NOTE: For nonprofit organizations new to U.S. Bank Foundation, a Letter of Interest is available. Community Affairs Managers will review Letter of Interest submissions periodically to learn about new and innovative programs and organizations in their regions and markets. After reviewing a Letter of Interest, a Community Affairs Manager may reach out with a request for a full application. You can access the Letter of Interest by clicking the “Submit a letter of interest” link at the bottom of this page. Letters of Interest may be submitted at any time during the year.

Community Possible Grant

Through U.S. Bank’s Community Possible® grant program, we invest in efforts to create stable jobs, safe homes and communities.

Funding Types

Within these general guidelines, we consider the following funding request types:

Operating grants

An operating grant is given to cover an organization’s day-to-day, ongoing expenses, such as salaries, utilities, office supplies and more. We consider operating support requests from organizations where the entire mission of the organization fits a Community Possible grant focus area.

Program or project grants

A program or project grant is given to support a specific, connected set of activities, with a beginning and an end, explicit objectives and a predetermined cost. We consider highly effective and innovative programs that meet our Community Possible grant focus areas.

Capital grants

A capital grant is given to finance fixed assets. The U.S. Bank Foundation considers a small number of requests for capital support from organizations that meet all other funding criteria, whose entire mission statement fits a Community Possible grant focus area, and with which the Foundation has a funding history. All organizations requesting capital funding must also have a U.S. Bank employee on the board of directors. U.S. Bank does not fund more than 1% of the non-endowment total capital campaign fundraising goal. All capital grant requests are reviewed and approved by the national U.S. Bank Foundation Board or by the U.S. Bank Foundation President.

Focus Area: PLAY

Creating vibrant communities through play.

Play brings joy, and it’s just as necessary for adults as it is for kids. But in low-income areas there are often limited spaces for play and fewer people attending arts and cultural events. That’s why we invest in community programming that supports ways for children and adults to play and create.

Access to artistic and cultural programming and arts education

Our investments ensure economic vitality and accessibility to the arts in local communities, as well as support for arts education. Examples of grant support include:

• Programs that provide access to cultural activities, visual and performing arts, zoos and aquariums and botanic gardens for individuals and families living in underserved communities
• Funding for local arts organizations that enhance the economic vitality of the community
• Programs that provide funding for arts-focused nonprofit organizations that bring visual and performing arts programming to low- and moderate-income K-12 schools and youth centers

Supporting learning through play.

Many young people across the country do not have the resources or access to enjoy the benefits of active play. Supporting active play-based programs and projects for K-12 students located in or serving low- and moderate-income communities fosters innovation, creativity, and collaboration and impacts the overall vitality of the communities we serve. Funding support includes:

• Support for organizations that build or expand access to active play spaces and places that help K-12 students learn through play and improves the health, safety and unification of neighborhoods in low- and moderate-income communities
• Programs that focus on using active play to help young people develop cognitive, social and emotional learning skills to become vibrant and productive citizens in low- and moderate-income communities

Focus Area: WORK

Supporting workforce education and prosperity.

We know that a strong small business environment and an educated workforce ensure the prosperity of our communities and reducing the expanding wealth gap for communities of color. We provide grant support to programs and organizations that help small businesses thrive, allow people to succeed in the workforce, provide pathways to higher education and gain greater financial literacy.

Investing in the workforce.

We fund organizations that provide training for small business development, as well as programs that support individuals across all skill and experience levels, to ensure they have the capability to gain employment that supports individuals and their families. Examples of grant support include:

Small business technical assistance programs

Job-skills, career readiness training programs with comprehensive placement services for low- and moderate-income individuals entering or reentering the labor force

Providing pathways for educational success.

To address the growing requirements for post-secondary education in securing competitive jobs in the workplace, we support:

• Organizations and programs that help low- and moderate-income and at-risk middle and high school students prepare for post-secondary education at a community college, university, trade or technical school and career readiness
• Programs and initiatives at post-secondary institutions that support access to career and educational opportunities for low- and moderate-income and diverse students

Teaching financial well-being for work and life.

