Thousands of corporations offers funds and initiatives related literacy projects and reading programs. Some of the corporate serve local communities only. Others have national and international programs. When searching on the internet, think up the name of any well-known companies and search for their name plus the word "literacy" or the word "foundation."

Corporations welcome the visibility these programs give to their corporate name and image. The costs are deductible from taxes in most cases. Literacy grants and programs give the corporation yet another change to issue press releases in the form of progress reports. Corporations also hire literacy experts to design and manage their initiatives. The samples below are randomly chosen. Common searching of the Internet yields over 2 million results, typically with Verizon, IBM and Visa near the top.

The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy announced today (2007) that it has awarded a total of $627,423 to develop or expand ten programs that will improve the literacy skills of parents and their children. Since its inception in 1989, the Foundation has awarded over $20 million to more than 600 family literacy programs in 47 states and our nation's capital. Ranging in size from $45,375 to $65,000, the ten winning grant applications were chosen from over 600 proposals, submitted by a wide variety of private non-profit and public organizations including libraries, correctional institutions, universities, housing projects, and public schools.   Foundation Web Site is Here

Barnes & Noble considers local and national support requests from non-profit organizations that focus on literacy, the arts or education (pre-K – 12). We also consider sponsorship opportunities where we can partner with organizations that focus their core businesses on higher learning, literacy and the arts.  Informatin is Here

Andrew Carnegie charged the Corporation to dedicate itself to the "advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding." This led the corporation over nearly 100 years of work to support efforts to improve teaching and learning. Carnegie's philanthropy resonates in the field of education, focusing on three areas: 1) advancing literacy, 2) urban school reform, and 3) teacher education reform.  Information Here

The Global Fund for Children - Books for Kids. The Global Fund for Children donates materials to children through community organizations that are able to demonstrate a need. These donations help local groups expand their educational resources and facilitate dialogue about diversity and multiculturalism. They have donated nearly 50, 000 thousand books to underserved children in the United States and around the world."  Information Click Here

Starbucks Foundation Grants The Starbucks Foundation provides grants that fund programs for youth, ages 6-18, that integrate literacy with personal and civic action in the communities where they live.   Web Site is Here

Target Stores   Local grant money is provided for hometown organizations, focusing on programs that promote a love of reading or encourage children to read together with their families. Grant applications will be accepted between March 1, 2007 and May 31, 2007.  Target Site is Here

Education World: Tips for Successful Grant Writing and Resources." "The second grant I received was a Technology Literacy Challenge Fund (TLCF) grant; federal money funneled through the Pennsylvania Department of Education and awarded by them. That grant, awarded in 2000-2001, was for $187,500. (I applied for $250,000 but was funded for a smaller amount.) The grant was for a technology training program for the teachers in our district, and it included using the FutureKids Professional Development Curriculum, purchasing additional computers and projectors, and paying for trainers."  Click Here

Dollar General Literacy Foundation  The Dollar General Back-to-School grant program awards grants to assist schools in meeting some of the financial challenges they face in implementing new programs or purchasing new equipment, materials or software for their school library or literacy program  Information Here

The Role of Corporate Giving in Adult Literacy 76 pp. This study was funded by Verizon, Inc. and coauthored by Forrest P. Chisman and Gail Spangenberg of the Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy (March, 2006). Based on a nine-month study conducted by CAAL in 2005, it examines the role and impact of corporate giving in adult literacy at both the national and local levels. The study includes findings from a web-based survey of local literacy programs. By any number of measures it found that corporations play an essential, instrumental role in adult literacy, funding innovation and other activities for which no other funding is available at both the national and local levels.  Download Here

Verizon Foundation  The foundation builds literate communities through online resources, community-based initiatives, and programs advancing English literacy. Content has been developed and approved by leading literacy experts and organizations, including the Thinkfinity Literacy Network (TLN). The program is designed to empower teachers, volunteers, parents, caregivers and students of all ages with the tools to advance literacy development.

Nonprofit Resources - With our award-winning website, the Verizon Foundation Resource Center, we provide essential tools to help nonprofit organizations plan, manage, operate and perform more efficiently.  Information Here



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