Managing Grants

Your grant balance represents the tutoring or advising hours available to you. Understanding how grants work helps you plan your preparation effectively.

What is a Grant?

A grant is credit on your account:

  • Created when you purchase a package
  • Measured in hours or sessions
  • Consumed as you work with providers
  • May expire after a period (check your terms)

Viewing Your Balance

On Your Dashboard

Your dashboard prominently shows:

  • Total available balance
  • Breakdown by service type (if applicable)
  • Hours currently held for relationships

In Your Profile

More detailed view:

  • Purchase history
  • Usage over time
  • Individual grant details

Understanding Your Balance

Balance Components

Your balance has parts:

ComponentMeaning
TotalAll purchased hours
UsedHours consumed in sessions
HeldHours reserved for active relationships
AvailableWhat you can use for new matches

Example

Total purchased: 10 hours
Used in sessions: 3 hours
Held for provider: 4 hours
Available: 3 hours

How Hours Are Used

Session Consumption

When you complete a session:

  1. Provider logs the session
  2. Duration is recorded
  3. Hours deducted from your relationship allocation
  4. Your "used" total increases

Revision Consumption

For document reviews:

  • Each revision consumes time
  • Fixed or variable amount
  • Deducted when provider completes review

Real-Time Updates

Your balance updates:

  • After each session is logged
  • When relationships are created (holds)
  • When relationships end (unused released)

Grant Holds

When matched with a provider:

What Happens

  • Hours allocated to that relationship
  • Those hours become "held"
  • Available for other relationships decreases
  • Ensures hours exist for your provider

Seeing Holds

Your balance shows:

  • Which relationships have holds
  • How many hours each

When Holds Release

Holds release when:

  • Relationship completes (unused returns)
  • Relationship is cancelled
  • Relationship is declined

Running Low on Hours

Low Balance Warnings

The system alerts you when:

  • Balance drops below threshold
  • Approaching zero
  • Relationship allocation running out

What to Do

When balance is low:

  1. Plan remaining sessions carefully
  2. Decide whether to purchase more
  3. Communicate with provider
  4. Prioritize most important work

Adding More Hours

Purchasing Additional Package

To add more hours:

  1. Visit the Matchpal shop
  2. Select a package
  3. Complete purchase
  4. Hours added automatically

Package Options

Common choices:

  • Same package you bought before
  • Different size for different needs
  • Combination packages if available

After Purchase

Once purchased:

  • Grant created on your account
  • Balance increases
  • Existing relationships continue
  • Can allocate to new relationships

Service Type Restrictions

Single-Type Grants

Some grants are for one service only:

  • "Tutoring hours" for tutoring
  • "Advising hours" for advising
  • Cannot be used for the other type

Multi-Type Grants

Some grants work for either:

  • "Combination" or "Universal" packages
  • Use for tutoring or advising
  • Flexibility in how you use them

Checking Your Grant Type

Your balance shows:

  • Which service types available
  • Amounts per type
  • Any restrictions

Expiration

Time-Limited Grants

Some grants expire:

  • Valid for specific period (e.g., 1 year)
  • Unused hours lost at expiration
  • Check your terms for details

Approaching Expiration

You'll be notified:

  • When expiration approaches
  • Remaining time shown
  • Use or lose reminder

Extension

If you need more time:

  • Contact support
  • Explain your situation
  • Extensions may be possible (policy-dependent)

Troubleshooting

Balance Seems Wrong

If your balance looks incorrect:

  • Review session history
  • Check for recent sessions logged
  • Verify holds make sense
  • Contact support if unexplained

Can't Create Relationship

If you can't be matched:

  • Check available balance
  • Existing holds may use available
  • May need to purchase more

Grant Not Appearing

If purchased grant isn't showing:

  • Check email confirmation
  • Verify purchase completed
  • Wait briefly for processing
  • Contact support if not appearing

Tips for Managing Grants

Plan Ahead

  • Know your timeline
  • Estimate hours needed
  • Purchase appropriately
  • Buffer for unexpected needs

Track Usage

  • Monitor after each session
  • Know where you stand
  • Adjust plans as needed

Communicate

  • Tell provider your balance constraints
  • Plan session count together
  • Make hours count

Don't Wait Until Zero

  • Purchase before running out
  • Avoid gaps in preparation
  • Maintain momentum

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund for unused hours?

Check the refund policy. Generally:

  • Unused hours may be refundable
  • Process depends on policy
  • Contact support for specifics

Can I transfer hours to someone else?

Typically no—grants are tied to your account. Contact support for special circumstances.

What if I need a different service type?

If you have tutoring hours but need advising (or vice versa):

  • Contact support
  • Transfers may be possible
  • Or purchase the service you need

Do hours roll over if I buy more?

Yes, new purchases add to your balance. Existing hours don't disappear when you buy more.

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