Union Pacific Foundation is seeking applications for Local Grants as part of the Community Ties Giving Program to help them achieve their mission by providing small and medium-sized grants within their priority cause areas to local organizations spread widely across Union Pacific’s footprint.

Throughout its existence, the success of Union Pacific’s business has been inextricably linked to the economic and community wellbeing of cities and towns across the nation. They take pride in the role they have played in helping communities thrive and believe the impact they can have on local communities is greatest when it is authentic to their history and reflective of the diverse company they are today. As such, they have carefully aligned their Local Grants cause areas to their company’s unique heritage, strengths, and assets. Specifically, they prioritize funding for direct services and efforts that build the capacity of organizations focused on the following causes within the local operating communities. Within each focus area, they aim to support programs and organizations working to advance the diversity, equity and inclusion of underrepresented populations within the local context and issue areas addressed.

Priorities and Objectives

Safety

In order for communities to thrive, all residents must feel safe. Just as the safety of their employees and community members is paramount to how they operate, Union Pacific is committed to helping communities prevent and prepare for incidents and emergencies, and helping residents get home safely at the end of each day. As such, they prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to:

• Encourage safe behaviors and prevent incidents through education and awareness
• Eliminate risks and improve safe and equitable access to community spaces through infrastructure improvements
• Prepare and equip residents and emergency responders
• Prevent crime and violent incidents and support survivors of domestic violence
• Build the capacity of safety-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization.

Workforce Development

For more than 160 years, Union Pacific has helped stimulate economic growth in cities and towns throughout the nation by training and providing employment to millions of workers. More than ever, they are committed to helping underrepresented residents in their communities achieve family-supporting careers like those offered by Union Pacific. As such, they prioritize funding for programs that seek to:

• Put youth on the right track
• Raise awareness of, educate and prepare young adults
• “Up-skill” the existing workforce
• Resolve barriers to employment
• Build the capacity of workforce development-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization.

Community Vitality

Union Pacific Railroad is committed to establishing vibrant, healthy and inclusive communities for employees, customers and residents to work, visit and call home. Just as the railroad opened avenues for economic development and opportunity more than 160 years ago, they maintain this tradition by cultivating unique cultural and recreational experiences and equipping community members with opportunities to live healthy, vital lives. As such, they prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to:

• Create, sustain or expand artistic and cultural experiences
• Provide recreational opportunities
• Revive neighborhoods and main street areas
• Ensure residents’ basic needs are met
• Offer youth development and educational opportunities
• Build the capacity of community vitality-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization.

Environmental Sustainability

The future of their business, communities and planet depends on bold, collective action to reduce and slow the impacts of climate change while building a more sustainable economy for the next generation. Union Pacific is taking deliberate steps to reduce their environmental impact and helping their partners improve their own. Extending this commitment to their community investments, they seek to support leading environmental nonprofits and community-based organizations to advance the health of their environment. As such, they prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to:

• Preserve and restore nature
• Protect and enhance water, soil and air quality
• Reduce waste
• Develop environmental stewards
• Advance a sustainable economy
• Promote environmental justice
• Build the capacity of sustainability-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization.

Funding Information 

Typical grant awards will range from $5,000 – $30,000.

Eligibility Criteria

All grant recipients must be non-profit, charitable organizations tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and further, be classified as an organization described in sections 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) under 170 (b)(1)(A)(vii) of the code. As of 2018, the Community Ties Giving Program no longer funds governmental entities without a 501(c)(3) public charity designation from the IRS.

Emergency service providers such as fire and police departments must apply under their own public charity with 501(c)(3) designation. As an additional opportunity for engagement, Union Pacific offers Hazardous Materials Response Training to emergency service providers.

Religious organizations such as churches, mosques, and synagogues may qualify only if they have established a separate 501(c)(3) organization to operate the funded program AND the outreach program is offered to the general population regardless of religious affiliation.

Elementary and secondary schools cannot be funded directly; programs administered within a school environment by a separate 501(c)(3) organization may be considered.

Geographic Eligibility

The program or project for which grant funds are sought must primarily benefit a community that is served by Union Pacific; further it is preferred that the organization requesting funds be located in a community served by Union Pacific. The Community Ties Giving Program does not accept applications for programs that do not primarily serve a Union Pacific community; applicants will be required to include which community/communities the proposed grant will serve in their grant applications.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Programs and projects that do not fit within the Community Ties Giving Program’s funding priorities.
• Requests for general operating support.
• Event sponsorships, fundraising events and campaigns (e.g. conferences/seminars, galas, golf tournaments, annual awards ceremonies, raffles, telethons, walk-a-thons, auctions, endowments, memorial campaigns, parades, etc.).
• Social, labor, alumni and fraternal organizations (e.g., higher education alumni groups, sororities, fraternities, workers’ unions, exclusive membership clubs limited to a specific constituency, etc.).
• Professional and amateur sports events, organizations, and teams (e.g., Little Leagues).
• Political organizations and organizations whose dominant purpose is to influence legislation or participate/intervene in political campaigns on behalf of or against any candidate for public office.
• Organizations that channel Local Grant funding to third parties; local United Way chapters are the only exception to this restriction.
• Organizations requiring a fiscal sponsor because they do not have their own 501(c)(3) status.

Organizations that discriminate based on a person’s race, ethnicity, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, religion, past or present military service, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, pregnancy, political affiliation, marital or familial status, or any other ground prohibited by law (“protected status”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, religious organizations such as churches, mosques, and synagogues are eligible for funding if they have established a separate 501(c)(3) organization to operate the funded program AND the outreach program is offered to the general population regardless of religious affiliation.

• Terrorist organizations or those not compliant with the USA Patriot Act.
• Non US-based charities or organizations whose program activities are mainly international.
• Individuals.
• Fellowships or Research.
• Projects that include proposed changes or improvements to Union Pacific Railroad-owned property.
• Requests for railroad equipment.
• Organizations having received three consecutive years of UPF Local Grants.
• Organizations not current with UP agreement obligations, such as real estate leases.
• Private foundations or a disqualified supporting organization with the meaning of section 4966(d)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Source: https://www.up.com/aboutup/community/foundation/local-grants/app-process-timeline/index.htm