Acceptable Match Sources & Verification Documentation

Gates Library Grant Initiative: Opportunity Online Hardware Grant Program

Opportunity Online hardware grant funds will be distributed to participating libraries through the state intermediary contingent upon the libraries securing matching dollars over the term of the two-phase grant—25 percent in phase one and 50 percent in phase two.

The purpose of the match is to use the foundation’s grant dollars as a way to leverage and acquire additional local funding for free technology access in libraries—preferably in the form of a sustainable library budget item.

Acceptable sources of this match include:

  • New monies derived from successful local and/or state advocacy efforts allocated to the technology line item in library budgets (exclusive of federal LSTA monies passed via the state to a local library system)
  • Existing library technology budget funds generated from previous, successful advocacy efforts at the local and/or state level
  • Nongovernmental donations or grants (e.g. private donors, community foundation grants, local business sponsors, etc)
  • Monies derived from fundraising efforts (e.g. book sales, library fundraisers, etc)

Reminder: A library cannot use the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant dollars to replace existing funds (supplant) previously committed to a library technology budget.

Acceptable proof of acquired matching funds includes the following:

  • Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) from the appropriate official or agency overseeing the library budget
  • Council or library board resolution committing funds
  • Letter of commitment from a nongovernmental resource such as:
    • Foundations
    • Corporations
    • Friends groups
    • Private donors

All match verification documents should include the following information:

  • Amount of funding commitment
  • Source of commitment including name, affiliation, and contact information for the committing organization and/or person
  • Signature(s) of the person(s) committing the funds
  • Date of commitment and when funds will be disbursed
  • Library for which the funding commitment is intended
  • A statement that ensures the committed dollars will not supplant local funds already dedicated for the library or computer workstations
About the Initiative
State Partnership Grant
Library Training Program Grant
Staying Connected 1
Staying Connected 2
Rural Library Sustainability Project
Spanish Language Outreach Program
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Last Updated: June 26, 2009