In today’s world, companies are increasingly prioritizing corporate philanthropy, and many are offering programs that encourage employees to give back to their communities. One such program is Dollars for Doers, which allows employees to volunteer with nonprofits and have their time matched by their employer in the form of a financial grant. This can provide a significant boost to a nonprofit’s funding while also strengthening corporate partnerships and volunteer engagement.
In this article, we’ll offer a helpful overview of what Dollars for Doers programs are, how you can raise more revenue from them, and what next steps you can take to leverage them best. Specifically, we’ll cover:
- An Overview of Dollars for Doers Programs
- How Dollars for Doers Programs Work
- Dollars for Doers Software
- How Nonprofits Can Secure More Dollars for Doers Grants
- Top Dollars for Doers Companies
The tips in this guide should help get you started on the right track. Let’s jump in!
1. Dollars for Doers Programs: Overview
The first thing to know about Dollars for Doers (D4D) programs is that they’re not only known by one name. Dollars for Doers programs are also known as volunteer grants, among other names, such as:
- Grants for Time Programs
- Dollar-for-Hour Programs
- Matching Time Programs
Definition of Dollars for Doers Programs
D4D, or volunteer grants, are a type of corporate giving program in which companies award monetary grants to organizations where their employees regularly volunteer.
Seems like a great opportunity for your nonprofit, right? Unfortunately, these programs are often overlooked due to a lack of awareness on all sides. Organizations are unaware their volunteers may be eligible for volunteer grants or simply lack the time and effort required to pursue these additional sources of funding. Similarly, volunteers may not even know their employers offer such a program.
But these programs are valuable sources of revenue for your nonprofit! They’re essentially free money as long as you know how to incorporate them into your fundraising strategy.
2. How Dollars for Doers Programs Work
If you’re wondering how to get a volunteer grant, it’s a pretty straightforward process. After all, Dollars for Doers programs generally follow the same steps:
- An individual volunteers with a nonprofit. The individual volunteers with your organization and checks their eligibility for a grant through their employer.
- The individual submits a request for a Dollars for Doers grant. Following their employer’s posted instructions, the individual submits a volunteer grant request to their company.
- The company reviews the request. The company reviews the request and verifies the volunteer hours with your organization.
- The company awards a grant to the nonprofit. After everything has been verified and the requirements have been met, your organization receives a grant!
It’s that simple, and yet the programs are still overlooked. Not many organizations have the staff, time, or resources to devote to promoting volunteer grants, much less see them through to completion. We’ll jump more into this next.
3. Dollars for Doers Software
If you’re looking for an efficient and effective way to promote Dollars for Doers programs to your volunteers, you’re in luck! We’ve done the hard work for you. After doing a comparison of corporate giving databases, we found the top fcorporate giving software that offers substantial information about volunteer grants: Double the Donation.
As the leading provider of matching gift and volunteer grant solutions, Double the Donation offers a comprehensive database that lists more than 20,000 companies and subsidiaries and their corporate giving programs. It’s the most extensive source of information, guidelines, and instructions regarding a company’s program, making it quick and easy to uncover the most lucrative opportunities in your network.
360MatchPro Volunteer Hub by Double the Donation
360MatchPro by Double the Donation (now with 360MatchPro Volunteer Hub) is a great option for organizations aiming to multiply their volunteer grant and matching gift revenue alike. The platform pulls its Dollars for Doers information from Double the Donation’s company database as well as automates the entire thing so your team doesn’t have to lift a finger.
Here’s an example of how this works:
- A supporter engages with your nonprofit by donating or registering for a volunteer event.
- The platform collects essential data (i.e., employer name, corporate email domain, etc.) as they interact with your online forms, scanning the information in real-time against the database of corporate giving information.
- The supporter’s eligibility for a corporate giving program is determined, and the individual is provided with company-specific guidelines regarding available matching gift, Dollars for Doers, or VTO initiatives.
- The supporter is encouraged to follow the instructions (and use the provided forms) to submit a grant request to their employer.
From there, the company reviews the request, ensures it adheres to all eligibility criteria, and contributes a grant to your organization. It’s never been simpler!
360MatchPro ensures any corporate giving opportunities for your supporters don’t fall through the cracks. By automating the entire process, you can track the progress of Dollars for Doers grants without worrying about missing an opportunity or any eligible volunteers slipping through!
Learn more about 360MatchPro Volunteer Hub!
4. How Nonprofits Can Secure More Dollars for Doers Grants
Now that you know what kind of software can help you find volunteer grant companies, this will definitely help you raise more through Dollars for Doers. However, the process of securing these grants might still feel overwhelming. Through effective marketing, it’s more doable than you think!
