Many companies throughout the UK offer employees the chance to boost their fundraising efforts by 'matching' the money they raise. It really is money for nothing, and Hayes Primary PTA could double the amount of cash it raises with very little effort.

What is match funding?

Match giving or match funding is a simple way of maximising the fundraising efforts of individual PTA volunteers. It is an informal albeit corporate arrangement between a company and their employee. Not all companies offer matched funding but those that do will pledge a sum of money relating to the amount their employee has raised for or donated to the charity of their choice. Some organisations will match fund on a £ for £ basis, others will stipulate what they are prepared to give. It is likely that an upper limit will be applied along with certain criteria such as the recipient organisation being a registered charity. Some companies will also pledge time and resources instead of money, so enabling their employees to support a cause during their working week, or offering a tangible service such as the opportunity to print posters, programmes, newsletters and so on.

Which organisations will support our PTA?

Unfortunately, while we'd love to be able to provide a list of companies offering match funding, it is fraught with too many issues - some companies have certain criteria in their small print (i.e. where it's only offered to full-time staff after two years service), or the schemes change too often for us to be able to keep any such list up to date. Generally speaking, banks and building societies, insurance companies, supermarkets, utilities providers, phone companies and car manufacturers are known historically to offer match funding schemes. It's a case of making it clear to parents what 'match funding' is, and asking all your supporters to check with their employers whether a scheme is already in place or if they'd be willing to set one up. 

Having said this, a match funding scheme can be adopted by any company no matter how big or small. Barclays for example offer their employees the opportunity to match funds they raise for their chosen charity up to £750 per year and this is available for three activities a year! And Aviva, in response to feedback from their staff has introduced a '£Plus' matching scheme. This gives Aviva employees the chance to raise funds for any registered charity in which they are interested and to receive matched funds from Aviva in support.