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Make Your In-Kind Donations Go Twice as Far

Supporting Survivors at First Step Through Matching Grants

Why In-Kind Donations Matter for Matching Grants

In-kind donations—items like clothing, hygiene products, household goods, and other essentials are a critical part of how we care for survivors at First Step. But their value goes beyond immediate needs.

Many of the grants we rely on require a “match”—meaning we must show that our community is also investing in our mission, either through financial donations or the fair market value of in-kind contributions.

Here’s Why this Matters:

🟣 Eligibility for Grants: Some grant funders will only award funds if we can show that we've          secured a certain amount of support from other sources.

🟣 Meeting Match Requirements: If a grant requires a 1:1 match and we receive $5,000 worth       of donated goods (with documented value), that can be used to "match" $5,000 in grant           funding.

🟣 Maximizing Impact: Your donated items allow us to dedicate more cash resources to                 essential services like housing, counseling, advocacy, and case management—while         still meeting funder requirements.

By simply telling us what you’ve donated and its estimated value, you help First Step access more funding—and help more survivors.

How It Works: 

Many of the grants we receive are matching grants, which means we must show an equal value of community support to receive the full funding. In-kind donations can count toward this match—but only if we know their value. 

 

What We Ask: 

When making an in-kind donation, please include:

  • A brief itemized list of what you're donating

  • The estimated fair market value of each item

  • Your name and contact information (optional, for acknowledgment)

**Refer to the links below for fair market value of items 

BLANK JOURNALS

BLANKETS/THROWS

BLEACH

BODY WASH

CANNED FOOD 

CERAL

CLEANERS

COMFORTERS (TWIN) 

CONDITIONER 

DISH SOAP

DISINFECTANT WIPES

FABRIC SOFTENER

FEMININE PRODUCTS

GARBAGE BAGS

(8,13,30 GAL)

GIFT CARDS

(KROGER, WALMART)

COFFEE

SMALL TRASH CANS

LAUNDRY SOAP

LOTION

PAPER PLATES

PAPER TOWELS

PEROXIDE

PILLOWCASES (WHITE)

PIN SOL

PLUG INS and REFILLS 

SHAMPOO

SWIFTER WET PADS, SOLUTION REFILLS

TOILET PAPER

TOWLES AND WASH CLOTHS

TWIN SIZE SHEETS (WHITE)

NEEDS LIST 

When you shop our Amazon Wishlist, you're helping us provide exactly what our residents need—quickly and efficiently. These items go directly to survivors and families in our care, making their stay more comfortable and helping them rebuild with dignity.

It's one of the easiest and most impactful ways to support our mission. Thank you for standing with survivors!

Support Our Cause
Leave a one-time donation
$

Thank you for helping us make a difference!

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If you are in immediate danger please call 911, for assistance with emergency shelter call our hotline at 

419-435-7300  

Or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7300

Emailinfo@firststepweb.org

Phone(419) 435-7300

Registered Charity: 34-1376773

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