Community Giving

3M’s Community Giving

Community giving is an important part of 3M’s sustainability strategy. 3M’s philanthropy combines 3M and 3M Foundation cash gifts, donated products and volunteerism by employees and retirees. Employees participate in about 75% of our giving through:

3M Matching Gift Program for colleges and universities throughout the year and special matches for areas like hunger relief and environment.
3M Volunteer Match with contributions to nonprofit organizations where employees volunteer 20 hours or more and retirees volunteer 25 hours or more per year.
Service on 3M advisory committees that shape funding priorities and assist with the review of grants.
Volunteer service on non-profit boards or community projects

3M’s giving is decentralized with 3M subsidiaries in each country administering their own program that reflects the local culture and needs. Comprehensive data around 3M’s global community giving is not available. Below are examples of community giving programs from 3M’s operations within Brazil, the Netherlands, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and the United States.

3M Giving in Brazil

In 2007, 3M Brazil invested nearly R$700,000 (approximately US$409,356, assuming $1 = R$1.71) to the community through contributions to organizations such as Escola Americana de Campinas and Casa Dos Menores Campinas and through the programs of the Social Innovation Institute. The Institute’s key objective is to improve the quality of life in the communities where 3M Brazil operates through incentives for the development of projects in the area of social technology.

3M Giving in The Netherlands

In 2008, 3M Netherlands is celebrating its 50th anniversary through the creation of a new foundation, the 3M Fund (3M Fonds), and the launch of an employee volunteer program where 3M employees may volunteer with not-for-profit organizations during working hours. The new fund will donate €50,000 (approximately US$77,000) each year to a not-for-profit organization that is contributing to the Dutch community. Prospective applicants can apply for the funding through the following web site: www.3MFonds.nl (Dutch). All the nominations will be published on the 3M Fund website where the Dutch community will be able to vote on which nomination should receive the award. Using the votes collected through the web site, an independent jury will make the final decision.

For more information on applying for the 3M Fund, please visit www.3MFonds.nl

3M Giving in the United Kingdom and Ireland

In 2008, 3M United Kingdom contributed almost £500,000 (approximately US$725,419 assuming US$1 = £0.67) to community organizations throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. 3M UK focuses its community giving, nationally, around road safety programs for children and, at a local level, to organizations serving the communities where 3M operates. 3M’s community giving in the UK and Ireland covers four main areas: its Care & Share matching donations program, its 3M 4 Good employee volunteering program, and donations and gifts in kind at corporate level. The Care & Share program matches donations and fundraising by 3M employees up to £100 per employee per year to charities registered in the UK and Ireland. The 3M 4 Good program encourages 3M employees to spend one work day a year volunteering in their community.

2008 3M United Kingdom Contributions

Care & Share	£21,220
3M 4 Good (Employee Time)	£89,468
Gifts in Kind	£103,324
Corporate Cash Donations	£278,831
Total	£492,843

3M Giving in the United States

For more information on 3M’s latest donations in the United States or for 3M’s giving guidelines and information on how to apply for contributions please see 3M’s Community Giving site.

2008 U.S. Contributions

Foundation Cash	$21.78 million
Corporate Cash	$3.45 million
Total:	$25.23 million
Product Donations	$23.53 million
Grand Total	$48.76 million

2008 U.S. Product and Cash Contributions by Program Area

Education	$29.08 million
Health & Human Services	$22.2 million
Environmental	$2.15 million
Arts & Culture	$2.93 million
Community / Volunteer	$1.40 million

View a history of 3M’s US Community Giving.