OVERVIEW: The Saint-Gobain Foundation supports housing, community development, and STEM education efforts in the communities where its parent company operates.
IP TAKE: This is a corporate funder that makes modest grants to community-based organizations in areas where it has a business or manufacturing presence. Like many corporate funders, it does not provide very detailed information about its priorities or strategies on its website. It’s accessible for a corporate funder, but not particularly approachable. However, network with a company employee for direct employee support.
PROFILE: The Saint-Gobain Foundation is the charitable arm of the North American branch of Saint-Gobain, a multinational manufacturer of construction and high-performance materials headquartered outside of Paris, France. Saint-Gobain is dedicated to “strengthening the foundations of our communities through national grants, community outreach and direct employee support. It makes Direct Grants, Community Grants, and Employee Matching Gifts in three primary focus areas: STEM education, habitat, and local communities.
Grants for Housing and Community Development
Saint-Gobain’s local communities grantmaking supports “community development” programs, especially in the area of housing, while habitat grants are concerned with “interaction between people, buildings and the environment or sustainable building,” namely “energy conservation and environmental concern.” Saint-Gobain makes both monetary and material in-kind donations to community building projects that aim for sustainability and environmentally conscious construction. Saint-Gobain also offers Community/Plant Grants, which originate from each of its facilities in the United States and are intended to “contribute to the development of the community in which it operates.”
Grants for STEM Education
Saint-Gobain’s Direct Grants program supports schools and non-profit organizations that promote STEM education in communities where Saint-Gobain has a business presence. It is especially interested in “blue-collar and non-traditional STEM programs.” Grantees include Phoenixville Community Education Foundation, Wayne Hills High School, Teach for America, Hillside School, and Meridian Freedom Project.
Grants for Humanitarian Relief
The Saint-Gobain Foundation offers an Employee Emergency Assistance Program for “unexpected circumstances such as a national disaster, military deployment, or other qualifying events.” These grants are available only to current or retired employees of Saint-Gobain and their families.
Important Grant Details:
Grants generally range from $1,000 to $10,000. Saint-Gobain does not provide detailed information about its grantmaking priorities and strategy on its website.
The foundation accepts unsolicited proposals through its website. Grantseekers should confirm their eligibility by consulting the company’s location map before applying.
PEOPLE:
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