How the RBC Foundation Supports Nonprofits in the Minneapolis Area and Beyond

RBC Wealth Management is the largest full-service wealth management firm in Canada and also has a strong presence in the Upper Midwest region of the U.S. This financial company created a philanthropic foundation to channel its charitable giving, and it frequently awards grants in and around Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Here’s a look at how the RBC Foundation gives locally and what Minnesota organizations can do to secure support from this grantmaker.

A focus on youth

The overarching goal of the RBC Foundation is to provide support that is focused and relevant for the younger generations. RBC has been named one of the most socially responsible corporations in Canada and focuses most of its giving on children, youth and young adults.

Youth is the main area of focus in the U.S., but other focus areas include arts and culture, health, and human services. Youth grants target people between the ages of 15 and 29 and go toward everything from internships to mentorships, financial literacy and technology.

The Emerging Artist Project is an RBC Foundation effort that helps artists between the ages of 18 and 35 with mentorship, advanced learning and opportunities to showcase their work. Another initiative, Race for the Kids, started as a Toronto project and has grown to be a global program that supports children’s causes with running races that take place in the U.S., Canada, China, the U.K. and Australia. Past focuses of these races include children’s mental health and childhood cancer.

Local arts and culture grants support emerging artists and provide access to the arts for diverse populations. Health grants exclusively go to the RBC Youth Mental Well-Being Project, while human services grants address self-sufficiency needs, such as emergency food, shelter, adult literacy and employment training. Another RBC Foundation initiative is the Blue Water Project, which protects and improves the natural resource of water on a global scale.

Other corporate community involvement

As with many corporations, RBC’s foundation is just one part of its social responsibility portfolio. Through the lens of other initiatives and programs, the company is interested in the effects of climate change and sustainable paths to protect the environment. It also believes that arts and culture play an important role in building strong economies and communities, and it provides health and human services support to veterans, people who are in ill health and to families affected by disasters.

The company’s youth focus area is largely focused on the mental health needs of young people, preparing them for future success and providing them with leadership skills. It has diversity and inclusion initiatives in the workplace and also supports golf tournaments to benefit local communities. RBC Wealth Management is a founding member of the Minnesota Keystone Program and pledges a percentage of its profits to charity each year.

Applying for a foundation grant

Fortunately for grantseekers in Minnesota and other places in the U.S. where the company does business, the RBC Foundation has an accessible and straightforward grant application process. It has been awarding over $2.5 million annually to nonprofits in the U.S. in recent years. Some RBC Foundation programs have specific application deadlines, while others accept applications year-round.

Read more about this corporate grantmaker in IP’s full profile of the RBC Foundation.

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