Matching Gift Award: McKesson Foundation ($2,500)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to inform you that the McKesson Foundation awarded us a $2,500 matching gift on behalf of one of its employees. The check came with a letter that read as follows:

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Dear Mr. Hicks,

We are pleased to offer the attached donation to BDPA Education and Technology Foundation in the amount of $2,500.00, which was made possible by McKesson Foundation Matching Gift Program.

This offer will remain open for 180 days. To accept this offer, please cash the attached check within 180 days. Any donation not accepted by cashing the check will be revoked and the McKesson Foundation will send those funds to the American Cancer Society.

Part of the McKesson Foundation mission is to support our employees' community involvement efforts, and we are proud to be among your current supporters.

Sincerely,
The McKesson Foundation

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Suffice it to say that the check is being cashed right now! Christopher is the president of our BDPA Richmond chapter. He made a $2,500 donation to BETF earlier this year to support the efforts of the 2012 High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team trained by his chapter.  He worked with BETF and his company to get them to make a 100% match of his gift ... and the company cut this check in support of BDPA programs, scholarships and services.

Have you checked to see if your employer as a matching gifts program yet? If not, please do so right away!

Matching Gift: MillerCoors

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is pleased to learn that an anonymous employee at MillerCoors made a payroll pledge to us during the company's employee giving campaign. The payroll pledge was collected by the United Way of Rockingham County.

The pleasant surprise is that MillerCoors provided a 50% matching gift bonus on top of what the employee donated!

Very cool!

Matching Gift Statistics

Soulclap to the folks over at FirstGiving for sharing the following statistics on Matching Gift programs around the nation.

• On average one in ten donors is matching gift eligible. 
• Approximately 50% of the Fortune 500 companies have matching gift programs.
• In the 2007 Council for Aid to Education (CAE) survey, 749 institutions reported over $169 million in matching gift dollars.
• LSU received one matching gift check last year for over a million dollars from Exxon-Mobil.
• The American Cancer Society has quadrupled matching gifts in the last three years to over $10 million dollars.
• On average, 4-12% of donors are matching gift eligible and are not identified as such. 
• 13% of companies match at 2 to 1.
• 4,009 companies and subsidiaries match volunteer time.

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) has not aggressively pursued matching gifts in the past.   We will be looking at it much more closely in the weeks to come.

Does your employer have a Matching Gift program?

Matching Gift * BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) received our second gift from the matching gift program donation to support the BDPA Baton Rouge chapter from BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana (BCBSLA).    Glenda Chappell is the BCBSLA associate who made the donation that was matched by her employer.  Glenda truly leveraged her donation with this 100% matching gift program.

Does your employer have a matching gift program?   Have you leveraged it to support your BDPA chapter?

Matching Gift * BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) received a donation to support the BDPA Baton Rouge chapter from BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana. The letter that came with the check read as follows:

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Dear Mr. Hicks,

We have completed processing of the matching gift request recently received from Glenda Chappell and [the BDPA Foundation]. I am pleased to inform you that [BETF] has met all of the qualifaction requirements for the matching gift program, and our check is enclosed.

As you know, BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana will match personal contributions from eligible participants to qualified non-profit organizations as outlined in our matching gifts program guidelines. More information regarding our matching program can be found on our website, www.bcbsla.com, in the Community section at the top of the screen.

We appreciate the efforts you are making in our state and wish you success.

Sincerely,
Paula M. Neck
Employee Giving Administrator

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My hope is that all BDPA members that are working in Corporate America will take a close look at their company intranet to see if they would be eligible for volunteer grant or matching gift. In the meantime, we appreciate the work of Glenda Chappell, BCBSLA and BDPA Baton Rouge chapter!

Payroll Pledge: JPMorgan Chase Good Works Employee Giving Campaign

JPMorgan Chase Foundation informed us that one of its employees directed her personal campaign pledge to the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF). BETF is proud to be one of the 4,500 nonprofit organizations supported by this employee giving campaign.

Earlier this year we learned that JPMorgan Chase Foundation was going to provide a 100% matching gift for a donation made by Estelle Cephas (Northern Delaware).

Our hope is that other JPMC employees will consider making payroll pledges to support BDPA programs and services.

