In The News

Employee giving programs offer an exciting opportunity to have a greater impact. Each Donation could be doubled, tripled, or more, and every hour volunteered could come with a monetary contribution as well. 

We’re going to explore two of the most popular forms of corporate philanthropy:

• Employee matching gifts: Donations offered by companies to nonprofits that their employees have already supported. 
• Volunteer grants: Monetary contributions made by a company to a nonprofit that their employees have volunteered for.

Matching Gift and Volunteer Grant information provided by

What are corporate matching gift and employee volunteer grant programs?

Corporate matching gift programs are charitable giving programs created by corporations in which the company matches donations made by employees to nonprofit organizations or educational institutions. Donors can double their impact by utilizing the matching gift programs in place at thousands of companies. 

Employee giving programs have been around since 1954 when the GE Foundation created the Corporate Alumni Program, the first corporate matching gift program. Today, the GE Foundation matches over $35 million annually to 501(c)(3) organizations and accredited educational institutions (including K-12). Since then, thousands of companies have created similar employee-giving programs. 

The most common match ratio is 1:1, meaning that the company will donate the same amount as the employee did. Each company will set a dollar amount to contribute per employee each year. Employees can then make as many matching gift requests as they like until they hit that maximum dollar amount. 

Volunteer grant programs, also known as “Dollars for Doers” programs, are charitable giving programs set up by companies to provide a monetary donation to eligible nonprofits where their employees volunteer as a way to encourage community engagement. Suppose you volunteer for a nonprofit organization like ours and work for a company with a volunteer grant program. In that case, you can request a volunteer grant from your employer to increase your impact on our organization. 

These volunteer grants can be set amounts ($750 for 50 hours volunteered) or hourly amounts ($10 per hour volunteered). 

Matching gifts and volunteer grants ultimately help us match more Bigs with Littles to create more one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. You can help us build these life-changing relationships by searching for your own match-eligibility.

Immediately gain access to detailed information about your employer’s corporate giving programs and assess your eligibility by searching our database of companies that offer employee matching. Double the Donation provides you with as much of the following as possible:

• Up-to-date, company-specific program guidelines 
• Minimum volunteer hours required to qualify for a matching donation
• Links to the online matching gift request forms or downloadable PDFs offered by your employer
• Our contact information (Tax ID, address, fundraising contact), which you may need for your matching gift request 

How prevalent are corporate giving programs? 

Corporate giving programs have gotten more popular with time. More than 65% of Fortune 500 companies offer matching gift or volunteer grant programs, and countless smaller companies have followed suit. 

Some companies have gotten creative with their corporate giving, offering higher matches to organizations in a specific sector (educational, cultural, environmental, etc.) or even matching funds raised by employees in peer-to-peer campaigns. 

A few examples of these programs include: 

• Verizon provides $750 grants for 50 volunteer hours and matches up to $5,000 annually
• IBM provides $1,000 grants to nonprofits where an employee has volunteered for 40 hours. They also match up to $5,000 annually for current employees or retirees.
• In addition to similarly generous matching gift and volunteer grant programs, BP matches funds raised for nonprofit walks, runs, etc., and offers every employee an annual $300 grant to donate to any nonprofit organization. No initial donation or volunteering is required! 

Thousands of companies, representing more than 18 million people, offer matching gift or volunteer grant programs. 

We hope you’ll take a few extra minutes to see if your company offers employee giving grants — grants that could equal hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars for the nonprofit organizations and educational institutions you care about.

Matching Gift and Volunteer Grant information provided by

Big Brothers Big Sisters is teaming up with the NFL to inspire change because now is the time. Although the NFL season is over, our search for potential Bigs is only just getting started.

The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Our mentoring program helps build bridges and break down barriers by pairing one adult volunteer (Big) with one child (Little) and supporting each Big/Little match at every stage. There are currently over 600 local children waiting for a Big. We are launching The Big Draft to recruit more Bigs. We would be thrilled to have your help in sparking excitement for the Big Draft by encouraging volunteers to sign up as Bigs.

You can help by using your voice to be part of the defenders of potential and ensuring the biggest possible future for our youth. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn for updates on the campaign and tag your friends, family, and colleagues who you think would make great Bigs. You can also share our campaign with your social media followers using our The Big Draft social media toolkit. Learn more about The Big Draft at www.bigdraftplaybook.com

Get started as a Big by attending a Big Orientation & Training session.

