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Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$25.8M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.0M
00

Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $25,756,751 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $411.6 million
  • Decision Time: Determined by employee-driven programs
  • Grant Range: Varies widely based on employee direction
  • Geographic Focus: Global (primary operations in US locations)
  • Application Process: No public applications accepted

Contact Details

Address: 6455 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92618-4518

Phone: (949) 975-5000

EIN: 95-4658856

Note: The foundation does not have a public application process. Contact is primarily for informational purposes.

Overview

Established in 1997, the Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Capital Group, an American financial services company managing approximately $2.2 trillion in assets. The foundation distinguishes itself through a robust associate-driven giving model, where over 81% of Capital Group's 9,000+ global employees participate in directing charitable contributions. Over the past decade through fiscal year 2024, the foundation has distributed over $339 million to nonprofit organizations worldwide, averaging more than 3,600 grants annually. The foundation's strategic approach centers on empowering employees to support causes meaningful to them while focusing corporate initiatives on financial inclusion and education. In September 2025, Capital Group expanded its philanthropic reach by launching the Community Wealth Council, a fellowship program equipping nonprofit leaders with financial education capabilities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Employee Matching Gifts Program

  • 2:1 matching ratio (foundation contributes $2 for every $1 donated by employee)
  • Up to $5,000 per employee per year
  • Effectively triples each employee's personal donation impact

New Employee Giving

  • $250 gift on first day of employment to direct to a nonprofit
  • Incremental donations every five years of service

Associate Involvement Grant Program

  • Supports employees serving in nonprofit leadership roles (Board, Advisory Board, Committee)
  • 925 employees currently supported in these roles

Community Wealth Council

  • Launched September 2025
  • Two-year fellowship program for nonprofit leaders
  • 14 U.S. nonprofit organizations in first cohort
  • Focus on building financial education capabilities
  • Eight months of instructional sessions with financial advisor mentorship
  • Partnership with The Practice Space and Foundation for Financial Planning

Priority Areas

The foundation supports organizations across diverse sectors including:

  • Education: Higher education institutions and educational programs
  • Financial Inclusion: Programs advancing financial education for economically disadvantaged populations
  • Healthcare: Medical research, patient support organizations, hospitals
  • Arts & Culture: Arts education and cultural institutions
  • Environment: Conservation efforts and environmental protection
  • Youth Development: Programs supporting young people
  • Human Services: Community-based social services
  • International Relief: Global humanitarian organizations
  • Leadership Development: Capacity-building for nonprofit leaders

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly available. However, given the employee-driven model, funding decisions are largely determined by individual employee interests and organizational connections.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation operates under the governance of Capital Group's corporate structure. Recent Capital Group leadership includes:

  • Mike Gitlin: President and Chief Executive Officer, Chair of Management Committee
  • Martin Romo: Chairman and Chief Investment Officer
  • Jody Jonsson: Vice Chair, President of Capital Research Management Company

Specific foundation board members are not publicly listed but can be found in the foundation's Form 990-PF tax filings available through ProPublica and GuideStar.

The foundation's giving philosophy reflects Capital Group's mission statement: "Our mission is to improve people's lives through successful investing," with charitable priorities aligning with financial inclusion and accessibility.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation does not accept public applications for funding.

The foundation channels substantially all of its grantmaking through employee-driven programs. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited grant applications or proposals directly to the foundation.

Grants are made through three primary mechanisms:

  1. Employee matching gifts (2:1 ratio)
  2. Employee-directed donations (including new hire gifts and service milestone gifts)
  3. Associate Involvement Grants supporting employees serving on nonprofit boards
  4. Strategic initiatives developed by the foundation (such as the Community Wealth Council)

Getting on Their Radar

Employee Connections: Since the foundation's grantmaking is predominantly employee-driven, the most viable path to receiving funding is through connections with Capital Group employees. With over 9,000 employees globally and 81% participating in charitable giving programs, building relationships with Capital Group associates is essential.

Nonprofit Board Service: Capital Group supports 925 employees serving in nonprofit leadership roles through the Associate Involvement Grant Program. Organizations with strong governance programs that attract Capital Group employees as board members may benefit from this program.

Strategic Programs: The Community Wealth Council represents the foundation's direct strategic initiatives. Organizations working in financial education for underserved communities may align with future cohorts of this program as it expands globally.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary based on the giving mechanism:

  • Employee matching gifts: Processed as employees make donations throughout the year
  • Associate Involvement Grants: Based on employee board service commitments
  • Strategic initiatives: The Community Wealth Council operates on a two-year fellowship cycle with specific cohort selection processes

Success Rates

Traditional success rate metrics do not apply given the employee-driven model. In fiscal year 2022, Capital Group made nearly 700 associate-driven grants to nonprofits, demonstrating the broad reach of employee participation. With over 81% of all global employees participating in charitable giving programs, thousands of organizations benefit annually.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process. Organizations previously supported through employee connections may receive ongoing support as long as employee relationships continue.

Application Success Factors

Given the unique employee-driven model, organizations seeking Capital Group support should consider:

Build Employee Relationships: With 9,000+ employees globally and high participation rates (81%), cultivating authentic relationships with Capital Group associates is the primary pathway to funding. The foundation explicitly notes that "grant seekers should network to see who they know among the 7,000 Capital employees spread throughout the globe."

Engage Board Members: The Associate Involvement Grant Program supports 925 employees in nonprofit leadership roles. Recruiting qualified Capital Group employees to board or advisory positions can unlock both individual expertise and potential grant support.

Volunteer Engagement: Capital Group employees contributed 103,260 volunteer hours in FY2024. Organizations offering meaningful volunteer opportunities may attract employee engagement, which can lead to financial support through matching gifts and directed donations.

Financial Education Alignment: The foundation's strategic focus on "reducing barriers to investing and advancing financial education for economically disadvantaged populations" signals priority areas for institutional initiatives. Organizations working in financial capability building may align with programs like the Community Wealth Council.

Broad Sector Appeal: Past grantees span education (UCLA, DePauw University, Michigan State University, Claremont McKenna College, Wabash College, Washington University in St. Louis), healthcare (American Cancer Society, Angelman Syndrome Foundation, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Shriners Hospitals for Children), environment (Bat Conservation International, World Wildlife Fund), arts (Idyllwild Arts Foundation, Inner-City Arts of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Opera), animal welfare (Gimme Shelter Animal Rescue), and international development (Grameen Foundation USA, Oxfam America, World Vision).

Geographic Presence: While headquartered in Irvine, CA, Capital Group has employees globally. Organizations in locations with Capital Group offices may have increased opportunities for employee connections.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - this foundation requires a fundamentally different approach than traditional grant applications
  • Employee connections are essential - with 81% of 9,000+ employees participating in giving programs, networking with Capital Group associates is the primary strategy
  • Leverage board recruitment - 925 employees receive support for nonprofit board service; recruiting qualified Capital Group employees to your board can unlock funding pathways
  • Matching gift leverage - the 2:1 matching ratio means every employee donation triples in value; educate potential Capital Group donors about this benefit
  • Financial education focus - the Community Wealth Council launch signals institutional priority on financial capability building for underserved communities
  • Multi-year giving potential - employee-driven model can create sustained relationships rather than one-time grants if you maintain strong connections with Capital Group associates
  • Think broadly - with 103,260 volunteer hours contributed, engagement opportunities beyond financial support may strengthen relationships and lead to funding

References

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