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Shell USA Company Foundation

Annual Giving
$20.2M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.3M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $20.2 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $25 - $313,500+ (based on available examples)
  • Geographic Focus: National (USA), with priority to Shell operation locations
  • Number of Grants: 4,923 awards (2023)

Contact Details

Shell USA Company Foundation P.O. Box 4749 Houston, TX 77210-4749

Phone: 713-241-4065

HERO Employee Matching Program:

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests for sponsorships, donations, or social investment. Organizations must be invited by Shell to submit formal funding requests.

Overview

Established in 1955 and originally incorporated in New York, the Shell USA Company Foundation (formerly Shell Oil Company Foundation) is a corporate foundation based in Houston, Texas. With total assets of $52.3 million (2024) and annual giving of approximately $20.2 million (2023), the foundation supports programs designed to promote community development, education, and environmental conservation. The foundation operates as a private 501(c)(3) organization and makes contributions exclusively to pre-selected charitable organizations. Priority is given to communities where Shell Oil Company or its affiliates have a major presence in the United States. The foundation's strategic approach focuses on preserving and protecting Shell's license to operate while promoting shared value by working with businesses to achieve community and environmental benefits. In 2023, the foundation made 4,923 individual awards, demonstrating broad support across multiple organizations nationwide.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Direct Grant Making The foundation provides grants ranging from small community awards to substantial university partnerships. Examples include a $313,500 grant to The University of Texas at Austin, with the largest component being $125,000 to the GeoFORCE Texas Program supporting low-income students from diverse South Texas and Houston school districts.

HERO Employee Matching Program (Helping Employees Reach Out)

  • Active Employees: Matches donations up to $7,500 per year
  • Retirees: Matches donations up to $5,500 per year
  • Minimum gift: $25
  • Special double match period: September 1-15 annually
  • Eligible for one-time gifts, recurring donations, and payroll pledges (active employees)

Priority Areas

Community

  • Civic and human needs
  • Promoting healthy lifestyles
  • Major and cultural arts that promote access to underserved students and communities
  • Disaster relief efforts

Education

  • Energy awareness programs
  • Increasing interest in technical careers among students
  • Professional development in science and math for educators
  • K-12 programs boosting math and science skills
  • University programs aiding engineering and geoscience students and departments
  • Educational outreach in math, science, and technology to women/minority students
  • Academic institutions with ethnically diverse enrollments

Environment

  • Biodiversity initiatives
  • Programs that restore critical ecosystems
  • Water and air quality research
  • Wetlands preservation and initiatives
  • Conservation programs

Geographic Focus

Priority consideration is given to organizations in or near communities where Shell Oil Company or its affiliates in the United States have a major presence, including:

  • Houston, Texas (headquarters)
  • Deer Park, Texas (manufacturing operations)
  • North Texas region
  • Other Shell operation locations nationwide

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly detailed, the foundation:

  • Does not accept unsolicited funding requests
  • Only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations
  • Focuses on low or middle-income service programs
  • Employee matching limited to U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations

Governance and Leadership

The Shell USA Company Foundation operates with a board of directors/trustees, though specific names and positions are not publicly disclosed in recent filings. Officers and directors receive no compensation from the foundation, as noted in IRS filings.

The foundation's governance aligns with Shell's broader corporate social responsibility framework, which is based on core values of honesty, integrity, and respect for people. The foundation's strategic direction emphasizes proactive identification of programs that deliver outcomes related to Respecting Nature (Biodiversity, Conservation and Environment), Powering Lives (Social, Workforce and STEM Education), and Emergency Response and Disaster Relief.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Shell USA Company Foundation does not have a public application process. Shell USA does not accept unsolicited funding requests for sponsorships, donations, or social investment and will not accept or fund ad hoc requests via email, phone, social media, or mail.

Organizations must be invited by Shell to submit a formal funding request. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations identified proactively by the foundation based on strategic priorities and community needs in areas where Shell operates.

Employee Matching Program: Current and retired Shell employees can submit matching gift requests through the HERO program using the EasyMatch system at shell@easymatch.com or by calling 1-800-554-7861.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed as the foundation works exclusively with invited organizations through internal processes.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available, as the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis rather than through open competition.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grant-making process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Shell USA Company Foundation operates exclusively through invitation rather than open applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, the foundation's strategic approach provides insights into how organizations become grant recipients:

Strategic Alignment with Shell Operations The foundation prioritizes organizations in communities where Shell has a major operational presence. Organizations located near Shell facilities, manufacturing sites, or business operations are more likely to be identified as potential grant recipients.

