Charitable Investments

CSX is proud to support people and organizations that in turn honor those who serve our communities. We offer monetary and in-kind resources to nonprofit organizations advocating for the betterment of our nation’s military members or community first responders, and have additional resources available to support other community efforts.

In Kind Donations

Intermodal Transportation Services

Intermodal transportation services provide applicable organizations with intermodal equipment and rail service throughout the CSX rail network, and afford these organizations an opportunity to reduce or eliminate their transportation spending.

Ideally, intermodal moves work best when freight is moving 500 miles or more. However, the in-kind moves program requires only that freight have an origin and destination within a combined 250 miles’ distance to a CSX intermodal facility.

CSX’s door-to-door product is an ideal solution for the in-kind moves program, as our trained team will pick up your freight at its origin and transport it to a terminal to be placed on an intermodal train. Then, we will pick up your freight at the destination terminal and deliver it directly to its endpoint. The door-to-door network provides service across the Eastern United States with its large nationwide network and trucking capability.

CSX will also work with you to determine the type of equipment that is an ideal fit to transport your freight. CSX has a large fleet of rail-owned containers, as well as an expansive network of channel partners that can provide equipment to fit your needs.

Railroad Equipment and Materials

CSX occasionally donates materials, supplies and used railroad equipment based on availability. The online in-kind application can be used to request the donation of railroad-related items, including retired rail cars when available. Please note that rail, rail ties and spikes are not available for donation or purchase. Applicants will be contacted if the requested item becomes available within 90 days of their online submittal. At that time, arrangements will be made to transfer possession of the requested item. All applicants will be asked to re-submit their application at a later date if the requested item does not become available within the 90-day period.

Helping Build Stronger Communities

Mission

The Mission Statement of Vulcan Materials Company states that Vulcan “will be a good corporate citizen in each community in which we operate. We will support and take an active part in public and charitable projects.” Vulcan established the Vulcan Materials Company Foundation in 1988 to assist in carrying out that mission. Because contributions made by the Foundation are corporate-based business dollars, it is essential that they be made in a planned and consistent manner that best serves the combined interests of Vulcan and the communities in which we operate.

Vision

Helping Build Stronger Communities

Support Priorities

The Foundation supports many types of worthwhile organizations that enhance the quality of life in Vulcan’s communities. The Vulcan Materials Foundation focuses on three areas in particular:

• Working with schools;
• Supporting environmental stewardship; and
• Encouraging employee involvement.

Education

A major focus of the Foundation is to play a part in maintaining or improving the quality of life and standard of living through the support of education.

Elementary/Secondary Education

The Foundation will consider proposals that provide public education programs and projects that enhance the quality of learning for all students. The Foundation works to support efforts to improve educational systems and individual schools in Vulcan’s communities by partnering with public schools located in its operating areas. Vulcan has adopted 276 schools in its communities through support from the Foundation. It is Vulcan’s goal to increase the number of its school partnerships every year.

The Foundation is also interested in efforts to encourage young people to develop an interest in math, science and business. The Foundation, therefore, gives consideration to proposals designed to help maintain students’ curiosity and excitement about the world of math and science and to explore the world of industry and business. The Foundation is particularly interested in helping young people and their teachers understand the relevance of math and science to society, and supports efforts to link these subjects to their application in the workplace. The Foundation also will consider programs designed to educate our students about the vital role of business and industry in society.

Higher Education

Higher education will play an increasingly critical role in helping the economy effectively compete in the global market. The Foundation recognizes the invaluable contributions made by institutions of higher learning in educating the nation’s future workforce.

The Foundation will consider proposals from those institutions located in states where the Company has facilities, particularly proposals that focus on science and engineering or improving public education. Although proposals for capital improvements will be considered, the Foundation prefers to fund projects that directly affect the outcome of the educational process, such as scholarships and science and technology programs.

Environmental Stewardship

The Foundation supports the philosophy that economic development and environmental stewardship have common goals. Responsible economic growth provides the resources necessary to be a good steward of the environment, while this stewardship helps to sustain growth.

There are important links between industry, the environment and technological innovation. A society that is better informed about environmental issues will be able to participate more effectively in public policy debates. Grantmaking will focus on organizations and programs that seek to develop an understanding of the connection between environmental stewardship and sustainable development. 

The Foundation will consider supporting those environmental organizations that adhere to fact-based, balanced environmental principles.

Employee Involvement

Vulcan has a history of encouraging its employees to participate in volunteer activities in their communities. We recognize that our workforce offers a unique resource to provide leadership in the communities where we operate. Thus, high priority will be given by the Foundation to proposals from those organizations in which company employees are actively involved, especially in our focus areas of education and environmental stewardship.

