Global Giving

One of the great opportunities presented by globalization is the spread of corporate citizenship around the world. 

The UPS Foundation is responsible for facilitating community involvement to local, national, and global communities. Since launching its global philanthropy program in 2004, The UPS Foundation has invested more than $49 million in charitable activities beyond the borders of the United States.

In 2010, that impact can be measured by over $46 million in global philanthropy and more than 1.2 million employee volunteer hours. 

Throughout its history, The UPS Foundation evolved to meet the changing needs of communities, addressing a variety of issues - from an early focus on health care and education to more recent giving in hunger, literacy, and volunteerism.  Today, this unique approach to philanthropy impacts communities around the world and supports the committed engagement of over 400,000 UPS employees. 

As UPS begins a second century of service, The UPS Foundation global strategy is now structured to strengthen impact and better leverage UPS intellectual and physical assets.  The five focus areas, Economic and Global Literacy, Environmental Sustainability, Nonprofit Effectiveness, Diversity, and Community Safety, are aligned with the company's vision for the future.  

Using this strategically focused giving approach, The UPS Foundation has created a comprehensive portfolio of service to communities.  This evolution reflects The UPS Foundation's commitment to innovative ideas that leverage the strength of UPS and UPS people to address needs of communities around the world.  

Grant Strategy

As UPS grows, so does its capacity to touch lives around the world. As a result, The UPS Foundation must align its assets — financial, human and knowledge — on our primary focus areas: economic and global literacy, environmental sustainability, nonprofit effectiveness, strength from diversity, and community safety. 

Funding Strategy

The UPS Foundation no longer accepts unsolicited funding requests.  Instead, formal request proposals may be submitted from nonprofit organizations that best align with the five focus area giving strategy.  These organizations are identified through longstanding partnerships, employee engagement or internal research.  In addition, UPS local regions and districts manage community needs through grants and charitable sponsorships.  This funding strategically links employee Community Involvement Committees (CIC) with local organizations that fit into the focus areas to create a year-round spending plan.

Each year, roughly one-half of the grants made by The UPS Foundation are awarded to local organizations with the rest going to global or national groups.  Most are combined with the energy and passion of UPS volunteers.

Employee Driven Funding

By design, much of The UPS Foundation’s philanthropy is driven locally. UPS operating units around the world have responsibility for managing grant programs — they identify needs in their communities, find suitable charitable organizations to support, and then recommend those organizations for grants.

The local grants typically align with the Foundation’s strategy, as outlined in its five focus areas, and tackle issues at the grass roots level, providing vital support where it is often needed most. This hands-on approach to philanthropy enables local UPSers to participate in the strategic programs of The UPS Foundation and to collectively impact some of the largest issues facing society.

The UPS Foundation sets the guidelines and oversees the approval process.  This allows UPS employees an opportunity to have a direct impact on their community. By focusing on key issues tied to our business and our employee’s involvement, UPS can align with local, national and global giving for greater impact.