One World was founded in 2000 by Bay Area residents, Shanti Cliff, Patricia 'Savitri' Burbank and Michael Kilgroe, who, while traveling in India, were inspired by the dedication of local organizations working to pull their own communities out of extreme poverty. When they returned home, they founded One World as a means to support the locally-led work they witnessed by grassroots organizations.
Nearly two decades later, One World continues to help grassroots organizations overcome language, geographic, technological, and financial barriers to accessing philanthropic aid.