January 6 was a very sad day for our country. A mob took over the United States Capitol, inciting violence, causing loss of life, and temporarily halting the counting of the electoral votes – a ritual that speaks to the very heart of our democracy.

These destructive actions don’t reflect the ideals of our country or the good conscience of most Americans committed to creating a more perfect union. Unfortunately, Wednesday was not simply about an isolated moment but a climate in our country that can continue to sow division and disruption if we choose to not speak to it, confront the challenges we face, and most importantly, hold up the common respect and values we share as a community.

It is also a stark reminder of why Big Brothers Big Sisters exist; that it’s during our greatest challenges that young people need us most. And that they know there are positive adults and mentors they can talk to and depend on to help them navigate the uncertainties and inequities they encounter in the world.

As mentors, we can take this opportunity to talk with the young people we serve. To encourage them to know that within their world of Big Brothers Big Sisters exists a safe space, where they can honestly express themselves and ask questions about what we are living through and the impact it is having on all of us. Our Bigs provide this safe space for our Littles to process their thoughts and feelings. Our staff are available to provide resources.

How we react to this assault on our democracy can inspire our young people and encourage them to a life of meaningful public service—but it will take all of us as no one organization or one person can do this alone. We need each other more than ever to provide the vital mentoring programs that serve the most vulnerable young people and families in our communities.

Let’s stand together focused on our mentoring mission to shape new generations and inspire the best from our great country and communities for years to come.

We know we are Bigger Together.

Pam Iorio
President and CEO

Artis Stevens
Incoming President and CEO

Did you know that January is National Mentoring Month? National Mentoring Month focuses national attention on the need for mentors and how each of us can work together to ensure positive outcomes for our young people. 

This National Mentoring Month, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay will be highlighting our Bigs to show how mentoring amplifies change, one relationship at a time. With more than 700 youth across our eight counties waiting to be matched with a Big, the only way to ensure they have someone inspire them to reach their potential is for more adults to step up and volunteer to become Bigs. BBBS Tampa Bay asks people in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Pasco, Citrus, Hernando, Sumter, and Alachua counties to defend the potential of our youth through one-to-one mentoring relationships.

Get involved this National Mentoring Month by becoming a volunteer mentor. The first step is to attend a Virtual Big Orientation & Training. You can view the full schedule of Big Orientation & Trainings here.

Follow Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Throughout the month, we encourage everyone to tag a friend who would be a great Big using the hashtag #BBBSMentoringMonth. Visit bbbstampabay.org/be-a-big to learn more.

Tampa Bay Philanthropy Week, celebrated Monday, November 9th – Friday, November 13th, is an opportunity to celebrate philanthropists who have demonstrated innovation, resiliency, leadership, and generosity through this difficult year. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay is grateful for the support of so many volunteers, staff, and donors. We want to highlight just a few of the amazing people we have on our team to say “thank you” for their dedication to the Big Brothers Big Sisters mission throughout this difficult year.

Heather Castle, Director of Activities & Trainings at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay

If you are a Big with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, Heather is the first person you will meet. Heather trains all of our volunteers at our Big Orientation & Training sessions, so they are prepared to become mentors to youth in our community. When she’s not training our fantastic volunteers, she’s setting up and hosting match events for our Bigs & Littles to attend. Her favorite memory was when she hosted a match event with Dr. Jen Arnold from The Little Couple on TLC. “I had a Little come up to me and tell me ‘Miss Heather, I like you! I hope I can be just like you when I grow up. You make a lot of people happy, and I want to do the same.’ That seriously touched my life.”

Throughout the pandemic, Heather has remained resilient. She is more dedicated than ever to training our volunteers and keeping our matches connected. Within days of state-wide shutdowns, Heather ultimately refocused her work to train volunteers through an online Virtual Big Orientation & Training. Many Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations across the country came to watch Heather’s volunteer orientations to learn how to continue their mission virtually in their communities.

Heather has also hosted several virtual events for our matches, from movie nights and costume contests to workout classes and art demonstrations. She has found a virtual activity for everyone to enjoy, hosting three to five events each month so matches can stay connected with each other.

