Community Ties Giving Program: Annual Local Grants

Community Ties Giving Program: Annual Local Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Union Pacific Foundation
Amount: US $5,000 - US $30,000
Last Updated: March 06, 2026

Summary

The Community Ties Giving Program by Union Pacific Foundation offers local grants aimed at enhancing community well-being through diverse funding priorities. These include safety initiatives, workforce development, community vitality, and environmental sustainability. The program emphasizes supporting organizations that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, aiming to create impactful projects that resonate with Union Pacific's heritage and mission. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations serving Union Pacific communities and demonstrate a clear need and capacity to deliver effective programming.

Overview

NOTE: Prospective Local Grant applicants will complete an eligibility questionnaire as the first step in the process. This occurs after logging into the application portal. Organizations determined eligible to apply for a Local Grant may then continue completing the full grant application. The eligibility survey and grant application are open until the deadline above. Community Ties Giving Program As part of the Community Ties Giving Program, Local Grants help us achieve our mission by providing small and medium-sized grants within our priority cause areas to local organizations spread widely across Union Pacific's footprint. Funding Priorities & Objectives Throughout its existence, the success of Union Pacific's business has been inextricably linked to the economic and community wellbeing of cities and towns across the nation. We take pride in the role we have played in helping communities thrive and believe the impact we can have on local communities is greatest when it is authentic to our history and reflective of the diverse company we are today. As such, we have carefully aligned our Local Grants cause areas to our company's unique heritage, strengths, and assets. Specifically, we prioritize funding for direct services and efforts that build the capacity of organizations focused on the following causes within our local operating communities. Within each focus area, we aim to support programs and organizations working to advance the diversity, equity and inclusion of underrepresented populations within the local context and issue areas addressed. Find more information about our commitment to DEI in our FAQs. Safety In order for communities to thrive, all residents must feel safe. Just as the safety of our employees and community members is paramount to how we operate, Union Pacific is committed to helping communities prevent and prepare for incidents and emergencies, and helping residents get home safely at the end of each day. As such, we prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to: Encourage safe behaviors and prevent incidents through education and awareness, particularly projects which focus on rail, driver, bike, and pedestrian safety, and ensure outreach efforts reach underserved populations.Eliminate risks and improve safe and equitable access to community spaces through infrastructure improvements, such as signage, proper lighting, and public trail improvements.Prepare and equip residents and emergency responders to effectively respond to incidents and emergencies if or when they occur.Union Pacific supports publicly funded emergency responders through a variety of corporate programs; only independent nonprofit, 501(c)(3) emergency response organizations, such as volunteer departments, are eligible for funding through this grant programPrevent crime and violent incidents and support survivors of domestic violence through efforts that address the root causes of these issues and seek to mitigate their occurrence.Build the capacity of safety-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. This can take the form of internal capacity building or the creation/expansion of culturally relevant programming and services that seek to impact a broad and diverse audience. Workforce Development For more than 160 years, Union Pacific has helped stimulate economic growth in cities and towns throughout the nation by training and providing employment to millions of workers. More than ever, we are committed to helping underrepresented residents in our communities achieve family-supporting careers like those offered by Union Pacific. As such, we prioritize funding for programs that seek to: Put youth on the right track by creating awareness of and pathways toward employment opportunities; building foundational skills, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); establishing necessary technical skills and life skills; and providing mentorship and positive role models for the future.Raise awareness of, educate and prepare young adults for middle skills jobs like those Union Pacific offers, for instance through community colleges, vocational and career training programs, workforce readiness initiatives, and programs that assist with job placement and/or on-the-job experience. Programs that develop proficiency in areas relevant to Union Pacific operations such as welding, electrical work, machine operations, and civil and electrical engineering are given priority."Up-skill" the existing workforce by providing training and resources that enable them to reach the next level of their career. Programs that develop proficiency in areas of relevance to Union Pacific operations are given priority.Resolve barriers to employment such as transportation, childcare, acquiring necessary equipment for work, and second chance employment programs.Build the capacity of workforce development-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. This can take the form of internal capacity building or the creation/expansion of culturally relevant programming and services that seek to impact a broad and diverse audience. Community Vitality Union Pacific Railroad is committed to establishing vibrant, healthy and inclusive communities for employees, customers and residents to work, visit and call home. Just as the railroad opened avenues for economic development and opportunity more than 160 years ago, we maintain this tradition by cultivating unique cultural and recreational experiences and equipping community members with opportunities to live healthy, vital lives. As such, we prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to: Create, sustain or expand artistic and cultural experiences offered to a broad and diverse audience (e.g., museums, theaters, zoos, cultural and local heritage, visual and performing arts, etc.)Provide recreational opportunities that foster wellbeing, enrichment and/or an appreciation for our natural environment (e.g., parks, libraries, senior centers, recreation centers, learning centers, etc.).Revive neighborhoods and main street areas, especially in historically underinvested neighborhoods, to improve livability, promote commerce and attract more residents, businesses and visitors to town.Ensure residents’ basic needs are met and barriers are overcome (e.g., safe shelter and homelessness prevention, hunger relief, mental health and community health needs, etc.).Offer youth development and educational opportunities to ensure young people can thrive into healthy and productive community members (e.g., mentoring, leadership development, tutoring, services for youth in foster care, etc.).Build the capacity of community vitality-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. This can take the form of internal capacity building or the creation/expansion of culturally relevant programming and services that seek to impact a broad and diverse audience. Environmental Sustainability The future of our business, communities and planet depends on bold, collective action to reduce and slow the impacts of climate change while building a more sustainable economy for the next generation. Union Pacific is taking deliberate steps to reduce our environmental impact and helping our partners improve their own. Extending this commitment to our community investments, we seek to support leading environmental nonprofits and community-based organizations to advance the health of our environment. As such, we prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to: Preserve and restore nature, including programs focused on natural habitats, ecosystems, and biodiversity.Protect and enhance water, soil and air quality through innovative and proactive solutions such as water conservation, carbon sequestration and emission reduction programs.Reduce waste through initiatives focused on promoting recycling and circularity throughout the community, including recycling and composting programs and other efforts that reduce waste.Develop environmental stewards through youth programs focused on fostering environmental appreciation, responsibility, and leadership.Advance a sustainable economy by helping communities accelerate their transition to environmental jobs and renewable energy, as well as helping nonprofits and small businesses build their own capacity to operate more sustainably.Promote environmental justice through initiatives that ensure access to clean air, water, and land and protect underserved populations from disproportionate and adverse environmental effects.Build the capacity of sustainability-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. This can take the form of internal capacity building or the creation/expansion of culturally relevant programming and services that seek to impact a broad and diverse audience.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. In order to be considered for a UPF Local Grant, your organization and the program or project for which you are requesting funds must meet the following eligibility requirements:Public Charity StatusAll grant recipients must be non-profit, charitable organizations tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and further, be classified as an organization described in sections 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) under 170 (b)(1)(A)(vii) of the code.Emergency service providers such as fire and police departments must apply under their own public charity with 501(c)(3) designation.Religious organizations such as churches, mosques, and synagogues may qualify only if they have established a separate 501(c)(3) organization to operate the funded program AND the outreach program is offered to the general population regardless of religious affiliation.Geographic EligibilityThe program or project for which grant funds are sought must primarily benefit a community that is served by Union Pacific; further it is preferred that the organization requesting funds be located in a community served by Union Pacific. Applicants will be required to include which community/communities the proposed grant will serve in their grant applications.Successful grant applications will meet the following criteria:Clear alignment with a cause area and its related objective(s) as described in Funding Priorities & Objectives.Demonstrated need for the program or project;Demonstrated capacity of the organization to deliver quality programming and meet established goals;Potential for positive social benefit across broad and diverse populations;Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), within the grantee organization and/or its programs.

