Costco's charitable giving program supports 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations focused on children, education, and health and human services. Monetary requests are accepted on a rolling basis, with one application per organization per fiscal year (September-August).
Best Corporate Giving Programs (2026)
Not all corporate philanthropy flows through a foundation. Corporate giving programs are run directly by the company — product donations, in-kind grants, employee volunteer programs, customer-directed giving, and sponsorships that never touch a 501(c)(3) foundation. This category tracks 9 major programs: Nike Community Impact, FedEx Cares, Google Ad Grants (free search advertising for nonprofits — one of the highest-value in-kind programs in existence), Microsoft Tech for Social Impact (discounted and donated software), Target Circle Community Giving (customer-directed), Walmart Spark Good, Costco Charitable Giving, Home Depot Community Impact Grants, and Kaiser Permanente Community Giving. These programs are often more accessible than corporate foundations: product-donation portals and volunteer grants typically have straightforward online applications, while sponsorship budgets are decided locally by store or regional managers. The trade-off is scale — in-kind and local programs rarely write the six-figure checks foundations do, but they fund things foundations won't: equipment, software, advertising credits, and project materials. Note that some programs have no open round at any given time (FedEx Cares, for example, had no open application round at last check) — the directory flags that rather than sending you to a dead form.
FedEx Cares is FedEx's global community engagement program, aligning the company's logistics capabilities and team-member volunteerism with nonprofits in areas such as disaster relief, entrepreneurship, and sustainable logistics. It is not run as a separate grantmaking foundation and has no open public application round; support flows through employee-driven initiatives and partnerships.
Google Ad Grants, part of Google for Nonprofits, provides qualifying nonprofits up to $10,000 USD per month in in-kind Google Search advertising. Eligible organizations need valid charity status (e.g., 501(c)(3) in the U.S.) and verification via Google's nonprofit verification partner; government entities, hospitals, and schools are generally ineligible. Accounts must maintain a 5% monthly click-through rate and comply with bidding and keyword policies; funds do not roll over.
The Home Depot Community Impact Grants program (distinct from the Home Depot Foundation's large-scale giving) awards up to $5,000 in Home Depot gift cards to nonprofits for community improvement projects such as facility repairs and neighborhood revitalization. Applications are accepted through Home Depot's community grants portal.
Kaiser Permanente funds community health through regional grant programs rather than a single foundation, awarding grants to nonprofits in its service areas. Priority areas include health care access and equity, mental and behavioral health, food and nutrition security, housing stability, and education - e.g., about $2.7 million to 32 nonprofits in Riverside County for 2025-2026 and a $25 million 2026 grant to Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital. KPGives is its year-round employee giving program.
Tech for Social Impact is Microsoft's nonprofit technology program, providing donated and discounted cloud, productivity, and AI tools to eligible nonprofits. Offers include free Microsoft 365 for up to 10 users and $2,000 per year in Azure credits for qualifying organizations. It operates alongside Microsoft Philanthropies' grantmaking and employee giving.
Nike Community Impact is Nike's corporate giving arm, supporting youth access to sport and play through grants and partnerships with nonprofits, schools, and community organizations. The Nike Community Impact Fund (NCIF) makes employee-led grants to grassroots organizations that get kids moving in communities where Nike employees live, work, and play; its 2026 Pacific Northwest cycle awarded $5,000-$25,000. Global initiatives include Made to Play for children ages 7-12.
Target Circle Community Giving lets Target's free loyalty-program members earn votes with each eligible purchase and direct Target's charitable giving to participating local and national nonprofits (about 800 organizations per cycle). All participating nonprofits receive funding proportional to their votes; organizations typically receive $1,000-$2,000 per 90-day campaign, with every participant guaranteed at least $500.
Walmart Spark Good is Walmart's local community giving program, enabling stores and clubs to award grants to nonprofits in their communities. Grants typically range from $250 to $5,000, awarded across three annual cycles in the fiscal year. Eligible nonprofits apply through Walmart's Spark Good platform.
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from the Corporate Foundations category?
These programs are run directly by the company rather than through a separate foundation — product donations, in-kind grants, ad credits, employee volunteering, and customer-directed giving. They're often easier to access but typically smaller than foundation grants.
What is Google Ad Grants?
Google's in-kind program giving eligible nonprofits free search advertising credit each month. It's consistently one of the highest-value corporate giving programs available to nonprofits, with its own eligibility and compliance requirements on Google's site.
Can local chapters apply to national programs?
Often yes for store- or region-level programs (Home Depot, Walmart, Target), which are decided locally. Check each listing for whether applications are national or local.