Southwest Airlines
/OVERVIEW: Southwest Airlines supports organizations that help communities prepare for disasters as well as those responding to regions affected by disaster. It also supports efforts to revitalize public spaces, fund travel for medical reasons, support military families, and reduce waste and pollution.
IP TAKE: Southwest restricts information about its grant amounts. Grantseekers should contact this corporate funder before applying to ensure that its grantmaking fits their needs. It is somewhat accessible in that you can apply online, but note grants typically ensure in-kind donations rather than cash grants. Disaster preparedness and response attracts bigger grants.
PROFILE: Southwest Airlines’ corporate Charitable Giving program is “committed to giving back in the communities where our customers and employees live and work.” In a recent year, Southwest gave away over $20 million in cash and travel grants to local and national nonprofits working in its giving areas, including: Placemaking, Families Facing Serious Illness, Military and their Families, Disaster Preparedness and Response and the Environment.
Grants for Humanitarian Relief
Southwest’s Disaster Response program works closely with national disaster relief organizations, which focus on “preparedness and response during times of need.” Southwest regularly partners with the American Red Cross, Team Rubicon, All Hands Volunteers, Americares, and Toolbank USA. The airline also supports other disaster preparedness and response organizations through its Charitable Giving programs.
Grants for Housing and Community Development
Southwest Airlines supports housing and community development initiatives through the Placemaking focus area in its National Giving program. Southwest launched its Heart of the Community program to develop parks and public spaces in order to “spark social, economic, and environmental benefits in communities across the country.”
Grants for Public Health and Diseases
Southwest Airlines launched their Medical Transportation Grant Program in order to support “much-needed assistance to medical patients and their family members who are traveling for specialized life-saving or life-changing medical care.” Southwest provides fully-paid round trip tickets to support patients who cannot afford such travel expenses. These tickets are distributed to hospitals and other health organizations, so patients in need of travel support must contact their provider or Southwest MTGP partner in their state to find out if they are eligible for support.
Grants for Military and Veterans
Southwest Airlines supports Military and Their Families, including active duty, reservists, and veterans, by making grants to organizations that “provide a variety of valuable programs and services to support the men, women, and families who sacrifice for our country every day.” One major recipient of Southwest’s funding is the Marine Corp Scholarship Foundation, which awards academic scholarships to children of Marine Corp and Navy servicemen and veterans.
Grants for K-12 Education, Work and Economic Opportunity
Southwest Airlines supports both nonprofits and schools with workforce development programs focused on increasing students’ access “to the diverse set of career opportunities in the aviation industry.”
Grants for Environmental Conservation
Southwest Airlines is committed to “minimizing waste and effectively using our resources (energy, People, and materials).” The foundation does not provide detailed information on its grantmaking efforts in this regard, especially given the airline industry’s contribution to carbon.
Important Grant Details:
Unfortunately, Southwest does not disclose the dollar value of individual grants. According to its website, last year it received about 15,000 donation requests and distributed close to 39,000 tickets “for a combined value of more than $19 million in total contributions.” Southwest offers both cash grants and in-kind donations.
Southwest accepts unsolicited grant applications through its online portal only and no longer accepts submission via mail. Grantseekers must submit applications at least 60 in advance of their anticipated funding needs. Southwest accepts one submission per organization per calendar year and there are currently no deadlines for funding application submissions.
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