Matching Gifts on Multi-Year Major Gifts

Jessica Dudley

This doesn't seem correct to me, but our Director wants us to add matching gifts on multi-year endowment pledges. For instance, we have a donor who plans to give $75,000 of their own money over the next five years ($15,000/year) and they anticipate submitting a match to their company for $15,000 each year. I want to resist entering matching gifts five year out, but I'm getting a lot of pushback. Does anyone else book matching gifts on endowment pledges several years out? Thanks, Jess

JoAnn Strommen

Jessica Dudley:
This doesn't seem correct to me, but our Director wants us to add matching gifts on multi-year endowment pledges. For instance, we have a donor who plans to give $75,000 of their own money over the next five years ($15,000/year) and they anticipate submitting a match to their company for $15,000 each year. I want to resist entering matching gifts five year out, but I'm getting a lot of pushback. Does anyone else book matching gifts on endowment pledges several years out? Thanks, Jess

I can see why an exec would want any pledge including MG in their financials and I can see why others would be hesitant to book it.  I haven't had a multi year MG for endowmnet, but have for capital.  There's always the risk that donor may change employment or decide not to match.  If you record them in RE, your director should know the risks.  Not much you can do to collect it.