{
  "title": "Corporate Giving Accessibility Index",
  "publisher": "LargestCharities.com",
  "url": "https://largestcharities.com/corporate-giving-accessibility-index/",
  "verified_date": "2026-07-19",
  "license": "Free to reuse with attribution and a link to the source page.",
  "methodology": {
    "axes": [
      "Application access",
      "Criteria transparency",
      "Small & local eligibility",
      "Lead-time burden",
      "Process clarity"
    ],
    "scale": "Each axis scored 0-3 from the company's own published policy. Maximum 15.",
    "gate_rule": "If a small local nonprofit cannot realistically apply (gate = no), the company cannot be placed above the Difficult band regardless of total score.",
    "bands": {
      "Accessible": "12-15",
      "Moderate": "8-11",
      "Difficult": "4-7",
      "Effectively closed": "0-3"
    },
    "limitations": [
      "Scores measure how accessible and transparent a published process is. They are not a measure of generosity, total giving, or approval odds.",
      "We do not hold application outcome data, so no approval rates are published.",
      "Absence of a program from a company's official page is reported as absence, not as confirmed discontinuation."
    ]
  },
  "companies": [
    {
      "company": "Panera Bread",
      "program": "Panera Fundraising nights; Day-End Dough-Nation",
      "route": "Online form",
      "give": "Share of net sales (20-25%); unsold baked goods",
      "lead": "2-3 weeks to book a fundraising night",
      "gate": "yes",
      "total": 14,
      "band": "Accessible",
      "note": "Separate event/product donation program is PAUSED and not accepting applications (company help article, updated 5 Jan 2026).",
      "src": "https://fundraising.panerabread.com/new-request",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 2,
        "Criteria transparency": 3,
        "Small & local eligibility": 3,
        "Lead-time burden": 3,
        "Process clarity": 3
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "Chipotle",
      "program": "Community fundraiser nights",
      "route": "Online application",
      "give": "Share of sales from a fundraiser event",
      "lead": "At least 3 weeks",
      "gate": "yes",
      "total": 13,
      "band": "Accessible",
      "note": "Payout depends entirely on how well you promote the event.",
      "src": "https://www.chipotle.com/",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 3,
        "Criteria transparency": 2,
        "Small & local eligibility": 3,
        "Lead-time burden": 3,
        "Process clarity": 2
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "Whole Foods Market",
      "program": "Store Directed Giving; in-kind product",
      "route": "Online portal (biannual deadlines)",
      "give": "Cash via portal; in-kind product at store level",
      "lead": "2026 deadlines: 12 Apr and 11 Oct",
      "gate": "yes",
      "total": 13,
      "band": "Accessible",
      "note": "Cash is deadline-driven and monetary-only; in-kind product is requested year-round at the store.",
      "src": "https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company-info/newsroom/community-giving/store-giving",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 2,
        "Criteria transparency": 3,
        "Small & local eligibility": 3,
        "Lead-time burden": 2,
        "Process clarity": 3
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "Kroger",
      "program": "Direct donation requests; Community Rewards",
      "route": "Online form",
      "give": "Cash, sponsorships, gift cards, product; ongoing loyalty-card giving",
      "lead": "At least 4 weeks",
      "gate": "yes",
      "total": 12,
      "band": "Accessible",
      "note": "Community Rewards gives recurring income without a one-time ask.",
      "src": "https://www.kroger.com/",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 3,
        "Criteria transparency": 2,
        "Small & local eligibility": 3,
        "Lead-time burden": 2,
        "Process clarity": 2
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "Publix",
      "program": "Publix Charitable Donations",
      "route": "Online system",
      "give": "Cash for youth, education, hunger, homelessness",
      "lead": "Weeks; apply early in the year",
      "gate": "yes",
      "total": 12,
      "band": "Accessible",
      "note": "Southeast footprint only.",
      "src": "https://www.publix.com/",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 3,
        "Criteria transparency": 3,
        "Small & local eligibility": 2,
        "Lead-time burden": 2,
        "Process clarity": 2
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "Walmart",
      "program": "Spark Good local grants",
      "route": "Online portal",
      "give": "Local cash grants $250-$5,000; store-level product and gift cards",
      "lead": "Rolling; reviewed on a cycle",
      "gate": "yes",
      "total": 12,
      "band": "Accessible",
      "note": "Store managers can add product or gift-card donations separately from the grant.",
      "src": "https://walmart.com/nonprofits",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 3,
        "Criteria transparency": 2,
        "Small & local eligibility": 3,
