Strike a Match(ing Gift)!

FS: Sure, Mary! It starts when a donor — usually someone who knows your organization, who has been giving for a while and who trusts you, makes a substantial donation. Someone in your fundraising department or development office who is really on the ball ...

MJF: That would be me.

FS: Of course, that's what I meant. Someone realizes that this is a terrific opportunity to encourage giving by others. You chat with the donor, then if he or she agrees, you launch a matching — or challenge — gift campaign, following the guidelines that you and the donor work out and sign off on.