Spark Good Community Grants
Walmart believes that strengthening local communities creates value for business as well as society. That’s why we empower each Walmart store, Sam’s Club and distribution center to strengthen and support local communities through local donations, fundraising and participation in corporate cause-marketing campaigns.
Stores, Clubs and Distribution Center Giving
Each year, our U.S. stores and clubs award local cash grants ranging from $250 to $5000. These local grants are designed to address the unique needs of the communities where we operate. They include a variety of organizations, such as animal shelters, elder services, and community clean-up projects. In 2021, our stores and clubs provided more than $45 million in local grants.
Guidelines
Our local community grants are awarded through an open application process to eligible organizations and provide funding directly from Walmart and Sam’s Club facilities to local organizations in the U.S. The 2023 grant cycle begins Feb. 1, 2023, and applications will be accepted on a quarterly basis. Don’t know how to determine your local facility? Don’t worry, the application will assist you. To learn if your organization is eligible and to better understand the selection process, and to explore our funding areas, click here.
Before applying for a grant, organizations must review the community grant guidelines.
Click here to review guidelines.
Click here to access the Community Grants How-to Guide.
Local Community Grants FAQs
Organizations applying must meet the one of following criteria:
- An organization holding a current tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, listed on the IRS Master File and conduct activities within the United States, classified as a public charity under Section 509(a)(1), (2) or (3) (Type I or II); and CyberGrants FrontDoor verified.
- A recognized government entity: state, county, or city agency, including law enforcement or fire departments, that are requesting funds exclusively for public purposes; and CyberGrants FrontDoor verified.
- A K-12 public or private school, charter school, community/junior college, state/private college or university and CyberGrants FrontDoor verified.
- A church or other faith-based organization with a proposed project that benefits the community at large such as food pantries, soup kitchens, clothing closets, etc. and CyberGrants FrontDoor verified.
- Non-charities, including organizations recognized as 501(c)(4)s, (c)(6)s, and (c)(19)s like homeowner’s associations, civic leagues, or volunteer fire companies, are not eligible at this time.
Requirements vary, so it’s important to review eligibility requirements and program guidelines before starting your application. Apply for a Local Community Grant here.
Walmart uses a third party called FrontDoor, powered by CyberGrants to validate and verify that a nonprofit is in good standing, and that each individual associated with the organization is deemed an "authorized user" from that organization. Once an organization is FrontDoor verified, the organization may access other benefits by other companies in the FrontDoor ecosystem.
CyberGrants FrontDoor asks for banking information purely as a way of confirming that the person who is trying to claim the organization is, in fact, an authorized member of the organization.
While organizations will have the option to choose a disbursement preference after the ownership registration is approved, currently Walmart only offers the “Check” option (physical check to be mailed). In the future, Walmart hopes to switch to ACH payment to expedite funding requests.
A unit of local government, such as a police department or fire department, can apply for a Community Grant. Please see guidelines on eligible funding through the program.
Please email wmsupport@cybergrants.com or click on the Need Support button at the bottom of the application page for assistance with technical issues.
Grant checks will be mailed directly to the recipient organization at the address listed in the organization’s application. Please allow four to six weeks for delivery. If the grant was approved more than six weeks ago and the organization has yet to receive the check, please reach out to the facility manager to submit a void/reissue request.
