Employer Match and Payroll Deduction

Many employers will match all or part of your charitable donations, as well as allow you to direct a portion of your paycheck to a charity. Please check with your employer’s human resources department about matching gift and payroll deduction programs.

A How To Guide: Employer Matching Gifts

What are matching gifts?

Matching gifts are a form of corporate giving. Under a company matching gift program, when an employee donates to a non-profit organization, the donor will submit paperwork to their employer, and their employer will match the donation. 

Who is eligible to participate?

At companies with matching gift programs, the majority of full-time employees are eligible. In some instances, part-time and international employees, retirees, and spouses are also eligible.

What donations qualify for a match?

Every company has its own guidelines regarding what types of donations it will match. About two-thirds of companies will match non-profit organizations that represent Educational institutions (K–12 included), Civic and community organizations, Arts and cultural organizations, and Health and human services.

How much will be matched?

The majority of companies with programs match donations at a 1:1 ratio, or dollar for dollar. Some will match at a higher rate such as 2:1 or 3:1, while others will match at a lower rate. Additionally, companies set minimum and maximum thresholds for matching. For example, most companies will only match donations that are at least $50.

When can you match your donation?

Companies allow employee matching gifts to be made at different periods throughout the year. The two most common matching gift programs are Year-Round and Workplace Giving Campaigns.

• A Year-Round program allows employees to match their donations whenever a gift is made
• Workplace Giving Programs are often specified windows of the year, during which gifts will be matched

How do I match my donation to Cristo Rey Columbus High School?

Please follow the below steps: 

1. Make a donation to Cristo Rey Columbus High School. THANK YOU!
2. Contact your HR Department to learn if your company has a matching gift program, and request program guidelines. Alternatively, login to your company’s employee intranet and search for matching gifts.
3. Complete your matching gift request. Different companies use different submission processes including paper forms, proprietary websites, or third-party websites such as easymatch.com, benevity.com, cybergrants.com, etc.
4. Once your matching gift request has been submitted, CRCHS will be notified and asked to verify your donation.
5. Following receipt of verification by CRCHS your matching gift will be approved for payment. Please note that companies and third-party entities disperse funds on different cycles.

Please keep in mind that:

• Companies set deadlines for when gifts can be matched. Many requests must be made within 3 or 6 months. 
• Many companies match the tax-deductible portion of a gift made in association with an event. For example, if an event ticket costs $1,000 and goods and services are worth $200, the tax-deductible portion is $800.
• In the event your company has a matching gift program, but CRCHS is not listed as an eligible non-profit organization, ask your HR Department how you can add CRCHS to your company’s database. If there are actionable steps for CRCHS, please contact Emily Eaton, Advancement Manager for support at eeaton@crchsworks.org or 614-223-9261 x039.

Thank you for your donation to Cristo Rey Columbus High School, and for doubling or tripling your impact!