Your organization probably has a set marketing process in place, but promoting Dollars for Doers programs shouldn’t be cast to the side. In fact, these efforts should be front and center. Luckily, combining corporate giving software and your marketing outreach can keep the programs at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
Once you’ve added a search tool plugin to your website, you can then integrate it into every component of your marketing campaigns. These include:
Websites and donation pages
Featuring a volunteer grant search tool on your website and donation pages gives your supporters easy access to the information they’ll need about their employers’ programs. If they’re already interacting with your organization online, they’ll be more likely to search for their company!
Paid search ads
Once you feature your volunteer grant search tool on your website, you can actually promote those pages using Google Ads. We recommend working with a Google Ad Grants manager to pick the keywords your volunteers are searching for online and create inspiring ads.
Email campaigns
You probably send out communications on a regular basis. Next time you reach out to donors or volunteers, include a link right in the email itself so supporters can easily navigate to the search tool on your website.
Social media
If you have a following on social media, be sure to include posts dedicated to sharing Dollars for Doers information! Feature posts on a regular basis that link to your volunteer grant search tool on your website so it’s easy to access.
Fundraising event materials
Holding an event? Distribute materials with information about volunteer grants! That way, you can include a link to your search tool and attendees can find everything they need.
Combining corporate giving software with your already established marketing campaign can do wonders for your fundraising! Be sure to try out these avenues and see the results for yourself!
5. Top Dollars for Doers Companies
As a nonprofit organization, it’s always a good practice to track companies that offer Dollars for Doers programs. Your corporate giving software can help with this, and you’ll have a higher chance of identifying volunteers who work for these companies.
To get you started, here are some of the top companies with volunteer grant programs:
1. ITW
Illinois Tools Works, Inc. (ITW) is an American Fortune 200 company that produces engineered fasteners and components, among other products. ITW also offers a Dollars for Doers program. For each hour an employee of ITW volunteers, the company provides a grant of $10, with a maximum of $1,000 per employee per year.
Learn more about ITW’s volunteer programs!
2. Amgen
Amgen is a biopharmaceutical company and large independent biotechnology company. They offer an excellent Dollars for Doers program for full- and part-time employees.
After an employee volunteers at least 15 hours with an organization, they are eligible to request a grant of $500 from the Amgen Foundation. Each additional hour over the initial 15 hours is worth $25. Full-time employees can request a grant up to $2,000 each year, while part-time employees can request up to $1,000.
Learn more about Amgen’s volunteer programs!
3. Merck & Co.
Merck & Co. is a large pharmaceutical company with a generous Dollars for Doers program. The program has two tiers, offering $500 grants for 40 volunteer hours and $1,000 grants for 80 hours of volunteering.
Learn more about Merck & Co.’s volunteer programs!
4. CVS Health
CVS Health is a leading healthcare company dedicated to improving health outcomes and supporting communities. Through their Dollars for Doers program, CVS Health offers grants to nonprofits where employees volunteer.
Employees who volunteer 15 or more hours can request a grant of $500, $1,000, or $1,500 for their organization, depending on the number of hours.
Learn more about CVS Health’s volunteer programs!
5. Walt Disney Company
Disney, one of the world’s largest entertainment companies, is committed to giving back to communities through its VoluntEARS Grants program. Once an individual reaches 10 volunteer hours, Disney provides a generous grant to the nonprofit organization. Employees can earn up to $2,000 in grants per year, allowing their volunteer hours to make an even greater impact.
Learn more about Disney’s volunteer programs!
6. Apple
Apple, a global leader in technology innovation and consumer electronics, supports its employees’ volunteer efforts through its Volunteer Grant Program. With no minimum hour requirements, Apple offers $25 for every hour an employee volunteers with a nonprofit.
Learn more about Apple’s volunteer programs!
Looking for even more Dollars for Doers programs? Check out this list from Double the Donation!
Dollars for Doers programs are an important fundraising opportunity your nonprofit should definitely take advantage of. Hopefully this guide helps get you started on raising more for your cause!
Wrapping Up & Additional Resources
Dollars for Doers programs are a powerful way for nonprofits to maximize the impact of their volunteers’ efforts. By actively promoting the opportunity, building relationships with companies that offer these grants, and recognizing the contributions of volunteers, nonprofits can unlock new funding opportunities while deepening community engagement.
As more companies embrace corporate social responsibility, it’s essential for nonprofits to stay informed, build strong partnerships, and fully leverage the potential of volunteer grants.
Start exploring these programs today, and empower your volunteers to make an even greater difference!
If you’re looking for additional information about Dollars for Doers (and other forms of corporate philanthropy), check out the resources below!
- Top Volunteer Grant Companies: Do You Work For One? Find even more companies that offer Dollars for Doers grants and see if your volunteers work for one!
- Corporate Philanthropy: A Comprehensive Guide for Nonprofits. Learn the ins and outs of corporate philanthropy with our guide for nonprofits!
- How to Apply for Google Grants: 5 Easy Steps for Nonprofits. Ready to start promoting opportunities like Dollars for Doers on Google Search? This guide covers the steps you need to follow to get started with Google Ad Grants.
