Verizon Foundation

Overview: The result of the mergers between Bell Atlantic and NYNEX and then Bell Atlantic and GTE, Verizon is a leader in the development of web-based corporate philanthropy, corporate sponsorships, and corporate-nonprofit partnership development.

The Foundation’s web site has won several awards for communications and innovations. Almost all Foundation business is conducted online and often in a matter of a weeks, days, or even hours.

Getting a simple and straight answer from corporate community relations web sites can be very frustrating. Verizon’s web site does have its problems, but overall, the Company’s site is comprehensive, navigable, and provides a complete package of information and application procedures. It is/will be the prototype for corporate community relations web sites.

Areas of Interest: The foundation has narrowed its focus to two areas:

Literacy:

a. Strategic Grantmaking
To help move America to a more literate society, Verizon uses a combination of corporate philanthropy, employee participation, celebrity volunteers, partnerships with literacy organizations and contributions from our customers. In 2004, Verizon awarded more than 900 literacy grants totaling more than $18 million.

b. Community Outreach
Last year, Verizon teamed up with Barnes & Noble to execute its innovative Season's Readings campaign in which employees rally during the holiday season to host book drives in Verizon markets across the United States. The 2004 book drive broke all previous records for the five-year-old program. More than one million books were collected and distributed to a million children nationwide.

c. International Activity
Verizon also works with governments and literacy organizations overseas to provide communities with teachers, computers and learning materials. Verizon International Foundation spends about $1 million per year to support literacy initiatives in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.

Domestic Violence

Verizon has helped to highlight this social cause nationally, and will continue to do so through its investments in service programs, support for non-profit advocacy organizations and shelters for victims of domestic violence. The goal is to continue to raise awareness, educate people about the causes and effects of domestic violence and help our communities address and prevent domestic violence.

• Crime/violence prevention, domestic violence: Verizon Wireless embraces a philosophy of commitment to the community and to the workplace. Through its HopeLines program, the company focuses primarily on putting wireless products and services to work to combat domestic violence. The company recognizes that domestic violence is an epidemic that devastates neighbors, friends and co-workers. As such, it dedicates its resources to both the prevention of domestic violence and the life rebuilding process.
  
  Old Phones Give Victims A "HopeLine"
  The national HopeLine phone recycling program, exclusive to the company, directly benefits victims of domestic violence. The company collects previously owned wireless handsets to be refurbished, recycled and/or sold, donating all the proceeds to non-profit domestic violence advocacy organizations and purchasing new handsets for victims. In 2002 Verizon Wireless collected more than 1,000,000 used wireless phones nationwide for the benefit of domestic violence victims. Last year the company's phone, airtime and monetary donations and contributions totaled over $1.4 million dollars.
• Education & Technology:
• Education, Literacy & Reading: Nearly 100 grants for libraries and literacy programs during the last two years.
• Employment, Job Training: The latest education survey states that college graduates have three times the earning power than those with only a high school diploma and the gap is getting larger. Verizon is one of the largest employers in the United States, serving over 95 million wireline customers across the United States and in strategic international markets. It is committed to promoting the value of education as the major tool for economic self-sufficiency to build strong, sustainable communities.
  
  Verizon invests in the workforce of the future through welfare to work and school-to-work programs, and initiatives to assist people with disabilities through adaptive technology. We are also making a major investment in scholarship programs for minorities enrolled in undergraduate school and technology training to bridge the digital divide. Verizon is committed to ensuring a diverse, competitive workforce required by the new economy.
• Family Services:
• Libraries: Nearly 100 grants for libraries and literacy programs during the last two years, primarily for technology upgrades
• Philanthropy & Voluntarism, Voluntarism Promotion: The Verizon Foundation launched "Verizon Volunteers", an employee volunteer program that provides more matching funds for nonprofit agencies and encourages employees to spend more time and resources helping the agencies they care about the most.
• Technology Education: With technology as its core business and work force development as a primary concern, Verizon encourages nonprofit partners to use technology as tool to connect our communities and our work force through education and training.