Ineligibility

Local Grant recipients that have not submitted a Grant Impact Report for their grant will not be eligible for future funding. As of 2018, the Community Ties Giving Program no longer funds governmental entities without a 501(c)(3) public charity designation from the IRS.Elementary and secondary schools cannot be funded directly; programs administered within a school environment by a separate 501(c)(3) organization may be considered.Applications will not be accepted from private foundations or a disqualified supporting organization with the meaning of section 4966(d)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation does not accept applications for programs that do not primarily serve a Union Pacific community.Additionally, the following types of organizations and activities are INELIGIBLE for funding:Programs and projects that do not fit within the Community Ties Giving Program's funding prioritiesRequests for general operating supportEvent sponsorships, fundraising events and campaigns (e.g. conferences/seminars, galas, golf tournaments, annual awards ceremonies, raffles, telethons, walk-a-thons, auctions, endowments, memorial campaigns, parades, etc.)Social, labor, alumni and fraternal organizations (e.g., higher education alumni groups, sororities, fraternities, workers' unions, exclusive membership clubs limited to a specific constituency, etc.)Professional and amateur sports events, organizations, and teams (e.g., Little Leagues)Political organizations and organizations whose dominant purpose is to influence legislation or participate/intervene in political campaigns on behalf of or against any candidate for public officeOrganizations that channel Local Grant funding to third parties; local United Way chapters are the only exception to this restrictionOrganizations requiring a fiscal sponsor because they do not have their own 501(c)(3) statusOrganizations that discriminate based on a person's race, ethnicity, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, religion, past or present military service, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, pregnancy, political affiliation, marital or familial status, or any other ground prohibited by law ("protected status"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, religious organizations such as churches, mosques, and synagogues are eligible for funding if they have established a separate 501(c)(3) organization to operate the funded program AND the outreach program is offered to the general population regardless of religious affiliation.Terrorist organizations or those not compliant with the USA Patriot ActNon US-based charities or organizations whose program activities are mainly internationalIndividualsFellowships or researchProjects that include proposed changes or improvements to Union Pacific Railroad-owned propertyRequests for railroad equipmentOrganizations having received three consecutive years of Community Ties Local Grants*Organizations not current with UP agreement obligations, such as real estate leases