Charitable Giving
Through the SUPERVALU® Foundation and the company's geographic businesses (retail, wholesale and subsidiaries), SUPERVALU provides funding, product donations and volunteer time to charitable organizations throughout the United States. We view this relationship as being central to our mission of serving the communities we call home, where our employees live and work; and we strive to leverage our position as one of the largest companies in the U.S. grocery channel to affect positive change.
SUPERVALU supports programs that address local needs, are measurable, and are serving communities where we have a significant presence. Giving decisions are made at two levels within the company:
SUPERVALU Foundation - Corporate Giving
The SUPERVALU Foundation manages giving at the corporate level and focuses on giving in Minnesota and in Idaho’s Treasure Valley, where SUPERVALU corporate offices are located. Gifts to non-profit organizations of $1,000 or greater generally flow through the Foundation and the Foundation’s Board of Directors reviews and approves all grant proposals greater than $50,000.
If you are an organization that has been granted tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) by the Internal Revenue Service, please read more about the giving focus and application process for the SUPERVALU Foundation.
Local Communities - Regional Giving
SUPERVALU has a significant presence across the country through its many regional distribution centers and thousands of retail grocery stores. Each of these organizations has active charitable giving programs and many of our divisions have established giving criteria and application processes.
If you are seeking funding at the local or regional level, please contact the management at the support office, distribution facility or grocery store in your community.
In general, SUPERVALU’s giving decisions are focused on three areas where we believe we can make the greatest impact. These three focus areas include Hunger Relief, Health and Nutrition, and Environmental Stewardship.
Hunger Relief
Supporting hunger relief organizations and non-profit food shelves and distribution centers working to end hunger is a natural fit for SUPERVALU as a food retailer and wholesaler.
SUPERVALU works closely with America’s Second Harvest and its national network of affiliated food banks. Second Harvest provides emergency food assistance to more than 25 million low-income people annually. To find out more about Second Harvest, visit the Feeding America website.
Health and Nutrition
SUPERVALU is dedicated to supporting programs that educate and promote healthy lifestyles and nutrition, particularly those focusing on diet-related disease prevention and management, such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and childhood obesity.
SUPERVALU is a strong supporter of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign. SUPERVALU has partnered with Go Red for Women to raise awareness and help support healthy lifestyles. To learn more about Go Red for Women, visit the American Heart Association website.
Environmental Stewardship
SUPERVALU believes in supporting organizations whose primary mission is sustaining the viability of our planet, as it continues to nourish our families and communities.
Application Process
The SUPERVALU Foundation Board of Directors meets quarterly to review grant requests. The SUPERVALU Foundation accepts requests in two forms:
- The Minnesota Common Grant Application (PDF) - download now
- The SUPERVALU Foundation Grant Application (PDF) - download now
Attachments
In addition to a completed grant application, the request should include the following:
- Cover letter on the organization's stationery providing:
- Brief history, objectives and current activities of the organization
- Description of program or activity for which funds are being requested
- Proposed method of evaluating the program or activity
- Amount of request, including additional funds being sought and current pledges
- Copy of the organization's most recently audited financial report
- Current operating budget and proposed budget for the following fiscal year, if applicable
- List of the organization's board of directors and their affiliations
- Brief résumé of the key staff for the program
- Copy of the organization's tax-exempt ruling under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service tax code
A completed grant request must be submitted in writing to:
SUPERVALU Foundation
P.O. Box 990
Minneapolis, MN 55440
Timelines
The deadlines for applications are February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15. Organizations will be notified of the Board's decision within 90 days of the quarterly application deadline.
Evaluation Criteria
The Foundation's Board evaluates requests based on the following criteria:
- A clear description of the program
- Quality delivery of a needed service
- Active involvement of company personnel
- Results that are predictable and can be evaluated
- Fiscal and management capability to carry out the program
- Broad-based community support
- Competent, qualified staff and board
- Beneficial to a substantial segment of the community, with particular focus on at-risk or disadvantaged populations
The SUPERVALU Foundation will generally not support:
- Individuals
- Travel or research expenses
- Fees for participation in competitive programs
- Organizations which receive more than 30% of their funding from the United Way
- Veteran, fraternal or labor organizations
- Lobbying, political or religious programs
- Organizations that are not tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS tax code
More Information
For more information about charitable giving through the SUPERVALU Foundation, please use our online contact form.