How to secure Giving Tuesday matching donations in 2026

What if every Giving Tuesday donation could go twice as far? With the right matching partner, you can create urgency, inspire more supporters to give, and raise more for your mission.

This Giving Tuesday, you have the power to turn every dollar into two—and you don’t need a corporate sponsor or a six-figure donor to do it.

From finding the right partner to launching a standout campaign, here’s how to set up Giving Tuesday matching donations that help drive your mission forward.

Key takeaways

• Start early ⏰ Secure and promote your matching partner at least a few weeks before Giving Tuesday to build excitement and momentum.
• Be transparent 🔍 Earn donor trust by clearly explaining who’s providing the Giving Tuesday matching gift, how it works, and what the funds will support.
• Diversify your options 💼 Explore Giving Tuesday matching donations from corporate sponsors, board members, major donors, and employee giving programs.
• Promote with urgency 📣 Share updates often and use countdowns to motivate last-minute gifts.
• Show gratitude 💛 Publicly thank your matching partners and highlight your results to strengthen those relationships for next year.
• Power your campaign with Givebutter 🧈 Launch your campaign in minutes, showcase your matching partner, and track your fundraising progress in real time.

How matching donations can help you this Giving Tuesday

With a donation matching program, another donor or company matches each donation to your organization—often at a 1:1 ratio, but sometimes even higher.

Giving Tuesday is a natural opportunity for companies and individuals to make a one-time matching gift, and 84% of donors are more likely to give when a match is offered.

Learn more

What is Giving Tuesday? All your questions answered →

Types of Giving Tuesday matching funds to look for

Most donation matching programs aren’t publicly listed, so you’ll need to find opportunities through your network or supporter base. Here are some of the most common sources of matching funds to consider for Giving Tuesday:

• Existing corporate sponsors 🎉 If you’ve secured a corporate sponsorship in the past, ask your sponsor to consider partnering on a Giving Tuesday matching campaign.
• Employee matches 👩‍💼 Many companies offer employee donation matching programs. Let your supporters know they may be able to double their gift at no extra cost.
• Corporate matches 🏢 Research businesses offering matching programs and check social media for application announcements.
• Local businesses 🛍️ Invite businesses in your community to become one-time matching partners for your campaign.
• Major donors 💰 Encourage your loyal, high-capacity donors to become one-time matching partners.
• DAF donors 💳 Reach out to supporters who give through donor-advised funds (DAFs) and invite them to provide a matching gift for your campaign.
• Board members 💐 Ask your board members to match donations or connect you with others who may be willing to offer a match.

More to explore

Check out the 10 largest companies that match donations →

How to secure a Giving Tuesday match in 7 steps

Securing a donation match partner usually takes more effort than sending a quick email, but the payoff is worth it. A successful match can help you raise more and form partnerships that open doors to new networks and fundraising opportunities.

Start by following these steps:

1. Set your Giving Tuesday fundraising goal 🎯

Before approaching potential partners or promoting your campaign, set a fundraising goal that defines:

• Your target fundraising amount
• How you’ll use the matching gift
• How the matching gift will help your beneficiaries

💡 Pro tip: Givebutter’s fundraising thermometer helps supporters see their progress toward your goal in real time.

2. Create your Giving Tuesday match proposal ✉️

Potential matching partners may receive plenty of Giving Tuesday requests, so make yours stand out. Create a tailored sponsorship proposal that explains the value of partnering with your nonprofit and how you’ll promote their involvement.

Fundraising expert Floyd Jones says it best:

“As a nonprofit, you have value, too! Companies want the recognition, positive press, and tax benefits. In fact, 90% of corporations say trust in their organization increases when partnering with a reputable nonprofit. You’re not asking for a handout—you’re asking for a hand up.“

3. Configure matching before donations start coming in 🧈

Set up your matching gift before you start promoting your campaign, and make sure you understand how your fundraising platform handles matching. Some platforms don’t apply matches retroactively, so donations made before your match is activated may not qualify.

With Givebutter’s donation matching feature, you can display your matching partner directly on your campaign page and watch eligible donations double on your goal bar in real time.

