In 2009, Eugene and Minhee Cho initiated a significant endeavor by donating their family’s entire year of wages to support global poverty alleviation. This philanthropic act laid the groundwork for creating One Day’s Wages, an organization with a distinct approach that sets it apart from other charitable initiatives. Instead of launching new programs, One Day’s Wages operates as a funding source for existing grassroots organizations actively involved in practical poverty alleviation efforts within their communities.

The Process

One Day’s Wages’ mission centers around recognizing that local organizations often encounter resource limitations and constrained fundraising capabilities. To tackle this challenge, One Day’s Wages utilizes a rigorous vetting process to identify suitable organizations and furnishes them with essential funding to advance their ongoing work. Through this collaborative approach, One Day’s Wages has invested almost $10 million in over 280 projects with various organizations worldwide.

A notable facet of the organization is its emphasis on individual contributions. It encourages individuals to dedicate their birthdays or significant life events, such as weddings, as opportunities to rally their networks to donate to One Day’s Wages instead of traditional gifts. This collaborative endeavor underscores the organization’s fundamental message: that collective action can bring about substantial change in global poverty.

A pivotal element of One Day’s Wages model is the direct allocation of 100% of funds to its partner organizations. This approach ensures that every donated dollar directly aids communities in need. To cover operational costs, One Day’s Wages hosts an annual gala in Seattle, with the funds raised exclusively designated for administrative expenses. This mechanism guarantees that all other fundraising initiatives throughout the year contribute directly to the projects.

The Principles of One Day’s Wages 

The Cho family’s steadfast belief in the prospect of eradicating extreme global poverty forms the bedrock of One Day’s Wages’ mission. They assert that while money is essential, it is not a standalone solution. “The greatest resources are people,” writes One Day’s Wages. “Our voices matter. Our donations do make an impact when invested properly through organizations that are transparent, efficient, and strategic in not creating dependency but rather, creating opportunities and empowerment.”

One Day’s Wages’ approach has significantly evolved with the inclusion of accepting Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) for matching grants. These grants support locally-led, community-based organizations that do not have a Western-based branch, board, or network of donors. Partners must raise a portion of the grant funds and One Day’s Wages matches these contributions dollar for dollar, primarily through a 1:1 matching system. This approach ensures that local organizations are recipients of support while they actively contribute to their projects.

One Day’s Wages has significantly impacted, investing around $9,781,234 in collaboration with grassroots partners to implement 285 projects to alleviate poverty. These initiatives have directly benefited 1,239,704 individuals through their partnerships.

Some of Their Projects

One Day’s Wages has joined hands with Heartline Ministries to support a holistic maternal and infant care model in Haiti. This project addresses the unique challenges faced by vulnerable Haitian women who often lack access to quality health care. The program’s features, such as weekly prenatal care, breastfeeding support, postpartum care, medical screenings and family planning services, have made a remarkable impact. Through this partnership, Haitian women have received increased quality health care while they are empowered to make informed choices about their families and pregnancies.

In Afghanistan, maternal and infant mortality rates are alarmingly high, primarily due to the lack of access to health care facilities and a shortage of female medical personnel. One Day’s Wages, in collaboration with Action for Development (AfD), has taken a significant step towards addressing this issue. By training midwives in Kabul, Logar, Wardak and Badakhshan provinces, the project nequips these health care professionals while also fostering community-based sustainability. The “skills-gap protocol” has proven to be an effective, cost-efficient and sustainable approach that empowers local midwives to play a pivotal role in preventing maternal and infant mortality and enhancing women’s participation in the workforce.

In Zambia, where a significant portion of the population lives below the international poverty line and faces issues like malnutrition and gender-based violence, One Day’s Wages, in collaboration with Alliance for Children Everywhere, has initiated the “Graduation Approach.” This comprehensive program provides coaching and mentorship while facilitating integration into Village Savings and Loan Associations, asset transfers for income-generating activities and referrals to support services. The results have been remarkable, with many women starting businesses and achieving financial independence, significantly improving food security and empowering vulnerable families.

Conclusion 

One Day’s Wages is an organization that brings a fresh and innovative approach to addressing global poverty. By directing resources straight to grassroots organizations and promoting individual contributions, they highlight the potential of collective efforts and strategic investments to make a meaningful impact. The Chos’ unwavering belief in the fight against extreme global poverty, along with their transparent, efficient and empowering model, serves as a testament to the possibility of positive change on a worldwide scale.

– Caleb Picone
Photo: Flickr