Increase Your Giving to First Church Through Your Company’s Matching Gift Program

Given the generosity of our First Church members, I am sure many of you are aware of Matching Gift Programs, but have you thought about matching gifts in terms of your church giving?

A matching gift program is a giving opportunity that is set up by companies and corporations as an employee benefit. After an employee donates to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the donor can submit a matching gift request to their employer and the company will make an additional donation to the organization.

First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth is a 501(c)(3) and technically qualifies but some companies do exclude religious organizations.

To get started, contact your company’s human resources department. They will be able to verify whether or not First Church qualifies under their program and advise you as to what additional information is needed such as a donor-completed application or the church’s tax identification number.

Matching dollar amounts vary from one company to another. Matches might be a one to one (1:1) match, i.e. you donate $50, the company matches it with $50 to the same organization for a total donation of $100 or it might be 2:1 match where your $50 gift’s match is $100 for a total donation of $150 or a 5:1 match where your $50 gift’s match is $250 for a total donation of $300.

A matching gift program is an easy way to increase your giving without really costing you anything except for your original gift and your time to set it up. If you work for a company that has a matching program, I encourage you to consider it as another giving strategy that will benefit First Church’s transformative ministries and program.

With sincere appreciation,

Nancy Fisher
Director of Stewardship