Sample Grants
$ 15,000 to A Better Chance of Boston , Boston , MA
$ 5,000 to A Leg Up Therapeutic Riding Center for the Handicapped , Abingdon , VA
$ 15,000 to A.I. Prince Vocational Technical School , Hartford , CT
$ 10,000 to AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts , Boston , MA
$ 25,000 to Abilities Network , Towson , MD
$ 15,000 to Academy of the Arts , Easton , MD
$ 15,000 to Albert Lowry High School , Winnemucca , NV
$ 24,000 to Allen County Local Education Fund , Fort Wayne , IN
$ 58,000 to Alliance for Public Technology , Washington , DC
$ 25,000 to Allston Village Main Streets , Allston , MA
$ 5,040 to American Indian College Fund , Denver , CO
$ 200,000 to American Library Association , Washington , DC
$ 12,000 to Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments , Auburn , ME
$ 10,000 to Arts Council of Richmond , Richmond , VA
$ 14,000 to Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne , Fort Wayne , IN
$ 15,000 to Asian Community Development Corporation , Boston , MA
$ 6,890 to Auditory-Verbal International , Alexandria , VA
$ 75,000 to Barstow Literacy Coalition , Barstow , CA
$ 15,000 to Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad , Bethesda , MD
$ 10,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Isabella County , Mount Pleasant , MI
$ 30,000 to Boston Ballet , Boston , MA
$ 10,000 to Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center , Boston , MA
$ 10,000 to Boston Digital Bridge Foundation , Boston , MA
$ 14,500 to Boston Public Schools Odyessy High School , Boston , MA
$ 12,000 to Bow School District , Bow , NH
$ 23,500 to Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke , Holyoke , MA
$ 25,000 to Breast Cancer Alliance , Greenwich , CT
$ 15,000 to Brightside , Springfield , MA
$ 10,000 to Brown County Educational Service Center , Georgetown , OH
$ 50,000 to California Literacy , Pasadena , CA
$ 10,000 to Calvary Bilingual Multicultural Learning Center , Washington , DC
$ 14,000 to Camp Venture , Nanuet , NY
$ 20,000 to Cancer Community Center , South Portland , ME
$ 15,675 to Care Development , Bangor , ME
$ 10,000 to Cathedral City Library , Cathedral City , CA
$ 40,000 to Cato Institute , Washington , DC
$ 10,500 to Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association , Washington , DC
$ 25,000 to Chittenden Community Television , Burlington , VT
$ 20,000 to Clinton Task Force on Employment , Lansing , MI
$ 10,000 to Coastal Enterprises , Wiscasset , ME
$ 13,100 to Commonwealth Players , Richmond , VA
$ 10,000 to Community Providers of Adolescent Services , Jamaica Plain , MA
$ 25,000 to Covina Public Library , Covina , CA
$ 15,000 to Cuba Circulating Library Association , Cuba , NY
$ 10,961 to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Massachusetts , Natick , MA
$ 7,500 to Delco Blind-Sight Center , Chester , PA
$ 6,000 to Disability Action Center - Northwest , Coeur d'Alene , ID
$ 15,000 to Dixie Middle School , Saint George , UT
$ 20,000 to Earthwatch Expeditions, Inc. , Maynard , MA
$ 10,000 to Easter Seal Society of Rhode Island , East Providence , RI
$ 10,000 to Eastern Shore Literacy Council , Belle Haven , VA
$ 20,000 to Educational Resources Services for Children , Reno , NV
$ 25,000 to Enoch Pratt Free Library , Baltimore , MD
$ 10,000 to Euell A. Wilson Community Center , Fort Wayne , IN
$ 30,000 to Family Service League , Huntington , NY
$ 10,000 to Fenway Community Health Center , Boston , MA
$ 15,000 to Filipino American Heritage Institute , Los Angeles , CA
$ 125,000 to Florida Literacy Coalition , Orlando , FL
$ 20,000 to Four County Library System , Binghamton , NY
$ 10,000 to Fund for Boston Neighborhoods , Boston , MA
$ 25,000 to Grapevine Public Library , Grapevine , TX
