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The Avery Dennison Foundation Grantmaking Guidelines and Application

The Avery Dennison Foundation (ADF) is a global funder that supports and builds partnerships with nonprofit/non-governmental organizations in communities across the globe, with an emphasis on geographies of high need. More than 65% of grant recipients are based outside of the United States. The Foundation accepts grant requests year-round and makes funding decisions on a quarterly basis. ADF gives to three impact areas: educational access, environmental sustainability and secure livelihoods.

Impact Areas

An organization interested in obtaining a grant from the Foundation should present a proposal for work within one or more of the following impact areas.

Education Access

We support organizations addressing inequitable access to educational opportunities. 

Providing direct education or learning opportunities to populations who are traditionally underserved because of race, gender, socioeconomic status, disability or geography.

Increasing enrollment of underserved individuals (in particular women and girls) in primary, secondary, post-secondary, and vocational programs.

Reducing barriers to equitable education among marginalized communities.

 

Environmental Sustainability

We support efforts to improve environmental sustainability through climate resilience, mitigation and adaptation. 

Increasing the ability of the community and ecosystem to adapt to and recover from the negative impacts of climate change.

Providing direct support for projects related to the environment (forests, water, air) that contribute to the social, environmental and economic well-being of communities.

Educating community members about responsible care of the environment, for example, energy and water conservation, waste reduction, recycling, responsible forestry, sustainable packaging, product safety and resource conservation.

 

Secure Livelihoods

We support causes that increase access to economic opportunities for marginalized populations.

Increasing overall economic and financial stability of communities facing disparities due to gender, race, socioeconomic status, disability, etc.

Providing direct services to address female gender equality and equity and improving the quality of life for women.

Reducing barriers to meaningful employment among marginalized communities.

 

Grantmaking Considerations

ADF also considers the following when reviewing proposals.

Need. We prioritize funding to communities facing the greatest disparities (e.g., due to gender, race, disability, socioeconomic status, etc.) and geographies of highest need; referencing the United Nations Development Program Human Development Index. 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We prioritize funding to organizations that demonstrate diversity, equity and inclusion in their work and cultivate trust and belonging with the communities they serve.

 

Guiding Principles

The following principles guide our grantmaking approach. 

Trust-Based Philanthropy. We value open communication and deep relationships with our strategic partners and grant recipients. 

Responsive Grantmaking. We value our employee-centered grantmaking through established programs and disaster relief efforts.

Proactive Grantmaking. We proactively seek out partners approaching the work within our impact areas through human-centered design in communities and geographies of need.

 

ADF does not sponsor:

Conferences, fundraisers and special events.

Organizations that discriminate against a person or a group on the basis of age, political affiliation, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or religious beliefs.

Individual scholarships, stipends, fellowships, travel grants, etc.

For-profit organizations or ventures.

Religious groups for religious purposes.

Political organizations, candidates, ballot measures or other political activities.

Institutional endowments.

Submit Your Grant Application

The Foundation accepts grant requests year-round and makes funding decisions on a quarterly basis. We respond to all grant requests, regardless of grantmaking decision.

PLEASE NOTE: The Avery Dennison Foundation is transitioning to a new grant application system. When the transition is complete, any previously submitted applications will no longer be available via this online portal.

An application started and not submitted by August 17, 2023 must be resubmitted in the new system for consideration in 2024. 

The new grant application system will be available on this page September 8, 2023.

Apply →