Community – Charitable Giving
Waste Management's Philosophy of Giving
We recognize that healthy, thriving communities depend on involved citizens, organizations and corporate partners for momentum. We enthusiastically lend our support and services to causes that promote civic pride, economic development and revitalization. Every community has its own challenges, and we strive always to be part of problem-solving initiatives.
Giving Guidelines
These guidelines outline the programs that Waste Management is most likely to support:
- Environment
The environment affects all aspects of our lives, from the air we breathe, to the way we power our homes, to the parklands in which we play. Waste Management is committed to helping provide renewal resources to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and to conserving and maintaining wetlands, wildlife habitats and green spaces for people's enjoyment. Understanding the importance of the environment, Waste Management supports organizations and programs that preserve and/or enhance natural resources. - Environmental Education
The key to ensuring the preservation of the environment is learning about the importance of protecting it and acting in an environmentally responsible manner. To this end, Waste Management prefers to support environmental education programs targeted at middle and high school students. This includes environmental and science related projects, science fairs, Earth Day projects and others. - Community
Waste Management is committed to enhancing our communities through programs that help make them cleaner and better places to live. Local Waste Management facilities are proactive in identifying charities located in the immediate community that they serve and in many cases may have predetermined which organizations they will be supporting that year.
WM Preferences
The Waste Management Charitable Contributions program provides support to organizations that have been approved by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charity and public organizations where any donations requested will be used exclusively for public purposes. We target our support to specific projects or programs that enhance the scope of services offered by an organization. WM prefers not to financially support operating costs, capital campaigns, or multi-year requests. Preference is also given to organizations, which have a broad base of funders and employee involvement.
Eligibility and Restrictions
The Waste Management Charitable Contributions program does not fund:
- Requests from organizations without a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or do not use funds received exclusively for public purposes - please note that Waste Management rarely provides contributions to social services, arts, and health related organizations
- Individuals
- Religious organizations regardless of faith, unless the project benefits the community, such as a soup kitchen that is housed in a church
- Political candidates or lobbying organizations
- Organizations with a limited constituency, such as fraternal, labor or veteran's groups
- Endowments or foundations
- Travel by groups or individuals
- Anti-business groups
- Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, or gender
WM Charitable Contributions Application Procedures
Nonprofit organizations interested in requesting financial, in-kind or product donations should submit requests to:
Pierpont Communications
Attn: Waste Management
1800 West Loop South, Suite 800
Houston, TX 77027
(713) 627-2223
wm@piercom.com
Please include the following information:
- Full contact including: name, address and telephone number of the organization
- Contact of representative and title
- Brief background information on the organization including history, mission, activities, and programs
- Copy of the IRS exemption letter verifying 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
- Latest audited financial report or a financial statement
- Current operating budget and sources of income and applicable grants
- Board list and/or list of names and professional affiliations of directors and trustees (where available)
Proposals should include the following information regarding the particular program for which funding is being sought:
- Purpose and objectives of the program
- Needs being addressed
- Plan of action and time frame
- Qualifications of program's staff
- Total funding required and projected sources
- The amount requested
- How the project's success will be determined/measured and how results will be communicated
- Specific ways Waste Management will be recognized
Applications are accepted year round and are reviewed on a continuous basis. Expect about a two-month review time.
Requests funded in any one year are not assured of future funding. If renewed funding is desired, the organization should submit an additional application.
