Sharing Success

Double your donations to double your impact.

CoBank is committed to giving back to the communities we serve. Through charitable donations and volunteer efforts, we are working to make life better in rural communities across the country.

One of the most important ways we do this is by partnering with our customer-owners. We believe that you know best where support is most needed in the communities you and your members call home.

Match my contribution

How it works

Sharing Success is an annual fund that matches your charitable contributions.

As a customer-owner of CoBank, you can nominate any 501(c)(3) charity that you have contributed to within the year. Once we’ve reviewed your nomination, CoBank will invite the charity to complete an application and will work with them to get the matching funds into their hands. It’s that easy.

What's new this year

We’ve made some exciting enhancements to the Sharing Success program this year.

  • Increased matching fund: We are making an even bigger impact in 2025 by increasing our fund by $1 million – for a total matching fund of $6 million.
  • Higher maximum match per customer: We’ve increased the match available to each eligible customer from $10,000 to $15,000.
  • New nomination system: Our new digital system creates a smooth process for you to nominate a recipient organization – and then allows that organization to apply within the system by completing one last form.
  • Program timeline: In 2025, the program will open on April 1 and will continue through November 30 or until the fund is exhausted. Starting in 2026, we will open the program on January 1 to allow for earlier matching of donations. As always, we encourage you to participate early to ensure your contributions are matched!
  • Direct delivery of donations: All donations will be sent directly to recipient organizations – and we now offer ACH payments for faster, more secure delivery. Our goal is to ensure your support reaches those who need it most without delay.

Match my contribution

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Sharing Success is a $6 million annual fund that matches the charitable contributions of our CoBank customers.

Active CoBank customers are eligible to participate in Sharing Success.

In general, any cash contribution made to a valid 501(c)(3) charity during the program year is eligible for matching. Contributions to non-501(c)(3)s will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

  • In-kind contributions of goods or services are not eligible.
  • Contributions made directly to individuals or to fundraising campaigns such as Go Fund Me, for the benefit of individuals.
  • Contributions that are not charitable in nature (e.g., sponsorship of commercial events, advertising, etc.).
  • Contributions made to religious organizations for the sole benefit of a particular faith or congregation or for the purpose of proselytization.
  • Contributions made to organizations that actively discriminate based on protected characteristics such as age, sex, race, religion, or sexual orientation.
  • CoBank reserves the right to review and reject any contribution it deems inappropriate.

Customers can request matching contributions for up to four contributions, from a minimum of $250 to a maximum of $15,000. The total of all four requests can’t exceed $15,000.

Contributions made on or after January 1 of the program year are eligible.

CoBank will match the contributions made by eligible customers. If a customer operates a roundup program that collects funds from employees or members – and also makes its own financial contributions to the fund – CoBank will match that portion made directly by our customer.

No. Customers can submit requests all at once or one at a time. Keep in mind that Sharing Success is a first come, first served program and will close when the fund is fully exhausted.

Ideally, customers will have already delivered their own contributions before nominating an organization for a match. If pre-payment is not possible, customers must have made a firm commitment to the recipient organization that will be paid within the program year.

Eligible CoBank customers submit a nomination for a charitable organization to which they have contributed. The nomination includes contact information for both the customer and the recipient organization, the dollar amount of the customer’s contribution, and the purpose of the contribution. Once a nomination is received, CoBank will email the recipient organization with a link to complete the Sharing Success application. The bank will review and approve completed applications on a weekly basis. Once approved, funds will be sent directly to the recipient organization.

The nomination is completed by the CoBank customer. It includes their own contact details as well as the amount and purpose of their donation. The application is completed by the recipient organization and includes contact details, program information, and payment information.

Our primary goal is to ensure that contributions get into the hands of our charitable partners as quickly as possible so that these organizations can put those funds to work in our communities. CoBank is moving to a system of direct payment to recipient organizations (where possible, via ACH). These changes will reduce issues created by lost or delayed checks. By requiring recipient organizations to complete the application, we ensure that CoBank has the most current and accurate information, including sensitive banking details.

Once a nomination has been approved, there will not be an opportunity to make changes either to the recipient organization or to the dollar amount requested. Therefore, it is important that charitable contributions be fully vetted and approved prior to submitting a match request.

Our updated program does not allow for delivery of checks directly to customers. We understand that many customers want to personally connect with recipients, and we will provide a digital toolkit that will include a template for a “big check.” Those customers who want to make a personal presentation can print this at their local office supply store, allowing for a presentation event without requiring a live check.

Customers will receive a confirmation email when nominations are received. You will receive a second confirmation when the recipient organization has completed its application and payment has been made.

If the bank is unable to approve a request for any reason, a member of the Sharing Success team will contact you with details.

No. Because the application will now be completed by the recipient organization, recipients will now provide their Tax ID numbers and verification of their 501c3 status.

Please contact your relationship manager or email us at sharingsuccess@cobank.com.