By Luanne McGovern

Does your employer match employee donations to charitable causes through a corporate matching gift program? Research shows that more than 65% of Fortune 500 companies participate in this type of charitable workplace giving. Many companies will match employee contributions at a 1:1 ratio or even higher and have policies that allow gifts to be matched retroactively if you forgot to apply for the match at the time of your contribution. Some companies will even match your volunteer hours with a monetary contribution.

Back when I was in the working world, I took full advantage of my employer’s matching gift programs. While I couldn’t physically be in West Virginia and the Highlands, it was my way of keeping in contact and in touch with the place I love.

Some of the biggest companies with matching gift programs include General Electric, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Verizon, Home Depot, JP Morgan and many more.

The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy is a United States-based tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit and will meet the requirements for most matching gift programs. So, if you are already contributing to the Highlands Conservancy (thank you!) or if you volunteer with us, check it out and see if your employer will match your gift!