ODW’s matching grants require our partners to raise a portion of the grant funds, which are then matched by One Day’s Wages dollar for dollar. Most of our matching grants are 1:1 matches. For example, if a proposed project budget is $30,000 the partner would be responsible for raising $15,000 on ODW’s fundraising platform and ODW would match up to $15,000. 

We occasionally award 2:1 or 3:1 matching grants to locally-led, community-based organizations that do not have a Western-based branch, board, or network of donors.  For these grants, ODW matches the amount raised by the partner two times or three times.

The grant vetting process for a matching grant can take anywhere from 3-4 months, depending on how quickly an applicant is able to submit materials and how many follow-up questions the grant vetting team may have along the way.  Applications that contain full information and a clear plan of action allow for quicker vetting.

If your organization is applying for an Emergency Relief Matching Grant, your grant application will be processed with an expedited timeline in an attempt to accommodate the pressing nature of the relief program. This can be as short as 3-5 weeks, depending on how many follow-up questions the grant vetting team may have along the way.

If your application is approved by ODW’s Board of Directors, we will send you an approval email along with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for two members of your organization to sign.  We will also request photos to set up your matching grant fundraising page, and agree on a date to launch your campaign.  See the next question for more information about how matching grant campaigns work.  

Once the matching grant goal is fully funded, project implementation can begin.  We require partners to submit reports at 6 months and 1 year.  Our reporting templates include an update on project outcomes, finance report, learnings, and stories of impact from participants.

Our hope is that partnerships with ODW increases awareness of our partners’ causes and platforms.  In turn, partners’ commitment to completing the planned project helps us share the story of ODW and grow our capacity to continue uplifting grassroots organizations.  

ODW creates a unique fundraising page for each partner on our online fundraising platform.  Partners must be willing to direct their donors to this fundraising page to raise their portion of the matching grant funds. Donations to a matching grant campaign can be made via credit card, check or direct bank transfer.  Please note that we are not able to accept donations to the campaign that the partner has already received and deposited; the partners’ contributions must be received through the fundraising page set up by ODW.  

Once you begin fundraising, you have 90 days to reach your goal.  When your campaign goal is met, your campaign will be closed and ODW will send you a check or wire for the full grant amount as well as a list of all donors who contributed to your campaign.  ODW does not share donors’ information with anyone other than the partner, and does not solicit partners’ donors.

If the partner does not raise the full amount in 90 days, ODW and the partner will agree on a reduced project scope, and ODW will match the amount raised by the partner.  If the partner raises more than the original goal, the full amount of funds raised by the partner will be disbursed, but will not matched by ODW beyond the original match amount.

ODW does not take any percentage of funds raised through matching grant campaigns. We are a 100% model organization, which means 100% of funds raised go directly to projects on the ground. However, there is a transaction fee for credit cards of 3-6% depending on card type. Donors can choose to cover this fee as they are donating or they may choose to write a check to ODW to avoid the fee.

At this time we cannot guarantee any personalized information on applications that are denied. If you wish to re-apply, we ask that you wait at least 1 year to submit another grant application.