$ 10,000 to Greater Marion Community Development Organization , Marion , OH
$ 10,000 to Greenwich Symphony , Greenwich , CT
$ 23,500 to Hampshire Educational Collaborative , Northampton , MA
$ 10,000 to Hispanic Office of Planning and Evaluation , Jamaica Plain , MA
$ 17,039 to Housing Assistance Council , Washington , DC
$ 11,200 to Immigrant Learning Center , Malden , MA
$ 10,000 to International Trade Assistance Center , Fall River , MA
$ 15,000 to Jubilee Jobs , Washington , DC
$ 15,000 to Kanawha County Public Library , Charleston , WV
$ 10,000 to King County Library System , Seattle , WA
$ 15,000 to Kootenai Junior-Senior High School , Harrison , ID
$ 10,000 to Leadership Rhode Island Educational Foundation , Providence , RI
$ 15,000 to Lewis County Adult Literacy Council , Vanceburg , KY
$ 10,000 to Library Foundation , Topeka , KS
$ 10,000 to Literacy Council of Brown County , Green Bay , WI
$ 100,000 to Literacy Council of Durham County , Durham , NC
$ 10,000 to Literacy Council of Jefferson County , Pine Bluff , AR
$ 10,000 to Literacy Council of Wood County , Marshfield , WI
$ 14,385 to Long Beach Public Library , Long Beach , CA
$ 50,000 to Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance , Brunswick , ME
$ 25,000 to Massachusetts Insight Education and Research Institute , Boston , MA
$ 10,000 to Medina County Performing Arts Foundation , Medina , OH
$ 35,000 to Metrowest Chamber Educational Foundation , Framingham , MA
$ 10,523 to Michigan Maritime Museum , South Haven , MI
$ 20,000 to Moscow Chamber Foundation , Moscow , ID
$ 13,350 to New Hampshire Assistive Technology Center , Laconia , NH
$ 10,200 to New Hampshire Association of School Principals , Concord , NH
$ 15,000 to New Hampshire Rural Development Council , Concord , NH
$ 75,000 to New Jersey Library Association , Trenton , NJ
$ 25,000 to New York Public Library , New York , NY
$ 10,000 to North Idaho Community Services Corporation , Hayden , ID
$ 10,000 to Oficina Hispana de la Comunidad , Boston , MA
$ 10,000 to Parents United for Child Care , Boston , MA
$ 10,000 to Park Square Advocates/Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders , Boston , MA
$ 10,000 to Pride Productions , Worcester , MA
$ 10,125 to Providence Performing Arts Center , Providence , RI
$ 26,000 to Providence Public Library , Providence , RI
$ 15,025 to Queens Library Foundation , Jamaica , NY
$ 15,000 to Regional Employment Board of Hampden County , Springfield , MA
$ 13,430 to Roanoke Symphony Orchestra , Roanoke , VA
$ 10,000 to Saint Joseph Health Services of Rhode Island , Providence , RI
$ 55,500 to Science Museum of Virginia , Richmond , VA
$ 10,000 to Seattle Public Library Foundation , Seattle , WA
$ 30,000 to Selby Public Library , Sarasota , FL
$ 20,000 to SouthCoast Education Compact , North Dartmouth , MA
$ 25,000 to Southeastern Regional Education Service Center , Derry , NH
$ 20,000 to Three Rivers Literacy Alliance , IN
$ 24,124 to Tippecanoe County Public Library Foundation , Lafayette , IN
$ 20,000 to U Street Theater Foundation , Washington , DC
$ 17,500 to University of Idaho , Moscow , ID
$ 25,000 to Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts , Boston , MA
$ 25,000 to Vermont Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations (VANPO) , Burlington , VT
$ 15,000 to Vermont Child Care Providers Association , Williston , VT
$ 50,000 to Virginia Literacy Foundation , Richmond , VA
$ 40,000 to Volunteers in Providence Schools , Providence , RI
$ 25,000 to Western New York Library Resources , Buffalo , NY
$ 25,000 to White Mountains School Administrative Unit 35 , Littleton , NH
$ 15,000 to Woodrow Wilson Community High School , Fargo , ND
$ 32,500 to YMCA of Greater Boston , Boston , MA
$ 10,000 to Youth for Christ of Indianapolis , Indianapolis , IN