Focus on Underserved Populations The foundation specifically targets programs that provide services to low or middle-income individuals. Projects demonstrating measurable impact on underserved, diverse, and minority communities align with stated priorities, such as the GeoFORCE Texas Program supporting low-income students from diverse school districts.

STEM and Technical Education Emphasis Programs that increase interest in technical careers, energy awareness, and professional development in science and math for educators align with the foundation's education priorities. University programs supporting engineering and geoscience students represent the type of initiatives the foundation funds.

Environmental Restoration and Conservation Projects focused on biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, wetlands preservation, and water/air quality research match the foundation's environmental priorities.

Mutual Gains Approach Shell's corporate philosophy emphasizes "proactive and strategic engagement with the community – aimed at addressing priority needs and interests of both the company and the community – leads to more sustainable outcomes and strengthened relationships with stakeholders." Organizations that can demonstrate mutual benefit and sustainable community outcomes align with this philosophy.

Building Shared Value The foundation seeks programs that create shared value by working with businesses to achieve both community and environmental benefits, not just charitable contributions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-Only Process: The Shell USA Company Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations cannot apply directly but must be identified and invited by the foundation.

  • Geographic Proximity Matters: Priority goes to communities where Shell has major operations (Houston, Deer Park, North Texas, and other Shell locations nationwide). Organizations in these areas have the highest likelihood of being considered.

  • Strategic Relationship Building: While direct applications aren't possible, organizations serving Shell's priority communities should focus on visibility through excellent work in STEM education, environmental conservation, and community development serving low-income populations.

  • Substantial Grant Potential: With 4,923 grants totaling $20.2 million in 2023, the foundation distributes significant funding, though individual grant sizes vary widely (average approximately $4,000, but with examples of $100,000+ for major institutional partnerships).

  • Employee Engagement Opportunity: Organizations can cultivate relationships with Shell employees and retirees who may make individual donations eligible for matching through the HERO program (up to $7,500 match per employee annually, with double-match periods in September).

  • Focus on Low/Middle-Income Services: Programs must demonstrate service to low or middle-income individuals to align with foundation priorities.

  • Three Pillar Approach: Successful grantees address one or more of the foundation's three focus areas: Community (including arts, civic needs, disaster relief), Education (especially STEM and technical careers), or Environment (biodiversity, conservation, ecosystem restoration).

References

  1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Shell USA Company Foundation (EIN 13-6066583). Accessed January 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/136066583

  2. Candid Foundation Directory - Shell USA Company Foundation (fka Shell Oil Company Foundation). Accessed January 2026. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=SHEL002

  3. Shell USA - "Shell Sponsorship and Social Investment Funding." Support documentation. Accessed January 2026. https://support.shell.us/hc/en-us/articles/17982314142353-Shell-Sponsorship-and-Social-Investment-Funding

  4. Shell USA - "Social Investment & Membership." Deer Park Manufacturing Site information. Accessed January 2026. https://www.shell.us/about-us/who-we-are/shell-usa-at-a-glance/projects-and-locations/deer-park-manufacturing-site/social-investment-and-grants.html

  5. Shell Global - "Social investment." Sustainability section. Accessed January 2026. https://www.shell.com/sustainability/people/social-investment.html

  6. Cockrell School of Engineering, University of Texas at Austin - "Shell Oil Company Gives $313,500 in Grants to The University of Texas at Austin." News archive. Accessed January 2026. https://cockrell.utexas.edu/news/archive/3349-shell-oil-company-gives-313500-in-grants-to-the-university-of-texas-at-austin

  7. Cause IQ - Shell USA Company Foundation organizational profile. Accessed January 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/shell-oil-company-foundation,136066583/

  8. W. Johnson Associates - "How to Increase Your Charitable Giving Using the Shell HERO Program." Insights blog. Accessed January 2026. https://insights.wjohnsonassociates.com/blog/how-to-increase-your-charitable-giving-using-the-shell-hero-program

  9. Matching Gifts - "HERO (Helping Employees Reach Out)" program documentation. Accessed January 2026. https://forms.matchinggifts.com/ShellForm.pdf

  10. Charity Navigator - Shell USA Company Foundation profile. Accessed January 2026. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/136066583

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