Foundation Grants The Union Bank Foundation, a nonprofit public benefit corporation, serves as an agent for charitable contributions made by Union Bank. Established in 1953, the foundation has, throughout its history, supported the bank's commitment to help meet the needs of the communities it serves. Our Vision We strive to build a charitable contributions program that positions the Union Bank Foundation as an innovator of partnerships and a grant-maker intent on helping to create and sustain healthy communities. Our Mission We proactively invest in the communities in which the bank and its businesses operate, targeting resources to benefit low- to moderate-income populations. Our Focus We believe that the Union Bank Foundation can achieve the greatest impact on the health of communities by targeting the following strategic funding categories: Affordable Housing Community Economic Development Education Environment Theory of Change For a comprehensive look at the foundation's approach to grant making, including a theory of change for each of its strategic funding categories, click here.
How to Apply Applying online is easy. The following steps will help you complete your online application in a timely manner. (Please note that applications for event sponsorships should be submitted at least 90 days in advance of the event date.) Step 1: Review the Charitable Giving Guidelines and Complete the Online Application Checklist. If you have not done so already, it might be helpful to review our Foundation Grant Guidelines and Corporate Sponsorship Guidelines to become acquainted with our giving program. These guidelines can assist you in choosing the appropriate application that will best serve your charitable request. We also recommend that you complete the Online Application Attachment Checklist before you begin, so that you have all the required documentation ready to attach to your application. Step 2: Begin Your Online Application. The first time you apply through our online application, you will be asked to create a new account by clicking on "I am a new online applicant." Here you will enter your email address and create a password. Write down your password for future reference. If you have previously created an account for your application, return to the online application and click on "I am a returning applicant" and enter your email address and password. You can then review the information you previously saved and make any changes if needed. Step 3: Review and Submit Your Online Application. At the end of the online application, you will be prompted to upload each required document. At this time you may refer to the checklist to make sure that you have included all necessary documents. Once you are finished, click "Review and Submit." You will have one more opportunity to review the information that you entered before submitting your application. If any information is missing, you will be prompted to complete the relevant section before moving forward. Please make sure you enter your email address accurately on your application. When you click "Submit," you will receive an email confirmation that we have received your application. If you do not receive an email confirmation, please email the Union Bank Foundation at charitablegiving@unionbank.com.
Start your online application now by choosing the application below that best corresponds to your charitable request: Foundation Grant Application: $1,000 or less $1,001 to $25,000 Over $25,000 (Organization Due Diligence Questionnaire required)
CHARITABLE GIVING FOCUS Our vision is to strategically fund community and regional initiatives that will position the Union Bank Foundation as an innovator of partnerships and grant-maker intent on helping to create and sustain healthy communities. The Union Bank Foundation proactively invests in the communities in which the Union Bank and its businesses operate, for the benefit of low- and moderate-income populations. The Foundation focuses on the following strategic program areas*: Affordable Housing Community Economic Development Education Environment The monitoring, assessment, and review of needs in these categories are the responsibility of Union Bank Foundation staff under the oversight of the Foundation s Board of Directors. In its grant making work, Foundation staff places emphasis on well-managed nonprofit organizations and programs, and maintains open channels and the flexibility to learn about and accommodate new and innovative approaches to meeting community needs. The Union Bank Foundation prefers program grants, but will consider requests for core operating support and/or capacity building grants to support exceptional work within its strategic funding categories. Program grants exceeding $10,000 may include an allowance to be used by the grantee to cover administrative expenses. The Foundation does not provide funding for capital campaigns, nor does it fund individual elementary or secondary level schools. The Foundation expects effective program planning, execution, evaluation and reporting relative to stated program objectives by the recipient organizations. Grant requests exceeding $10,000 must include performance measurement criteria, and the requestor must be prepared to submit a report of achievement annually. *Corporate Sponsorships Union Bank also considers requests for corporate donations and sponsorships to nonprofit organizations in the above-mentioned categories and other program areas such as Arts & Culture, Health & Human Services, and Emergency Services. All charitable contributions made by the Bank are evaluated by local Area Contributions Committees. For additional information contact one of the Foundation Officers listed below, or visit our website at www.unionbank.com/community. - 1 -
The Foundation prefers single-year funding commitments; however, it will consider multi-year grants for well established organizations demonstrating a history of success within the Foundation s strategic funding categories. The following are the specific project/program areas* being funded by the Union Bank Foundation: 1. Affordable Housing For-sale housing Rental housing Special needs housing Senior housing Transitional living facilities Emergency/homeless shelters Youth housing Self-help housing Farmworker housing Predevelopment funding to nonprofit developers Capacity building for nonprofit housing organizations 2. Community Economic Development Small Business Development o Microenterprise development and support o Technical assistance/entrepreneurial training o Organizations that promote access to capital for business or farms that meet SBA criteria o Job creation Individual Development o Job training/apprenticeship o Welfare to work o Wealth accumulation/asset building o Life skills training o Financial literacy/credit counseling o Mortgage credit counseling o Business education o Intervention/prevention programs for at-risk youth - 2 -
Neighborhood Development o Youth prevention/intervention programs o Gang prevention/gang intervention programs o Community organizing to engage, inform and empower citizenry Crime prevention Dispute resolution/mediation/violence prevention Reduction of liquor outlets Improved quality of food in local markets o Childcare and daycare programs o Drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs; independent living programs o Organizational Capacity Building - funding for operating/administrative expenses 3. Education (The Foundation does not fund individual elementary or secondary level schools.) Scholarship programs Tutoring programs General education degree (GED) preparation English as a second language (ESL) programs Computer education Support for the teaching profession o Teacher training Literacy programs Parent education Outreach programs of visual and performing arts organizations targeted to lowand moderate-income populations Enrichment programs targeted to low-and moderate-income populations Capacity building for nonprofit organizations 4. Environment Brown field remediation Science and education relevant to green building Energy upgrade and conservation Rehabilitation and cleanup Coastal/creek and reserve cleanup and preservation Urban green space projects Environmental education Aquarium and museums State parks, nature centers, conservancy centers, botanical gardens, wildlife centers Ecology and recycling centers - 3 -
REQUESTS When you apply for funding online (www.unionbank.com/community) you will be asked to provide the following information: Your taxpayer I.D. for verification of your 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status Your organization's mission statement, a description of what your organization does, whom you serve, your history, and major accomplishments A description of the specific program or project that you wish the Union Bank Foundation to consider funding, the amount of funding you are requesting, and the expected outcomes A list of your board of directors Your organization s current annual operating budget A copy of your most recent audited financial statement or, alternatively, if not required to prepare audited statements, the most current company prepared financial statement The five-year trend of your operating budget (total revenues) The five-year trend of the change in your net assets (total revenues minus total expenses) A current list of major contributors and their giving levels EXCLUSIONS FROM SUPPORT Individuals Veterans, military, fraternal, or professional organizations Political organizations or programs Service club activities Other intermediary foundations (i.e., foundations which, in turn, make grants to other charities) Churches or religious groups (except separately incorporated community development corporations) Educational institution operating funds Individual elementary or secondary level schools - 4 -
The Union Bank Foundation Board meets bi-monthly. Questions should be directed to the appropriate area Foundation Officer as follows: Southern California JR Raines, Assistant Vice President Union Bank, N.A. 530 B Street, Mail Code S-1450 San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 230-3105 Northern California/Central California/Pacific Northwest Karen Murakami, Assistant Vice President Union Bank, N.A. 400 California Street, Mail Code 1-001-08 San Francisco, CA 94104 Phone: (415) 765-3890 Rev. September 9, 2011-5 -