Staples Corporate Responsibility
OVERVIEW: Office supply retailer Staples supports K-12 education and job skills training in the 24 countries in which it operates through its corporate responsibility program, local donations and supply drives.
IP TAKE: Staples typically supports programs with in-kind donations of supplies and technology instead of monetary funding, so grantseekers looking for financial support will be at a disadvantage here. Also, non-profit organizations must be nominated by a local Staples associate and deemed eligible for application, so network with your local Staples manager to get on this radar. This is not an accessible foundation, requiring grantseekers to locate a hard-copy application in person, but the more nominations you receive from employees, the more likely you are to get noticed.
PROFILE: Headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts the Staples Foundation was established in 2002 by the office supply retail giant, Staples. It seeks to “teach, train and inspire people from all walks of life by providing educational and growth opportunities.” Staples supports education, youth, and work and opportunity through two giving programs, the We Care donation program and Cause Marketing initiative, and its charitable foundation.
Grants for K-12 Education
Staples does not dedicate a specific program to K-12 education, preferring a broad approach to grantmaking. It awards over $2 million each year to charitable organizations in the 24 countries where the retailer operates. Separately, Staples stores run the We Care and Cause Marketing donation programs, which are organized by local store management. This funder prioritizes organizations in which Staples employees are involved and organizations recommended to the program by Staples associates. Grants are awarded in amounts up to $25,000. Past grantees include City Year, Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, Save the Children and Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada.
Grants for Work and Opportunity
The Staples Foundation We Care and Cause Marketing philanthropy supports job skills programs that provide services such as “job training/placement, resume building, interview skills, career exploration,” as well as education efforts such as “schools, GED program, mentoring, tutoring, college preparation.” On the local level, requests for donations of supplies and technology from organizations are evaluated by store management. The retailer also supports education through school supply and technology drives throughout the U.S. and Canada. Grantees include Year Up, CitiWide Computer Training Center, and Literacy Volunteers of Morris County.
Other Grant Programs
Staples also operates a few programs that support their employees during times of need. “The Cause for Caring fund and U.S. Retail Share Fund are maintained through both employee and corporate contributions and can be accessed by employees experiencing financial hardship during “qualifying events like natural disasters, housing assistance, funerals, domestic abuse and other circumstances beyond their control.”
Important Grant Details:
Grants may range up to $25,000. Initial grant application is only available through nomination by one or more Staples associates, who help applicants establish eligibility. The Staples website provides information about retailer location and invites potential grantees to email questions to its community team. See past partners and grantees here.
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