Company Grants

State Farm® is committed to meeting the needs of our communities by focusing our giving in three areas: Safe Neighbors (safety), Strong Neighborhoods (community development), and Education Excellence (education). In addition, there's limited funding available to meet community-based needs.

Grant requests for local initiatives are considered by State Farm field offices. Each office determines the types of grants (outlined below) it will fund, based on available funding.

Safe Neighbors (safety)

State Farm values the importance of keeping our neighbors safe. Our funding is directed to:

• Improving driver, vehicle, and roadway safety
• Shielding homes from fires, criminals, and natural disasters
• Supporting disaster preparedness programs and recovery services
• Enhancing personal financial security

Strong Neighborhoods (community development)

Communities are the foundation and lifeblood of society. The condition of available housing and services greatly affects the quality of life for residents and the stability of the community. State Farm is committed to helping maintain the vibrancy and culture of neighborhoods in various communities throughout the U.S. and Canada. We demonstrate this commitment by supporting nonprofit organizations' programs that:

• Make housing affordable
• Promote first-time homeownership
• Eliminate barriers to homeownership
• Educate homebuyers about insurance, loss mitigation, and homeownership
• Foster sustainable communities
• Rehabilitate neighborhoods or communities
  

K-12 Public Schools

The following types of grants for K-12 Public Schools will be considered:

• Teacher excellence programs that improve teacher quality
  
  
• Service-Learning programs that integrate core classroom curriculum with service to the community
  
  
• Programs that incorporate the Systemic Improvement criteria into education systems to improve overall effectiveness

(More information about State Farm's K-12 Service-Learning and Baldrige initiatives is located in Education Excellence.)

A State Farm field office may support grants for a designated college or university.

Eligible organizations

State Farm makes charitable contributions to nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, Canadian charitable organizations, educational institutions, and governmental entities.

In general, grants are awarded for specific programs in the giving categories described above.

Restrictions

State Farm does not fund:

• Organizations that are not a governmental entity, a stable nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a diverse funding base, an educational institution, or a Canadian charitable organization
• Individuals seeking personal help or scholarships
• Religious programs
• Politically partisan programs
• Organizations outside the U.S. and Canada

Guidelines for requesting grants

State Farm uses the following criteria when reviewing requests for charitable contributions:

• Is the organization a governmental entity, an educational institution, a stable nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a diverse funding base, or a Canadian charitable organization?
  
  
• Does the program meet a community need that falls within our focus areas (Safe Neighbors/safety, Strong Neighborhoods/community development, or Education Excellence/education)?
  
  
• Does the program yield measurable results for participants?
  
  
• Does the program offer volunteer opportunities for State Farm associates?

How to request a grant

One proposal per organization per year will be considered if it meets the guidelines outlined. (This should include all of an organization's needs for a 12-month period.) In addition, organizations need to provide the following supporting documents:

• Name, address, and telephone number of the organization
  
  
• Contact person and title
  
  
• *Background information, including history and purpose of the organization
  
  
• A copy of the IRS exemption letter verifying 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or sufficient documentation verifying a governmental entity or educational institution
  
  
• Detailed description of the program we are being asked to support, including the number of people it will reach
  
  
• *Most recent audited financial statement
  
  
• *Current operating budget and sources of income

(*These questions do not apply if this request is for a school.)

In addition to the above, the proposal must address the following questions:

• What is the purpose and objective(s) of the program?
  
  
• Does the program meet a community need that falls within our focus areas (Safe Neighbors/safety, Strong Neighborhoods/community development, or Education Excellence/education)?
  
  
• How many participants will benefit from our contribution if we make one? (Please give an approximate number if necessary.)
  
  
• What is the amount of the request and what time period does it cover (e.g., six months or one year)?
  
  
• What is the total funding required for this project or program? Who are the other funding sources, including the amount they've contributed or committed?
  
  
• What specifically is State Farm being asked to support? Please submit an itemized budget.
  
  
• How will the program yield measurable results for participants? If the program is new, what does the organization plan to measure to determine these results? (These results will be needed to consider future funding.)

Grant requests must be submitted in writing on the requesting organization's letterhead. Telephone and e-mail solicitations cannot be considered. Grant proposals can be submitted to the appropriate State Farm office nearest you, attention: Public Affairs, GNC Coordinator.

Proposals are accepted year-round and are reviewed in a timely manner. However, approval time depends on the requesting amount and completeness of the proposal.

The State Farm corporate office also provides funding for our Safe Neighborhoods, Strong Neighborhoods, and Education Excellence initiatives that are national in scope.

Questions?

For more information or questions, please contact the State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship® team.