        "Lead-time burden": 2,
        "Process clarity": 2
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "Dick's Sporting Goods",
      "program": "Sponsorships & Donations (corporate); Sports Matter (Foundation)",
      "route": "Online portal (corporate)",
      "give": "Sponsorships; donations usually as coupons/gift certificates, not cash",
      "lead": "Reviewed monthly; decision typically within 60 days",
      "gate": "yes",
      "total": 11,
      "band": "Moderate",
      "note": "Sports Matter Foundation grants ($1,000-$25,000) are INVITATION ONLY - you cannot apply directly. The open door is the corporate portal.",
      "src": "https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/s/marketing/sponsorships-and-donations",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 2,
        "Criteria transparency": 3,
        "Small & local eligibility": 2,
        "Lead-time burden": 1,
        "Process clarity": 3
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "Lowe's",
      "program": "Community Impact Grants (Lowe's Hometowns)",
      "route": "Public nomination form (annual window)",
      "give": "Cash and/or gift cards for renovating a community space, plus volunteer labor",
      "lead": "2026 window ran 18 Feb - 20 Mar 2026 (now closed)",
      "gate": "yes",
      "total": 10,
      "band": "Moderate",
      "note": "No minimum operating budget and site must be within 30 miles of a store - the lowest barrier of the 20. But 2026 is the final year of the announced five-year commitment; nothing published about 2027.",
      "src": "https://corporate.lowes.com/our-responsibilities/community-bucket-list",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 2,
        "Criteria transparency": 2,
        "Small & local eligibility": 3,
        "Lead-time burden": 1,
        "Process clarity": 2
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "Target",
      "program": "GiftCard donations; store Community Engagement Funds",
      "route": "Printed form brought to a store",
      "give": "Gift cards; store-led grants",
      "lead": "Available Feb-Dec as funding permits",
      "gate": "yes",
      "total": 10,
      "band": "Moderate",
      "note": "Requires 501(c)(3) or accredited school and an IRS letter.",
      "src": "https://corporate.target.com/",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 2,
        "Criteria transparency": 2,
        "Small & local eligibility": 3,
        "Lead-time burden": 2,
        "Process clarity": 1
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "Chick-fil-A",
      "program": "Local restaurant donations",
      "route": "Contact the franchise Operator",
      "give": "Mostly food; separate corporate grants for larger needs",
      "lead": "4-6 weeks",
      "gate": "yes",
      "total": 9,
      "band": "Moderate",
      "note": "Restaurants are independently owned, so the Operator decides.",
      "src": "https://www.chick-fil-a.com/",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 1,
        "Criteria transparency": 2,
        "Small & local eligibility": 3,
        "Lead-time burden": 2,
        "Process clarity": 1
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "Starbucks",
      "program": "Store-level community support",
      "route": "Ask the store manager",
      "give": "Coffee and product for local events, within the store's budget",
      "lead": "A few weeks",
      "gate": "yes",
      "total": 9,
      "band": "Moderate",
      "note": "No public portal. The Starbucks Foundation handles large organizational grants, not event requests.",
      "src": "https://www.starbucks.com/",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 1,
        "Criteria transparency": 1,
        "Small & local eligibility": 3,
        "Lead-time burden": 3,
        "Process clarity": 1
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "Trader Joe's",
      "program": "Store donation program",
      "route": "In person, via the store's Donations Coordinator",
      "give": "Food and products for 501(c)(3) events",
      "lead": "Several weeks",
      "gate": "yes",
      "total": 9,
      "band": "Moderate",
      "note": "No central form at all - every request goes through the local store.",
      "src": "https://www.traderjoes.com/",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 1,
        "Criteria transparency": 2,
        "Small & local eligibility": 3,
        "Lead-time burden": 2,
        "Process clarity": 1
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "YETI",
      "program": "Donation requests",
      "route": "Online request",
      "give": "Drinkware more often than coolers",
      "lead": "Several weeks",
      "gate": "limited",
      "total": 9,
      "band": "Moderate",
      "note": "Strongly favours outdoor, fishing, hunting and conservation causes.",
      "src": "https://www.yeti.com/",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 3,
        "Criteria transparency": 2,
        "Small & local eligibility": 1,
        "Lead-time burden": 2,
        "Process clarity": 1
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "Costco",
      "program": "Local warehouse donations; central grant review",
      "route": "Local warehouse + central review",
