The Clorox Company Foundation

Guidelines and Priorities

Geographic Focus

The Clorox Company Foundation offers grants primarily in its headquarters community of Oakland, Calif. Clorox manufacturing plants operate small giving programs in their local communities. These programs are administered independently and serve a three- to five-mile radius of the facility.

Foundation Focus Areas

The Foundation concentrates on contributions for specific community needs and focuses on two areas: education/youth development and culture/civic programs. Funding priorities may shift from year to year.

Education and Youth Development

The Foundation supports programs that prepare young people to participate successfully in an increasingly global society and to contribute back to the communities in which they live. Specifically, we focus on supporting innovative education and youth development programs that serve children and youth in kindergarden through 12th grade. Targeted programs strive to achieve the following goals:

  • Improve the academic performance of children, especially programs that support children and youth as they work to meet the literacy and math benchmarks that lead to their future success.
  • Prepare youth for community leadership.
  • Promote positive relationships among youth from diverse cultural and ethnic groups.

Culture/Civic Programs

Clorox recognizes that arts and cultural affairs are an essential and enriching part of society. The Foundation supports programs that advance civic and cultural initiatives, as well as projects that increase awareness of, participation in, and appreciation of arts and culture. Clorox's support of culture and civic programs adds significantly to the quality and vitality of life in our communities.

Arts Mini-Grants Initiative: This program provides small grants to assist Oakland's nonprofit cultural community. Twenty-five $1,000 grants are awarded each year for visual and performing arts events.

Criteria For Funding

The Foundation receives many more requests than it has resources to fund. Applicants must be in receipt of an IRS ruling confirming their classification as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit organization or be sponsored by a qualified fiscal agent. In addition, the proposal must meet the Foundation's geographic focus and address one of the focus areas listed above. The Foundation uses the following criteria in selecting agencies for funding:

  • Clarity of purpose
  • Outcomes related to performance (i.e., improved grades, test scores, graduation rates, increased audiences in underserved communities, etc.)
  • Strategies that will achieve the stated outcomes
  • Sound fiscal and management practices
  • Involvement of Board of Directors
  • Demonstrated collaborative relationships
  • Fundraising capacity
  • Diversity of board, staff, clients, audience, etc.
  • Nondiscrimination policies and practices

Ineligible For Funding

In general, the Foundation does not fund the following:

  • Fundraising events, benefits or raffles
  • Athletic events or league sponsorships
  • Field trips, tours and travel expenses
  • Advertising or promotional sponsorships
  • Conferences, conventions, meetings, etc.
  • Media productions (TV, radio or film projects)
  • Projects of a national scope
  • Direct assistance to individuals or individual sponsorships
  • Religious-based activities for the purpose of furthering religious doctrine
  • Political parties, organizations, candidates or activities
  • Exclusive membership organizations and associations or membership dues
  • Deficits or retroactive funding
  • Capital projects
  • Individual school projects