Giving
and
Grants

Verizon and the Verizon Foundation are inclusive.

Neither Verizon or the Verizon Foundation discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, religion, national or ethnic origin or physical disability. As a company with a highly diverse workforce serving an equally diverse set of customers, Verizon through its Foundation, supports a wide range of programs through direct and matching grants that benefit diverse communities, including without limitation minorities, veterans, gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender and others. Verizon and the Verizon Foundation each expect its grant recipients to comply with all applicable laws, including those governing tax-exempt status and non-discrimination laws. To apply for a grant contact the Community Relations Manager for your area as indicated above.

All organizations must:

• Not duplicate or significantly overlap the work of public agencies on the federal, state or local level.
• Keep books available for regular independent outside audit and make the results available to all potential contributors.
• Comply with applicable laws regarding registration and reporting.
• Observe the highest standards of business conduct in its relationships with the public.

Eligible organizations

501(c)(3) Public Charities: 

To be considered for an invitation, an organization must be: Classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and further classified as a public charity under section 509(a)(1)-509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as follows:

Section 509(a)(1) 

Organizations described in section 170(b)(1)(A) clauses (i) – (vi):

• 170(b)(1)(A)(i) – Church, provided that the grant will benefit a large portion of a community without regard to religious affiliation and does not duplicate the work of other agencies in the community.
• 170(b)(1)(A)(ii) – School.
• 170(b)(1)(A)(iii) – Hospital or medical research organization.
• 170(b)(1)(A)(iv) – Organization which operates for benefit of college or university and is owned or operated by a governmental unit.
• 170(b)(1)(A)(v) – Governmental unit.
• 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) – Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public.

Section 509(a)(2)

Organizations that normally receive no more than one-third of its support from gross investment income and unrelated business income and at the same time more than one-third of its support from contributions, fees, and gross receipts related to exempt purposes.

Section 509(a)(3)

Type I, II, or III functionally integrated – Organizations operated solely for the benefit of and in conjunction with organizations described in the previous seven items. 509(a)(3) organizations that are not designated as an approved type are not eligible.

K-12 Schools:

To be considered for an invitation, a school must be classified as not-for profit elementary or secondary school (public or private) and registered with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Guidelines

Even if you are eligible to apply, your grant application to either Verizon or the Verizon Foundation for consideration should abide by the following guidelines:

• Grant funds may not be used for real property or plant capital purchases.
• At least 85% of the total grant funds must be composed of direct costs (costs that are directly attributable to the project.)  Accordingly, indirect costs must be no more than 10-15% of the total grant funds.
• IT-infrastructure related purchases, such as computer hardware, software, data or networks, should total no more than 20 percent of the grant’s total direct costs.
• For education grants, Verizon and Verizon Foundation funding is intended to support, among other things, projects that promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (“STEM”), including, for example, summer or after school programs, teacher training, and research on improving learning in STEM areas through use of technology. However, public, charter, and private K-12 schools, as well as libraries, may not use grant funding to purchase technology hardware (computers, netbooks, laptops, routers), devices (tablets, phones), data or Internet service and access.

Any applications that do not meet these guidelines will require detailed justification and involve an exception approval to be considered.

Exemptions

Verizon and the Verizon Foundation may refuse funding for any of the following:

• Individuals
• Private charity or foundation
• Organizations not exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and not eligible for tax-deductible support
• Religious organizations, unless the particular program will benefit a large portion of a community without regard to religious affiliation
• Political causes, candidates, organizations or campaigns
• Organizations whose primary purpose is to influence legislation
• Endowments or capital campaigns
• Sports events that lack a charitable purpose
• Performing arts tours
• Trade association memberships
• Organizations that have received a grant from Verizon or the Verizon Foundation within the past three consecutive years – organizations may reapply after a one-year hiatus
• Organizations where the founder of the charitable organization is an employee or retired employee of Verizon
• Organizations where a member of a Verizon employee’s or retired employee’s family* or someone who shares a close personal relationship** with an employee or retired employee will receive any direct or indirect financial benefit as a result of the Verizon Foundation grant
• Organizations where a member of a Verizon employee’s or retired employee’s family* or someone who shares a close personal relationship** with an employee or retired employee is a founder or employee
• Neither Verizon nor the Verizon Foundation provides cash grants intended to pay for Verizon products or services.

*Family includes members of the employee’s or retired employee’s immediate and extended family. Immediate and extended family includes, but is not limited to, one’s spouse, domestic partner, parents, brothers, sisters, children, grandparents, grandchildren, cousins, in laws, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews or any similar half or step relationship.

**Close personal relationship refers to anyone in employee’s or retired employee’s family or household, or someone with whom the employee or retired employee has, or has had, a romantic or other close personal relationship.