Amcor Cares

OVERVIEW: Amcor Cares supports efforts to fight hunger and homelessness, disaster relief, STEM education, health and arts and culture in Wisconsin and other places where the company does business.

FUNDING AREAS: Hunger, homelessness, disaster relief, STEM education, health, arts and culture

IP TAKE: This corporate funder is very active in Wisconsin communities, so local nonprofits are advised to email letter of inquiry details to introduce an organization and relevant program.

PROFILE: Established in 1959, Amcor Cares is a corporate foundation based in Neenah, Wisconsin. It was previously named the Bemis Company Foundation and was founded as the company’s principal tool in the U.S. to serve “Amcor Flexibles” communities. The foundation aims to "encourage, empower and elevate” to enhance lives in its communities. It funds local efforts for hunger, homelessness, disaster relief, STEM education, health and arts and culture.

Amcor Cares donates several million dollars to charitable organizations each year. “Encourage” grants address hunger, homelessness and disaster relief. “Empower” grants cover the expansion of STEM education, building life skills and improving health and wellness. “Elevate” grants promote arts and culture and also fund Amcor scholarships. The foundation provides funding for general operating support, programs and capital campaigns. However, it does not fund hospitals, religious or political organizations or individuals. Amcor Cares has a small grants program that supports animal welfare organizations, historical societies, conservation organizations, community theaters and music and dance groups, youth sports clubs, school booster clubs, K-12 educational enrichment programs and community festivals. The funder also awards matching gift requests for employee donations.

Grants range between about $500 and $25,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on Wisconsin and other areas where the company does business. Wisconsin grantees are based in Marshfield, Oshkosh, Menasha, Neenah, Appleton, Hartland and Winneconne. Past local grantees include Girls on the Run Northeast Wisconsin, Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity and Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran School.

This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. However, it does accept emailed letters of inquiry to the foundation director. For invited grantseekers, each grant program has its own deadlines, which are typically in March, June and December. The foundation reviews applications at quarterly meetings and notifies applicants about the status of their requests after each quarter. The small grants program has no deadlines. Direct general questions to Kim Wetzel, the foundation director on the staff, at kim.wetzel@amcor.com.

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