Financial well-being is not only critical for financial stability, it’s crucial in helping individuals be successful in the workplace. Examples of grant support include programs that positively impact:

• K-12 and college student financial literacy
• Adult and workforce financial literacy
• Senior financial fraud prevention
• Military service member and veteran financial literacy

Focus Area: HOME

Working to revitalize communities one neighborhood at a time.

Children and families are better positioned to thrive and succeed in a home that is safe and permanent. Access to sustainable low-income housing is increasingly challenges for low-moderate income families. In response, our giving supports efforts that connect individuals and families with sustainable housing opportunities.

Access to safe, affordable housing

We provide financial support to assist people in developing stability in their lives through access to safe, sustainable and accessible homes. Examples of grant support include:

• Organizations that preserve, rehabilitate, renovate or construct affordable housing developments for low- and moderate-income families, individuals, seniors, veterans, and special-needs populations
• Organizations that provide transitional housing as a direct steppingstone to permanent housing
• Organizations that focus on Veterans housing and homeownership
• Construction of green homes for low- and moderate-income communities
• Energy retrofit programs for low- and moderate-income housing developments

Home ownership education

Owning and maintaining a home requires significant financial knowledge, tools, and resources. We support programs that assist low- and moderate-income homebuyers and existing homeowners. Examples of grant support include:

• Homebuyer education
• Pre- and post-purchase counseling and coaching
• Homeownership-retention programs designed to provide foreclosure counseling

Note:  All other nonprofit program and sponsorship requests may be submitted throughout the year. See the following pages for details about other programs: 

• Alleviating Hunger
• Housing and Shelter

Publix Super Markets Charities supports various types of nonprofit organizations throughout the Southeast with a primary focus on helping youth, promoting education, alleviating hunger, and reducing homelessness.

Our key focus areas.

From alleviating hunger and reducing homelessness to supporting youth programs and education initiatives, we are dedicated to making lives better in the communities where we live and work. Our founder, George Jenkins—affectionately known as Mr. George—believed in giving back and donated his time, talent, and money. We are proud to continue his legacy of building hope and nourishing brighter futures through our support of nonprofit organizations. If you represent a nonprofit organization, request our support.

Encouraging Youth

We believe every child should be able to explore their interests and develop their talents. Our founder, George Jenkins, used to say, “Find out who you are, what you want to be, and go for it.” To help children achieve their dreams, we are proud to support a variety of programs including summer camps, art exhibits, music programs, and youth wellness initiatives that inspire young minds, nurture potential, and build confidence. 

Supporting Education

Inspiring young minds.

We believe every child deserves the opportunity to excel in school and in life. Our founder, George Jenkins, was passionate about helping people, especially children, prepare for opportunities that set them up for success. We are proud to support a variety of educational programs that encourage children’s success in school and spark interest in science, math, technology, the arts, and more.

Bring independent documentary filmmakers to your community for screenings and conversations around powerful stories and the art of filmmaking. Screening Partners are partner organizations that present Southern Circuit screenings, Q&As, and other filmmaker engagements with the community. Screening Partners develop screening audiences through strategic marketing and partnerships. As a group, they participate in the film selection process and discuss programming/marketing strategies for each film. Screening Partners act as hosts to touring filmmakers, providing recommendations for travel, lodging, and dining.

South Arts coordinates filmmaker tours and provides marketing materials for each film. South Arts recognizes the value of filmmaker participation by providing an honorarium for each filmmaker’s tour, with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Screening Partners must be nonprofit, educational, or governmental organizations residing in the South Arts region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Southern Circuit Screening Partners have included schools, churches, arts centers, municipalities, and other organizations, serving audiences of all ages.

Southern Circuit is invested in partnering with Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the South Arts region.

What films are presented?

