When you use the matching grants tool to add a match to your fundraiser, only donations to your fundraiser will count toward the match.
To add a matching grant to your fundraiser, go to the fundraising page to which you’d like to add the match. On your left-hand side dashboard select the $ icon ("Donations") and click “Matching Grants.”
When you click “Matching Grants,” you’ll end up on your matching grants dashboard.
Creating a Matching Grant
Click the button on your matching grants dashboard that says “Continue.”
Then, you’ll need to enter the details of your grant.
First enter the grantor's name. If the grantor would like to remain Anonymous, simply check off "Hide this name publicly" underneath the name of the sponsor.
You'll then want to add the amount of the match. Underneath the value amount, "Include match value in page metrics" will automatically be checked off. This signifies that the Total Raised on your fundraising page will include your grant.
The most important thing to consider is how your grantor will be providing the grant. If you’re working with a grantor who prefers to pay by check, it’s a good idea to include the grant value in your metrics. However, if the grantor is willing to pay online through ColoradoGives.org, you won’t want to include it in your metrics. In fact, that could throw your totals off.
Including Image and Title
You will also have the opportunity to add a photo and title to your matching grant. Adding an image and title provides a great opportunity to share more information on the match and the sponsor. To add an image, simply click into the image area.
Setting the Terms of the Matching Grant
The matching grants tool on ColoradoGives.org is versatile and can suit many different types of matching grants. In the next area, you’ll enter the details of your match.
Set When Your Grant Is Active
You can set the start and end date for your matching grant for any time, future, present, or even past. If you forgot to set up your match, no problem! We will automatically include eligible donations against the match if you set the start time in the past.
Also, you can run as many matches at one time as you would like. If you have a grant you want to become active as soon as another one ends, just check the box that says “Queue this grant to begin immediately after another grant completes.”
Set Your Match Type
The most common type of grant on ColoradoGives.org is a 1:1 match, meaning that each donation is matched in full until the grant is fulfilled.
However, there are other options you can choose if you’d like to set up your matching grant a little differently.
Match a specific percentage of each donation
When you select this option, you’ll be asked to enter a percentage. This option will be automatically be set to 100% (1:1 match). However, this can be a handy tool if you’d like to stretch your grant further by matching only a portion of each donation, such as 50%, or if you’d like to be generous with the grant money and match at a 2:1 ratio (which is 200%).
Match a maximum dollar amount per donation
This tool will allow you to “cap” the amount that can be matched. This helps ensure that your $1,000 grant will not be fulfilled too quickly with a few large donations. So, if you have a $1,000 match available, and have set your “cap” to $100, you can prevent a few big donations from wiping out your grant.
Cumulative threshold match
Cumulative threshold matches allow you to create different styles of matches if you are looking for something different than a standard 1:1 match.
- Apply total match when cumulative donations equal the match value
This is an all or nothing match. For example, a grantor agrees to give $10,000 only if you can raise $10,000. For all or nothing matches we do not include the match amount on your fundraiser page amounts until the total value is met. If the total value is not met before the end time then nothing is matched. This can be a risky strategy that pays off in dividends to motivate your supporters to donate!
- Apply total match when a certain quantity of donations is received
This option creates a match that is based on the number of donations you receive. For example, you can set up a match that will only be fulfilled once you receive 20 donations. Please note, this is not based on unique donors. So if a donor donates twice, that is considered two donations towards your match.
This is great option to utilize if you are participating in a givingday that has power hour prizes.
Set Match Conditions
There are a couple of match conditions you can include on your match.
Set a minimum per donation amount before match is applied
This option allows you to create a minimum donation amount before a donation is applied towards a match. For example if you would like to motivate donors to donate at higher amounts, you may want to set up your match so that only donations over $50 will go towards the match.
Please note that the lowest donation amount available for donors on the platform is $5.
Include offline donations in the match
This option will be automatically enabled. Any offline donations in you enter in ColoradoGives.org will count towards your match.
Setting Up Match Notifications
Now that you have entered all of your match parameters, you’ll want to enter the contact information for the grantor or the individual who should be notified when the grant is fulfilled so they can make the donation online.
Creating the Match
Once you have completed entering your match information, it's time to create it by selecting "Create Match."
Editing a Matching Grant
If any point you need to edit your matching grant while it's live or if it's upcoming, simply head back your Matching Grants area and select the pencil icon on the right side of the corresponding match.
Additionally if you need to close your matching grant pre-maturely, simply select the stop icon.
Reviewing Your Match History
You can always access your match history through the Matching Grants area.
If you would like to download a full report of your past matches, simply select "Download full report" on the top right corner of your Past Matches section.
You can always download a singular report on a past match by selecting the download icon to the right of the corresponding match. 
If you would like to hide a match amount from page totals, select the crossed out eyeball icon. 
Need Help with Matching Grants?
ColoradoGives.org's friendly support staff is available to answer any questions you have about the matching grants tool! Contact us here.