Caterpillar Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Caterpillar Foundation supports organizations that alleviate the root causes of poverty, focusing on education, the environment, and basic needs.
IP TAKE: This funder seeks collaborative organizations addressing pervasive global challenges, particularly poverty. It has targeted giving programs, but the foundation is not particularly transparent or accessible. Its grants are by invitation only and prioritize larger, established institutions and organizations. It’s a good funder for receiving support beyond monetary grants.
PROFILE: Established in 1952, the Caterpillar Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Peoria, Illinois based heavy machinery company, Caterpillar. It seeks to “build thriving communities by investing in the skills people need to join the modern workforce, and the natural and vital infrastructure they rely upon.” The foundation makes grants through its Together. Stronger initiative, which prioritizes grants for communities around the world in which it has a presence. It invests in Workforce Development and Building Community Infrastructure.
The Caterpillar Foundation supports specific focus areas, but it also makes grants through its vibrant employee-driven grantmaking initiative, Caterpillar Cares. The Matching Gifts program matches employee donations up to $2,000 to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits and accredited public schools in the US.
Grants for Global Development; Housing and Community Development; Grants for Public Health
The Caterpillar Foundation emphasizes a bottom-up approach that seeks to alleviate poverty and empower people to help themselves. According to the foundation’s website, only once people are able to meet their basic, human needs, can they move on to pursue economic security and education, which consequently leads to economic development. It conducts grantmaking for global development, community development and housing through its Building Community Infrastructure program, which seeks to “help communities gain access to the basic services like water and energy that allow them to grow stronger and become more productive.” Caterpillar’s partners in this area have included Water.org, Charity: Water, Feeding America, and Local Initiative Support Corporation, which “mobilizes corporate, government and philanthropic support to provide low-income communities with affordable housing, schools and more.”
The foundation also makes grants to support COVID-19 relief and recovery programs in the U.S. and around the world.
Grants for Environmental Conservation, Marine, and Wildlife
Caterpillar’s grants to environmental and marine conservation efforts, and animal and wildlife organizations are largely awarded through its Natural Infrastructure program, which is a component of its Building Community Infrastructure focus area and supports projects associated with natural resource management, soil conservation, pollution reduction, reforestation, and long-term sustainable development advocacy. The foundation seeks to “restore local ecosystems to help communities grow stronger, more resilient and more sustainable.”
Past Environmental Conservation grantees include the National Parks Conservation Association and the Nature Conservancy. Previous Marine & Freshwater grantees include the Colorado Water Trust and the Heartland Water Resources Council of Central Illinois. Carpenter’s Animals & Wildlife partners include the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the American Bear Association.
Grants for STEM Education
Caterpillar prioritizes STEM education through its Workforce Development focus area, which seeks to expand “access to STEM education in under-served communities in the US and around the world.” The Caterpillar Foundation’s grants for higher education is conducted through other initiatives as well. Its Building Community Infrastructure initiative supports natural infrastructure programs that “restore local ecosystems to help communities grow stronger, more resilient and more sustainable.” Similarly, its basic needs investments support access to food, water, shelter, energy, disaster relief, and advocacy. Universities involved in research or policy work in these areas may qualify for Caterpillar funding.
Past education grantees include organizations such as International Youth Foundation, which helps young people develop leadership, technical, and life skills. Universities Caterpillar has partnered with include Temple University, the University of Portland and Dartmouth College.
Grants for Work and Economic Opportunity
Caterpillar’s Workforce Development grants “support programs that are tailored to local labor markets, where teachers are well-equipped and well-trained, and students get hands-on experience in the workplace.”
Previous grantees in this area include Opportunity International, International Youth Foundation, and Global Citizen.
Important Grant Details:
Grant amounts vary widely, and range from a few hundred dollars to a few million. The Caterpillar Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funding or grant applications. Those invited to apply for a grant must submit their applications between February 1 and July 1.
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