      "give": "Cash and product for children's, education, health and human services causes",
      "lead": "Several months",
      "gate": "limited",
      "total": 8,
      "band": "Moderate",
      "note": "Longest published lead time of the 20.",
      "src": "https://www.costco.com/",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 2,
        "Criteria transparency": 3,
        "Small & local eligibility": 2,
        "Lead-time burden": 0,
        "Process clarity": 1
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "Sam's Club",
      "program": "Club-level donations",
      "route": "Ask your local club - no central form",
      "give": "Product, gift cards, local support at club discretion",
      "lead": "Several weeks",
      "gate": "yes",
      "total": 8,
      "band": "Moderate",
      "note": "Owned by Walmart but handled separately from Spark Good.",
      "src": "https://www.samsclub.com/",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 1,
        "Criteria transparency": 1,
        "Small & local eligibility": 3,
        "Lead-time burden": 2,
        "Process clarity": 1
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "Home Depot",
      "program": "Path to Pro Education Grants; Veteran Housing Grants",
      "route": "Online portal",
      "give": "Gift cards for trades training; cash for veteran housing",
      "lead": "Path to Pro rolling; Veteran Housing cycles close 12 Dec 2025, 20 Mar and 3 Jul 2026",
      "gate": "no",
      "total": 11,
      "band": "Difficult",
      "note": "Both open programs require a $300,000 minimum operating budget and three years of audited financials. The Community Impact Grants program (historically up to $5,000 in gift cards) is NOT listed on the official grants page as of 19 Jul 2026 - see limitations.",
      "src": "https://corporate.homedepot.com/page/grants",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 3,
        "Criteria transparency": 3,
        "Small & local eligibility": 0,
        "Lead-time burden": 2,
        "Process clarity": 3
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "Best Buy",
      "program": "Teen Tech Centers (invitation only); Twin Cities Fund",
      "route": "Submittable, during program windows",
      "give": "Cash grants only - explicitly not technology donations and not volunteers",
      "lead": "Varies by grant and governance calendar",
      "gate": "limited",
      "total": 7,
      "band": "Difficult",
      "note": "The national Community Grants program (historically up to $10,000) is NOT listed on the Foundation's grants page as of 19 Jul 2026. Realistically open only in the seven-county Twin Cities metro.",
      "src": "https://www.bestbuyfoundation.org/grants",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 1,
        "Criteria transparency": 3,
        "Small & local eligibility": 1,
        "Lead-time burden": 1,
        "Process clarity": 1
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "Disney",
      "program": "Disney on Broadway ticket vouchers",
      "route": "Mostly closed; letter for Broadway vouchers",
      "give": "Occasional ticket vouchers; parks decline unsolicited requests",
      "lead": "30+ days for Broadway vouchers",
      "gate": "limited",
      "total": 7,
      "band": "Difficult",
      "note": "The theme parks do not accept unsolicited ticket-donation requests.",
      "src": "https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 1,
        "Criteria transparency": 2,
        "Small & local eligibility": 1,
        "Lead-time burden": 2,
        "Process clarity": 1
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "Marriott International",
      "program": "Serve 360 corporate giving; property-level requests",
      "route": "Closed to unsolicited; ask the hotel GM",
      "give": "Corporate cash by invitation; hotel-level gift certificates, room nights, event space",
      "lead": "Not published",
      "gate": "limited",
      "total": 5,
      "band": "Difficult",
      "note": "Marriott explicitly does not consider unsolicited requests at corporate level and redirects applicants to individual hotels.",
      "src": "https://help.marriott.com/s/article/request-charity-donation",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 1,
        "Criteria transparency": 3,
        "Small & local eligibility": 1,
        "Lead-time burden": 0,
        "Process clarity": 0
      }
    },
    {
      "company": "CVS Health",
      "program": "Health Zones; Hometown Fund; Volunteer Challenge Grants",
      "route": "By invitation or RFP only",
      "give": "Multi-year cash grants; colleague-triggered volunteer grants ($150-$3,000) and matching gifts",
      "lead": "Not published",
      "gate": "no",
      "total": 2,
      "band": "Effectively closed",
      "note": "CVS Health's own funding page states support is by invitation or RFP only and lists no open funding opportunities.",
      "src": "https://www.cvshealth.com/impact/healthy-community/funding.html",
      "verified": "2026-07-19",
      "scores": {
        "Application access": 0,
        "Criteria transparency": 2,
        "Small & local eligibility": 0,
        "Lead-time burden": 0,
        "Process clarity": 0
      }
    }
  ]
}