Southern Circuit prioritizes featuring Southern filmmakers and stories. We are committed to presenting films by filmmakers of color, LGBTQ+ filmmakers, and filmmakers with disabilities. Selected filmmakers should have an ethical relationship with the topics and individuals/communities represented in their work. We are invested in including emerging and first-time filmmakers.

Screening Partners are provided a Southern Circuit Film Guide with potential selections for the season. Screening Partners work together to select six films that will tour to all Screening Partners. The Southern Circuit Film Selection Meeting will be held in June. At least one representative from your organization will be required to participate.

NOTE: Requests related to hunger relief programs must be submitted from March 1 to April 30 for a September decision and announcement. See the following grant pages for details on other programs

• Youth or Education
• Housing and shelter.

Our key focus areas.

From alleviating hunger and reducing homelessness to supporting youth programs and education initiatives, we are dedicated to making lives better in the communities where we live and work. Our founder, George Jenkins—affectionately known as Mr. George—believed in giving back and donated his time, talent, and money. We are proud to continue his legacy of building hope and nourishing brighter futures through our support of nonprofit organizations. If you represent a nonprofit organization, request our support. 

Alleviating Hunger

Nourishing hope with food banks.

Providing nourishing meals to our neighbors in need is at the heart of who we are. Our founder, George Jenkins, believed that as a food retailer, we had a responsibility to feed the hungry. “We’re not only in the grocery business; we’re in the people business,” he often said. Since 2015, Publix Super Markets Charities has contributed more than $32.5 million to hunger-related programs. We are proud to continue our commitment to alleviate hunger in our communities year-round by supporting local food banks and other nonprofits across the Southeast.

Although full applications are due on the deadlines above, potential grantees’ discussions with the foundation about their application should begin well before that date. The foundation requests notification of intent to apply and the nature of the request. Discussion before the due date can address potential issues and can help develop the clearest proposal. This requires time and must be started before the deadline.

New applicants and those that have not received Briggs funding in the past ten years must arrange for a site visit or telephone conference with the Foundation’s executive director well before the deadlines above.

Thomas W. Briggs Foundation 

The Thomas W. Briggs Foundation focuses its support on organizations whose mission aligns with one of the following Briggs focus areas:

Arts – Efforts that offer enriching cultural experiences throughout the city and position Memphis as a community of broad, uplifting artistic amenities

Civic – Efforts that build on the uniqueness of Memphis, enhance the quality of life and provide opportunities for all people to interact

Education – Efforts in local primary and secondary schools that improve the quality of teaching and assist students, especially the disadvantaged, in succeeding in the classroom and in the job market; and efforts of local higher education institutions that encourage and ensure excellence

Social Services – Efforts that address local issues and concerns that improve the quality of life for individuals in need and empower them to become contributing members of our community

Youth – Efforts that prepare our young people for academic success and responsible citizenship.

The effort for which funding is requested must be consistent with the applicant organization’s overall mission.

Briggs Funding Goals

In making grants the Thomas W Briggs Foundation:

• Seeks to leverage its gifts and to participate in community efforts that have wide support and generate measurable differences;
• May consider funding for seed money, capital support, multi-year gifts, entrepreneurial/innovative efforts and for annual operating activities that will help take an existing effort to scale;
• Awards a total of about $750,000 a year in two funding cycles; this total includes new grants and existing payments on prior year pledges;
• Reviews about 12 proposals a cycle.
• In deciding which proposals can be reviewed, preference is given to organizations whose missions are the best fit with one of the five Briggs Focus Areas and to organizations that have worked with Briggs in the past although new organizations can be considered;
• Requests that all communications during the grant process be with one employee of the organization;

With a funding contribution from Toyota in connection with the launch of the RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition, NEEF is seeking projects that will help make public lands more accessible and enjoyable for Americans of all abilities together with their families and friends. Through the Driving Mobility and Accessibility on Public Lands grant, NEEF aims to:

• Increase the capacity of local organizations to address mobility and accessibility considerations on public lands and waterways; and
• Improve the level of access, comfort, and enjoyment experienced by public lands visitors of all abilities together with their families and friends.

