Charles Schwab Foundation provides direct grants to selected nonprofit organizations that support Schwab's commitment to financial literacy and respond to local cultural and social needs.
Selection Criteria
Grantseekers must meet at least one of the following three criteria:
- Be recommended by an employee who is an active volunteer in the organization, or
- Be performing community work that corresponds to the Foundation’s initiatives, or
- Promote financial literacy
Priority will be given to organizations that already have Schwab employee volunteers – and the more employees involved with the organization, the greater the opportunity to be considered for a direct grant.
Grant requests must be submitted using our online direct grant application form. Once submitted, requests are acknowledged via email with a confirmation number.
The foundation does not provide capital, challenge or seed funding or grants to hospitals or institutions of higher education, except in limited circumstances. As the foundation does not have the technical expertise to analyze medical research methodology and results, grants are generally not made to single-disease-oriented organizations or for medical research. Support for higher education, hospitals and single-disease-oriented organizations may be provided through the Employee Matching Gifts Program.
Eligible Organizations
To qualify for a direct grant, organizations must be based in the United States or one of its territories and must be recognized as a tax-exempt public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (per section 170). Educational institutions must be accredited by a regional accrediting association or by a recognized independent accrediting group.
The following types of organizations are not eligible for direct grants from Charles Schwab Foundation:
- Organizations that do not serve an educational, community service or charitable purpose for the community at large
- Organizations or projects that are religious or political in nature
- Organizations that are member-based (veteran and labor organizations, fraternal, athletic or social clubs)
- Organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, disability, religion, ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation
- Groups with litigious or divisive public agendas
- Advertising or cause-related marketing projects
- Business development activities
- Individuals
- Sponsorships or promotional events
- Private foundations
- Travel by groups
- Video productions
FAQs
How much do you normally award and what is the term of the grant?
Awards range from $2,500 to $25,000 and last for 12 months.
May I check on the status of my request?
You will receive a written notification within 60 to 90 days of your submission and we will contact you directly if we have questions regarding your request. No phones calls or emails, please.
