Letter of Inquiry * 3M Foundation (National BDPA)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) and National BDPA submitted a joint letter of inquiry to the Community Giving folks at the 3M Foundation. We are asking them to provide us with $3,000 to purchase 75 ASP handbooks for the 2011 Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program.

Hopefully, the folks at 3M will smile favorably on our request!

3M Foundation

Community giving is an important part of 3M’s sustainability strategy. 3M’s philanthropy combines 3M and 3M Foundation cash gifts, donated products and volunteerism by employees and retirees.

Employees participate in about 75% of their giving through:

1. 3M Matching Gift Program for colleges and universities throughout the year and special matches for areas like hunger relief and environment.
2. 3M Volunteer Match with contributions to nonprofit organizations where employees volunteer 20 hours or more and retirees volunteer 25 hours or more per year.
3. Service on 3M advisory committees that shape funding priorities and assist with the review of grants.
4. Volunteer service on non-profit boards or community projects

3M’s giving is decentralized with 3M subsidiaries in each country administering their own program that reflects the local culture and needs. BETF would need to send a letter of inquiry to 3M Foundation in order to get an invitation for submission of a grant proposal.

This appears to be a funding opportunity available to National BDPA Member Services business area *or* local chapters in: Atlanta, Austin, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, No. Delaware, Twin Cities or Washington DC.

BETF operates on a first-come; first-served basis. Anyone interested in working with us on this funding opportunity?