The Kroger Foundation awards millions of dollars in grants annually to local nonprofit organizations and depends upon recommendations from local operating divisions for awarding those grants. Over the past 5 years, the Kroger Company Foundation provided more than $37 million in grants to local organizations.

In order to be eligible for Kroger grants, the organization must serve the geographic areas where the company operates. Thus, if there is a Kroger store in your area, you are within the geographic area eligible for Kroger grants. Currently, the Kroger Foundation provides grants to local nonprofit organizations in approximately 35 states.

Types of charitable organizations eligible to apply for Kroger grants include educational organizations, primary schools, hunger relief organizations, local breast cancer and women’s health initiatives, women and minority advancement and diversity programs, service men and women programs, and local grassroots community organizations.

The Kroger Foundation provides funding for capital campaigns, start up grants and funding for special projects.

In addition to direct funding from Kroger Foundation, local Kroger stores partner with many local organizations by collecting donations at check-out stands in stores. Specially marked canisters at check- out stands have been used in Kroger to collect donations for such causes as local children’s hospitals, food banks and wildlife relief efforts. Over the period from 2008 through 2012, approximately $17 million was collected through Kroger stores using this method.

Kroger employees also donate to the local causes through the Kroger Foundation. During the period from 2008 through 2012, Kroger employees donated approximately $6 million to support local causes.

The initial step to obtaining a Kroger grant is to send a written inquiry to the operating division serving your geographic region. More detail on The Kroger Company Foundation grants can be found on the website of The Kroger Company Foundation.