Corporate matching gifts can be a huge boon to nonprofit fundraisers, including PEF’s Giving Campaign in support of Piedmont’s schools. With corporate matching gifts, it is possible to double — and in some cases more than double — your gift to PEF. Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match most charitable contributions made by their employees. Piedmont Education Foundation is encouraging supporters to apply for a company match once they have made their donation.
Cori and Zach Kau, parents of three PUSD students, apply for a company match each year once they have made their Giving Campaign contribution so the schools can benefit from every available dollar. “We support the Giving Campaign every year because it builds our community and ensures that our schools and children have the resources to excel,” says Cori. She adds, “Piedmont has been a very special place to raise our children as it is rooted in a sense of community and scholastic values.”
Each company has its own system for processing matching gifts, but generally all that is needed is a donation tax receipt, which Giving Campaign donors receive by email. These matches are not negligible. Last year, the PEF Giving Campaign received matching gifts from 71 different companies, totaling $327,000. PEF Executive Director Heather Frank encourages donors to ask their organizations about gift matching. “Many companies recognize what a benefit it is to match their employee contributions. Not only does it help with employee morale, the company receives tax benefits and additional, positive marketing from nonprofit recipients.” Frank shares that in prior years multiple donors have requested and received matches from companies including Apple, BlackRock, BNY Mellon, Charles Schwab, Chevron, Clif Bar, Disney/Pixar, Genentech, Google, Lawrence Livermore, PG&E, Salesforce, Visa, and Wells Fargo.
In January, PEF will publish the names of the donors for this year’s Giving Campaign. If you have not yet made a contribution, please visit PiedmontEdFoundation.org/donate, and remember to ask your company about their matching gift program.