Gateway Ticketing Systems, a leading provider of admission control systems, has worked with the USS Midway Museum to integrate DonationMatch and Galaxy Connect to strengthen the organisation's charitable giving programme.
Since the implementation in February 2026, the museum has given 2,481 tickets, equating to $101,721, through the platform.
DonationMatch was designed to create a more efficient, secure, and scalable donation process for attractions and non-profit organisations, as well as restaurants, service-based businesses, and brands.
Control, visibility, and versatility
USS Midway Museum has been a Galaxy Connect user and Gateway Ticketing Systems client since 2007, and learned about DonationMatch at IAAPA Expo 2025.
DonationMatch worked closely with the museum to customise its dashboard to meet operational needs and align with Galaxy’s configurable interface.
The USS Midway Museum opened in 2004, and welcomes 1 million visitors each year Image courtesy of Gateway Ticketing Systems
The shift from paper-based donations to digital ticketing has delivered major advantages. With timestamps and configurable expiration dates, digital tickets enable the museum to set clear validity periods, while tracking ensures they are used only once. Staff can also amend expiration dates or cancel tickets as required.
These features provide better control, visibility, and versatility for the museum’s philanthropic programmes, while improving the experience for recipient organisations.
Paulette Mello, marketing/outreach coordinator at USS Midway Museum, says: "DonationMatch has significantly improved our donation process.
"Its functionality and capabilities have streamlined the workflow, making it easier and more efficient to review and process donation requests."
Maximising fundraising impact
DonationMatch was founded in 2010 to simplify and safeguard charitable giving programmes
Established in 2010, DonationMatch works with organisations across the US and Canada to simplify and safeguard charitable giving programmes by verifying nonprofit legitimacy, requestor authority, and eligibility against donation criteria before requests reach the review queue.
Galaxy Connect simplifies online ticket sales by replacing the voucher system with direct, real-time integration
Notably, by integrating with Galaxy Connect through its API, DonationMatch receives a direct-to-gate ticket in real time upon approval of a donation request, eliminating the need for manual ticket exports and distribution.
Automating administrative tasks related to donation requests and fulfilment decreases staff workload and ensures donated tickets are distributed to qualified recipients.
This leads to higher operational efficiency, better accountability, and significant time savings for employees and volunteers.
Michael Andre, president and CEO of Gateway Ticketing Systems, says: "At Gateway, we’re committed to helping nonprofit organizations operate more efficiently so they can focus on advancing their missions.
"Galaxy Connect gives these organizations the tools and flexibility they need to expand their reach, increase their impact, and continue making a difference in their communities."
The potential to make donation management more efficient and secure through technology is often overlooked by attractions.
DonationMatch was created to help organisations reduce administrative burdens, improve oversight, and connect more effectively with qualified non-profit organisations to maximise fundraising impact.
Renee Zau, CEO and co-founder of DonationMatch, says: "Many people are surprised to learn there’s a better way than managing donation requests through email and online forms alone.
"We’re still one of the industry’s best-kept secrets."
Drawing on OTA expertise
Founded in 2016, Galaxy Connect has simplified online ticket sales by replacing the outdated voucher system with direct, real-time integration between attractions and online travel agencies (OTAs).
With this approach, attractions are paid for tickets regardless of visitor attendance, have clear visibility into ticket sales, and can implement dynamic pricing.
They also retain complete control over inventory and availability by managing pricing, blocking high-demand periods, and updating ticket availability in real time through Galaxy. This makes sure that OTA sites always display accurate information.
By integrating with the DonationMatch platform, the two technologies together provide security and real-time tracking with functionality similar to typical OTA transactions.
See also: Unifying ticketing, retail and data: Gateway’s role in modern attractions
Seamless, successful implementation
When starting its search for a no-cost solution to update its donation programme, the USS Midway Museum specified that the platform must provide strong customer support, extensive reporting capabilities, and a professional, consistent brand experience across donation materials.
It also needed to streamline daily processes for staff and volunteers.
DonationMatch began delivering on these non-negotiables from the outset, with a seamless implementation requiring a single account across participating organisations, and so minimal effort.
Since then, the museum has significantly reduced its paper mailing outreach, lowering both administrative costs and staff requirements, while volunteers have benefited from the web-based solution, which enables them to review and approve donation requests remotely.
"It’s been great," Mello says, adding Zau has responded quickly to emails and outreach. "The immediate response with solutions is very nice to have in the partnership."
Earlier this month, Gateway Ticketing Systems shared how the Galaxy ticketing software platform is supporting a new philanthropic initiative at Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware, US.
