Walmart Foundation Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $2 billion (FY2025, combined cash and in-kind donations from Walmart and Walmart Foundation)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: 6-8 weeks for local grants; up to 30 days for Northwest Arkansas program
Grant Range: $250 - $12,180,752 (local grants: $250-$5,000; Northwest Arkansas minimum: $10,000)
Geographic Focus: United States (local grants nationwide); Northwest Arkansas (special regional program); international programs (primarily India)

Contact Details

Website: www.walmart.org

Application Portal: walmart.com/nonprofits (Spark Good platform)

Support Email: sparkgoodsupport@walmart.com

Headquarters: Bentonville, Arkansas

EIN: 20-5639919

Overview

The Walmart Foundation is a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) private foundation, entirely funded by Walmart Inc. Founded as the philanthropic arm of the world's largest retailer, the Foundation has evolved into a major force in corporate philanthropy. In fiscal year 2025, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation together contributed more than $2 billion in cash and in-kind donations globally. The Foundation focuses on creating economic opportunity, enhancing sustainability, strengthening community, and advancing racial equity, with particular emphasis on communities where Walmart operates retail stores. In September 2024, Julie Gehrki was named president of the Walmart Foundation, succeeding Kathleen McLaughlin who transitioned to chair of the Foundation's Board of Directors. The Foundation's grantmaking consists of a mix of six- and seven-figure partnerships with large nonprofits, as well as small local grants of up to $5,000 that originate at individual retail stores.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Spark Good Local Grants (Open Application)

Amount: $250 - $5,000 per grant
Description: The only program accepting year-round open applications. Awarded directly from Walmart U.S. stores, Sam's Clubs, and Distribution Centers to local organizations serving the same communities
Application Method: Quarterly rolling basis through Spark Good platform at walmart.com/nonprofits
Application Periods: March 10-April 15; May 1-July 15; August 1-October 15; November 3-December 31

Northwest Arkansas Giving Program (Open Application)

Amount: Minimum $10,000 (for grants under $5,000, apply through Local Giving Program)
Geographic Focus: Organizations serving Benton and Washington counties, Arkansas
Grant Period: 12-24 month programmatic periods
Restrictions: Grant amount cannot exceed 20% of organization's operating budget
Decision Time: Up to 30 days for review
Focus Areas: Food access and healthy eating; arts and recreation; regional planning; workforce development

Strategic Partnerships (Invitation Only)

Amount: Six- and seven-figure grants (up to $12+ million)
Description: Large-scale partnerships with established nonprofits addressing Foundation priorities
Application Method: By invitation only or through periodic Requests for Proposals (RFPs)

Priority Areas

Economic Opportunity

Retail sector workforce development and training
Skills development and job readiness programs
Economic mobility initiatives that don't require college degrees
Innovative approaches to employment and career advancement

Sustainability

Climate action and environmental conservation
Waste reduction and circular economy initiatives
Nature conservation and biodiversity
Sustainable supply chains and responsible sourcing
Agriculture innovation (particularly in developing countries)

Community Strengthening

Hunger relief and food security programs
Food banks and meal delivery services
Access to healthy food in underserved communities
Community health and wellness initiatives
Mental health resources and preventive care (especially in rural areas)

Racial Equity

Education access and quality
Criminal justice reform
Financial inclusion and economic empowerment
Health equity initiatives
Note: $100 million committed over five years through Walmart.org's Center for Racial Equity

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions:

Individuals (no grants to individuals under any circumstances)
Organizations that discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, veteran, or disability status
Association or chamber memberships
Athletic sponsorships (teams/events)
Faith-based organizations when grants would only benefit the organization or its members
Political causes, candidates, organizations, or campaigns
Organizations not recognized as public charities by the IRS (Type III supporting organizations excluded)
In-kind donations (products/gift cards) through online applications - these must be requested from local store management

Governance and Leadership

President: Julie Gehrki (appointed September 2024)

Also serves as Senior Vice President of Philanthropy at Walmart Inc.
Leads Walmart.org
Rhodes College alumna with extensive corporate philanthropy experience

Board Chair: Kathleen McLaughlin

Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Walmart Inc.
Former president of Walmart Foundation (served over 10 years before transition in 2024)

Governance Structure: Giving by Walmart is overseen by a committee of Walmart executives selected for their experience and expertise, in consultation with the Nominating and Governance Committee, a subset of Walmart's majority independent board.

