The Opportunity: Millions Left on the Table

Every year, universities miss out on millions in corporate matching gifts—not because alumni aren’t willing to give, but because they don’t know how.

Many alumni already work for companies that will double or even triple their donations, yet the process to claim those funds is confusing, manual, and often overlooked.

For universities, this is a game-changing opportunity to:

• Increase total donations without asking donors to give more.
• Deepen donor engagement by making giving easier.
• Strengthen corporate partnerships with companies that support philanthropy.

Yet, despite this massive potential, challenges prevent institutions from fully realizing these benefits.

The Challenges: What’s Holding Institutions Back?

Even the most sophisticated fundraising teams struggle with matching gifts due to:

• Incomplete Alumni Data – Many records lack employer information, making it impossible to identify who qualifies.
• Company Name Inconsistencies – Variations in employer names (IBM vs. International Business Machines) prevent accurate matches.
• Outdated or Missing Contact Info – Without email, phone, and mailing addresses, follow-up efforts stall.
• Lack of Awareness – Many donors don’t even know their employers offer matching gifts.
• Cumbersome Processes – Manual tracking and verification slow down fundraising teams, leaving money on the table.

To maximize matching gift revenue, universities need a data-driven approach—and that’s where BlueRidge Data (BRD) comes in.

How BRD is Helping: A Smarter, Data-Driven Approach

BRD is transforming how institutions identify and capture matching gifts with best-in-class data enrichment, employer screening, and AI-powered insights.

• Employer Screening – BRD screens alumni records against known employer matching gift programs, identifying high-value opportunities.
• Alumni Data Enrichment – Institutions send BRD their alumni data, and we append missing employment details, contact information, and match eligibility.
• Matching Gift Potential Analysis – Using wealth indicators and employer programs, BRD estimates total potential matching gift revenue, giving institutions a clear benchmark for fundraising strategy.
• Automated Matching Algorithms – BRD ensures accurate employer name matching, solving the common problem of company name inconsistencies.
• Integrated Insights – Data is delivered in easy-to-use formats that integrate seamlessly with Salesforce, Blackbaud, and other CRMs.

But identifying matching gift opportunities isn’t enough. The real challenge? Getting donors to act on them.

Seamless Matching Gift Integration: Meet BRD’s Matching Gift Lookup (MGL)

Even when alumni are eligible, many never take the extra step to submit a matching gift request.

That’s why BRD’s Matching Gift Lookup (MGL) makes it effortless for donors to see if their employer will match their gift—right at the moment of giving.

• More matches, more fundraising dollars – Donors are far more likely to submit a match when they see it instantly.
• Friction-free donor experience – No complicated steps, just a quick lookup and direct access to claim forms.
• No heavy lift for your team – MGL integrates easily with your giving page and runs in the background, automatically increasing matches.

Instead of hoping alumni take action later, MGL ensures they act now—resulting in more matched gifts and higher fundraising revenue. 

The Results: Maximizing Fundraising with BRD

BRD’s data-driven approach empowers institutions to:

•  Recover millions in lost matching gifts by identifying eligible alumni.
• Streamline donor outreach with accurate contact information and employer details.
• Automate and optimize the matching gift process, reducing manual effort.
• Increase donor engagement by providing an effortless giving experience.

By solving the biggest challenges in matching gift fundraising, BRD ensures universities maximize every dollar of available corporate matching—turning lost opportunities into real impact.

Unlock Your Matching Gift Potential with BRD

Your alumni want to give. Their employers want to match.

Let’s make it happen…