Context
What is a matching gift on Almabase?
Any gift that has the "Matching Gift" toggle turned on is treated as a matching gift.
This toggle can be turned ON when adding or editing a gift.
Matching gifts are typically entered to represent the amount a matching donor has pledged to contribute (for example, tied to a challenge like "If 100 alumni give, $10,000 will be matched").
When should a matching gift be added?
Matching gifts are meant to be added only when a campaign has a challenge set up — such as a matching gift challenge or a participation challenge with a prize amount.
As the challenge unlocks, the match or prize amount is added to the thermometer automatically. It is then up to the admin to decide whether they want to record a corresponding gift on the campaign to represent the matching donor.
If a campaign does not have any such challenge set up, admins should not add matching gifts. Gifts marked as "Matching Gift" do not count toward the thermometer, so adding them on a campaign without a challenge means the amount will not be reflected in the goal at all.
How matching amounts reach the thermometer
When a challenge unlocks, the match amount (or prize amount) is added to the thermometer automatically.
The matching gift itself is not added anywhere on the page — it's only reflected in the thermometer total.
Because of this, matching gift donors were not visible on leaderboards, heatmaps, or in gift/donor counts.
How to show matching gifts on public-facing side of a giving page
The "Include matching gifts in public displays" toggle lets you decide whether gifts marked as matching gifts should appear in the public-facing displays on the giving page.
When turned on, the matching gift shows up on the leaderboard and other displays — without affecting how the thermometer works — so matching donors get acknowledged alongside everyone else.
How It Works
The end-to-end journey
A challenge is set up on the giving page.
For example, a matching gift challenge ("If 50 alumni give, $25,000 will be matched") or a participation challenge with a prize amount.
As the challenge unlocks, the thermometer updates automatically.
The match amount (or prize amount) is added in real time, so donors see the total climb as the challenge is met.
The admin adds one or more gifts to represent the matching donor(s).
This step is optional, and only applies when a challenge has unlocked.
The total of these gifts should equal the amount that was unlocked.
While adding each gift, the admin turns on the "Matching Gift" toggle on that gift.
This toggle ensures the gift is not double-counted on the thermometer (because the match amount has already been added automatically).
The admin decides how the matching gift should be publicly displayed.
This is controlled by the new page-level toggle: "Include matching gifts in public displays".
Important: If the campaign does not have a matching gift challenge or a participation challenge with a prize, matching gifts should not be added. Since gifts marked as "Matching Gift" do not count toward the thermometer, they will not contribute to the goal on a campaign without an unlocked challenge.
What each toggle does
Toggle | Where it lives | What it controls |
Matching Gift | On each individual gift | Marks the gift as a matching gift so it is not double-counted on the thermometer |
Include matching gifts in public displays | On the giving page settings | Controls whether matching gifts are shown on leaderboards, heatmaps, and gift/donor counts |
Where to find the page toggle
On each giving page's settings, there is a toggle: "Include matching gifts in public displays".
It is off by default.
What happens when the page toggle is OFF
The thermometer continues to reflect matching amounts as challenges unlock.
Gifts marked as "Matching Gift" are not shown on:
Leaderboards
Heatmaps
Gift counts
Donor counts
What happens when the page toggle is ON
The thermometer behaves exactly the same way (no double counting of the match amount).
Gifts marked as "Matching Gift" are shown on:
Leaderboards
Heatmaps
Gift counts
Donor counts
Flow at a glance
Campaign has a matching gift / participation challenge
│
▼
Challenge unlocks → Match/prize amount added automatically to thermometer
│
▼
Admin (optionally) adds gift(s) matching the unlocked amount
with the "Matching Gift" toggle ON (prevents double counting)
│
▼
Page toggle: "Include matching gifts in public displays"
│
┌──────┴──────┐
│ │
OFF ON
│ │
▼ ▼
Gift hidden Gift shown on
from public leaderboard,
displays heatmap, and
gift/donor counts
Simple example
A challenge on the page says: "If 50 alumni give, a donor will match $25,000."
50 alumni give.
The $25,000 match amount is automatically added to the thermometer — donors see it update in real time.
The admin then records the matching donor's contribution as a gift (or multiple gifts totaling $25,000) and turns on the "Matching Gift" toggle on each of them so the thermometer doesn't double count.
Page toggle: "Include matching gifts in public displays"
Is off: The leaderboard shows the 50 alumni only. The matching donor is not listed.
Is on: The leaderboard also shows the matching donor and their gift — without changing the thermometer.
Together, these two toggles give admins full control: donors see the thermometer update in real time as challenges unlock, and admins decide how matching gift donors should be acknowledged on leaderboards and other public displays.
FAQs
What is considered a matching gift?
Any gift added on the page with the "Matching Gift" toggle turned on.
When should I add a matching gift to a campaign?
Only when the campaign has a matching gift challenge or a participation challenge with a prize, and that challenge has unlocked. The matching gift is used to record the contribution from the matching donor.
What if my campaign doesn't have any such challenge?
You should not add matching gifts on that campaign. Gifts marked as "Matching Gift" do not count toward the thermometer, so the amount would not reflect in your goal.
Why do I need to turn on the "Matching Gift" toggle on the gift itself?
Because the match amount is already added to the thermometer automatically when the challenge unlocks. The toggle on the gift prevents the same amount from being counted twice.
Will turning the page toggle on cause the thermometer to double-count?
No. The thermometer behaves the same way whether the page toggle is on or off. The page toggle only controls what shows on leaderboards, heatmaps, and gift/donor counts.
Do I need to do anything for my existing pages?
No. The page toggle is off by default, so your pages continue to behave as they do today unless you turn it on.
Can I use this on some pages and not others?
Yes. It's a per-page setting, so you can choose where matching donors should be publicly acknowledged.
Can I change the toggle later?
Yes. You can turn it on or off at any time, and the public displays will update accordingly.
Will the matching donor's name appear on the leaderboard?
Yes, when the page toggle is on, the matching gift is treated like any other gift — respecting the usual anonymity and leaderboard-exclusion settings on that gift.
Does this affect reports or exports?
No. This toggle only controls public-facing displays on the giving page. Reporting is unaffected.
When should I turn this on?
Whenever you'd like matching donors to be publicly acknowledged alongside other donors — for example, during challenge-based campaigns or giving days.