide the following information:

• Campaign: Select which campaign this matching gift is for
• Maximum match amount: The total amount you're willing to match (e.g., $10,000)
• Multiplier: How donations are matched (1 for 1:1, 2 for 2:1, etc.)
• Auto-match: Enable to automatically match donations as they come in
• Start date (optional): When automatic matching should begin
• End date (optional): When the matching gift expires or should end
• Public display name: How your name appears to donors (or leave blank for anonymous)

Once created, your matching gift will appear on your campaign's giving page. Donors will see:

• A banner indicating a matching gift is active
• The lead donor's name (or Anonymous if you chose to remain unnamed)
• A progress bar showing how much of the match has been used
• Recent donations from other supporters

You can also share a direct link to your matching gift page with supporters to drive donations.

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How Automatic Matching Works

When you enable automatic matching on a matching gift, donations are matched immediately as they come in—without requiring any manual action on your part.

Automatic matching process

1. A donor contributes to your campaign
2. MemberDrive checks for active matching gifts
3. If a matching gift is eligible, it automatically matches the donation
4. The matched amount is applied to the matching gift's total obligation
5. The match limit decreases until it reaches zero or the match is completed

Progress updates

The matching gift page updates in real-time to show:

• Total donations: The sum of all contributions received
• Total matched: The amount committed by the lead donor
• Remaining match: How much matching capacity is left
• Progress percentage: A visual indicator of how close you are to the match limit

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Managing an Active Matching Gift

Once a matching gift is created, you can monitor its progress and make adjustments as needed.

From the Matching Gifts page, click on a matching gift to view:

• The lead donor's name and contact information
• Current matching progress and remaining capacity
• Recent donations
• Start and end dates
• The multiplier and maximum amount

You can edit most details of a matching gift, including:

• The maximum match amount
• The multiplier
• The end date
• The public display name

To edit, click the Edit button on the matching gift detail page.

If you want to stop accepting donations toward the matching gift before the scheduled end date, you can end it early. Click End Match on the matching gift detail page.

When you end a matching gift:

• The matching gift is marked as completed
• No new donations can be matched
• An invoice is generated for the lead donor's total matching obligation

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Matching Gift Invoicing

When a matching gift is completed—either because the match limit is reached, the end date passes, or you end it early—an invoice is automatically generated.

What happens at completion

1. An invoice (pledge) is created for the lead donor
2. The lead donor is notified of their matching obligation
3. The invoice can be paid via credit card, bank transfer, or offline payment methods
4. The matching gift is marked as completed

Managing the invoice

The invoice is treated like any other pledge in your system. You can:

• View the outstanding balance
• Record payments as they're received
• Send reminders if needed
• Accept manual payments (check, wire transfer, etc.)

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Best Practices for Matching Gifts

Maximize impact

• Use 1:1 matches for simplicity: Dollar-for-dollar matches are easier for donors to understand
• Set realistic limits: Choose an amount you can actually afford to match
• Time your matches strategically: End matches at strategic moments (end of year, milestones) to create urgency
• Promote widely: Share your matching gift prominently on your website and in communications

Drive engagement

• Show progress: The progress bar on the matching gift page builds momentum
• Highlight recent donors: Donors want to see their gift is part of a larger movement
• Create a deadline: Time-limited matches encourage faster donations
• Consider naming: Named matches build personal connections; anonymous matches focus on the cause

Track results

• Monitor progress regularly: Check how close you are to your matching limit
• Analyze donor behavior: See which campaigns receive the most donations when matches are active
• Follow up with the lead donor: Keep them informed of progress and thank them publicly (if they consent)

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Common Questions

Q: What happens if I don't receive enough donations to match? A: The invoice for the matching gift will reflect only the amount that was actually matched. You won't be invoiced for more than the donations you received.

Q: Can I have multiple matching gifts for the same campaign? A: Yes. You can have multiple matching gifts from different lead donors for the same campaign, or even overlapping matches with different multipliers.

Q: Can I change the end date of an active matching gift? A: Yes. You can extend or shorten the end date of an active matching gift at any time from the edit page.

Q: What if the lead donor can't pay the full invoice? A: Work with the lead donor to arrange a payment plan. You can record partial payments and track the outstanding balance.

Q: Can donors see who the matching donor is? A: Yes, unless you chose to remain anonymous when creating the matching gift. You can always choose to be named or anonymous at creation.

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Need more help?

If you have any questions about matching gifts, please contact us at help@memberdrive.org. Or click the chat icon at the bottom of every screen. We're happy to help!