Lowe’s Foundation and Corporate Giving
/OVERVIEW: The home improvement retail chain Lowe’s conducts grantmaking via its corporate responsibility program, the Lowe’s Foundation and the Lowe’s Canada Foundation. Its main areas of giving address housing and community development, with secondary interests in K-12 education, veterans’ causes and disaster relief. Lowe’s Canada Foundation gives to Canadian organizations involved in pediatric cancer care and research.
IP TAKE: Lowe’s is not an accessible funder, but organizations working in affordable housing or vocational education should reach out to Lowe’s via local management to discuss grantmaking opportunities. It’s somewhat approachable in responding. Expect a long wait for email replies. This funder tends to support smaller organizations that have strong impact on the communities they serve, although the foundation supports several large national organizations that support veterans.
Lowe’s, the home improvement giant, names affordable housing and workforce development for skilled trades as its main priorities. In these areas, Lowe’s supports local organizations that have a strong impact on the communities they serve. Through its U.S. foundation, Lowe’s also supports K-12 education, emphasizing the skilled trades and STEM. Disaster relief funding stems mainly from the corporate giving program and mainly goes to large national and international organizations. Across all areas of giving, Lowe’s is committed to supporting veterans’ organizations.
Note that the foundation’s corporate sister gave to Sedition Caucus members following the January 6th coup attempt.
PROFILE: The Lowe’s home improvement retail chain conducts philanthropy through its corporate giving programs, the Lowe’s Foundation, the Lowe’s Canada Foundation and the Lowe’s Employee Relief Fund. The company’s U.S. philanthropy funds affordable housing and vocational education in the skilled trades, prioritizing veterans’ groups in both areas. Secondary areas of interest include K-12 education and disaster relief. The company’s Canadian foundation mainly supports pediatric cancer care and research, while the employee relief fund “provides financial support to associates in times of significant, unforeseen financial hardship.”
Grants for Housing and Community Development
Affordable housing is the Lowe’s Foundation’s largest area of giving and focuses on developing “safe and affordable housing initiatives” across the U.S., but has recently named Charlotte, North Carolina a priority area. To a lesser extent, the foundation supports homeless shelters and transitional housing programs. In Kirkland, Washington, Lowe’s has given to Imagine Housing, which has developed fourteen communities of affordable apartments for individuals and families, some of which also offer employment, health, counseling and other resources to residents. Another grantee, Housing Partnerships, Inc. of Williamsburg, Virginia, coordinates volunteer efforts to “repair the homes of the area’s most impoverished residents.” Other housing grantees include Haven House Services of Raleigh, North Carolina; HomeStretch of Roswell, Georgia; and the South Central Indiana Housing Opportunities Corporation.
Grants for Work and Economic Opportunity
Lowe’s work and opportunity grantmaking focuses on “workforce development programs that address the skilled trades gap.” One recent grantee, the Montachusett Opportunity Council of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, received funding to support its vocational services and financial literacy programs. Another grantee, the Rooftop of Virginia Community Action Program, offers training and job search support to individuals and families in Grayson and Carroll Counties. And in North Carolina, Lowe’s has partnered with the nonprofit Charlotte Works to create skilled trade education programs at Central Piedmont Community College and ResCare Workforce Services. As part of its COVID-19 response, Lowe’s has teamed up with the Ford Foundation’s LISC to offer grants and low-cost loans to struggling small businesses. Finally, Lowe’s announced in 2023 a “$50 million commitment over the next five years to prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers through grants to community and technical colleges and community-based nonprofits.”
Grants for K-12 Education
Lowe’s interest in supporting skilled trades education also involves support for vocational programs in K-12 school districts. Lowe’s recently supported the development of a career and technical education pathway program at Atlas Preparatory School in Colorado Springs. Tax filings also suggest an interest in K-12 STEM programs and school renovation projects. Recent grants have supported projects at Atlanta Public Schools, Caverna High School in St. Louis, KIPP Charlotte and Washington D.C.’s Payne Elementary School, which used funding to develop its technology program.
Grants for Military and Veterans Causes
Veterans are a main priority of Lowe’s housing and work and opportunity grantmaking. In Georgia, Lowe’s has supported the Genesis Joy House, which provides housing, case management and other resources to homeless and vulnerable female veterans. Lowe’s has also given to the Mission Continues, a national organization that helps veterans “redeploy” by making a positive impact in their communities. Other grantees include Building Homes for Heroes, the U.S. Department of Defense SkillBridge Program and AMVETS, which offers scholarships and fellowships to veterans and their spouses for career-oriented programs in skilled trades and technology.
Grants for Disaster Relief
Lowe’s supports disaster relief in the U.S. and around the world through corporate donations to large national organizations and NGOs. In addition to funding and supplying immediate relief efforts, Lowe’s often supports rebuilding efforts in affected communities months or years after disasters occur. Lowe’s has partnered with Reach Out Worldwide to help rebuilding efforts after wildfires destroyed property in Paradise, California, and worked with FLASH to support communities in Florida’s panhandle after Hurricane Michael struck in 2018. Other disaster grantees include the American Red Cross, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes and All Hands and Hearts, which coordinates volunteer teams to assist with relief and rebuilding efforts in disaster-affected communities around the world.
Grants for Diseases
The Lowe’s Canada Foundation focuses its giving on pediatric cancer research and care. Recent grantees include the Children’s Miracle Network, Opération Enfant Soleil and the Charles-Bruneau Foundation, which runs cancer care facilities and sponsors research in Canada.
Important Grant Details:
In a recent year, Lowe’s and its foundation gave about $42 million to charitable causes and nonprofit organizations. Grants are generally awarded in amounts up to $100,000, with an average grant size of about $25,000. For additional information about past grants, see Lowe’s newsroom or its recent tax filings.
Neither Lowe’s nor its affiliated foundations accept unsolicited applications for funding. Prospective grantees may send an email to the corporation’s corporate responsibility program or reach out to local management for additional information about funding opportunities.
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