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Aegon Transamerica Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.5M
Grant Range
$0K - $2.2M

Aegon Transamerica Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,532,045 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $25 - $2,200,000 (most grants below $100,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Priority locations in Atlanta GA, Baltimore MD, Canton MA, Cedar Rapids IA, Denver CO, Harrison NY, Plano TX, Saint Paul MN, St. Petersburg FL, and Los Angeles CA
  • Number of Grants: Over 900 organizations supported in 2023

Contact Details

Address: 6400 C St SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52499-0003
Phone: (770) 248-3378
Website: www.transamerica.com/about-us/aegon-transamerica-foundation
Application Portal: www.transamerica.com/about-us/foundation-grant

Overview

The Aegon Transamerica Foundation was founded in 1994 and underwent a merger on June 30, 2000, when the Aegon USA Charitable Foundation and the Aegon Transamerica Foundation combined. For more than 30 years, the Foundation has supported nonprofit organizations that help build stronger, more resilient communities in the places where Transamerica employees live and work. With total assets of approximately $138.7 million (December 2023), the Foundation contributed $7.5 million to over 900 organizations in 2023. The Foundation operates as an independent nonprofit with a unique employee-driven model where grantmaking decisions are primarily made through local advisory committees staffed by employee volunteers. The Foundation focuses on financial and social empowerment to create more inclusive communities where people can live longer, more fulfilling lives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Grants Program: $25 - $2,200,000 (most grants below $100,000)

  • Application Method: Download form and email submission
  • Deadline: November 1 annually (applications after this date considered for following year)
  • Rolling basis throughout the calendar year

Employee Matching Gift Program

  • Available to Transamerica and Aegon employees in the U.S.
  • Example: In 2023, over $942,000 given to United Way through employee contributions and a 50% Foundation match
  • Disaster relief matching (e.g., $20,192 matched for Maui wildfires)

Priority Areas

Financial Empowerment

  • Financial literacy programs for youth and adults
  • Career development initiatives
  • Programs building financial awareness, knowledge, and skills
  • Tools to help people become more financially resilient
  • Supported organizations: Junior Achievement chapters, Jumpstart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, Council for Economic Education, Asian Americans Advancing Justice

Social Empowerment

  • Partnerships that enhance opportunities and capabilities of people in communities
  • Programs that broaden social networks, interactions, and aspirations
  • Initiatives that increase access to essential services

Education

  • First-generation college student support
  • Actuarial science programs at HBCUs
  • K-12 student programs through organizations like Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA, Girl Scouts

Health & Wellness

  • Health education
  • Nutrition programs
  • Medical services and preventative care
  • Supported organizations: American Heart Association, Children's Hospital of Colorado, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Feeding Westchester, Partnership to End Addiction, Alzheimer's Association

Arts & Culture

  • Programs increasing accessibility to the arts for youth and underserved populations
  • Museums and cultural institutions
  • Eastern Iowa Arts Academy

Civic & Community Development

  • Community engagement initiatives
  • Leadership development
  • Emergency response capabilities (e.g., $100,000 grant to North Point-Edgemere Volunteer Fire Department after Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse)
  • United Way organizations

Human Services

  • Organizations addressing community needs in Foundation priority locations

Recent Grant Examples

Cedar Rapids, IA: Cedar Rapids Museum of Art ($75,000), National Czech & Slovak Museum ($40,000), Indian Creek Nature Center ($100,000), Matthew 25 ($75,000), African American Museum of Iowa ($30,000), Mount Mercy University ($50,000), Catherine McAuley Center ($25,000), United Way of East Central Iowa ($13,000)

Baltimore, MD: North Point-Edgemere Volunteer Fire Department ($100,000), Penn-Mar Human Services ($25,000), Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore, YMCA of Central Maryland

Other Locations: Morgan State University Actuarial Science Program ($25,000), UNI Center for Urban Education ($50,000 for first-generation Cedar Rapids students)

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Athletes or athletic organizations
  • Conferences, seminars, or trips
  • Courtesy or goodwill advertising
  • Fellowships
  • Fraternal organizations
  • K-12 school fundraisers or events
  • Political parties, campaigns, or candidates
  • Religious or denominational organizations (except for specific programs broadly promoted and available to anyone free from religious orientation)
  • Social organizations

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

The Foundation is governed by a national board of directors that oversees both local and national grants. As of recent filings, the trustees include:

  • Maurice Perkins - President
  • Tiffany Baker - Vice President
  • Eric Hansen - Treasurer
  • Steven Weinberg - Secretary

