Guidelines and Priorities
Geographic Focus
The Foundation makes grants primarily in its headquarters community of Oakland, Calif. Clorox manufacturing plants also operate small giving programs in their local communities. These programs are administered independently and serve agencies within a three-to-five mile radius of these facilities.
Foundation Focus Areas
The Foundation concentrates its contributions in two focus areas: education/youth development and culture/civic programs. Funding priorities may shift from year to year.
Education and Youth Development
The Foundation supports programs that prepare young people to participate successfully in an increasingly global society, and to contribute back to their communities. Specifically, we focus on supporting innovative education and youth development programs that serve children and youth from kindergarten through 12th grade. Targeted programs strive to achieve the following goals:
- Improve the academic performance of children, especially in literacy and math.
- Prepare youth for community leadership.
- Promote positive relationships among youth from diverse cultural and ethnic groups.
Culture/Civic Programs
Clorox recognizes that arts and cultural affairs are an essential and enriching part of society. The Foundation supports civic and cultural initiatives, programs and projects that increase awareness of, participation in and appreciation of arts and culture.
Arts Mini-Grants Initiative: This program, which is part of the culture/civic focus, provides small grants to assist Oakland's nonprofit cultural community. Twenty-five, $1,000 grants are awarded each year for visual and performing arts events.
Criteria For Funding
The Foundation receives many more requests than it has resources to fund. Applicants must be currently in good standing with the IRS and in receipt of an IRS ruling confirming their classification as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit agency or be sponsored by a qualified fiscal agent. In addition, the proposal must meet the Foundation's geographic scope and address one of the focus areas listed above. The Foundation uses the following criteria in selecting agencies for funding:
- Clarity of purpose
- Outcomes related to measurable performance (i.e., improved grades, test scores, graduation rates, increased audiences in underserved communities, etc.)
- Strategies that will achieve the stated outcomes
- Sound fiscal and management practices
- Involvement of Board of Directors
- Demonstrated collaborative relationships
- Fundraising capacity
- Diversity of board, staff, clients, audience, etc.
- Nondiscrimination policies and practices
Ineligible For Funding
In general, the Foundation does not fund the following:
- Fundraising events, benefits or raffles
- Athletic events or league sponsorships
- Field trips, tours and travel expenses
- Advertising or promotional sponsorships
- Conferences, conventions, meetings, etc.
- Media productions (TV, radio or film projects)
- Projects of a national scope
- Direct assistance to individuals or individual sponsorships
- Religious-based activities for the purpose of furthering religious doctrine
- Political parties, organizations, candidates or activities
- Exclusive membership organizations and associations or membership dues
- Deficits or retroactive funding
- Capital projects
- Individual school projects
