October 1, 2024

The Power of Matching Gifts: How You Can Double Your Impact

Imagine walking into a store and seeing a “Buy One, Get One” deal on your favorite t-shirt. You might have been on the fence about buying it, but now that you know you’ll get two for the price of one, you’re sold! That’s the magic of a great deal—it turns “thinking about it” into “let’s do this!” Matching gifts work the same way for nonprofits, and they could make a big difference here for the Fairmont Opera House’s capital campaign.

When you donate to the Fairmont Opera House, your gift might inspire someone else to do the same. But what if your donation could be doubled, instantly? That’s exactly what happens with matching gifts. This doubling effect has a powerful influence, encouraging donors to take action and giving a boost to campaigns like ours.

Why Matching Gifts Work

Matching gifts create an immediate incentive for people who are already considering giving. Just like that irresistible “two-for-one” sale, knowing your donation will be matched—dollar-for-dollar—motivates people to move from thinking about donating to actually making that donation. For the Fairmont Opera House’s capital campaign, this means more people are inspired to contribute, and their impact is multiplied.

This powerful tool not only helps raise more money but also brings new excitement and urgency to the campaign.

Set up a Matching gift

Want to set up a matching gift? There are several ways to structure matching funds, making it even more flexible to meet your goals. Here are a few common types of matches that could make a huge difference in our capital campaign:

One-to-One Match

The most common type of match is a 1:1 match, where every dollar donated is matched 100%. This is what we call “doubling your donation.” A $25 gift turns into $50, and a $100 gift turns into $200! This clear and straightforward approach is easy for donors to understand and encourages immediate action.

Challenge Matches

Challenge matches add an element of excitement and teamwork to fundraising. With this model, funds are unlocked only after a specific goal is met. For example:

• Dollar Goal: “Help us raise $2,500, and unlock an additional $2,500 match thanks to XYZ Company!”
• Donor Goal: “When we reach 100 donors, the ABC Foundation will give an extra $10,000 to our campaign!”

These challenge matches make every donor feel like their contribution is helping the entire community reach a shared goal.

The Big Picture: How Matching Gifts Help the Fairmont Opera House

Our capital campaign is critical to the future of Fairmont Opera House. We’re not just preserving a building—we’re preserving the cultural heart of our community. Matching gifts make it easier to raise the funds we need to reopen our facility and bring top-tier performances, youth programs, and more to Fairmont. When you give during a matching gift opportunity, your contribution goes further, helping us reach our goals faster.

So, if you’ve been considering becoming a matching donor, now’s the perfect time. Your gift could inspire others to give, and it will have double the impact.

Looking to set up a matching gift? Give us a call at 507-238-4900. We would love to hear from you!

Want your gift to stretch a little further? Keep an eye out for when we have live matching gifts! That information will be displayed on our website, social media, and online donation page.

Let’s make a difference, one dollar at a time!