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TJX Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$23.3M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.5M

TJX Foundation Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $23,322,493 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $61 million
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $500,000
  • Average Grant: $5,000
  • Total Awards: 1,321 grants (2022)
  • Decision Time: Rolling basis review (February - October)
  • Geographic Focus: Within 15 miles of any TJX store, distribution center, or office in the United States (including Puerto Rico)

Contact Details

Foundation Address: 770 Cochituate Road, Corporate Tax Department 5002CS Framingham, MA 01701-4666

Email: tjx_foundation@tjx.com (for inquiries only - not for applications)

Online Application Portal: Invitation-only Blackbaud Grantmaking portal

Website: https://www.tjx.com/corporate-responsibility/communities/our-us-foundation

Overview

The TJX Foundation Inc is the charitable arm of TJX Companies Inc., the parent company of T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Homesense, and Sierra. Established as a private foundation with assets of $61 million, the Foundation distributed over $23.3 million in grants across 1,321 awards in its most recent reporting period. The Foundation's mission is "Delivering great value to our communities by helping vulnerable families and children access the resources and opportunities they need to build a better future." With a strategic focus on four key areas—fulfilling critical basic needs, providing education and training, supporting research and care for life-threatening illnesses, and empowering women—the Foundation leverages the geographic reach of TJX's extensive retail network to support communities across the United States and Puerto Rico. Organizations must be located within 15 miles of a TJX store, distribution center, or office to be eligible for funding.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The TJX Foundation focuses funding through three primary grant streams:

  • Out-of-School Education for At-Risk Youth (Pre-K through Grade 12): Programs providing access to opportunities outside of school that enable school success for at-risk youth. Grant range: $1,000 - $500,000
  • Workforce Readiness Training: Skills training programs for disadvantaged youth ages 16-24 to foster workforce readiness. Grant range: $1,000 - $500,000
  • Domestic Violence Services: Safety from domestic violence, including services for victims and survivors. Grant range: $1,000 - $500,000

Application Method: Invitation-only through a multi-stage process. The Letter of Inquiry portal is open annually from February through October, with rolling basis reviews.

Grant Size: While most grants are awarded in amounts up to $50,000 with an average of $5,000, organizations with long-standing relationships have received amounts up to $500,000 on occasion.

Priority Areas

The Foundation actively funds programs in the following areas:

  • Basic Need Services: Food, clothing, and shelter for disadvantaged women, children, and families
  • Education Programs: Outside-of-school educational opportunities for pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students that enable school success
  • Youth Workforce Development: Skills training and workforce readiness programs for at-risk youth ages 16-24
  • Domestic Violence Support: Services for victims of domestic violence, including shelters, hotlines, and support services
  • Health and Medical Research: Research and care for life-threatening illnesses, including organizations like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Alzheimer's Association, and JDRF (Type 1 diabetes research)
  • Disaster Relief and Food Security: Emergency response through organizations like World Central Kitchen, Red Cross, and Feeding America

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation has specific exclusions and restrictions:

  • Product donations: Not currently accepting product donation requests
  • Gift cards: Does not accommodate requests for gift cards
  • Event sponsorships: Not currently accepting event sponsorship requests
  • Programs outside focus areas: Programs that don't clearly fit one of the three primary categories (out-of-school youth education, workforce readiness ages 16-24, or domestic violence services) will not be funded
  • Organizations outside geographic area: Organizations not located within 15 miles of a TJX store, distribution center, or office
  • Recently funded organizations: Organizations that have received TJX funding within the past 12 months
  • Organizations without nondiscrimination policies: Must have a public nondiscrimination policy covering race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, marital or military status

Governance and Leadership

The TJX Foundation is governed by a board that includes senior executives from TJX Companies:

Officers:

  • Bernard Cammarata - President & Chairman
  • Ernie Herrman - Vice President (also CEO and President of TJX Companies Inc.)
  • George Wilson - Vice President
  • Mary Reynolds - Vice President & Treasurer
  • Paul Kangas - Vice President
  • Scott Goldenberg - Vice President
  • Ann McCauley - Secretary
  • Alicia Kelly - Assistant Secretary
  • Lisa Schwartz - Assistant Secretary
  • Nancy Hendrickson - Assistant Secretary/Assistant Treasurer
  • Susan Beaumont - Assistant Secretary

Leadership Philosophy:

Ernie Herrman, CEO of TJX Companies and Vice President of the Foundation, has stated: "Our commitment to corporate responsibility stretches back much further, rooted in decades of acting as a responsible corporate citizen and affirming our core values of honesty, integrity, and treating each other with dignity and respect." He has also emphasized that "Action is necessary to make a difference and as an organization, we know we can do more."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The TJX Foundation uses a three-stage invitation-only application process:

Stage 1: Eligibility Questionnaire

  • Complete the online eligibility questionnaire on the Foundation's website
  • Confirms your organization meets basic requirements (501(c)(3) status for at least 12 months, geographic location, nondiscrimination policy, no funding in past 12 months)

Stage 2: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

  • If you pass the eligibility questionnaire, you'll gain access to submit a Letter of Inquiry
  • The LOI portal is open annually from February through October
  • LOIs are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout this period
  • Important: The Foundation does not notify organizations whose LOIs are not selected

Stage 3: Full Application (By Invitation Only)

  • Selected nonprofits receive an invitation to complete a full application for funding
  • Applications are accepted by invitation only through the Blackbaud Grantmaking portal
  • If approved, the grant will be mailed to your nonprofit

Portal Access: Blackbaud Grantmaking portal (invitation-only)

Decision Timeline

  • LOI Submission Period: February through October annually
  • Review Process: Rolling basis review of Letters of Inquiry
  • Notification: Only selected applicants are notified with invitations to submit full applications; unsuccessful LOI applicants do not receive notification
  • Grant Award: Approved grants are mailed to organizations

Note: Because the Foundation reviews on a rolling basis, earlier submissions may receive decisions sooner, though no specific timeline is published.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that have received funding from TJX must wait at least 12 months from the date of their previous grant before they can reapply. This is a firm eligibility requirement checked during the eligibility questionnaire stage.

Application Success Factors

The TJX Foundation emphasizes specific criteria for successful applications:

Geographic Precision: Your organization must be located within 15 miles of a TJX store, distribution center, or office. This is a strict eligibility requirement. Use the Foundation's website to verify your proximity to TJX locations before applying.

Clear Mission Alignment: Applications must align precisely with one of the three focus areas: out-of-school youth education (pre-K through grade 12), workforce readiness for at-risk youth ages 16-24, or domestic violence services. Programs that try to fit multiple categories or fall outside these areas are not successful. Be explicit about which category your program fits.

Measurable Impact: The Foundation emphasizes "specific goals and measurable objectives that demonstrate the impact of the proposed project." Successful applications include clear metrics such as number of participants served, completion rates, skill attainment measures, or safety outcomes. Quantify your expected impact.

Fiscal Responsibility: Applications must include "a well-structured budget that aligns with the stated goals and shows responsible financial planning." Demonstrate that your organization manages resources effectively and that the requested funding amount is appropriate for the stated outcomes.

Examples of Funded Organizations:

The Foundation has supported organizations including:

  • Health and Medical: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Alzheimer's Association, JDRF
  • Domestic Violence: National Domestic Violence Hotline, Canada's Women in Need Society, and numerous women's shelters across the U.S.
  • Food Assistance: Feeding America (with Foundation support translating into an estimated 28 million meals), LA Regional Food Bank, World Central Kitchen
  • Basic Needs: Operation Warm (providing coats to approximately 7,000 children in need)

Strategic Considerations:

  • Long-term Relationship Building: Organizations with long-standing relationships with TJX have received grants up to $500,000, significantly higher than the typical $5,000-$50,000 range, suggesting that sustained engagement and proven impact can lead to increased support over time
  • Rolling Basis Advantage: Since LOIs are reviewed on a rolling basis from February through October, submitting earlier in the cycle may be advantageous
  • Nondiscrimination Policy Required: Ensure your organization has a public nondiscrimination policy that explicitly covers all required categories before applying

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Verify geographic eligibility first: Use the TJX website to confirm you're within 15 miles of a TJX location before investing time in an application—this is a non-negotiable requirement
  • Pick one focus area and stay focused: Don't try to appeal to multiple categories; be crystal clear about whether your program is youth education, workforce readiness, or domestic violence services
  • Expect competition: With over 1,300 grants distributed annually averaging $5,000 each, the Foundation supports many small to medium grants rather than a few large ones
  • Apply early in the cycle: The LOI portal opens in February—submitting early in the rolling review process may improve your chances before funding is allocated
  • No news is bad news: If you don't receive an invitation to submit a full application, you were not selected; the Foundation does not notify unsuccessful LOI applicants
  • Build for the long term: First-time grantees typically receive smaller awards ($5,000-$50,000), but organizations with long-standing relationships have received up to $500,000, suggesting that demonstrating impact can lead to significant funding growth
  • Quantify everything: Include specific, measurable objectives with clear metrics—the Foundation explicitly looks for demonstrable impact

References

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