Grant Proposal: Costco Wholesale Foundation (BDPA Middle Tennessee)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked with its BETF Liaison (Homer Britton) from the BDPA Middle Tennessee chapter to complete a $3,000 grant proposal to the Costco Wholesale Foundation. Our request for funding was sent to the Costco store manager in Nashville TN. We need the funding to support the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program currently ongoing in that city.

We anticipate an answer within the next few weeks. Wish us luck!

Costco Wholesale Foundation

Costco Wholesale Foundation is a funding source available to most nonprofits around the nation. Here is some information that might help you in your effort to seek funding from Costco:

1. Donation and Grant Eligibility Guidelines - In keeping with Costco Wholesale’s giving guidelines their warehouses and regional offices specifically support programs focusing on children, education and health and human services. They would like to respond favorably to all requests however the needs are far greater than their allocated resources. Therefore it is not possible for Costco to accommodate all requests.
2. Costco Warehouse Donations - For local organizations and groups, which focus on children, education or health and human services, provide your local Costco Warehouse Manager with a copy of your IRS tax letter with your 501(c)3 status and a written request on your organizations letterhead. To determine your closest warehouse click here -- http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/locator.aspx
3. Regional Office Donations - For donations which impact a broader community or region, focusing on children, education or health and human services provide the regional office with a copy of your IRS tax letter noting your 501(c)3 status and a written request on your organizations letterhead.
4. Qualifying for a Grant - Costco specifically focuses on programs supporting children, education and health and human services. The United Way, Children’s Hospital and the Red Cross are a major focus in their charitable giving. Costco Wholesale is committed to supporting charitable and community activities in the markets where they do business.
5. Grants - The Costco Charitable Contributions Committee is charged with overseeing charitable giving and encouraging decentralization of charitable giving so that the greatest impact is where Costco’s employees and members live and work. Only 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, which meet their giving guidelines and focus areas, are considered. See the Frequently Asked Questions and Costco Grant Application for specific details and required documents to be considered for review.

Is your nonprofit interested in pursuing funds from Costco Wholesale Foundation?

Grant Declination: Costco Warehouse (BDPA Chicago)

BDPA Chicago chapter officer Audra Anderson hand-delivered a letter of inquiry to the manager at the Lincoln Park (IL) Costco Warehouse in June 2010. Costco Wholesale's giving guidelines allow their warehouses and regional offices to support programs focusing on children, education and health and human services. Costco Wholesale is committed to supporting charitable and community activities in the markets where we do business. The chapter sought to receive $2,049 in-kind donation from Costco in support of student programs.

We recently learned that our request was denied by the Costco management team.

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) will continue to seek out funding for our BDPA Chicago chapter. For example, we hope that you will consider helping BDPA Chicago raise scholarship funds if you believe in what we're doing to uplift our young people.

Grant Proposal: Costco Wholesale Foundation (BDPA Triangle)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) submitted a $2,000 grant proposal to the Costco Wholesale Regional Office in North Carolina on behalf of BDPA Triangle chapter. We're hopeful to get funding necessary to expand the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in the Raleigh/Durham area.

Costco Wholesale's giving guidelines allow their warehouses and regional offices to support programs focusing on children, education and health and human services. Costco Wholesale is committed to supporting charitable and community activities in the markets where we do business.

We hope to get an answer by February 2011. Wish us luck!