How much extra does it actually raise?
Where a program applies, the common ratio is one to one — a hundred dollars becomes two hundred — and a few employers go higher. We cannot tell you your employer’s ratio or cap, because they set both and change them; their portal will. What we can say is that submitting one takes about five minutes, and that almost nobody does it.
Do matching programs cover a synagogue?
Many do and some do not — a few employers exclude religious organizations, and others will match a gift to a religious organization only where it funds something non-religious like a preschool or a food program. Your employer’s portal states its own rule. If yours excludes us, that is not a mark against you or against us.
Can I still do it for a gift I already made?
Almost certainly. Most programs allow a match to be requested months after the gift — often to the end of the calendar year, sometimes longer. If you gave earlier this year it is worth going back and submitting it.
What if I am retired, or it is my spouse who works there?
Ask anyway. A good number of programs cover retirees, and many cover a spouse’s giving. Both are commonly missed.
What do you need from me afterwards?
Nothing, usually — the employer contacts us to confirm the gift and we complete their form. If you tell us you have submitted one, we can watch for it, which occasionally rescues a match that would otherwise have quietly expired.