The Troy Foundation is giving area residents an opportunity to enhance donations to nonprofit organizations serving the Troy community.

A Matching Gift Fund of $45,700 has been set up by the foundation governing board to use as matching funds for gifts made to qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations, Melissa Kleptz, the foundation’s executive director, said.

The fund will continue matches until the money said aside is depleted, she said. Under the program, each gift of up to $250 will be matched by the foundation.

As an example, Kleptz said a donor could give $1,000 to the foundation and designate four organizations to receive $250 each. The Foundation would deposit the donor check and issue a new check for double the original gift. It will distribute the checks to the recipient(s) in the donor’s name.

“We had a surplus of income from the last round of grants and felt this was a nice way for nonprofit organizations to boost their year,” Kleptz said.

Checks may be mailed to the foundation or donors can drop them off at 216 W. Franklin St., Troy. The checks should be made payable to The Troy Foundation with a notation of the organization(s) the donor intends to receive the gift. Questions about the program can be directed to 937-339-8935.

A similar matching program – the Community Needs Fund - was offered in 2009-10. It came during the recession when local organizations were struggling to meet needs due to more demand for services and assistance.

The foundation at first identified four groups to receive matching funds before opening the list of potential recipients to all existing nonprofits in the community.

The foundation matched $150,000 in donations through that program.