What to expect
when you request.

DonationMatch speeds up donations by collecting what donors want in advance. Be ready to make the most of it.

Here’s how it works:

1

Create your profile & get validated

Create your account, add organizational information, and provide proof of eligibility so donors know they're working with an authorized representative of an exempt organization. Pre-verification protects both donors and organizations.

  • Recipients must meet the following requirements:

    • ELIGIBLE FEDERAL EXEMPT STATUS:

    In the U.S.: Recognized as Exempt from federal income taxes under subsection 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax code (including churches/religion-related) OR provide a completed and signed W-9 for a government exemption, which includes public schools and the military.

    In Canada: Recognized as a Registered Charity or other Qualified Donee by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

    • BE "IN GOOD STANDING" WITH U.S. STATE AGENCIES THAT REQUIRE IT: Be in compliance with state laws that apply to donation solicitation and charitable fundraising platforms.

    • HAVE A LIVE, UPDATED WEBSITE: A site your organization controls is required for donors to see your organization’s activities, leadership, impact, and more when making decisions. An organization that is affiliated with, yet legally separate from a school such as a foundation, PTA, or PTO, must have its own web page or website. A Facebook/social media account or listing in a third-party directory is NOT sufficient.

  • Only persons authorized to solicit in-kind donations using an organization’s EIN (or Canadian BN) should create a DonationMatch profile for the organization.

    Free email addresses (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo) may take longer to verify.

    If you do not use an email address that matches the organization’s website URL or can be found there, you will be asked to provide one.

2

Add your event

Add one event with enough lead time for donors to review, approve, and fulfill your request. Data and clear descriptions give companies faster ways to find a fit.

  • See lead times in eligibility rules. Most donors require 4-6 weeks advance notice, though some may accept shorter timelines for specific donation types.

3

Request eligible donations

Easily view all the donors whose criteria you meet, and track your request statuses in real time as responses arrive.

  • You may be eligible to reapply for the same donation for a different event. Each donor sets their own policies and eligibility criteria, and any available donations your organization qualifies for will appear in your Find Donations section.

  • If you are expecting to find a certain company but don’t see it in your Find Donations area, it could be due to several reasons. The most common are:

    • Not qualifying for their donations (geographic distance, cause category, timing)

    • No current donation is available (common with seasonal buisnesses such as amusement parks during off-peak times)

4

Receive donations and thank donors

Once donations are received, be sure to thank all donors as promised on your event profile and keep your organization and event profiles updated for future requests.

  • Many donations are fulfilled electronically, so they can be downloaded and printed upon approval or e-delivered to winners. If pickup or shipment is required, you will see this on the request page, and details will be forwarded upon donor approval.

Ready to get started?

Create your free nonprofit account today and start connecting with donors.

Join thousands of nonprofits already using DonationMatch.

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If required information cannot be verified, additional clarification and/or documentation will be requested by email. If you have not received an update within 5 business days after submitting a Nonprofit profile, please look in your email’s spam folder and/or visit your DonationMatch dashboard for status updates.

If you have any questions during the application process, feel free to contact us at nonprofitsupport@donationmatch.com

or use the green “Help/?” button in the lower left corner of the site.

By registering with DonationMatch, you consent to receive communications from DonationMatch and donor companies in our network. DonationMatch communications could include updates on eligibility determination, donation requests, donation offers, status changes, fulfillment instructions, surveys, and news about DonationMatch, system features, special offers, and sponsors. You are welcome to unsubscribe or request that your account be closed at any time.