Local Advisory Committees

A distinctive feature of the Foundation is its local advisory committee structure. Committees are established in Transamerica locations with at least 100 employees and are staffed by employee volunteers. These committees play a primary role in grantmaking decisions, ensuring that funding supports organizations in the specific communities where Transamerica employees live and work.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation has a straightforward application process:

  1. Download the Grant Application Form: Available at transamerica.com/about-us/foundation-grant
  2. Complete the Application: Fill out all required sections
  3. Email Submission: Send completed form to the Foundation
  4. Application Period: Applications accepted throughout the calendar year

Application Deadline: November 1 annually

  • Applications submitted by November 1 are considered for that calendar year
  • Applications received after November 1 are considered in the next calendar year

Eligibility Requirements

  • Organizations must be qualified IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofits
  • Geographic priority given to organizations in and around: Atlanta GA, Baltimore MD, Canton MA, Cedar Rapids IA, Denver CO, Harrison NY, Plano TX, Saint Paul MN, St. Petersburg FL, and Los Angeles CA
  • The Foundation evaluates requests based on the location of the charitable program or organization and its focus
  • Programs must align with Foundation priorities in financial empowerment, social empowerment, education, health and wellness, arts and culture, civic and community development, or human services

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Grant decisions are made by local advisory committees and the national board of directors throughout the year.

Success Rates

The Foundation does not publicly disclose its success rate or the total number of applications received. However, with over 900 organizations supported in 2023 from annual giving of $7.5 million, the Foundation maintains an active grantmaking portfolio. Grants range from $25 to about $2.2 million, though most stay below $100,000.

Reapplication Policy

The Foundation's reapplication policy is not explicitly stated in publicly available materials. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Foundation directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

The Aegon Transamerica Foundation has several distinctive characteristics that applicants should understand:

Employee-Driven Decision Making: Grantmaking decisions are primarily employee-driven through local advisory committees, a robust matching gift program, and other giving campaigns. Organizations that connect with Transamerica's employee volunteer base may have stronger alignment with the Foundation's mission.

Geographic Alignment: The Foundation prioritizes communities where Transamerica employees live and work. Organizations operating in the nine priority geographic locations (Atlanta, Baltimore, Canton MA, Cedar Rapids, Denver, Harrison NY, Plano, Saint Paul, and St. Petersburg) plus Los Angeles should emphasize their local presence and community impact in these areas.

Focus on Empowerment: The Foundation's dual focus on financial empowerment and social empowerment should be reflected in proposals. Programs that build financial literacy, increase access to essential services, enhance community capabilities, or broaden opportunities align well with the Foundation's strategic priorities.

Demonstrable Community Impact: Given the Foundation's 30+ year commitment to building stronger, more resilient communities, applications should clearly articulate how the proposed program will create lasting positive change in the community.

Alignment with Funding Categories: Ensure your organization and program fit clearly within one of the Foundation's six funding categories: arts and culture, civic and community, education and financial literacy, health and wellness, human services, or United Way initiatives.

Scalability and Reach: The Foundation has supported both large initiatives (grants up to $2.2 million) and smaller programs (grants as low as $25). Be realistic about the scale of your request and clearly justify how the funding will be used.

Long-term Community Building: The Foundation's recent grants show support for both emergency response (bridge collapse relief) and long-term capacity building (HBCU actuarial science programs, first-generation student support). Proposals should demonstrate either immediate community need or sustainable long-term impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic specificity matters: Clearly demonstrate your organization operates in one of the Foundation's nine priority communities (Atlanta, Baltimore, Canton MA, Cedar Rapids, Denver, Harrison NY, Plano, Saint Paul, St. Petersburg) or Los Angeles. Organizations outside these areas face lower priority.

  • Emphasize empowerment themes: Frame your program in terms of financial empowerment (building financial literacy, awareness, and resilience) or social empowerment (expanding opportunities, capabilities, access to services, and community networks).

  • November 1 deadline is firm: Submit by November 1 for consideration in the current grant cycle. Late applications automatically roll to the next year.

  • Simple application process: Unlike many corporate foundations, the Aegon Transamerica Foundation uses a downloadable form and email submission rather than complex online portals, making the application accessible to smaller organizations.

  • Wide grant range accommodates diverse needs: With grants ranging from $25 to $2.2 million (though most below $100,000), the Foundation supports both small community programs and major initiatives. Tailor your request to your actual need.

  • Employee connection can strengthen applications: The Foundation's employee-driven local advisory committees make grantmaking decisions. Organizations with existing connections to Transamerica employees or those that align with areas where employees volunteer may have stronger prospects.

  • Understand exclusions clearly: Do not apply if your program falls under K-12 fundraisers/events, religious programming without broad secular availability, political activities, conferences/seminars, or supports individuals or athletic organizations.

References

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