Payroll Pledge: WellPoint Associate Giving Campaign

Members of the BDPA Richmond chapter that work for WellPoint are taking advantage of payroll deduction process to support the youth education program in Richmond. We are grateful to Yiddy Chaves, Corlon Ford, Wanda McGee, Justine Turner and Eric Wingate. These five WellPoint employees are making donations to BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) that are being deposited into restricted fund used for Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in Richmond VA.

The best thing about this funding strategy is that WellPoint Foundation adds an additional 50% matching gift to the payroll deductions from its employees.

We truly hope that all BDPA members and supporters who work for WellPoint will consider following the lead of Yiddy, Corlon, Wanda, Justine and Eric!

Does your employer allow for you to make tax-deductible payroll deductions to the nonprofit of your choice?

Matching Gift: Prudential Foundation

Each year, The Prudential Foundation invests over $25 million in grants in efforts that support the revitalization of communities and support Prudential employees' community engagement efforts.

Coram Rimes is a Prudential employee who made a generous donation to the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) last year. He took the next step of applying for the 180% matching gift from the Prudential Foundation. BETF recently deposited a $225 check from Prudential Foundation into our Jesse Bemley Scholarship Fund on behalf of Coram.

I hope that other Prudential employees that are supporters of BDPA will make this same move in 2010. In fact, I hope that all BDPA supporters working in Corporate America will take a moment to find out whether or not their employer has a matching gifts program. If so, please let us know!

Seeking Support from Dennis Haysbert and Allstate Employees

The BDPA Education & Technology Foundation is aware of the tough economic times that face our current and future donors. We want to maximize the support that we receive from BDPA members. That is why we are specifically seeking out all BDPA members and supporters employed by Allstate Insurance. Heck, I hope that Dennis Haysbert reads this message and puts BETF in his 'good hands'!

The Allstate Giving Campaign will begin in March 2009. Allstate employees will have opportunity to donate to the BDPA Education & Technology Foundation via one-time contributions or monthly payroll deductions. Contributors participating in The Allstate Giving Campaign also have the option of anonymous giving.

All pledges through The Giving Campaign are matched 15% by Allstate Insurance!

Allstate employees are encouraged to work through their manager or their Human Resources department to get the paperwork necessary to contribute to the BDPA Foundation. Please share this information with any BDPA members that work for Allstate!

Allstate Giving Campaign

BETF proudly received pledged payments through the Allstate Giving Campaign made by Malvirse Dervin, Yvette Graham, Lewis Hamer, Felicia Mansfield, Chandra Morton, Ura Puranda and two anonymous employees. Our foundation is proud to be part of the annual giving program for Allstate Insurance. The donations made by these six BDPA members will be used to support BDPA Chicago programs and services. Allstate Insurance leveraged the generosity of these BDPA employees with an additional 15% matching fund donation.

Our hope is that other BDPA members will consider making payroll deductions during annual giving campaigns put on by United Way, Combined Federal Campaign or the company itself. Others may simply want to make a one-time donation directly to BETF in support of the youth education programs taking place all over the country.

Please share some 'BDPA-Love' with Malvirse, Yvette, Lewis, Felicia, Chandra and Ura by using the COMMENTS section below!

WellPoint Associate Giving Campaign

BETF proudly accepted pledges through the WellPoint Associate Giving Campaign made by Yiddy Chaves, Corlon Ford, Wanda McGee, Eric Wingate and Annette Yates during the 3rd quarter of this year. WellPoint's mission is to improve the lives of the people it serves and the health of its communities. The donations made by these five BDPA members will be used to support programs and services put on by our BDPA Richmond chapter. WellPoint leveraged the generosity of these BDPA employees with an additional 50% matching fund donation.

Our hope is that other BDPA members will consider making payroll deductions during annual giving campaigns put on by United Way, Combined Federal Campaign or the company itself. Others may simply want to make a one-time donation directly to BETF in support of the youth education programs taking place all over the country.

Please share some 'BDPA-Love' with Yiddy, Corlon, Wanda, Eric and Annette!