Julie Gehrki's Three-Part Test for Foundation Decisions:

Relevance: "Are you working on an issue that is relevant to the business?"
Trust: "Only work on issues in ways that build trust"
Effectiveness: "Can we be effective on this issue?"

Notable Quote: "When corporate philanthropy is working well, it should feel like an extension of the company," Gehrki said, emphasizing the Foundation's integrated approach to philanthropy.

On economic mobility: "We think college educations are important, but people should be able to have economic mobility without college."

On sustainability and business relevance: "If we want to sell shrimp in 50 years, we've got to take care of the oceans differently than we do today."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Spark Good Local Grants (Open Application):

Create a Spark Good Account: Visit walmart.com/nonprofits and create an account
Verification: Complete third-party verification through Deed
Submit Application: Only authorized users of the organization's Spark Good account can apply
Quarterly Deadlines: Submit during one of four quarterly windows
Facility Selection: Apply to facilities serving your organization's geographic area

For Northwest Arkansas Giving Program (Open Application):

Review program guidelines at walmart.org
Submit through designated application portal
Ensure organization serves Benton or Washington counties, Arkansas
Prepare detailed proposal explaining mission, project goals, and community impact

For Strategic Partnerships (Invitation Only):

Strategic grants and other focus area programs accept applications by invitation only. Unsolicited proposals for these programs will not be accepted. The Foundation publishes periodic Requests for Proposals (RFPs) when seeking applications for specific initiatives.

Decision Timeline

Local Grants:

Decision notification via email within 6-8 weeks of submission
Applications remain active in the system for 90 days
Final decisions made before the next quarter's application period opens

Northwest Arkansas Program:

Allow up to 30 days for application review

Notification Method: Email notification sent to the address associated with your application

Funding Delivery:

If approved, funds delivered as Walmart Community Giving gift card
Typical delivery: 2-4 weeks after approval notification
Some programs may take 4-6 weeks

Note: Each facility manager may set their own frequency and process for making determinations, so timing can vary by location.

Success Rates

The Walmart Foundation does not publicly disclose success rates or the percentage of applications that receive funding. With hundreds of Walmart facilities nationwide each making independent funding decisions for local grants, and an unknown number of applications submitted for strategic partnerships, quantitative success rate data is not available.

Reapplication Policy

For Unsuccessful Applicants:

No mandatory waiting period specified in public guidelines
Organizations may reapply after being denied
Recommended to contact sparkgoodsupport@walmart.com for guidance on improving future applications

For Previously Funded Organizations:

Cannot reapply to the same facility within the same fiscal year after receiving funding
Maximum of 25 applications (pending or approved status) allowed per organization at any time

Expired Applications:

Applications automatically rejected after 90 days of inactivity

Application Success Factors

The Three Key Criteria Facility Managers Use:

Mission Aligned: The organization addresses a specific community need that makes sense for Walmart to help solve. Applications should demonstrate clear alignment with Walmart Foundation priorities (economic opportunity, sustainability, community strength, racial equity).
Builds Trust: Supporting legally compliant organizations that bring people together without divisiveness. The Foundation seeks partners who strengthen community cohesion and operate with transparency and integrity.
Effectiveness: Clear description of what the organization does, how funds will be used, and the community impact. Successful applications articulate measurable outcomes and demonstrate organizational capacity.

Specific Recommendations from Walmart Foundation Guidance:

Review eligibility requirements carefully: Requirements vary by program, so ensure your organization qualifies before investing time in an application
Establish local relationships: Facility managers are advised to fund "trusted organizations in the community where positive relationships exist"
Be specific about impact: Provide detailed proposals explaining mission, project goals, and intended community impact with concrete metrics
Demonstrate alignment: Show how your work connects to Walmart's business values and community presence
Ensure verification is complete: Only verified organizations through Deed can apply for Spark Good Local Grants

Recent Funding Examples to Guide Applications:

Agriculture Innovation (India, 2024):

BAIF Development Research Foundation: $1,560,535 to improve livelihoods and gender integration in tribal regions (14,700 farmers)
Watershed Organisation Trust: $1,242,650 for Project RISE focusing on climate-resilient agriculture
National Entrepreneurship Network, Cornell University (Tata-Cornell Institute), and Precision Development: $2.78 million total for technological innovation reaching 300,000+ farmers

