State Giving Program Frequently Asked Questions

Through the State Giving Program, the Foundation seeks to support programs that align with our mission to create opportunities so people can live better. The State Giving Program strives to award grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact within a state or region.

The Foundation funds organizations that address the unmet needs of people in our communities. The Foundation’s areas of focus include Education, Health & Wellness, Environmental Sustainability and Workforce Development / Economic Opportunity. The Walmart Foundation has a particular interest in supporting the following populations: veterans and military families, traditionally underserved groups, individuals with disabilities and people impacted by natural disasters.

Education – Addresses the educational needs of underserved young people ages 12-25. Examples include programs focused on high school success, access and retention of first-generation college students and adolescent literacy.

Workforce Development / Economic Opportunity – Provides job skill training, counseling and support services for unemployed, underemployed and displaced workers. Examples include career counseling services, financial literacy workshops and job readiness programs.

Health & Wellness – Improves access to healthcare, reduces healthcare disparities and promotes healthy lifestyles. Examples include food distribution programs, immunization clinics, health education organizations and personal health record technology.

Environmental Sustainability – Assists in the development or expansion of environmentally sustainable communities. Examples include energy auditing education programs, green job training, retrofitting/green building initiatives.

Yes. All eligible applications will be considered. However, the Foundation strongly encourages the submission of proposals that align with the Foundation’s four main areas of focus-- Education, Environmental Sustainability, Health & Wellness, and Workforce Development / Economic Opportunity.

The Foundation, based on a recommendation from the Virginia Advisory Council, awarded a $40,000 grant to the Virginia Association of Free Clinics (VAFC). VAFC operates 33 clinics throughout Virginia and offers free dental care to qualifying individuals without healthcare coverage. This grant funded the cost of the equipment needed to cover three dental exams for 600 patients.

No. Only requests for financial grants are eligible for support from the State Giving Program. All requests for in-kind donations (product and gift cards) should be made at your local Walmart or Sam’s Club. Decisions regarding in-kind donations are made at each facility.

The minimum amount for State Giving Program grants is $25,000. There is no maximum amount for State Giving Program grants.

No. Only organizations that are currently listed in the Internal Revenue Service's current 50 State Master File are eligible.

No. Only organizations that are currently listed in the Internal Revenue Service's current 50 State Master File are eligible.

If you believe that a system error is preventing you from submitting an application, please contact the IRS at 1-877-829-5500 and request to be added to Publication 78, also known as the 50 State Master File.

Yes. Organizations are eligible for consideration through multiple Foundation programs simultaneously.

No. Each application will only be considered during the review cycle in which it was submitted.

Yes. You can submit multiple funding requests within a funding cycle and/or fiscal year. The Foundation’s fiscal year begins each year on February 1st.

An organization may receive multiple State Giving Program grants from multiple states during the same Foundation fiscal year (February 1 – January 31). However, an organization may receive funding through one particular state only once per the Foundation’s fiscal year.

Yes.

Yes. Funding awarded in a particular state must be fully allocated within that state. The only exception to this rule is for grants awarded to organizations located in the District of Columbia. Organizations that serve the Greater D.C. metro area—this includes regions within the metro area that are physically located in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, are eligible to submit a funding application to be considered by the Foundation and the District of Columbia Advisory Council. If funding is awarded by the Foundation, all funds must be fully allocated within the Greater D.C. metro area.

Only events with programmatic value that pertains to the Foundation’s four areas of focus are eligible to receive support through the State Giving Program. For example, a teacher development conference or a health screening fair at an event are both eligible to receive support.

The Foundation supports students in need of financial support through its own scholarship programs.

Walmart Stores, Inc. is already a strong supporter of Children’s Miracle Network. For more details about how Walmart Stores, Inc. supports Children’s Miracle Network, visit http://walmartstores.com/CommunityGiving/219.aspx

Immediate disaster relief efforts are supported through the company’s disaster relief program. To learn more about Walmart’s disaster relief efforts, visit www.walmartstores.com/community.

In order to evaluate the success of programs and initiatives we have funded through the State Giving Program, the Foundation requires grant applicants to submit new funding applications each year.

The purpose of the State Giving Program is to support the unmet needs within each state. The Foundation supports international relief efforts through other programs.

Applications for organizations that serve the Northwest Arkansas region may submit applications year-round. All other states (including Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.) may submit applications online between February 1, 2010 and August 20, 2010.

Organizations in Northwest Arkansas will be notified within four to six weeks of their submission date. All other States (Including Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. will be notified within six months of their application date.

Every state, including Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, has its own Advisory Council. Each state’s Advisory includes Walmart Stores, Inc. associates from that state. Advisory Council members review funding requests and make recommendations to the Foundation. The Foundation reviews each Advisory Council’s recommendations before issuing final funding decisions. All funding decisions are made within the Foundation’s sole discretion.

The Advisory Councils are made up of associates, who represent a variety of different internal business units. These associates are not members of the Foundation staff, but work closely with the Foundation staff to ensure that all funding recommendations meet the program’s guidelines.

The Foundation does not give out the names and contact information for the members of any Advisory Council. If there are any questions about your application, a Council member or Foundation associate will contact the organization contact listed in your application.

No, should additional information be needed, a Foundation representative will contact the individual listed as the primary contact on your application.

You will be asked to select a state prior to accessing the online application. Only states with funding still available will appear on the application menu.

No. Due to the volume of funding requests that the Foundation receives, the Foundation does not respond to inquiries as to why an organization’s application is considered ineligible or why the applicant was not selected to receive funding.

Yes. All State Giving grant recipients are required to submit a report detailing how funds were used and what outcomes were achieved. The report template will be sent electronically to the primary contact listed in your grant application.