The magic of match donors

They’re so magic that Boosted has a 95% success rate for projects with match donors. 
That’s because people donating to projects with match donors see their donation doubled in real time. That’s a pretty powerful incentive to give.

The below is a must-read for every medium-to-large scale campaign. Learn how it works, why it works, and how to get one for your project (or many).

Boosted match donor

• Match donors – know anyone that is ready to give a big wad of cash? They can be your match donor. They can incentivise more donations. 
• A match donor is a person or organisation who agrees to match your crowd’s contributions up to a predetermined amount. Match donors build momentum, add credibility, create hype, and increase your chance of success.
• They’re so magic that Boosted has a 95% success rate for projects with match donors.

Advantages of having a match donor

• Successful projects with a match donor raised 123% of their funding target on average - higher than successful projects without a match.
• Having a match donor enhances the credibility of your campaign.
• Donations made by others will be matched dollar for dollar in real time, which helps to build campaign momentum e.g. If I donate $20, your total increases by $40.

Asking someone to be a match donor

• Put together a pitch 
• Identify: what is the value of supporting you (for them)?
• How do your values/mission align?
• What are you asking for?
• Find a direct line of contact

Suggestions for approaching potential match donors:

Here is some sample text that you might like to include in your email/letter/face to face pitch:

I would like to invite you to be a Boosted “match donor”, which would effectively double each donation the public makes to our campaign up to your chosen amount.

Your match donation will:
 

• Be displayed prominently on our Boosted campaign page.
• Acknowledged in our campaign promotional material and social media communications.
• Raise awareness of [insert name of business/organisation] among the community.
• Serve as a valued endorsement of our project.

As the Arts Foundation is a charitable organisation, your donation will also be eligible for a 33% tax credit.

A match donation of [insert amount] from [insert name of business/organisation] would be a huge boost for our campaign. To see an example of how your donation would appear on Boosted, please visit www.boosted.org.nz/projects/... (I've also attached a screenshot)

Boosted is an “all or nothing” crowdfunding platform, so we only receive the donations if we achieve our goal of $X,XXX by the campaign end. Our Boosted fundraising campaign runs from [insert dates] - we hope you will join us on this exciting journey!

Thank you for considering my invitation – I look forward to hearing from you.

I still don't get it ... Let’s look at a real example:

• The New Zealand Portrait Gallery commissioned Heather Main to paint Celia Lashlie’s portrait. They needed to raise $8,800 to pay Heather. 
• Celia Lashlie Projects agreed to donate half if the Gallery raised the other $4,400.
• The Gallery ran a Boosted campaign. Every dollar donated was matched by the match donor up to $4,400.
• Donors saw their donations doubled, and the project hit target in record time.

Someone has agreed to be a match donor… what now?

Match donations are made straight to the Arts Foundation, unlike other Boosted donations that are made through the website. If you have your match donor’s contact details and they have agreed to make a donation, now is the time to loop in the team at Boosted. You can either enter the match donor details into the project through your Boosted Dashboard or contact your mentor directly. Often looping in the Boosted Mentor, or project coordinator, with your match donor is the quickest and easiest way to get that donation paid.

Once you’ve added the match donor to your project, let your crowd know. Post on social media. Send an e-newsletter. Ask Boosted to promote the big news through their social channels. Then, make sure you give the match donor some visual assets so they can promote your campaign to their network through their digital channels. Also, ask them to do a short video or write a few words about why they’re backing you.

NOTE: Any match funding must be paid in full, free and clear of any obligation of any nature whatsoever.