OVERVIEW: State Farm supports safety, community development, and education in the United States.
IP TAKE: This is an approachable funder with open applications, but grantseekers should know that organizations where State Farm employees volunteer have a strong advantage. The foundation tends to fund more established organizations. While it’s accessible, this funder is not as responsive.
PROFILE: Established in 1922 and headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, State Farm is an insurance and financial services conglomerate operating mainly in the United States. Its philanthropic giving is aimed at “building safer, stronger and better educated communities.” To this end, the company invests in initiatives to make communities Safer, Stronger and Better Educated.
Separately, State Farm runs the State Farm Companies Foundation, which offers scholarships, matches employee charity donations, and donates to organizations at which its employees and retirees volunteer.
Grants for Work and Opportunity
State Farm’s Good Neighbor Citizenship program works to “build safer, stronger and better educated communities across the United States.” Community Development grants through this program support “affordable housing, first time homeowners, neighborhood revitalization, financial literacy, job training, and small business development.” Education grants support “service-learning programs that provide students opportunities to connect and apply learning skills from classroom to address unmet needs that exist in their community,” as well as education initiatives that help “underserved individuals” aged 13 or older “enroll in post-secondary education and obtain the skills and credentials they need to be successful in today’s workforce.”
Grants for Housing and Community Development
State Farm’s Stronger Communities program area is committed to “maintaining the vibrancy of our communities by assisting nonprofits that support community revitalization.” The Community Reinvestment Act funds programs related to “affordable housing,” “first time homeowners,” “community revitalization,” and “economic development.” Its National Community Relationships support similar initiatives among African-American, Asian-American, Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and LGBTQ communities. State Farm also offers community grants through its Good Neighbor Citizenship program. Community Development grants through this program support “affordable housing, first time homeowners, neighborhood revitalization, financial literacy, job training, and small business development.”
Grants for K-12 Education
State Farm’s education program prioritizes pathways for college and career success nationally and teacher development, service learning and educational reform on the local level. In Colorado, the Greeley-Evans school district has received annual support for a youth leadership forum as well as donations of technology and office furniture for its schools. State Farm also partners with large organizations such as Junior Achievement and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Important Grant Details:
Detailed information about State Farm’s individual grant values is not readily available. State Farm posts application guidelines on its website. It generally accepts applications from September to October, with decisions delivered by the end of March.
PEOPLE:
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