Do you verify nonprofits whose events are listed on DonationMatch?
Yes, we do! We’re donors, too, so the integrity of the nonprofits on our site is very important to us. In addition to verifying their tax-exempt status with the IRS, we make sure applicants are authorized representatives, using companies including GuideStar, American Institute of Philanthropy, Better Business Bureau's Charity Seal Program and Wise Giving Alliance, and Charity Navigator. We also invite you to alert us to suspicious activity by email and via our Feedback form.
Are non-cash donations tax-deductible?
To quote IRS Publication 526 of March 2010:
“Generally, you can deduct your contributions of money or property that you make to, or for the use of, a qualified organization. If you contribute inventory (property that you sell in the course of your business), the amount you can claim as a contribution deduction is the smaller of its fair market value on the day you contributed it or its basis.” As always, special rules may apply, so please consult your accountant.
What does DonationMatch cost?
DonationMatch is free to sign up and post as many donation profiles as you wish. DonationMatch is currently free of charge to use in every capacity until our site is upgraded in March, 2012, at which point we will be supported by the transaction fees we collect with each confirmed "match." We define a match as the approval of a request OR the acceptance of an offer, so there is no cost unless there is a positive result. This fee is only paid by whoever makes the first move, which is the nonprofit making requests or company making offers. No fee is charged to a nonprofit accepting an offer or a company approving a request.
Our standard transaction fee will be $5, which is relatively low compared to other companies who charge a down payment and/or % rates for items. Testimonials from business customers have told us that what we save them in time, due diligence, and advertising make charitable marketing worth doing through DonationMatch. All members will also have opportunities to earn waived transaction fees by referring nonprofits and businesses and through promotions we communicate through social media and emails, so it pays to keep in touch!
For additional goodwill, businesses will also have the option to sponsor matches (coming soon.)
Will my donation automatically be visible and available for requesting?
Only if your donation is marked as "ACTIVE AND VISIBLE" will it be visible to nonprofit event coordinators for request. You may also choose to make your donations "ACTIVE AND HIDDEN," which will hide them from requests but be available to offer.
What is the difference between a donation that is ACTIVE AND HIDDEN or INACTIVE?
IACTIVE AND HIDDEN items are available for you to offer to events with a click (when on an event's profile), while INACTIVE items will not be available to offer. Companies typically keep inactivated items in their accounts for record keeping and to be able to view their history of past donations.
How many different donation profiles may I keep?
Every account may store an unlimited number of donation profiles which can be activated and inactivated at any time. CAUTION: It’s very important for you to review requests associated with donation profiles you plan to deactivate and confirm as many pending requests as you wish. All pending offers and requests that are not confirmed/matched by both parties before downgrading will be deleted.
I set up my account but don't know how to offer a donation.
Create a donation profile by clicking on the "MY DONATIONS" tab, clicking on the "ADD NEW DONATION" link, and following the prompts, being sure to make it “ACTIVE.” There are options that will help you reach the right events and coordinators, including METRO AREA and DELIVERY METHOD. Including a photo and effective description that markets your products to potential customers will also increase the desirability of your package, elevating your brand as well. Once you submit this, you now have a donation that can be requested.
To proactively find events you want this item to be promoted in, click on the “FIND EVENTS” tab and set filters to your desired criteria. You can also filter out events to which you've already donated. Click on the names of any interesting events in your desired Metro Area to see their complete information and relevant links, and your available donations will be displayed so you can check the box next to the item you wish to offer and SUBMIT the offer.
If I post a donation and it is requested by a nonprofit, do I have to send it?
No, you are not required to fulfill all requests. There are two steps to every match, regardless of who makes the first move. When a nonprofit requests your item, you have the option to “confirm” or “decline/ignore” the request. Conversely, nonprofits may choose to accept or ignore an offer you’ve made. Items are only considered "matched" when both parties approve them.
How does your referral program work?
DonationMatch grows when the members of our community benefit and refer others, so we are very aware of how important it is for us to deliver good value and service to you. When you share your referral code/link with others and they join and actively participate, we are happy to give you DonationMatch credits that enable to you waive future match fees. You'll earn at least one free "first move" for each referral, and sometimes more! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more chances, too!
What do I do if my Metro Area isn't listed?
If your Metro Area isn't yet listed on DonationMatch, we invite you to use the nearest one in our system. Since DonationMatch is heavily dependent on Metro Area selection (it's our primary matching criteria), we open areas based on supply and demand, so we’re always checking to see where the most users are located. The NATIONAL Metro Area covers all metro areas in the U.S. at the same time.
Metro Areas currently available are:
Why don't I see any events in my area?
We continually verify DonationMatch nonprofits, so if we're still growing in your Metro Area, it’s possible there aren't any upcoming events from verified nonprofits near you yet. Try checking back periodically, and know that it does not cost anything to have your business and donation profiles on our site. Even better is that any donations you keep visible will be the first to be found by newly verified nonprofits in your area!
May I use DonationMatch to donate something other than a prize (like used office furniture or a used computer)?
We recognize there are many items companies can donate and appreciate you thinking charitably, but those types of donations are outside our scope of services, which is limited to accepting in-kind donations of new goods and services specifically for events. If items you’d like to donate aren’t suitable for sale, but nonprofits can still benefit from them, we suggest checking with local foundations, nonprofit associations, and services listed on our Nonprofit Resources page.
My company has items for nonprofits to sell on consignment at fundraisers. May I post them on DonationMatch?
No. DonationMatch only allows posted donations that are free with no additional purchase necessary. If you’d like exposure to the nonprofits or businesses on our site, we have advertising and partnership opportunities available, and you can contact us for consideration here.
Is DonationMatch a nonprofit?
DonationMatch is a privately held social enterprise with a charitable mission and staff that volunteer time, money, and expertise to nonprofits on a regular basis.
How safe is my payment information?
Using your credit card on DonationMatch.org is very safe thanks to Braintree, one of the most secure credit card services available online. We do not store sensitive financial data anywhere on our DonationMatch servers. Even if someone were to access to your DonationMatch account, they would not be able to see, steal, or retrieve your credit card information from us.
Is there a question we didn't answer? Please let us know via our Feedback form.
