IBM has greatly improved its US matching grants programme, which offers colleges and universities the option of receiving a five for-one matching IBM equipment donation when IBMers make individual donations to their alma mater or their friendly neighbourhood seat of learning: since 1979, the schools have been able to receive two-for-one cash donations under the programme, and the equipment option includes new IBM hardware and software; it is available to US colleges and universities that receive donations of $5,000 or more from IBM employees, spouses or retirees during a 12-month period, and they are allowed to accumulate up to two years’ worth of equipment matching grants under the programme; in 1988, IBM and its generous employees gave almost $20m all told to more than US 1,500 educational establishments under the programme.