Did you know that your donation to Wildlife SOS could go twice as far—without costing you a penny? Through employer donation matching programs, many companies will match charitable contributions made by their employees, effectively doubling the impact of your donation.
What is Employer Donation Matching?
Employer donation matching is a corporate giving initiative where companies financially match donations that their employees make to eligible non-profit organisations. For example, if you donate $50 to Wildlife SOS, your employer may also contribute $50, resulting in a total of $100 going toward saving elephants, bears, leopards, and other threatened species across India.
Some companies even go beyond a 1:1 match—offering 2:1 or higher matches, meaning your original donation could triple in value. It’s one of the easiest ways to amplify your support without any additional expense.
Are you retired? Some companies will also match gifts for retired employees! Going further, some companies will also match your spouse’s charitable contributions – it is always a good idea to check.
Click here to find out if your employer will match your donation. If your employer is not on the list, be sure to reach out to your HR department, as they can often add Wildlife SOS to their list of approved organisations.
What Donations Can be Matched?
If your employer offers a matching gift program, it is likely that your donations can be matched! While it changes from company to company, these are a few items that may determine your match eligibility:
Minimum and maximum: Some companies have a minimum amount they will match, while most have a maximum annual matching amount.
Employee status: Sometimes, the employee’s role at the company can affect the match that they qualify for. Part-time, retired, or full time employees will likely have different matching rates.
Deadline: Every program identifies a deadline when the matching gift request must be submitted by the employee. This deadline can be either a firm date (December 31st is common) or a threshold based on the date of the initial donation (90 days after donation is made).
A great way to maximize your impact is to match your monthly donations! Pay close attention to the deadline restrictions from your company, and be sure to submit your donations in time. If you need a donation receipt monthly or quarterly, please contact us.
Why Matching Matters for Wildlife SOS
Every dollar counts in the fight to protect wildlife. When your gift is matched, you’re providing twice the funding for critical programs like:
- Rescuing and providing medical care for abused elephants.
- Providing lifelong care for sloth bears formerly used as “dancing bears”.
- Preventing human-wildlife conflict through community education and rapid response teams.
- Protecting habitat and biodiversity through conservation science and policy advocacy.
With more resources, Wildlife SOS can reach more animals, employ more caregivers, and expand its conservation initiatives.
How to Get Started
- Check with your HR Department or Company Intranet. Ask if your employer has a donation matching program and what the process is to apply.
- Submit a Matching Gift Request. Most companies have a simple online form to complete. You may need to provide your donation receipt and Wildlife SOS’s nonprofit information, which can be found here.
- Let us know! If your company is matching your gift, we’d love to hear from you. It helps us track matching donations and thank you properly.
If you have any questions about employer matching, getting your company set up with a giving program, or you need help with a receipt for submitting your donation, please email kim@wildlifesos.org.
