FundMatch Grant Program

FundMatch is administered by the Western U.S. Agricultural Trade Association, a nonprofit organization that works with western state departments of agriculture to increase exports of U.S. food and agricultural products and strengthen the region's agricultural economy. WUSATA states that it is funded by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, member-state dues, and administrative fees paid by participating companies. FundMatch is designed for eligible Western U.S. food and agricultural suppliers seeking to enter new international markets, expand existing market share, and extend their international marketing budgets. The program reimburses 50 percent of eligible international marketing costs incurred for approved activities during the program year. Eligible companies must be headquartered in the WUSATA region: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming. Applicants must qualify as a small business or agricultural cooperative under applicable U.S. Small Business Administration standards based on NAICS, including affiliates, and must be a legal, independently owned and operated U.S. business that has operated for at least one year. Products generally must be value-added or processed agricultural products and contain at least 50 percent U.S. agricultural content by weight, excluding water, packaging, and minerals including salt. Eligible ingredients must be farmed, fished, or forested in the United States. Products promoted internationally must also meet applicable U.S. origin statement requirements. Products containing CBD are not eligible. For the 2026 program year, annual reimbursement requests range from $2,500 to $750,000 for applicants with at least one prior year in FundMatch, while first-year applicants may request between $2,500 and $50,000. Companies may receive up to $750,000 total across MAP, RAPP, and AFTPP funding sources, subject to funding availability. FundMatch is a 50 percent cost-reimbursement program, meaning participating companies bear the other 50 percent of eligible marketing costs. The supplied program page also states that a minimum $5,000 marketing budget is required for a $2,500 reimbursement. Eligible activities include qualifying advertising, online and social media promotion, international-focused website production, in-store demonstrations and displays, qualifying label and packaging modifications, sample shipments, international trade seminars and promotional events, international trade shows, approved outbound trade missions, qualifying international travel, and certain domestic trade activities. Detailed eligibility and documentation requirements vary by activity. Applicants use MyWUSATA to complete the process. Before beginning, companies should have a Dun and Bradstreet number and NAICS code. The application includes contact profiles with an Authorized Signer and Claims Contact, company information, product information, marketing plans for each country where reimbursement is requested, and final certification. Supporting materials include product calculation sheets and product packaging or labels, and a Certificate of Exclusivity is required when the applicant does not own the promoted brand. The application fee is $300 when applying before January 1 and $350 beginning January 1. Once an application is submitted, the FundMatch Manager generally reviews it within one week. Missing information results in an incomplete application, while receipt and approval of required information results in Eligible status. After approval, participants receive an invoice for a 6 percent administration fee based on requested funding and must electronically execute the program-year contract. Applications are closed if the invoice and contract are not completed within 30 days of issuance. Application approval is required before promotional activities begin, except for specifically permitted prepaid booth and travel costs, and the activity country must be included in the approved marketing plan. Marketing plans and funding amendments are to be requested before conducting the affected activity, while the guide states that product amendments may be completed after the activity. Reimbursement claims normally must be submitted within 60 calendar days after completion of each eligible activity. Claims submitted after that deadline receive Late Submission status and are reviewed at year-end only if funds remain available. Claim documentation generally includes invoices, proof of payment, and proof that the activity occurred, with additional documentation depending on activity type. Participating companies must retain original program records for five years after the program year ends and make them available to authorized U.S. Government officials upon request. The 2026 program year runs from January 1 through December 31, 2026, and the guide states that applications opened October 1, 2025. The mandatory end-of-year survey becomes available January 1, 2027 and is due February 28, 2027; February 28, 2027 is also identified as the last day for claim submission. Completion of the survey is required, and reimbursements or future funding may be withheld until it is submitted. FundMatch operates on an annual application cycle, with companies required to apply annually before promotional activities. WUSATA provides program assistance through export@wusata.org and the telephone number (360) 693-3373; the guide also directs certain FundMatch pre-approval requests to fundmatch@wusata.org.

Apply and obtain WUSATA approval before conducting promotional activities; include each reimbursement country in an approved marketing plan; ensure eligible international promotional materials and activities display the brand name and required valid U.S. origin statement; submit required amendments before activities where applicable; complete the contract and 6% administration-fee invoice within 30 days of issuance; retain invoices, proof of payment and proof of activity needed for reimbursement claims; submit claims within 60 calendar days after activity completion