3M
OVERVIEW: 3M’s grantmaking supports STEM education, skilled trades, clean energy, community needs and humanitarian aid in areas where 3M operates.
IP TAKE: 3M shuttered its philanthropic foundation in 2022 and now conducts all giving via the corporation. It mainly works through ongoing partnerships with large nonprofits, NGOs and signature STEM education programs. However, if your organization operates in St. Paul or one of 70 other communities where 3M is active, you are likely eligible to apply for corporate donations. This large corporate funder is not accessible or transparent, so reaching out to a local contact may actually be the best way to proceed here.
PROFILE: 3M, formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is a U.S. multinational corporation that produces a broad range of products for industrial, medical and consumer use. 3M shuttered its foundation in 2022 and has since conducted its philanthropic giving through the company. 3M’s Community Investment program aims to “advance human progress and deliver a bright future through social investments and thoughtful engagement of 3Mers worldwide.” Its three stated focus areas are Stem and Skilled Trades Education, Climate Change and Circular Economy and Hometown Needs. In addition to its corporate giving, 3M runs volunteer and matching donations programs.
Grants for STEM Education and Workforce Development
3M’s STEM and Skilled Trade Education giving area recently pledged to “create 5 million STEM and skilled trades learning experiences designed to inspire curiosity, improve educational outcomes and provide transformational opportunities for underrepresented individuals” through 2025. Parallel to this goal is an commitment of $50 million to address “racial opportunity gaps in the U.S. through workforce development and STEM education initiatives.”
- This initiative borrows a framework from the London Benchmarking Group, which names inspiration, improvement and transformation that “lead to a direct positive and enduring change in an individual’s circumstances” as goals.
- 3M partners with Ecotone Analytics to evaluate the effectiveness of its STEM investments and maximize impact.
- Grantee partners include DoSomething’s STEM Works for Me campaign and the First global robotics community.
- A significant portion of this work is conducted through signature 3M programs like the 3M Manufacturing and Academic Partnership Program, which “connect students to careers in manufacturing through partnerships with local high schools and community colleges. Other signature programs are the 3M Visiting Wizards classroom program, 3M TWIST, a summer research program for teachers working in science and technology, and 3M STEP, which an applied science opportunity for St. Paul public high school students.
Grants for Climate Change and Clean Energy
3m’s Climate Change and Circular Economy program expanded from 3M’s previous focus on more general environmental grantmaking. This program makes grants and organizes 3M volunteer efforts to “foster[…] sustainable communities and addresses environmental inequities.” Areas of specific focus include:
- Natural Climate Solutions including land management, emissions reduction and efforts to promote community resiliency;
- Accelerating Renewable Energy transitions; and
- Initiatives for Waste and Plastic recycling, including infrastructure expansion in underserved areas and support for “waste collectors’ livelihoods.”
Grantee partners in this work include the American Forest Foundation’s Family Forest Carbon Program, the World Resources Institute’s Energy Access Explorer program and Plastic Bank, which “builds recycling ecosystems in under-developed communities in an effort to fight both plastic pollution in oceans, as well as high poverty levels.”
Grants for Housing, Food Security and Community Development
3M’s Hometown Needs program works in the St. Paul, Minnesota, where the company is based, as well as 70 communities across the U.S. Giving focuses on “local organizations that know the needs of their communities best,” but the program names hunger and basic needs as main areas of focus. Grantee partners include Feeding America, the Kids in Need Foundation and St. Paul Public Schools.
Grants for Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Aid
3M is committed to supporting communities around the world experiencing disasters or hardship. A significant portion of 3Ms humanitarian giving consists of production donations, including first aid supplies, respirators and protective gear manufactured by the company. 3M mainly collaborates with large NGOs in this work. Past partners include Direct Relief and MAP International.
Important Grantmaking Details:
3M conducts its philanthropic giving internally through the corporation, making it difficult to know the size of its grants.
- This funder primarily awards grants to organizations located in areas in which 3M has a business presence.
- 3M appears to partner with large NGOs and nonprofits. It also runs signature programs for STEM education and career development.
- 3M indicates that it does not accept applications for its grants, but organizations may apply for donations via the 3M Gives application portal.
- For information about 3Ms grantee partners, explore links on its Our Communities page or the company’s 3M Impact page.
This funder does not provide a direct way to get in touch. Information about contacting the 3M corporation is available here.
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