State Giving Program Frequently Asked QuestionsPlease note: these FAQs do not apply to the Northwest Arkansas Giving Program OverviewWhat types of organizations does the Foundation support through its 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. Only organizations with a current tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code are eligible to request funding. NOTE: Organizations must be listed in the most current IRS 50 State Master File at the time the grant request is submitted. What are the areas in which the Foundation focuses its support? The Foundation funds organizations that address the unmet needs of people in our communities. The Foundation’s areas of focus include: Education – Addresses the educational needs of underserved young people ages 12-25. Examples include programs that re-engage students who have dropped out of high school, improve retention rates of first-generation college students, support teachers and promote adolescent literacy. Workforce Development/Economic Opportunity – Provides job readiness and skills training as well as support services for workers with low to moderate skills. Examples include job placement and retention efforts, adult education, occupational training, training for English language learners (ELL), and wraparound services including career counseling, life skills, etc. A secondary interest is asset development programs that help close the gap between earnings and basic expenses. Examples include increasing access to earned income tax credit benefits, child care subsidies, and other state/federal benefits. Health and Wellness – Improves access to health care, reduces health care disparities and promotes nutrition. Examples include cooking and meal planning classes for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) recipients, healthy snacks for kids in summer programs, and support for doctors planning community health programs for underserved children. Environmental Sustainability – Seeks to promote production systems that sustain people and the environment by reducing waste, promoting energy efficiency and the use of renewable resources. Examples include waste reduction programs, retrofitting of social service infrastructure, and sustainable agriculture initiatives. Additional Focuses: Hunger Relief: Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are in the second year of a $2 billion cash and in-kind hunger relief campaign that extends through 2015. The Foundation’s contributions are strategically aimed at ending hunger for the 1 in 6 Americans that do not know where their next meal is coming from. As such, the Foundation seeks to fund initiatives that integrate hunger relief into our four focus areas. When should I submit my application? The Foundation continually reviews applications. Please submit your application as soon as possible before the application deadline. This allows the Foundation to review your application and, if possible, return it to you if they have any questions or concerns. You can then resubmit the application with the corrections. Applications cannot be resubmitted or returned after the application deadline. What is the State Giving Program's timeline for applications? The Walmart Foundation has 2 funding cycles. The first cycle opens on January 2, 2012 and closes on March 2, 2012. The second cycle opens on June 11, 2012 and closes on August 10, 2012. If the focus of my program is outside of the Foundation’s focus areas, will my application still be considered? No. The Foundation funds proposals that align with the Foundation’s main areas of focus-- Education, Environmental Sustainability, Health & Wellness, Workforce Development /Economic Opportunity and Hunger Relief. What is an example of a recent grant awarded through the Foundation’s State Giving Program? 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. EligibilityCan my organization request a product donation instead of a financial gift through the State Giving Program? 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. What is the range of grant amounts for the State Giving Program? The minimum amount for State Giving Program grants is $25,000. There is no maximum amount for State Giving Program grants. My organization has a pending 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Can I still request funding? No. Only organizations that are currently listed in the Internal Revenue Service's current 50 State Master File are eligible. My organization is considered tax-exempt, but does not have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Can I apply if I am not 501(c)(3)? No. Only organizations that are currently listed in the Internal Revenue Service's current 50 State Master File are eligible. My organization recently received its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, but the online application indicates that my organization does not have an approved 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. How can I correct this system error? 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. If my organization receives funding through another Walmart Foundation program, can I still apply for funding through the State Giving Program? Yes. Organizations are eligible for consideration through multiple Foundation programs simultaneously. If I submit an application and do not receive a grant, will my application automatically be resubmitted for review during the next funding cycle? No. Each application will only be considered during the review cycle in which it was submitted. If my application is not selected to receive support, can I reapply for State Giving Program funding? 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. Can I receive more than one State Giving Program grant within a Fiscal Year? 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. An impact report template will be sent to all grantees 12 months after the award date. Grantees are not eligible to apply for additional funding until the impact report is submitted. Can I submit funding applications to multiple states? Yes, providing that the program is specific to the state(s) in which you apply. Does the Foundation require that funding remain in the state it was awarded? 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. Are any types of event sponsorships eligible through the State Giving Program? Only events with programmatic value that pertains to the Foundation’s 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. Questions regarding exclusionsHow much compensation is allowable for grants in the State Giving Programs? The State Giving Program limits the amount of allowable compensation in funding requests. Grant funds should not be used to provide more than 50% support of any position that is program related. Compensation cannot exceed 50% of the total amount requested. Support requested from the Walmart Foundation should reflect the amount of time an individual will spend administering the program. Does the State Giving Program allow any capital improvements? Capacity building is acceptable for organizations that select Hunger Relief as their program’s primary focus area. The organization must complete the budget template section of the application. The worksheet on each tab (Organization Budget, Program Budget, and Hunger) must be completed in the budget template for the request to be reviewed. Why are scholastic scholarships for post-secondary educational institutes excluded from this funding program? The Foundation supports students in need of financial support through its own scholarship programs. Why are American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, and Children’s Miracle Network excluded from this funding program? Walmart is already a strong partner of these organizations and supports local programs through large, national initiatives. Why are immediate disaster relief efforts not considered through the State Giving Program? 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. Why are multi-year commitments not considered through the State Giving Program? 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 impact reports for funding received during the prior fiscal year. New funding applications must be submitted each year. Why are funding requests that are directed to relief efforts in foreign countries excluded from consideration? 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. ProcessWhen are applications accepted for the State Giving Program? Applications for organizations that serve the Northwest Arkansas region may be submitted year-round. For all other states (including Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.) grants may be submitted during the 2 funding cycles. The first cycle opens on January 2, 2012 and closes on March 2, 2012. The second cycle opens on June 11, 2012 and closes on August 10, 2012. When will I know if I have been selected to receive a grant from the State Giving Program? All organizations will be notified by mail to the organization contact indicated in their application. 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.) Who makes funding decisions for grants awarded through the State Giving Program? 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. Final funding decisions are made by the Walmart Foundation. Who serves on the State Advisory Councils? 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. Where can I find the names and contact information for the State Advisory Council members? 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. Should I mail additional materials to the Foundation to supplement my funding request? No, should additional information be needed, a Foundation representative will contact the individual listed as the primary contact on your application. How will I know if a particular state’s budget has been expended? You will be asked to select a state prior to accessing the online application. Only states with funding available will appear on the application menu. Does the Walmart Foundation respond to inquiries regarding an organization’s eligibility status or funding decisions involving the State Giving Program? No. Due to the volume of State Giving Program funding requests, the Foundation does not respond to inquiries regarding eligibility or funding decisions. If I receive a grant, am I required to submit a report detailing how funds were used? Yes. All State Giving grant recipients are required to submit an impact report detailing how funds were used and what outcomes were achieved. The impact report template will be sent electronically to the primary contact listed in your grant application 12 months after the award date. Grantees are not eligible to apply for additional funds until the impact report has been submitted. Ready to get started? Begin the application process. |
