You are here:
NODE > 133 > VIEW

GENERAL MILLS FOUNDATION

General Mills Foundation

Contact information:
General Mills Community Action
Number One General Mills Boulevard
Minneapolis, MN 55426-1347
Phone: 763-764-2211
Fax: 763-764-4114
Email: Community.ActionQA@genmills.com

Website: http://www.generalmills.com/Responsibility/Community_Engagement/general_mills_foundation_2010.aspx

Type of foundation: Company-sponsored

Types of grants: Primarily operating and program grants; the Foundation also makes capital grants and matching grants. Capital grants are generally only made to organizations in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area that already have a long history of giving from the Foundation.

Description: The Foundation's mission is to provide financial support to nonprofit organizations that serve people in need and improve the quality of life in General Mills communities, with a focus on:

  • Hunger and Nutrition Wellness – supporting innovative programs that promote healthy children and families by providing nutrition education and physical fitness activities. This is the Foundation’s largest grantmaking area, totaling $6.6 million in grants in 2012.
  • Education – supporting efforts that emphasize student academic achievement, particularly at the K-12 level with a focus on academic enrichment and advancement.
  • Arts and Culture – supporting organizations that provide innovative performing arts and cultural programs as evidenced through innovation, program quality and contribution to their community.
  • Family Services - supporting programs that provide supportive services for low-income/at-risk individuals and families to help them on the road to self-sufficiency. A substantial portion of the grants in this category go to United Way and disaster relief. Unsolicited proposals are not accepted in this giving area.

Most grantmaking is focused on the Twin Cities metro area, where General Mills is based. The Foundation has a general Twin Cities grant program as well as Celebrating Communities of Color grants for Twin Cities area nonprofits with programs that support people of color.

Beyond the Twin Cities, General Mills employees at company operating locations serve on Community Action Councils that work with the Foundation to make grants to nonprofits in their communities and surrounding areas. Nonprofits within 50 miles of a General Mills facility in these 24 locations may be eligible for grants from the employee-driven Community Action Councils. Application for these grants is currently by invitation only. Guidelines for Community Action Council grants are available here.

Nationally, the Foundation offers $10,000 Champions for Healthy Kids grants to nonprofits working to improve nutrition and physical fitness behaviors for youth.

The Foundation matches employee and retiree contributions to educational organizations and arts/culture organizations, including public broadcasting stations.

Sample grants:

  • $500,000 to Twin Cities Public Television for Next Avenue Workshop (2011).
  • $300,000 to Minnesota Early Learning Foundation for St. Paul Early Childhood Scholarship Program (2011).
  • $250,000 to Twin Cities Public Television for request for The Campaign for TPT, designated for Next Avenue Workshop (2010).
  • $210,000 to Twin Cities Public Television for operating support and the Martin Luther King Breakfast broadcast (2011).
  • $205,000 to Twin Cities Public Television For operating support and MLK Breakfast Broadcast (2010).
  • $75,000 to Minnesota Public Radio in operating support (2011).
  • $65,000 to Admission Possible in operating support for Milwaukee and the Twin Cities (2011).
  • $31,000 to KVIE Public Television, Sacramento, CA for “For Healthy Kids” in Lodi (2008).
  • $25,000 to Achieve Minneapolis for general support (2011).
  • $25,000 to Migizi Communications, Minneapolis, MN for operating support (2007).
  • $20,000 to Migizi Communications, Inc., an organization that supports the American Indian community through various programs including community media.
  • $20,000 to Art Studio of Western New York, Buffalo, NY for Project Create Jump Start and Youth Mentorship Program (2011).
  • $20,000 to Explora Science Center & Children's Museum of Albuquerque for operating support (2011).
  • $10,000 to Youth Radio, Oakland, CA for Champions for Healthy Kids (2011).
  • $10,000 to Rocky Mountain Public Broadcasting Network, Denver, CO for Champions for Healthy Kids – Kids’ Fun Fest (2011).
  • $10,000 to Arts in Education Institute of WNY, Buffalo, NY for Summer Arts Camp (2011).
  • $10,000 to Minnesota Humanities Center for Absent Narratives (2011).
  • $10,000 to Asian Media Access, Minneapolis, MN for Champions for Healthy Kids (2011).
  • $10,000 to New Albany Floyd County Consolidated School Corp., New Albany, IN for Reading is Fundamental “Running Start” program for first graders (2011).
  • $10,000 to Western New York Public Broadcasting Association, Buffalo, NY for or ThinkBright Interactive Website (2007).
  • $10,000 to Window to the World Communications, Chicago, IL for Early Learning Initiative (2007).
  • $10,000 to Nashville Public Television for Parent Tips on nutrition and health (2007).

Fit for Public Media:Most of the Foundation’s grants (and most of its larger grants) are made to organizations in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The Foundation has some history of funding for public media in other parts of the country. Media initiatives that intersect with its interests in promoting health and nutrition are most likely to succeed.

Eligibility: Most grants are awarded to organizations in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, where General Mills is based. Grants are also made to organizations within 50 miles of other General Mills facilities by employee-driven Community Action Councils in 24 locations. Community Action grants typically do not support endowment, capital campaigns, film or television programs, or underwriting.

Eligible organizations will have a current 501(c)(3) Public Charity status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or be a school or a unit of government. The organization, its program or project, must support a broad and diverse audience.

Deadline:

How to apply:

Giving range: Most media grants are below $100,000.

Assets: $64,213,355 (year ended 5/31/11).

Total giving: $27.6 million (Fiscal Year 2012).

Access 2012 Report to the Community from this page.