WellPoint Associate Giving Campaign

BETF proudly accepted pledges through the WellPoint Associate Giving Campaign made by Yiddy Chaves, Corlon Ford, Wanda McGee, Eric Wingate and Annette Yates during the 2nd quarter of this year. WellPoint's mission is to improve the lives of the people it serves and the health of its communities. The donations made by these five BDPA members will be used to support programs and services put on by our BDPA Richmond chapter. WellPoint leveraged the generosity of these BDPA employees with an additional 50% matching fund donation.

Our hope is that other BDPA members will consider making payroll deductions during annual giving campaigns put on by United Way, Combined Federal Campaign or the company itself. Others may simply want to make a one-time donation directly to BETF in support of the youth education programs taking place all over the country.

Please share some 'BDPA-Love' with Yiddy, Corlon, Wanda, Eric and Annette!

Matching Funds * Microsoft

We are pleased to report that the Microsoft Employee Giving Campaign matched a $500 donation made earlier in the year by one of their associates, Kevin Robinson. Kevin is a longtime corporate member of BDPA Charlotte chapter. Microsoft matches employee donations on a 1:to:1 basis. This matching fund supports the BDPA Foundation Endowment Fund.

Does your employer have a matching funds program?

WellPoint Associate Giving Campaign

BETF proudly accepted pledges through the WellPoint Associate Giving Campaign made by Yiddy Chaves, Wilma Green, Wanda McGee, Justine Turner and Annette Yates. WellPoint's mission is to improve the lives of the people it serves and the health of its communities. The donations made by these five BDPA members will be used to support programs and services put on by our BDPA Richmond chapter. WellPoint leveraged the generosity of these BDPA employees with an additional 50% matching fund donation.


Our hope is that other BDPA members will consider making payroll deductions during annual giving campaigns put on by United Way, Combined Federal Campaign or the company itself. Others may simply want to make a one-time donation directly to BETF in support of the youth education programs taking place all over the country.

Please share some 'BDPA-Love' with Yiddy, Wilma, Wanda, Justine and Annette!

Matching Funds * Bank of America Foundation

We are pleased to report that Bank of America Foundation agreed to match a $50 donation made this week by one of their associates, Shamiek Brown. Shamiek is a past board member of our BDPA Charlotte chapter.

The Bank of America Foundation matching funds will be used to support BDPA education and technology programs.

Does your company have a matching funds program?

Matching Funds * Wachovia Foundation

We are pleased to report that Wachovia Foundation matched a $200 donation made earlier in the year by one of their associates, John Hoffler. John is a past president of BDPA chapters in St. Louis and Greenville. Currently, he is a member of our BDPA Charlotte chapter.

The Wachovia Foundation matching funds will be placed in the restricted chapter fund to be used for Charlotte-based programs or services.

Does your company have a matching funds program?

Matching Grants, Volunteer Grants or IBM Community Grants

Have you seen the large list of corporations willing to provide matching grants to the BDPA Education & Technology Foundation? We recommend you check with your employer to see if they will match gifts to BETF. If so, your gift to an eligible nonprofit could be at least doubled. Please take a moment to get a matching gift form from your personnel office and follow the directions to initiate a match. Thank you for making the extra effort — and for your double support!

One of our BDPA leaders is Paulette Johnson-Davis. She is the president of the BDPA chapter in Greater Columbia, SC. Paulette also worked for IBM earlier in her career. She shares the following message to current and former IBMers:

"Fellow IBMers, both current and retired,

I recently submitted a request to IBM for a $1,000 Community Grant, and the grant was approved! It was a fairly simple way to earn money for our Chapter.

If you have not already registered with IBM's On Demand Community, you need to do so. The On Demand Community is an innovative program to support IBM volunteers helping schools and not-for-profit agencies. All you have to do is register and then input your volunteer hours. If you volunteer a minimum of 40 hours over a 5-month period for a particular non-profit organization, you can apply for a grant. Both cash grants and equipment grants are available; I chose to apply for the cash grant.

As a Chapter President, I know you put in many more than 40 hours over a 5-month period, so you are sure to qualify. And, the best thing is that you can re-apply for this grant every 12 months! If you'd like more information, please feel free to contact me or BETF's Executive Director.

Paulette Johnson-Davis
President, GCBDPA
(803) 264-1721

Are there any members of the IBM team reading this message? Do others work in corporate America where a volunteer grant or matching grant might be available? What say u?