Corporate Giving

Charles Schwab Foundation and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. each selectively sponsor a variety of charitable and community events in which employees participate. These include walk-a-thons, bicycle rides, festivals, concerts and other fund-raising events across the United States.

In addition, Schwab provides financial support to qualifying nonprofit organizations through direct grants and sponsorships. Since its founding in 1993, the foundation has awarded annual contributions averaging $4 million to more than 2,300 nonprofit organizations.

Corporate Sponsorships

Most corporate sponsorships are awarded for walk-a-thons and other events sponsored by nonprofit organizations. Selection criteria includes the following:

• Events that generate significant employee participation (i.e., 50 Schwab employee participants or more) are considered for corporate sponsorship. Note that a higher priority is placed on those events in which employees are already involved.
• Smaller events, such as dinners and luncheons, are also considered. They should support the foundation's mission, have employees directly involved and provide an opportunity to demonstrate Schwab's corporate philanthropic leadership and employee involvement in the community.
• Excluded from consideration are religious, political or athletic activities or functions (including golf, skiing or tennis sponsorships), or advertisements that are independent of a charitable event, or sponsorships made for business development purposes.

Submission Process

 1. Requests for sponsorships must be submitted using our online sponsorship application form.

 2. Once submitted, requests are acknowledged via email with a confirmation number.

 3. Proposals are reviewed on a quarterly basis according to the following schedule:    

FAQs

What if I miss the submission deadline?

Any request received after the deadline date will be reviewed during the next cycle. The acknowledgement email will indicate the notification date of your request. Sorry, but no exceptions can be granted.

What happens on the notification and award dates?

On the notification date applicants will be advised in writing if their submitted request has been approved or declined. An applicant should expect to receive their sponsorship award no later than the official award date.

May I check on the status of my request?

You will receive a written notification within 60 to 90 days of your submission and we will contact you directly if we have questions regarding your request. No phones calls or emails, please.

Employee Matching Gifts Program

Charles Schwab Foundation matches employee gifts of $25 or more, dollar for dollar, up to $1,000 per employee during each calendar year. More than a third of Schwab employees participated last year, with the foundation matching their stock or monetary donations. 

In 2009, Charles Schwab Foundation matched employee donations to 1,838 charitable organizations, for a combined total of $1.87 million in the Foundation's matched donations and contributions from our generous employees and board members. 
 

More than half of employee gifts and matching funds go to education-related and health & human service charities. Over a third of total contributions are given to community service organizations. Other categories of giving include the environment and arts & culture.

Distribution of Employee Donations

January 1 - December 31, 2009