Double or Triple your Donation to the National MS Society, Long Island Chapter!
Hundreds of corporations across America recognize the value of their employees' donations to the National MS Society, and offer matching gift programs to further increase the value of their donations. Please check to see if your employer participates. Select the link below, then enter your employer's name in the search field to find out if they have a matching gift program. Click on their name to learn how to take advantage.
www.nationalmssociety.org/employermatch
What To Do:
Get a Matching Gift form from your employer and follow your employer's directions for completion of the form.
Frequently Asked Questions about Matching Gifts:
1. What is a matching gift? A matching gift is a gift from a donor's employer that matches the donor's original gift. Most companies match dollar for dollar and some may even double or triple match a donors’ gift.
2. How do I know if my employer has a matching gifts program? Ask your human resources staff or visit your company's intranet.
3. Where do I get a matching gift form? Those are available only from your employer. If it's not clear whom to ask at your company talk to your human resources staff. Some companies have an online matching gifts program so you don't ever have to fill out a form.
4. Please read carefully the guidelines of your employer's matching gift program. Many companies only match donations given to educational institutions or arts and culture organizations, etc. Also, check to see if your company only matches your individual donations. Most companies match only donations from the employee and will not match the employee's fundraising total. Many companies also have a minimum amount that you must donate before they match such as $25.00 Please do not send in forms that cannot be processed.
5. Please include the name of the participant that the matching gift donation should be credited to on the form. This will enable quicker processing. Please do not date the form. Many companies have a 90-day policy on accepting forms and they go by the date filled in by the donor, not by the date filled in by the recipient organization. Many forms are turned in months after the donation has been received and by the time the form is processed it is too late to turn in to the company for a match.
6. Don't forget to sign the form. It is an easy step to miss. Also, please fill out the form completely with address and phone number information in case there are any questions about the form.
7. Please turn in the form at the same time the donation/pledge is turned in.
Attach the donation form to your check, or include a copy of the receipt of online donations. This makes processing faster as well.
8. What do I do with the form when I've filled it out? Refer to the instructions on the matching gift form, but usually the next step is to mail or fax it to the chapter (please include the participant's name):
National MS Society, Long Island Chapter
2012 Walk MS: Long Island
40 Marcus Drive, Suite 100
Melville, NY 11747
9. How will I know when you have received the donation and the matching gift? Check the "My Progress" section of your participant center. We will list the donation and list the expected matching gift separately. It can take months to receive payment for matching gifts but the participant will receive credit for matching gifts for prize purposes.
Helpful Tips for Matching Gifts
Spread the Word about Matching Gifts: Encourage all of your event donors to ask their company if they participate in a matching gift program.
Have Matching Gift Forms when you approach your coworkers: If your company participates in a matching gift program, have the forms available when you approach your coworkers. When they make a contribution, you can hand them a form to complete. Just by informing them of this opportunity, you could double, maybe even triple your contributions. Please remind your donors to include information on whose event campaign they are supporting so the gift will be credited to the correct event participant’s account.
The Earlier the Better: Enclosing the matching gift forms in your pledge envelope on the day of the event or even before will ensure that your matching gift will be included with your current year’s prize total. To assist us in the process, please include a copy of your pledge form for the National MS Society to reference.
If you have any questions regarding Matching Gifts, please contact Karen Werner at Karen.Werner@nmss.org or call the Long Island Chapter at 631-864-8337.