Ameriprise Community Grants

Ameriprise Community Grants focus on supporting nonprofits that enhance community vitality and meet basic needs. With over 120 years of commitment to philanthropy, Ameriprise Financial engages employees in volunteerism and grantmaking. Key giving areas include hunger relief, housing stability, and community development. Priority is given to organizations with active volunteer engagement from Ameriprise advisors and employees, creating a meaningful impact on financial independence and community resilience.

Ameriprise Financial Grantmaking
At Ameriprise Financial, giving back is deeply rooted in our culture. Through grant making, volunteerism and employee and financial advisor gift matching programs, we support a diverse group of over 6,000 nonprofits across the country.
Focus Areas
Awarding grant dollars to nonprofits is one way we strengthen our communities and help individuals on a path to financial independence. To ensure we're meeting the needs of our communities and making an even greater collective impact, we focus on three key giving areas when awarding grants.
Volunteer engagement is a priority across all focus areas:
The engagement of Ameriprise employees and financial advisors is a critical component of our philanthropy. Whether it’s serving on a nonprofit board, engaging friends, clients and community members in volunteering or providing skills-based support, our relationships with nonprofits go deep. For this reason, we give priority across all focus areas to applications where there is active volunteer engagement of Ameriprise advisors and employees.
Meeting Basic Needs
At Ameriprise Financial, we help clients achieve financial security and peace of mind. That’s satisfying, meaningful work. We’re here to help them through the three platforms of our Meeting Basic Needs focus area.
Consideration is given to applications addressing the following:
HungerFood banks, food shelves and food pantries, daily meal programs or meal services for the homeboundHunger-relief programs targeted to meet the special needs of children, ethnic populations or veteransFood programs run by nonprofits where hunger is not their sole focus, for example a youth meal program at the YWCA or a backpack program run by a Boys & Girls ClubShelterEmergency shelter, including youth homelessnessTransitional housing, permanent supportive housing and efforts to end chronic homelessnessHousing-first models (programs quickly providing housing and then addressing needed services)Achieving and maintaining home ownership, repair and maintenance efforts helping keep seniors, veterans and other populations in their homes Adult Self-Sufficiency: Programs serving adults age 21 and older that help address the following areas:Basic hard and soft skills that help adults achieve economic and family stabilityBasic financial and budgeting skillsIncrease employability and wages, including work readiness and job transitionsEmployment of disabled adults
Supporting Community Vitality
Consideration is given to applications addressing the following:
Community DevelopmentNeighborhood revitalizationEconomic developmentStrengthening and supporting small businesses and nonprofits through technical expertiseCultural EnrichmentArts educationAccess for underserved populationsDiverse artists and performances that spark topical community conversations
Volunteer Driven Causes: Ameriprise employees and financial advisors are outstanding volunteers who serve in teams and also as individuals bringing personal skill-sets to nonprofits. Volunteering is part of the culture at Ameriprise and we are proud to support communities through contributions of both service and financial resources.
Funding for Volunteer-Driven Causes is determined by current Ameriprise volunteerism. In general, funding is in proportion to the size of the Ameriprise volunteer team supporting a nonprofit. A team may include employees, financial advisors and/or staff or a combination of any Ameriprise volunteers.
Note: The Volunteer-Driven Causes focus area provides an opportunity for organizations with volunteer engagement outside of Meeting Basic Needs and Supporting Community Vitality to apply for funding. Applications must still meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the “eligibility” section. If your organization meets the eligibility and volunteer requirements and fits in either Meeting Basic Needs or Supporting Community Vitality focus areas, please apply under one of them.

Eligibility

If the nonprofit is located near one of our employee centers, a higher level of volunteer engagement is required to apply under the Volunteer-Driven Causes focus area. Twin Cities/Minneapolis and St. Paul: 25 or more Ameriprise volunteersGreen Bay, Wis.: 25 or more Ameriprise volunteersLas Vegas: 25 or more Ameriprise volunteersPhoenix: 25 or more Ameriprise volunteersAll other locations: 5 or more Ameriprise volunteersEligible programs and organizations will:Hold a 501(c)(3) IRS designationClearly match one of our three grant making focus areas as defined in this document: Meeting Basic Needs, Supporting Community Vitality and Volunteer-Driven CausesProvide a complete application, including an uploaded financial audit or financial review that was completed within the last two years in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)Show measurable results and clearly documented outcomesDemonstrate financial stabilityProvide required reporting, if a prior grantee

Ineligibility

Our hunger support does not include: nutrition education, cooking instruction or gardening programs.Our adult self-sufficiency support does not include Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), scholarships or any type of financial incentive.Our cultural enrichment support does not include the sponsorship of performances, festivals, exhibits or individual artistsNon-eligible programs and organizations:Organizations that do not meet all of the eligibility criteria stated aboveOrganizations that do not comply with the Ameriprise Financial non-discrimination policy:“We are committed to equal employment opportunity and unbiased treatment of all individuals based on job-related qualifications and without regard to race, color, gender, age national origin, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law.”Capital or endowment campaignsMulti-year commitmentsPrivate foundationsInternational organizations or domestic organizations requesting funding for programs outside the United StatesOrganizations requesting funding for re-granting Sponsorships, galas, fundraising dinners/tables, sporting tournaments (including youth athletics), tickets and advertisingFraternal, social, labor, athletic, veterans or other membership organizationsIndividuals or groups seeking support for personal needs, travel, scholarships or researchMedical research, medical programs, hospitals and clinicsPolitical organizations, programs or initiatives whose primary purpose is to influence legislation, advocacy, candidates or political campaignsReligious organizations for religious purposesStart-up funding for new organizationsIn compliance with the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act, organizations that fund terrorist groups or activities