NOTE: All requests related to housing and shelter  programs must be submitted by the deadline above for a decision and announcement near the end of the year. See the following grant pages for details on other programs

• Youth or Education
• Alleviating Hunger

Our key focus areas.

From alleviating hunger and reducing homelessness to supporting youth programs and education initiatives, we are dedicated to making lives better in the communities where we live and work. Our founder, George Jenkins—affectionately known as Mr. George—believed in giving back and donated his time, talent, and money. We are proud to continue his legacy of building hope and nourishing brighter futures through our support of nonprofit organizations. If you represent a nonprofit organization, request our support

Reducing Housing Insecurity & Homelessness

Building hope.

Our founder, George Jenkins, believed a home provided more than shelter. He believed it gave families safety, independence, and hope. To help those struggling with housing insecurity, Publix Super Markets Charities supports Habitat for Humanity and other nonprofits that provide housing and shelter services across the Southeast. Over the last seven years, we have donated more than $28 million to organizations that provide transitional support, client service programs, and financial support for housing.

Creative Placemaking

The Creative Placemaking (CP) grant is designed to help communities enhance the distinctive local character of Tennessee places for positive economic and community outcomes. Successful CP applications will demonstrate how proposed projects will materially improve the physical and social character of their neighborhoods, districts, municipalities, or regions through arts and cultural activities or assets. Funding will depend upon an application’s rating from the review process and the total amount of funds available to the Tennessee Arts Commission for grant allocation. In addition to merit ratings, the Commission seeks a diversity of project designs, locations and community settings across Tennessee for CP projects. This category is competitive.

What is Creative Placemaking?

The Commission believes that creativity is a catalyst for innovation, entrepreneurship and invention. Many organizations, businesses and local governments collaborate to reinvest in and revitalize their communities, and the arts often represent a way to cultivate and capitalize upon creativity with lasting economic benefits.

In creative placemaking, partners from public, private, nonprofit and community sectors strategically shape the physical and social character of a neighborhood, town, city or region around arts and cultural activities or assets. Creative placemaking animates public and private spaces, rejuvenates structures and streetscapes, improves local business visibility and public safety, and brings diverse people together to build shared understanding of culture and community.

Examples of projects or activities may include but are not limited to:

• Arts used as a catalyst to revitalize downtowns or neighborhoods
• Development of an arts or cultural business incubator or apprenticeship program
• Transformation of a perceived community liability into a community asset through the arts
• Development of an activity or project that encourages greater engagement with the arts in state parks, farmer’s markets, or other natural, unique ecological or recreational assets

To increase the likelihood of success and sustainability, the Commission encourages communities to involve public, private (including nonprofit organizations) and institutional partners in the development of a CP grant proposal.

NOTE: New applicants are encouraged to contact Nikki Estes at 404-874-7244 x816 to discuss eligibility before applying.

Presentation Grants Program

Presentation Grants are an opportunity for organizations in South Arts' nine-state region to receive fee support to present Southern guest film directors, visual and performing artists, or writers from outside of the presenter's state. Artist fee support is awarded for:

• film (documentary, fiction, experimental, and animation),
• performing arts (theater, music, opera, musical theater, and dance),
• literary arts (fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry),
• traditional arts, and
• visual arts (crafts, drawing, experimental, painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media).

Projects must include both a public presentation (film screening, performance, reading, or exhibition) and an educational/community engagement component. These grants are limited and very competitive. Based on the artist fee, the maximum request is $9,500 for modern dance and contemporary ballet or $7,500 for other artistic disciplines. 

South Arts is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We have prioritized this commitment to ensure that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) led organizations, LGBTQIA+ led organizations, and organizations representing persons with disabilities are represented as both applicants and grantees. In addition, we encourage applications for projects that engage BIPOC artists, LGBTQIA+ artists, and artists with disabilities.