As part of a kickoff later this month for its new Internet-based giving initiative, The Pittsburgh Foundation will provide $400,000 in matching funds to support local nonprofits, including $100,000 to the strapped Carnegie Library.

Original plans for Match Day, the Oct. 28 launch of the online initiative PittsburghGives, called for the foundation to award $200,000 in matching grants to organizations selected by donors that day. But after allocating an additional $100,000 from its unrestricted grant-making pool, the foundation decided last week to contribute another $100,000 in matching funds specifically for the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, following the announcement that four neighborhood libraries are targeted for closure next year.

Individual donors to the foundation provided the funds to match the library gifts, said Grant Oliphant, the foundation's president and chief executive. He declined to disclose the donors' names.

"One came to us and said [he] really wanted to [stimulate] giving to the library because of the dire situation it's in. And we had a bequest from a donor who passed away and had a special interest in the library, so we combined those for $100,000."

For gifts of $50 or more made to the library on Match Day, the foundation will match each dollar with 50 cents up to $10,000 per individual gift, or a maximum $5,000 match.

All other gifts of $50 or more made on Match Day to eligible nonprofits in Allegheny County will be matched with 50 cents on the dollar, but only up to $2,500 per individual. That means a gift of $2,500 will be matched with $1,250 in foundation funds for a total gift of $3,750.

The foundation expects to generate more than $1 million in donations through the launch.

Match Day allows the foundation to "encourage other people to give," said Mr. Oliphant.

To promote public participation in the event, the foundation will set up computers at PPG Place Wintergarden, Downtown, where individuals can log on to www.PittsburghGives.org and make donations that will be matched. Donors already can access the site, but their contributions will not be matched until 10 a.m. on Oct. 28.

While online charitable giving isn't new, the PittsburghGives site differs from other sites, such as United Way's online donation system, said Mr. Oliphant, because it includes profile information on 300 nonprofits in the region.

"It's a very rich data set and search tool for people who care about nonprofit organizations and might want to support them. It gives those organizations an opportunity to share their own stories and promote greater transparency. … You can go online and research their financials, their mission and their board of directors, and then make a decision whether to contribute."

There is a credit card processing fee of 4.75 percent for using the site to donate, but no fee goes to the foundation.

The model for the online site came from the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, said Mr. Oliphant, while the idea for launching it with a matching event was inspired by the Columbus Foundation in Columbus, Ohio.

"Those were two of the first community foundations that wandered into these waters; we're now among an early group adopting it."

The Pittsburgh Foundation has approximately $500 million in assets.

Despite the sluggish economy, Mr. Oliphant expects a strong response to Match Day and PittsburghGives.

"I can tell you this is a generous town. We know of dozens and dozens of nonprofits that have sent out e-mails to supporters and organized annual giving days around Match Day. I anticipate we'll break the $1 million mark fairly quickly and exceed that."

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