The Walmart Foundation is dedicated to improving people’s lives one neighbourhood at a time. Its goal is to provide opportunities for people to improve their living conditions. It accomplishes this through funding to hundreds of like-minded groups and the volunteer work of Walmart employees. The Walmart Foundation and Walmart donated approximately $1.4 billion in cash during the 2016 fiscal year, while associates volunteered 1.25 million hours of their time.
All of these efforts are geared toward three main goals: community, opportunity, and sustainability. Walmart gives grants to nonprofits all throughout the world including Walmart Grants for Single Mothers. Many of these groups focus on feeding the hungry, empowering women in business, and promoting sustainability.
Walmart Grants for Single Mothers
Stores, Clubs, and Distribution Centres
Each year, local cash prizes ranging from $250 to $5,000 are awarded by Walmart’s U.S. businesses and clubs. These community grants are tailored to meet the specific requirements of the communities in which they serve. Animal shelters, elder care, and neighbourhood clean-up efforts are among the organisations represented. Walmart stores and clubs contributed more than $45 million in local donations in 2021.
Volunteerism Always Pays (VAP)
When colleagues volunteer, Walmart assists local NGOs. Associates can apply to Charities Aid Foundation America (CAFA), a donor-advised fund, for a matching grant from the Walmart Spark Fund for Charities. Only associates who have volunteered at approved U.S. charitable organisations are eligible to apply.
AGP (Associate Giving Program)
This initiative allows Walmart associates to help qualifying organisations by donating to the Walmart Spark Fund for Charities at Charities Aid Foundation America (CAFA), a donor advised fund, by credit card, debit card, or payroll deduction.
Welcoming America
Welcoming America’s plan to bring large, national organisations together to coordinate actions and messaging to promote inclusiveness was endorsed by Walmart.org. Welcome America is a nonprofit that works with government and nonprofit partners to make their communities more welcoming to all people.
Following the success of the first programme, two grants in 2019 provided assets for further relationship development and resources to execute a coordinated mobilisation effort that encouraged expanded inclusion in communities across the country.
Veterans and Military Families Grantee Spotlight
Results are multiplied when organisations, corporations, and government agencies collaborate to create, administer, and evaluate veteran programmes. These efforts benefit not only veterans and military families, but entire communities as well.
WoVeN
The first funding, which ended in 2018, established the Women Veterans Network (WoVeN), which is a national network of structured, trained-peer-facilitated, 8-week support groups for female Veterans. Following this successful debut, a 2019 funding enabled the expansion of existing WoVeN groups as well as the deployment of train-the-trainer workshops in order to broaden WoVeN’s reach.
In-Store Marketing
Cause marketing efforts in-store, such as Fight Hunger. Spark Change, create awareness by involving employees and customers. Fight Hunger and Spark Change. has generated more than $100 million to help Feeding America’s food banks distribute meals to individuals in need since 2014.
Putting Walmart space to good use
Outside of Walmart facilities, Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs give space for organisations to use for fundraising or awareness campaigns. For example, since 1996, walmart.org has partnered with the Salvation Army in their Red Kettle Campaign, collecting donations in front of stores and clubs.
The red kettles were stationed in front of Walmarts during the 2020 holiday season, and customers who purchased on Walmart.com and in the Walmart app could round up their purchases to the nearest dollar and donate their change to the Salvation Army. Customers at Walmart and Sam’s Club donated approximately $45 million in cash and in-kind presents, benefiting over 1 million children and families.
Registry for Good
Using Registry for Good, recognised NGOs may construct tailored lists of essential products, including gift cards, and share these lists with their contributors, much like they would with a wedding or baby registry.
Walmart delivers things purchased through a nonprofit’s registry straight to the organisation, minimising the time and effort required to set up collecting sites and retrieve donations. Many groups will find Registry for Good to be an invaluable resource, particularly those who have been forced to move their traditional collection drives online owing to COVID-19.
Conclusion
Walmart.org supports work directly related to their philanthropic strategies and geographic focus. For others, Walmart publishes requests for proposals (RFPs), accepts concept notes, or also has an open application process. Requirements vary, so it’s important to review eligibility requirements and program guidelines before starting your application.