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FCA Foundation

Annual Giving
$15.5M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13-18 million
  • Success Rate: N/A (Invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $500,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily southeastern Michigan and FCA/Stellantis manufacturing communities

Contact Details

  • Phone: (248) 512-2500
  • Address: 1000 Chrysler Drive, Auburn Hills, MI 48326-2766
  • Website: Information archived at stellantis.com
  • Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The FCA Foundation (formerly Chrysler Foundation), established in 1955, is the corporate foundation of FCA US LLC, now part of Stellantis following the 2021 merger. With annual giving of approximately $13-18 million, the foundation focuses on empowering people, building resilient communities, and generating measurable societal impact. Over 50% of their funding targets southeastern Michigan, with additional support for communities near manufacturing facilities in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with no public application process, distributing nearly all of its annual corporate contributions to pre-selected nonprofit partners.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Educational Equity Grants: $25,000 - $250,000 (supporting college access and readiness)
  • FIRST Robotics Team Grants: $400 - $4,725 (individual team support)
  • Veterans Support Grants: $50,000 - $250,000 (housing, mental health, workforce development)
  • Community Service Grants: $50,000 - $500,000 (hunger relief and homelessness)
  • Employee Matching Grants: Matches employee charitable donations (invitation only)

Priority Areas

  • Education: Educational equity for underserved groups, college readiness and access, STEM education, Pre-K through post-secondary support
  • Youth Development: FIRST Robotics programs (over $2.6 million invested since 1995), mentoring, life skills and career readiness
  • Veterans and Military Families: Permanent housing for homeless veterans, mental health support, workforce development, family survivor support
  • Community Service: Hunger relief, homelessness prevention, child welfare, emergency aid and disaster response

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly specified, but focus is exclusively on their four priority pillars

Governance and Leadership

  • John Elkann: Chair and Trustee (Chairman of Stellantis)
  • Christine Estereicher: President/CEO (appointed October 2017); also Director of External Affairs and Head of Global Philanthropy Office at Stellantis
  • Craig Stroup: Treasurer
  • Kevin Plummer: Secretary
  • Julianne Frost: Chief Operating Officer

Shane Karr (former Head of External Affairs) stated: "At FCA, we believe that education is an essential element in creating strong and sustainable communities."

Christine Estereicher emphasized the foundation's "long-standing commitment to veterans, military and their families."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The FCA Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and awards grants to "grantees of its choosing." There is no online application portal, public deadlines, or application cycles. The foundation has been described as "extremely difficult to access" and "not transparent" in its grant-making process.

Getting on Their Radar

  • Employee connections: The foundation matches employee charitable donations, and over 80 FCA US employees volunteer as mentors and coaches for FIRST Robotics teams. Building relationships with FCA/Stellantis employees who are involved in charitable activities may provide awareness of your organization.
  • FIRST Robotics involvement: The foundation has a strong, decades-long commitment to FIRST Robotics, with employees actively volunteering. Organizations involved in FIRST programs in Michigan may gain visibility through this established network.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation only process

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented giving patterns and stated priorities:

  • Geographic alignment: Over 50% of funding goes to southeastern Michigan; organizations near FCA/Stellantis manufacturing facilities in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio receive priority
  • Program alignment: Projects must clearly fit within one of the four pillars (education, youth development, veterans, community service)
  • Demonstrated impact: The foundation emphasizes "measurable societal impact" - past grantees like United Way for Southeastern Michigan and FIRST in Michigan have strong track records
  • Scale and reach: Successful grants range from $50,000 to $500,000, suggesting preference for organizations capable of managing substantial funding
  • Employee engagement opportunities: Organizations where FCA/Stellantis employees can volunteer or participate appear to receive favorable consideration

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The FCA Foundation is invitation-only with no public application process - focus efforts on relationship building rather than traditional grant applications
  • Geographic proximity to Auburn Hills, MI or other FCA/Stellantis facilities significantly increases likelihood of consideration
  • FIRST Robotics programs have exceptional access due to the foundation's decades-long commitment and employee volunteer network
  • Veterans organizations addressing housing, mental health, and workforce development align strongly with foundation priorities
  • Employee connections are the most viable pathway to foundation awareness - identify and cultivate relationships with FCA/Stellantis employees involved in charitable work
  • Annual giving of $13-18 million indicates substantial capacity, but access requires pre-existing relationships or strategic networking

References

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