Geographic Funding Priorities

In addition to the corporate headquarters, located in Birmingham, Alabama, there are eight Construction Materials divisions. Further, Vulcan has 400* active aggregates facilities located in 22 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, and Mexico and the Bahamas. Regarding proposals submitted to the Foundation, first consideration will be given to those organizations that will benefit the communities where Vulcan employees live and work. The Foundation’s giving program is decentralized to spread ownership of the program to a wider base. Because unit managers are directly involved with the communities where they do business, decentralization enables the Foundation to be more informed about, and to better address, local needs. Proposals submitted to the Foundation should be sent directly to the charitable contributions officer in the appropriate geographical area.

* Updated after the acquisition of U.S. Concrete

NOTE: The deadline for this Application is the 31st day of December of the year preceding the year of the grant requested.

About Us

In 2012, the current Board of Directors of the Jay L. Smith Family Foundation envisioned helping others by creating a foundation that would fund other non-profit organizations.

The Jay L. Smith Family Foundation is dedicated to helping multiple causes; however, the Foundation is especially partial to funding research for a cure of Alzheimer's. The Foundation is heavily dedicated in assuring proper care and service for individuals suffering from this disease and related illnesses.

In its first full year of existence, the Jay L. Smith Family Foundation had the pleasure of funding 11 different non-profit entities from 5 different states. Some of the services provided by those entities include elderly care, cancer research, family violence clinics, suicide prevention, and Alzheimer's research.

The Jay L. Smith Family Foundation is open to funding new groups and causes; however, at this time, the Foundation will only provide grants to entities and relief efforts in the United States.

Mission Statement

"The mission of the Jay L. Smith Family Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities by funding qualified non-profit organizations that promote family values, support the advancement of healthcare, and serve the disadvantaged."

What we do

The Jay L. Smith Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) foundation that gives grants to organizations that promote family values, support the advancement of healthcare, and serve the disadvantaged.

Projects

Alzheimer's Research

According to the Alzheimer's Association, this disease is the most common type of dementia, a disease that affects millions of people. This past year, the Jay L. Smith Family Foundation gave grants to 2 of the leading facilities in the field of Alzheimer's research.

Strengthening Families

The US Department of Health and Human Services states that domestic violence can expose children to greater risks of substance abuse and criminal activity. The Jay L. Smith Family Foundation recently gave a sizeable grant to a domestic violence clinic in Montgomery, Alabama.

Elderly Care

Caring for the elderly requres a strong unit that includes doctors, nurses, aides, and family members. The Jay L. Smith Family Foundation is dedicated to funding organizations that provide vital services to the elderly, including hospitals and hospice facilities.

Suicide Prevention

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention stated that almost 42,000 Americans took their lives in 2013. The Jay L. Smith Family Foundation granted money to an organization who researches ways to prevent suicide and also the helping of families coping with loss.

Cancer Research

The American Cancer Society recently stated that more than one million people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer every year. The Jay L. Smith Family Foundation dedicated a significant amount of funds in the year 2014 to help find a cure for cancer.

Spiritual Wellbeing

Many Americans suffer from hopelessness and depression. The Jay L. Smith Family Foundation aims to help people find their unique purpose in this life and to help them become better citizens in their communities.

Guidelines

Grants from National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF) are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by supporting on-going preservation work and by providing seed money for preservation projects. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for preservation projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector.

A small grant at the right time can go a long way and is often the catalyst that inspires a community to take action on a preservation project. Grants generally start at $2,500 and range up to $5,000. The selection process is very competitive.

Eligible Activities

National Trust Preservation Fund grants are awarded for planning activities and education efforts focused on preservation. Grant funds can be used to launch new initiatives or to provide additional support to on-going efforts.

Planning: Supporting existing staff (nonprofit applicants only) or obtaining professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, and law. Eligible planning activities include, but are not limited to:

• Hiring a preservation architect or landscape architect, or funding existing staff with expertise in these areas, to produce a historic structure report or historic landscape master plan.
• Hiring a preservation planner, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce design guidelines for a historic district.
• Hiring a real estate development consultant, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce an economic feasibility study for the reuse of a threatened structure.
• Sponsoring a community forum to develop a shared vision for the future of a historic neighborhood.
• Organizational capacity building activities such as hiring fundraising consultants, conducting board training, etc.

Education and Outreach: Support for preservation education activities aimed at the public. The National Trust is particularly interested in programs aimed at reaching new audiences. Funding will be provided to projects that employ innovative techniques and formats aimed at introducing new audiences to the preservation movement, whether that be through education programming or conference sessions.

NOTE:  Round 1 applications are due March 3, 2023. Select applicants will be invited to join the second- and third round RFPs.

Background

The national housing shortage continues to make headlines. Estimates on the number of homes needed to close the gap run in the millions. But one thing is clear: without a stable, affordable place to call home, it’s impossible to thrive.

