Turn the offer into a written agreement

Confirm who provides the match, the ratio, total cap, start and end conditions, eligible donation channels and whether recurring or offline gifts qualify. State how refunds, fees and cancelled payments are treated. If the match depends on another action or a limited pool, make that visible wherever the offer is promoted.

Give the charity and matching partner a shared reconciliation method and approval contact. Keep the final copy consistent with the agreement. A headline such as “doubled” should never hide restrictions that would materially change a reasonable donor’s decision.

Test the complete donor journey

Before launch, use the real landing page and donation flow on mobile and desktop. Check that the match explanation stays visible, receipts describe the original gift correctly and campaign tracking does not collect unnecessary personal information. Prepare an answer for gifts made near the closing time or after the cap is reached.

Afterwards, reconcile eligible donations, matched funds and exclusions, then publish an accurate close-out. The original donation and the matching contribution are separate amounts and should not be blurred in receipts or reporting.

  • Document ratio, cap, timing and eligibility.
  • Agree exclusions, refunds and reconciliation.
  • Keep match terms visible in campaign copy.
  • Test donation and receipt journeys.
  • Report original and matched funds accurately.

Common questions

Should every donation be described as doubled?

Only when the actual rules support that claim for the donor’s gift. Caps, timing and eligibility must be clear.

Does a donor receipt include the matcher’s contribution?

Receipt requirements depend on the parties and payment arrangements; keep the original gift and match distinct and obtain appropriate advice.