Does Your Company Match Charitable Contributions?

I've already asked if any readers get paid to volunteer. In the responses to this question, one reader said she doesn't get paid to volunteer, but that her company does match charitable contributions. So I thought I'd ask you all:

• Does your company match charitable contributions?
• If so, what kind of donations do they match?
• Do you take advantage of this program?
• Why or why not?

My current company does not match charitable donations, but I've worked at places in the past that have. They matched what I gave to my college up to something like $500. I took advantage of it since it was "free money" for the college, but I wished they had more charitable options for giving. Only giving to educational institutions was somewhat limiting for me.

Comments

[Hoon]

My company matches charitable donations of up to $10,000 per year. This includes higher education as well as non-profit organizations. I would have taken advantage of it this year, but I started with the company in December 2007 and you have to "enroll" in August or September for the following year to participate (it's deducted from your paycheck, and the company sends a matching contribution each pay period).

The actual location I work for is a subsidiary for the parent company, and my understanding is that not a single person at my location (about 50-75 people) take advantage of this. When I asked about it to try to set it up after getting hired (it was in the new employee handbook), nobody at my local office knew what I was talking about.

[savvy]

My company offers matching contributions for universities but I am not sure about other charitable organizations. I believe it's up to $10K per employee per calendar year.

I do take advantage of the program but not nearly to the extent that I'd like. I'd love to be able to endow a scholarship at my alma mater.

[John]

My corporation matches accredited university donations only. However, we are "encouraged" to buy US savings bonds and make charitable contributions. They provide payroll deduction for both of these activities. They also ask we let them know of our volunteer hours. Obviously they use these numbers in pamphlets, etc about the corporation.

The upside is that our new charitable contribution "middle-man" allows us to choose any non-profit. So I donate to the missions group we also support at church. I know the heads of the group so it's nice to be assured the money is being used properly. We used to be locked into giving to the United Way.

I participate in all three "money" activities. I do not enter my volunteer hours; mostly out of laziness.

[WesleyTech.com]

My company will contribute a $750 monetary award to an eligible charity where I have volunteered at least 50 hours throughout the year.

I have not yet taken advantage of this, but I would like to volunteer somewhere in the future.

[Jim]

My employer has an annual United Way fundraising deal and they match 100% of our donations. They let us designate any non-profit we want for the money. I do use this since it effectively doubles what my charities of choice are getting.

Jim

[Margo]

Up until this year, my company matched charitable contributions up to $1000/year (or 5000 for universities)

We're having a terrible year - our key markets like Phoenix, Vegas & Florida - are the worst hit by the housing market. So, they discontinued the matching contribution program and the Day of Giving (8hrs paid leave) for this year.

To be fair, however, after Katrina and the tsunami, they matched a special 2-for-1 on all donations to the Red Cross and other disaster relief organizations.

[EA]

My company matches 50c on the dollar for all cash contributions over $50 (up to some max that I don't actually hit in a year). It has to be a non-profit and there is some clause excluding non-profits that actively oppose the business itself. There's a form you fill out half of, sign, and include with the donation. The recipient organization fills out the rest and (if it's the first donation from my company for the year) sends proof of 501c3 status. I think the checks are delayed a couple months, but it's basically free money for the recipient organization.

As someone mentioned above, my company also did a dollar for dollar match for donations to the Red Cross after Katrina.

[karla (threadbndr)]

My company matches up to $5000 per employee for charitable (non profit and non religious) contributions.

We also support United Way; if you do your "fair share" (which is based on a percent of your salary) you get 8 extra hours of vacation.

We also have an active volunteer program that includes free goodies from the logo store, your name in the company newsletter, free food at volunteer days - all not really $ in your pocket, but fun.