In an effort to scale needed housing solutions, Enterprise and the Wells Fargo Foundation have teamed up to launch a new $20 million competition. The Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge will identify and propel implementation-ready innovations that transform current practices and reimagine access to affordable homes.

Eligible applicants will compete for individual grants of $1 million, $2 million and $3 million to scale ideas that lay the groundwork for system-wide change. Winners also will receive two years of technical assistance to turn their ideas into real-world programs.

Focus Areas

The Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge aims to meet the nation’s affordable housing challenges across Native, rural, suburban, Tribal and urban communities.

Proposals must encompass one or more of three focus areas:

Construction

• Construction innovations must introduce transformative practices, processes or new materials that will create construction efficiency, streamline supply chains, bolster climate resiliency, or reduce building costs.
• Construction approaches can include but are not limited to:
  • Creation and use of innovative, environmentally sustainable materials 
  • Streamlining the construction supply chain (e.g., materials production, purchasing, delivery, assembly) 
  • Innovative development in the affordable housing construction workforce to accelerate production 
  • New economies of scale through efficiencies in building design
• Construction technologies can include but are not limited to deployment of enhanced building practices and new building technologies.

Financing

• Financing innovations must introduce new tools or strategies to transform or offer alternatives to current practices, broadening access to capital, unlocking or leveraging financial resources, and creating a more equitable housing market for renters and homebuyers.
• Financing approaches can include but are not limited to:
  • New investment strategies
  • New funding sources to support acquisition, development, or building operations
  • New financing mechanisms for acquisition, construction, or permanent financing
  • Improved efficiencies in financing and underwriting
  • Risk mitigation through new investment approaches
  • New credit enhancement strategies
  • Unique ownership structures
  • New approaches that reduce the cost of capital
• Financing technologies can include but are not limited to deployment of technology that accelerates the financing process, development of tools that reduce timelines for approval, and development of tools that facilitate efficient, equitable access to capital.

Access and Resident Support

• Access and Resident Support innovations must introduce new processes or models that improve the housing experience for residents, such as housing access, choice, and stability, advancing fair housing, promoting personal agency and creating pathways for upward mobility.
• Access and Resident Support approaches can include but are not limited to:
  • New models that increase housing choice for renters and homebuyers, such as:
    • Improved housing search process
    • Expanding acceptance of renter subsidies
    • Ensuring equitable access to capital to support homeownership
    • Identifying and addressing discrimination or differential treatment against protected classes
  • Services that connect residents with resources to support upward mobility
• Access and Resident Support technologies can include but are not limited to development and deployment of technology to improve access to housing options, resident experience and resident housing stability.

Innovations across all three focus areas must demonstrate how they center racial equity and, where applicable, integrate environmental sustainability.

NOTE: We have “pawsed” our Dogs Trust USA open Grants round for 2023, focusing our efforts on our Professional Development partnerships and Dog School programs for the moment. However, we may actively reach out to organizations directly to engage with them for joint projects.  

Dogs Trust USA is aware of the large number of dogs abandoned and in need of loving homes across the United States, and that there are many organizations working tirelessly to help dogs live happy and healthy lives. We want to help them do even more, and we run a grants program to help other USA-based 501(c)(3) non-profits like ourselves to deliver projects which will make lasting improvements to dog welfare across the country.

The grants program will support projects in the following target states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

We will support well governed groups who can deliver well-planned projects that have the potential to make a strong impact. We are happy to receive applications for innovative projects that other organizations can learn from, and that contribute towards encouraging responsible dog ownership, a reduction in dog abandonment, an increase in adoption from shelters or effective management of dog populations through spay/neuter programs. All projects must be sustainable and make a measurable difference to the lives of dogs.

Our maximum grant that can be awarded for organizations who we have not previously funded through our grants program is $25,000.

Policy Campaign Opportunity

The Policy Campaign Grant Opportunity is designed to support strategic issue advocacy campaigns that advance equitable policies that make the places where kids and their families live, learn, and play healthier. Voices for Healthy Kids supports specific policy priorities that can be reviewed in the link above.

Voices for Healthy Kids is working to ensure funding is directed to organizations with diverse leadership and staff and that grantees are from and engaging communities that historically and systemically experience disinvestment including, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/a, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and/or children living in families with low-income. Campaigns must support, drive and inform tribal, state or local policy change efforts that will dramatically improve the health of children who are experiencing the greatest health disparities.

At Voices for Healthy Kids, we believe that collecting and reporting data on racial and ethnic groups is an important initial step to address inequities. We encourage our applicant organizations to collect and report data on racial and ethnic composition of boards and staff. 

