Walmart Foundation: State Giving Program

Posted by on July 23, 2012

Walmart Foundation Accepting Applications for State Giving Program
Deadline: August 10, 2012

Through the State Giving Program, the Walmart Foundation supports organizations with programs that align with the foundation’s mission to create opportunities for people to live better.

The State Giving Program awards grants starting at $25,000 to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations that serve a particular state or region. State Advisory Councils made up of local Walmart associates represent each state, including Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. The State Advisory Councils determine needs within each state, review all eligible grant applications, and make funding recommendations to the foundation.

The foundation has adopted four areas of focus: Education — addressing the educational needs of underserved young people between the ages of 12 and 25; Workforce — development/economic opportunity, providing job readiness and skills training as well as support services for workers with low to moderate skills; Environmental sustainability — promoting production systems that sustain people and the environment by reducing waste and promoting energy efficiency and the use of renewable resources; and Health and wellness — improving access to healthcare, reducing healthcare disparities, and promoting nutrition. Programs that do not align with the four areas of focus will not be considered.

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation made a $2 billion commitment through 2015 to hunger relief efforts in the United States in order to support the record one in six Americans who do not know where their next meal is coming from. As hunger relief is now an integral part of the foundation’s work, the foundation seeks to fund initiatives that integrate hunger relief into the four main focus areas. Additional areas of focus are women’s economic empowerment and veterans.

Only organizations with current tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code are eligible to request funding. (Organizations must be listed in the most current IRS 50 State Master File at the time the grant request is submitted.)

The State Giving Program is accepting applications through August 10, 2012. (Please note: Organizations in northwest Arkansas should apply to the Northwest Arkansas Giving Program, which accepts applications year round.)

Complete program guidelines, an FAQ, and the online application form are available at the Walmart Web site.

http://www.walmartstores.com/CommunityGiving/8168.aspx?p=8979