🎁 Gift Match Calculator
Enter a donor's gift and the employer or foundation match ratio to see the matched amount and the total that lands with your institution — a quick figure for donor stewardship communications.
🧮 Match a Gift
What is a Gift Match Calculator?
It takes the guesswork out of promoting matching gift programs. Punch in the donor's gift and the ratio their employer or foundation matches at, and it instantly shows the matched amount and the total impact — handy for donor stewardship emails, gift officer conversations, and campaign reporting.
Use it to show a prospective donor how far their gift can stretch, or to sanity-check a total before it goes into a thank-you letter. Remember matching programs vary in ratio, annual caps, and eligibility, so confirm the exact terms with the matching company before promising a final figure.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How does the gift match calculator work?
Enter the donor's gift amount and the match ratio their employer or foundation offers — 1 for a dollar-for-dollar 1:1 match, 0.5 for a 1:2 match, and so on. It multiplies the gift by the ratio to find the matched amount, then adds that to the original gift for the total that lands with your institution.
What is a matching gift program?
Many employers and some foundations will match a donation an employee or affiliate makes to an eligible nonprofit or educational institution, effectively doubling (or more) the impact of the original gift. Programs vary widely in ratio, annual caps per employee, and which organizations qualify.
Are there limits on matching gifts?
Almost always. Most matching programs cap the total match per employee per year, and some exclude certain types of gifts (like event tickets or pledges) or organizations. Always confirm the exact ratio, cap, and eligibility rules with the donor's employer or the matching program directly before promising a total.
Does this calculator submit the match request for me?
No — this is a planning estimate only. Donors typically submit a matching gift request through their employer's HR portal or a dedicated matching-gift platform, and your advancement office confirms and processes the match once it's approved.