Disaster Resilience (2024):

Tulane University School of Social Work's Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy: $550,000 to improve disaster management systems

Community Food Access (2022):

Northwest Arkansas Farmers' Market Alliance: $250,000 for Double Your Dollars program expanding healthy food access

Small Local Grants Examples:

Angelton Restoration Project (Houston, Texas): $500 for Hurricane Beryl relief
Phillips County Family Education Services (Holyoke, Colorado): $3,500 for Paquime Folkloric Dance program

Common Themes in Successful Applications:

Direct community impact with measurable outcomes
Alignment with Walmart's business interests (workforce, sustainability, food access)
Strong local presence and trusted relationships
Clear demonstration of organizational effectiveness
Innovation in addressing systemic challenges

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Two distinct funding tracks: The Spark Good Local Grants program ($250-$5,000) is the only year-round open application program; all other major funding is by invitation only. Determine which track fits your organization before investing time.
Local relationships matter significantly: Facility managers make decisions for local grants and are explicitly advised to fund "trusted organizations" with existing positive relationships. Building connections with your local Walmart or Sam's Club can improve your chances.
Apply Julie Gehrki's three-part test: Frame your proposal to demonstrate (1) relevance to Walmart's business and community presence, (2) how your work builds trust and brings people together, and (3) clear evidence of effectiveness with measurable impact.
Emphasize economic mobility without college: The Foundation explicitly values pathways to economic advancement that don't require four-year degrees, aligning with their workforce focus on retail sector careers.
Sustainability must connect to business: As Gehrki noted about seafood sustainability, show how environmental work connects to Walmart's long-term business interests and supply chain resilience.
Be patient with strategic partnerships: Since invitation-only programs have no public application process, focus on building organizational reputation, attending relevant convenings, and watching for published RFPs in your focus area.
Demonstrate community-level impact: Whether applying for $500 or $500,000, show concrete benefits to the specific community where Walmart operates, with preference for measurable outcomes and systemic solutions over one-time events.

References

Walmart Foundation Official Website - www.walmart.org - Accessed December 2024
Walmart Foundation Grant Eligibility Guidelines - www.walmart.org/how-we-give/grant-eligibility - Accessed December 2024
Spark Good Local Grants Guidelines - www.walmart.org/how-we-give/program-guidelines/spark-good-local-grants-guidelines - Accessed December 2024
Northwest Arkansas Giving Program - www.walmart.org/how-we-give/northwest-arkansas-giving-program - Accessed December 2024
Charity Navigator Profile - Wal-Mart Foundation - www.charitynavigator.org/ein/205639919 - Accessed December 2024
Instrumentl 990 Report - Wal-Mart Foundation - www.instrumentl.com/990-report/wal-mart-foundation - Accessed December 2024
"Julie Gehrki Named President of Walmart Foundation" - Walmart.org News, September 2024 - www.walmart.org/news/2024/julie-gehrki-named-president-of-walmart-foundation
"Walmart Foundation expands support for innovative technological solutions" - Walmart.org News, September 2024 - www.walmart.org/news/2024/Walmart-Foundation-expands-support-for-innovative-technological-solutions-to-enable-livelihoods-for-over-300,000-farmers
"Walmart Foundation Announces Three Strategic Grants To Strengthen Agriculture in Maharashtra" - Walmart.org News, January 2024 - www.walmart.org/news/2024/walmart-foundation-announces-three-strategic-grants-to-strengthen-agriculture-in-maharashtra
"The Walmart Foundation: Should You Pursue Their Grants?" - Instrumentl Blog - www.instrumentl.com/blog/walmart-foundation-grants-guide - Accessed December 2024
Walmart Foundation FAQs - www.walmart.org/faqs - Accessed December 2024
"Walmart Foundation President on making a difference in corporate philanthropy" - Indiana University Indianapolis, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, 2025 - philanthropy.indianapolis.iu.edu/news-events/news/_news/2025/walmart-foundation-julie-gehrki.html
Julie Gehrki Leadership Profile - Walmart Corporate - corporate.walmart.com/about/leadership/julie-gehrki - Accessed December 2024
Walmart Foundation Governance and Values - www.walmart.org/who-we-are/governance-and-our-values - Accessed December 2024
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Wal Mart Foundation - projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/205639919 - Accessed December 2024