Big Sister Treena

Big Sister Treena and Little Sister La’riyah have been matched with Big Brothers Big Sisters since October of 2019. Within just a few months of being matched, they had to stop in-person visits due to COVID. But Treena did not let this stop her from staying connected with La’riyah. They have still been able to create memory books for each other, and Treena helps La’riyah with her schoolwork. Treena encourages La’riyah to pursue her passion for singing and dancing. La’riyah will often put on virtual performances for Treena.

Treena tackled the challenge of staying connected with her Little even when they could not see each other in-person. They have started going out together again, but things look a bit different with masks and social distancing, but Treena is determined to defend La’riyah’s potential.

Fifth Third Bank is partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay for its annual Giving Tree Toy Drive campaign. The Giving Tree Toy Drive program will begin on November 2, 2020, and end on November 30, 2020.

Each Fifth Third financial center will host a “Giving Tree” decorated with gift tags that list the gender and age that pertains to the need of a child in the community, as well as a list of suggested gift ideas. You visit any Fifth Third Bank financial center in Pinellas County (and select locations in Hillsborough County) during November to pick up your gift tag and a list of age-appropriate gift ideas.

“Fifth Third Bank is proud to support Big Brothers Big Sisters Annual Giving Tree Toy Drive program during November,” said John Slavik, SVP, Retail Executive for Fifth Third Bank. “By allowing our financial centers to host a Giving Tree, we hope to create awareness around supporting those families in need during this holiday season.”

“Every child deserves a champion, an adult who will never give up on them and who understands the power of connection,” said Stephen Koch, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. “Our Fifth Third Bank partner is a champion and a connector for children throughout our service area.”

Your donation of a gift or gift card will help make a difference and ensure a brighter holiday season for the underserved youth in our community. All donations can be dropped off at one of the 17 Fifth Third Bank locations in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties that are participating in the project.

Thank you Fifth Third Bank for hosting their annual “Giving Tree Toy Drive” for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay!

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay is part of the nation’s largest donor and volunteer-supported mentoring network and holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity – often of a single or low-income household or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military – with strong and enduring, professionally-supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that defend the potential that exists in every child. In 2019, more than 2,800 children were served in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Citrus, Hernando, Alachua, and Sumter counties. For more information please visit www.bbbstampabay.org.

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio and the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, National Association, a federally chartered institution. As of September 30, 2020, Fifth Third had $202 billion in assets and operated 1,122 full-service banking centers and 2,414 ATMs with Fifth Third branding in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. In total, Fifth Third provides its customers with access to approximately 52,000 fee-free ATMs across the United States. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending and Wealth & Asset Management. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of September 30, 2020, had $422 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $53 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations through its Trust and Registered Investment Advisory businesses. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Fifth Third Bank was established in 1858. Deposit and Credit products are offered by Fifth Third Bank. Member FDIC.

There are thousands of children across Florida in need of a mentor. But being a volunteer mentor and role model is only one of the ways to support Big Brothers Big Sisters.

You can also purchase one of our license plates at your local tax collector’s office. For each plate sold, Big Brothers Big Sisters receives $25 to help kids across Florida develop a firm foundation for a Big Life.

Already have your BBBS specialty plate? Show us how you are #Driving4Potential by sharing a photo on social media!

From Oct 1, 2020 – Sept 30, 2021, Lids is partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters to carry limed-edition, custom embroidery headwear to support mentors for kids that are in need of supportive adult relationships. 

Customers can visit any Lids store with a Custom Lids and choose from approved designs to be embroidered on all headwear, including blank, branded, or team caps. $7 of the purchase per embroidered BBBS hat will go directly to the Big Brothers Big Sisters mission. 

The designs’ proceeds will help recruit Bigs (mentors) and provide on-going support and training to ensure a successful Big/Little relationship.

“What a wonderful way to increase awareness about our mentoring program by partnering with Lids,” said Pam Iorio, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. “We know our Littles need additional support during these challenging times, and we appreciate the opportunity to work with corporate partners, like Lids, who can share the message, that mentoring has not stopped, and more volunteers are needed to keep kids connected.“

Visit a store below to get your custom BBBS Lids headwear!