Application Procedures:: Verizon Foundation accepts only electronic proposals via an online process. Originators of proposals typically receive a notification of receipt within 72 hours of submission. Nonprofit organizations that are not online can apply via fax for a $240 "eGrant" for Internet access.

Verizon reviews proposals from January through November. Each applicant organization is evaluated on its merits. Elements considered in the review are the quality of a program, its service to the public, the size and type of constituency it serves, the organization's management, and its accountability, finances and fund-raising practices. Verizon also seeks evidence that grant applicants have a clear purpose, are efficiently organized and provide a needed service.

Organizations must be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Tax Code or be a public school registered with the National Center for Education Statistics in order to be considered for a grant.

Verizon's Online FAQ

I have a proposal for the Verizon Foundation, where can I send it and to whom?

The Verizon Foundation only accepts proposals online. To apply for a grant, go to Apply Online. If you wish to communicate with the Community Affairs manager in your area, please go to In Your Community.

Before I apply online, I would like to receive a copy of the application form. How can I get a copy?

Before you get started on your proposal to the Verizon Foundation, you may print a copy of the application by using our example form. If you would like to print the guidelines and helpful hints & suggestions, just go to our Partnership Guidelines area of the Web site and print.

When will I be contacted about the status of my grant request? How do I know you received my proposal?

After you have completed your online application and selected "Send," you will receive an e-mail notifying you that the application has been received. In addition, you will be contacted by the Community Affairs manager handling your grant request. A final decision may or may not be made at this time. Additional follow-up, assessment or evaluation may be required.

When do you accept proposals?

The Verizon Foundation accepts grant requests 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, January through November (we do our bookkeeping in December) through the Apply Online process described above.

How can I improve my chances of receiving a grant from the Verizon Foundation?

You can increase the possibility of receiving a grant and improve the quality of your proposal by spending a few minutes reviewing our Partnership Guidelines, taking the Eligibility Quiz and reviewing this list of frequently asked questions (FAQs).

How much does the Verizon Foundation give each year?

In 2003, the Verizon Foundation will distribute approximately $75 million nationwide to support technology and literacy programs within urban and rural communities. Each year, the Verizon Foundation receives more than 60,000 grant requests from nonprofits and provides funding to less than half of these organizations. The Foundation is one of the country's largest corporate philanthropic contributors.

What is the range in size of Verizon Foundation grants?

The Verizon Foundation does not have a range for grant amounts. Many factors, including the specific program or project to be funded and the organization making the request, determine funding amounts. Based on the past several years, the average grant size ranged between $5,000 and $10,000. Before allocating funding, the Verizon Foundation takes into consideration many aspects of your proposal, including your organization's mission, leadership, vision, strategy, financials and budget requested and how your dollars are invested within the communities you serve.

Will my nonprofit receive the amount requested?

Many aspects of your proposal are taken into consideration, including your organization's mission and goals, leadership, vision and strategy, financials, budget versus amount requested and how your dollars are invested within the communities you serve.

May I apply for a grant for a specific project on behalf of another organization, which does not have a 501(c)(3)? The current status of my 501(c)(3) is pending, do I qualify?

No. The Verizon Foundation reviews over 60,000 grant requests per year and can only support a small portion of these projects. Unless the nonprofit is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, as determined by the Internal Revenue Service, you are not eligible.

I received a cash grant from Verizon earlier this year. Am I eligible to receive a grant from Verizon Foundation for a different project?

The Verizon Foundation provides one cash grant per calendar year to eligible nonprofit organizations. Organizations that have received a grant from the Verizon Foundation in the last three consecutive years, may reapply after a one year hiatus.

Does the Verizon Foundation sponsor film, music, TV or media productions?

No. The Verizon Foundation supports a variety of projects domestically and internationally, with an emphasis on new technology applications, literacy, and work force development. To find out more about which organizations are eligible and which are not, please go to the Partnership Guidelines section of this Web site.

Do you only provide cash grants?

If your nonprofit organization has needs other than cash, you are in the right place. The Verizon Foundation can offer your qualifying organization access to equipment and non-cash resources that will boost your ability to help your community. Go to our Technology Resource Guide for direct access to other sites and agencies that can be of assistance. Looking for volunteers? Request volunteers online. The Verizon Foundation may have used computers for you. You can check with us by going to the In-Kind Donations section of our Web site.

I am a nonprofit organization and in need of volunteers for a literacy program we are working on. Can the Verizon Foundation assist?

Nonprofit organizations interested in partnering with the foundation and looking for volunteers may go to our Verizon Volunteers section and apply for volunteer support from Verizon Foundation.

Do you provide Internet training for nonprofit organizations?

Yes. The Verizon Foundation is committed to developing partnerships within your community. With an emphasis on new technology applications in education and literacy, health and human services and community technology, our focus is on helping bridge the digital divide between those who have access to computers and those who do not. The Verizon ePartners provide a range of training classes. If you are a 501(c)(3) organization or NCES school or district looking for eTraining, you may Apply Online in the Verizon Connects section of our site.

Grants Paid

2001 ($77,000,000 )

2002 ($75,000,000 )

2003 ($75,000,000 )

2004 ($56,968,636 )

2005 ($61,834,820 )

2006 ($59,847,733 )

2008 ($56,953,706 )

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