Applications will be evaluated on several criteria, including, but not limited to:

Voices for Healthy Kids is evolving to improve the flow of funding to communities facing the greatest inequities and to work with community leaders and organizations that are already making strides for change. We are committed to increasing funding to organizations and campaigns that have leadership that is Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/a, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American and Pacific Islander. Each application will be scored on metrics related to organizational staff, board and leadership diversity.

Funding

Applications can be submitted for $50,000 - $200,000 for a duration of up to 18 months and can support non-lobbying and lobbying activities.

Ms. Foundation for Women

The mission of the Ms. Foundation for Women is to build women’s collective power in the U.S. to advance equity and justice for all. We achieve our mission by investing in, and strengthening, the capacity of women-led movements to advance meaningful social, cultural and economic change in the lives of women. Ms. has six grantmaking initiatives, one of which is the Birth Justice Initiative.

Birth Justice Initiative

Our Birth Justice Initiative aims to:

• advance equitable birth outcomes and experiences;
• strengthen the capacity, organizational infrastructure, and financial stability of grassroots Black, Indigenous and women of color-led birth justice organizations; and
• expand the frame of birth justice to support intersectional movements and strategies that recognize the full spectrum of experiences and identities in birthing, parenting, and family building.

We believe that Black, Indigenous, and women of color (including trans women and non-binary people) are key experts and should be decision-makers in shaping policy and culture change around birth justice. By investing directly into organizations led by and for women and girls of color, we are ensuring that the movement to address racial based disparities in healthcare, including birth outcomes and experiences, is led by those who are impacted most. Strengthening the collective power of communities of color is critical to addressing the root causes of these disparities and advancing birth justice for all.

The U.S. has one of the highest maternal mortality rates of all developed nations and Black women die at three to four times the rate of white women in birth – one of the widest racial disparities in women’s health. Systemic racism, implicit bias, and anti-Blackness all contribute to the significant disparities in birth outcomes among Black, Indigenous and birthing people of color. Moreover, the spectrum of intersectional issues that comprise birth justice and the ability to have children and parent with dignity, are not only limited to the birth process.

As such, the Ms. Foundation’s Birth Justice Initiative invests in organizations who represent the full spectrum of birth experiences including–but not limited to–preconception health, mental health and wellness, infertility, abortion access and abortion care, comprehensive sex and sexuality education, non-racist culturally affirming and gender expansive healthcare, access to birth workers of color, access to lactation support and services, postpartum health and wellness, grief and loss care and support, and sexual assault prevention and survivor support services. Organizations supported collectively utilize a range of movement building strategies to advance birth justice—such as narrative change, policy and systems change, advocacy, leadership development, direct service among others. And finally, they work at the intersection of birth justice and other movements, such as disability justice, youth justice, LGBTQIA+ justice, environmental justice, economic justice, and criminal legal reform.

Funding

During this cycle, Ms. will provide one-time grants ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 to selected organizations not currently receiving funding from Ms.’ Birth Justice Initiative. The grant period will comprise two years.

About Us

The Petfinder Foundation is a public charity that works to end the euthanasia of adoptable pets by assisting animal shelters and rescue groups across North America. Founded in 2003, the Petfinder Foundation has given more than $20 million in cash and product grants to help organizations save the lives of pets in need.  

Our grant programs are designed to make homeless pets more adoptable by keeping them happy and healthy, to make shelter operations more sustainable, and to aid adoption groups during times of natural or man-made disaster. Our grant recipients include more than 13,000 organizations, caring for more than 300,000 homeless pets at any given time, throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. 

P.L.A.Y. Pet Beds 

The Petfinder Foundation has partnered with P.L.A.Y. Pet (Lifestyle and You) through the Warm Bellies Initiative to give luxury beds to shelter pets. P.L.A.Y. joins us in the belief that every pet deserves a warm and cozy place to sleep.

P.L.A.Y. Pet Beds Product Grant is available to all species of adoptable pets. P.L.A.Y. in partnership with the Petfinder Foundation is accepting grant applications from Petfinder members interested in receiving a total of ten pet beds valued at $528.00.  

Submit your application today as this product grant is awarded according to the following regional schedule:

• JAN:
• Northeast: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut
• FEB:
• Northeast-Mid Atlantic: New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey
• MAR
• Warm Bellies Initiative
• APR:
• Northeast-South Atlantic: Delaware, Maryland, DC, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Caroline, Georgia, Florida
• MAY:
• South-Southeast: Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi
• JUNE:
• Warm Bellies Initiative
• JULY:
• South-US Center: Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas
• AUG:
• Midwest-East: Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio
• SEP:
• Warm Bellies Initiative
• OCT:
• Midwest-West: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa
• NOV:
• West-Mountain: Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico
• DEC:
• West-Pacific: Washington, Oregon, California

NOTE: There is no need to apply in the month your region is under consideration. We hold all P.L.A.Y. Grant applications and sort/review applicants based on the geographical region schedule.