Name of Foundation: Walmart Foundation
Location: Bentonville, AR
Contact info: http://foundation.walmart.com/ Phone: 1- 800-530-9925
Coverage Area: National
Subject Area: Hunger relief, environment, women’s empowerment programs, career opportunities, veterans, disaster relief
Assets: $21.1 million (2013)
Last Year Total Giving: $182 million (2013)
In a nutshell:
The Walmart Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Walmart Corporation. The underlying focus of all the foundation’s work is empowering low-income people to live better. The foundation has a number of priority program areas including nutrition, environmental issues, Women’s Economic Empowerment and career development.
In September 2012, the foundation began the Fighting Hunger Together campaign – a $2 billion cash and in-kind commitment through 2015 to fight hunger in America. This initiative funds summer and after school nutrition programs, as well as supporting hunger relief organizations at the local, state and national levels.
The foundation also supports sustainability efforts. This area encompasses preservation of the environment, education around conservation, and helping farmers grow food in more sustainable ways. The foundation has invested in local efforts, especially in the American South to support local farmers by increasing local economic opportunities and preserve natural resources.
Women’s Economic Empowerment established as a Walmart global priority in 2011, includes providing more training, market access and career opportunities to nearly 1 million women, many on farms and in factories. The Walmart Foundation also supports many initiatives that provide career opportunities through job training and placement, career advice and greater access to the resources needed to increase self-sufficiency.
Finally, the foundation also funds special interests which include programs for veterans and their families, focusing on charitable giving and career development for returning servicemen. The foundation also funds disaster relief efforts, such as helping the residents of Oklahoma meet their basic needs after the 2013 tornado.
Major Programs:
Hunger Relief & Healthy Eating
Sustainability
Women’s Economic Empowerment
Career Opportunity.
How to Apply:
There are several funding tracks within the foundation’s grantmaking process.
The National Giving Program which Awards grants of $250,000 and above. Eligible nonprofit organizations must operate on a national scope through chapters/affiliates in many states around the country or through programs that operate regionally/locally but seek funding to replicate program activities nationally.
The State Giving Program awards grants of $25,000 to $250,000. Nonprofit organizations must operate on a regional/ state level or be affiliates/ chapters of larger organizations that operate on the regional/ state level.
The Community Grant Program awards grants ranging from $250 to $2,500 through each of the Walmart facilities (Walmart Stores, Sam’s Clubs, and Logistics Facilities). Eligible nonprofit organizations must operate on the local level (or be an affiliate/chapter of a larger organization that operates locally) and directly benefit the service area of the facility from which they are requesting funding.
The Northwest Arkansas Giving Program awards grants of $10,000 and above. Nonprofit organizations must operate in Benton or Washington Counties of Northwest Arkansas.
For each grant program, applicants must take an online eligibility quiz. Following the eligibility quiz, organizations will be able to submit a letter of inquiry (LOI). Following review of your LOI, a grant administrator will contact your organization via e-mail to confirm the status. If Walmart or the Walmart Foundation is interested in pursuing your request, a full proposal requesting additional information will be invited. Funding decisions are made on an ongoing basis; there are no deadlines.
Click here to learn more the foundation’s grantmaking process.
News and Grant Activity:
Walmart Foundation Funds College Access and Career Readiness Programs