4. Reconnect with past donors & sponsors 🤝

Previous event sponsors and vendors can be valuable sources of support for big giving days. Invite companies you’ve worked with in the past to join this year’s campaign and highlight how this year’s Giving Tuesday fundraising will help fuel your mission.

Floyd Jones advises:

“Remember, a ‘No,’ doesn’t mean ‘Never.’ You may need to nurture a relationship for a while before it converts to a matching partnership.”

5. Ask supporters to activate employer matching gifts 🏢

Encourage supporters to check whether their employer offers donation matching by sharing an email template or phone call script they can use.

For a deeper look at employer matching programs, our workplace giving guide explains how they work and how donors can take advantage of them.

💡 Pro tip: With Givebutter’s Double the Donation integration, you can automate gift-matching options right in the checkout flow on your campaign pages and donation forms.

6. Promote your Giving Tuesday match early and often 📣

Once you’ve secured your Giving Tuesday matching partner, it’s time to spread the word with marketing. Start promoting your campaign at least four weeks before Giving Tuesday, and increase the urgency of your messaging as the day approaches. Your timeline might look something like this:

• 4 weeks to go: Prepare your supporters for Giving Tuesday by letting them know a match campaign is on the way.
• 2 weeks to go: Reveal your matching donor partner, the length of the campaign, and how much donations will be matched. Focus on building anticipation.
• 1 week to go: Share a countdown post to keep your supporters engaged and emphasize how donations will amplify your mission.
• Giving Tuesday: Make those last 24 hours count. Let your supporters know they only have a short window left to double their impact.

Spread the word

Get Giving Tuesday social media posts, graphics, & more →

7. Thank your match partners & show results transparently 💚

Share a warm, genuine thank-you with your match partner and publicly recognize them on your website or via an email blast. Highlight your matching partner directly on your fundraising page to recognize their support and strengthen the relationship.

💡 Pro tip: Retaining donors requires transparency. Keep your campaign 100% open by sharing who your matching partner is, the conditions of their match, and your final fundraising total.

Learn more

Send Giving Tuesday emails that convert (with templates!) →

Download your free Giving Tuesday matching donation templates

You don’t need to start from scratch when approaching your would-be matching donation partners—use our customizable templates instead. Simply add your organization’s name, mission, and fundraising goals. Plus, they include a personalized thank-you note you can send to your matching partners.

Freebie alert!

Download your free donation matching request templates →

Power your Giving Tuesday match with Givebutter

Every act of generosity starts with the right tools—and the right community. From bringing your matching donation campaign to life to engaging supporters and tracking every gift, Givebutter brings everything you need to raise more for your mission together in one place.

Every year, Givebutter celebrates Giving Tuesday with special opportunities to help nonprofits raise more—and something exciting is in store for 2026. 👀 Stay tuned and visit our Giving Tuesday hub for the latest campaign updates, resources, and participation details. In the meantime, download our free Giving Tuesday toolkit to start planning your campaign.

✨ Visit our Giving Tuesday hub

Explore Giving Tuesday resources & the latest campaign updates →

Create your free Givebutter account today and drive impact this Giving Tuesday and beyond! 🚀

FAQs about Giving Tuesday donation matches

Does Facebook match donations on Giving Tuesday?

Meta (Facebook) has offered Giving Tuesday donation matches in the past, but it has not announced a matching program for 2026. Check Meta’s latest nonprofit fundraising updates closer to Giving Tuesday for current opportunities and terms.

Does GivingTuesday match donations?

No, GivingTuesday does not directly match donations. However, companies, employers, major donors, sponsors, and other supporters may offer matching gifts in honor of Giving Tuesday.

Is PayPal matching donations on Giving Tuesday?

PayPal has offered Giving Tuesday matching promotions in the past, but it has not announced a platform-wide matching program for 2026. Check PayPal for the latest updates before promoting a specific match.

Does Amazon match Giving Tuesday donations?

Amazon has not announced a Giving Tuesday donation-matching program for 2026. AmazonSmile is also no longer available, as Amazon discontinued the program in 2023.

What other companies match Giving Tuesday donations?

Many companies offer employee matching-gift programs, but eligibility rules, match ratios, and funding limits vary. Always verify a company’s current matching policy before promoting a Giving Tuesday match.