In keeping with our Core Values, Tyson Foods is committed to providing community support and charitable contributions that make a difference for our Team Members, their families, our consumers and the communities in which we live and work. 

HUNGER RELIEF                                                                                                    

Our national philanthropic focus is Hunger Relief. Since 2000, Tyson Foods has donated more than 85 million pounds of much needed protein to hundreds of food banks, food pantries and relief agencies in 48 states.  In 2011, we initiated the KNOW Hunger campaign, designed to encourage people to KNOW the scope of hunger in their own communities and get involved in relief efforts.

Tyson Foods partners with all of the nation’s major hunger relief organizations, including Share Our Strength, Lift Up America, Feeding America and the Food Research and Action Center. More information regarding our hunger relief efforts can be found at www.tysonhungerrelief.com.  

• All major hunger relief product donations are distributed through a partnership with Feeding America member food banks and their agencies, and requests for direct product donations to other food pantries and soup kitchens are not accepted. We encourage feeding programs needing assistance to visit www.feedingamerica.org for more information regarding being a member of their network or receiving food from their member agencies. 

DISASTER RELIEF

Throughout the company’s history, Tyson Foods Team Members have been quick to respond when disaster strikes in or near their communities.  Because we are in the business of feeding people, our most natural and effective response has been to prepare and serve food to victims and relief workers at disaster sites.  Most typically, our disaster response occurs in or near the 94 communities in which we have Team Members.  Also, in the wake of most “national scale” disasters — such as 9/11, Hurricanes Katrina and Ike, and most recently, the devastating tornadoes and floods of 2011 — we have also been proud to respond and provide much needed meal assistance.  

UNITED WAY

Tyson Foods is proud to partner with United Way to support many non-profit organizations providing valuable services in the areas of education, income and health to the communities in which we live and work. In fiscal years 2007-2011 Tyson Foods and its team members contributed over $7.5 million to United Way chapters in our areas of operation nationwide, through our annual United Way drive and company match for Team Member contributions.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS / DAKOTA DUNES

Tyson Foods has historically provided support for many non-profit organizations and causes located in our primary corporate office locations in Northwest Arkansas and Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. The company was founded in Springdale, Arkansas, where our world headquarters remains, and continues a corporate office presence in Dakota Dunes, as well. A substantial percentage of corporate funding is allocated for these hometown geographic areas.    

Requests from organizations in any other Tyson Foods operational area should be directed to their local Tyson Foods facility.  A list of locations may be found here.   

CORPORATE CHARITABLE INVESTMENTS

In addition to our primary national hunger relief programs, Tyson Foods invests in community projects that can deliver measurable results for sustainable improvements in the communities in which we have operating locations. Tyson Foods focuses the majority of its charitable investments in the following areas:

• Hunger Relief
• Health and Human Services
• Education
• Community Development
• Military

Investments within these main categories will focus primarily on the following types of programs or projects:

Hunger Relief

            In addition to existing national Hunger Relief initiatives mentioned above:

• Strategic partnerships that benefit backpack programs or other community feeding programs for children, seniors and those at risk of hunger in our geographic areas of operation
• Programs that strategically address hunger or emergency food assistance for military families

 Health and Human Services

• Disease related non-profit programs that focus on disease prevention through diet and nutrition
• Health and Human Service agency programs that provide nutritious meals and/or nutrition education to those receiving services
• Community and Free Clinics in our geographic areas of operation

 Education

• Programs pertaining to the education of students and the promotion of the following fields of study: 
• Technical Education
• Agriculture
• Environmental Stewardship
• ESL / Diversity
• Food Safety

Product support for Northwest Arkansas K-12 schools will be provided through pre-determined in-kind product vouchers beginning with the Fall 2012 school year. Individuals and schools within Washington and Benton County,  Arkansas seeking funding or product donations should contact their school district administration office for more information. We do not provide direct funding to individual schools for school trips, fundraisers or athletic sponsorships.  

Schools in other areas of our operations should contact the Tyson Foods location in their community directly with their requests. It is up to the discretion of those local facilities what is funded in their communities at this level. Larger requests from Tyson Foods communities must come through our plant locations, with their recommendations. 

Community Development

• Grants which enhance or revitalize Tyson Foods’ communities by providing needed infrastructure or access to community members for quality of life amenities such as recreational, health care or educational facilities (i.e. parks, YMCA, hospitals, clinics, libraries, etc.).

Military / Veterans

• Causes related to the recruitment, job training and hiring of veterans
• Programs that strategically address hunger or emergency food assistance for military families
• Programs that assist wounded veterans

GIVING GUIDELINES 

• Projects or programs submitted for funding should match at least one of our five categories of investment:   

Hunger Relief, Health and Human Services, Education, Community Development and Military/Veterans

These projects should meet the defined focus areas within each category, as noted above in the Non-Profit Investment Section.

• Because we are committed to improving communities in which our Team Members live and work, projects or programs submitted for funding must affect/have an impact on the immediate geographic area of a Tyson Foods operating location. A list of locations may be found here. 

• Funding is only provided to nonprofit organizations designated as tax-exempt by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under  Section 501 (c )(3).

• Requests for Contributions MUST be submitted as directed in the Application Submission Section below.  

• Non-profit investments, including multi-year commitments to capital campaigns, will be evaluated annually to verify progress and adherence to any specified grant requirements.

LIMITATIONS

Company policy and giving guidelines, budget limitations and federal law generally prevent Tyson Foods, Inc., from providing corporate sponsorship or support to:

• Individuals
• Athletic Teams/Leagues or sporting events
• Political, sectarian, fraternal or religious organizations
• Pageants or fashion shows
• Film or television productions
• Organizations that operate or support activities that are counter to the policies of Tyson Foods, Inc.
• Organizations that discriminate in the provision of services unlawfully or in a manner inconsistent with Tyson Foods’ policies on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, marital status, mental or physical ability or sexual orientation.
• In-kind product donations for special events such as galas, walks; church functions (youth groups, missions, fundraisers, church camps, etc.); fundraisers/benefits for individuals; class or family reunions; bbq/cooking contests; poker runs; athletic team fundraisers or functions; school trip fundraisers; golf tournaments; for-profit business events, or fundraisers held by for-profit businesses to benefit a charitable cause. 

Tyson Foods, Inc. reserves the right (in its sole discretion) to change, suspend, revoke or terminate its charitable giving at any time, without advance notice, and to make the final determination of the eligibility of all organizations.

HOW TO APPLY

STEP ONE:      Pre-Screening

An eligibility pre-screening is required for all new submissions to ensure that the proposal or project falls within Tyson Foods, Inc.’s Non-Profit Investment Guidelines. Click HERE to begin the pre-screening process.

STEP TWO:     Grant Application 

If directed through the Pre-Screening Process to submit a proposal, proceed to the Application as instructed and follow directions.   

TIMELINE:         

Requests below $50,000 will be reviewed and a determination provided, in most cases, within 4-6 weeks.  Requests of $50,000 and above will be reviewed by the Tyson Foods Corporate Nonprofit Investment Committee, semiannually. The Committee typically meets in or near February and August. (At the discretion of the corporate philanthropy department, requests between $25,000-50,000 may also go to committee.)    

All applicants shall be notified in writing by the corporate philanthropy department of the final decision on their requests.  Due to the volume of requests, we are unable to communicate status of proposals during review timeframe.