Since its creation in 2000, Dow Promise has evolved from a promise into a lasting relationship that supports Dow’s commitments to the principles of sustainable development, and more importantly social responsibility.
The Dow Promise Program is an employee-led initiative to positively impact educational and economic challenges faced by youth and adults of African heritage in communities near Dow sites. A part of the Dow Promise program is an annual competitive grant program designed to support social, economic, or environmental projects that contribute to long-term success in the communities in which Dow operates and in which Dow employees reside.
Applicants must be charitable or non-profit organizations (have a 501(c)(3) non-profit tax designation) or be municipal or government agencies. Faith-based organizations that have a 501(c) (3) can also apply, provided their projects benefit the community as a whole and not just their organization membership. A committee of Dow employees will select the projects.
The Dow Promise 2022 program is now accepting applications.
The deadline for applications to be submitted is September 30, 2022.
To learn more about the Dow Promise Program, and how to help an organization apply, please join one of our Info sessions during the month of September.
Option 1: September 1, 11:00 AM CST
Option 2: September 14, 11:00 AM CST
The Dow Promise Program is an employee-led initiative of The Dow Chemical Company to positively impact educational and economic challenges faced by African American youth and adults in communities near Dow sites. A part of the Dow Promise program is an annual competitive grant program designed to support social, economic, or environmental projects that contribute to long-term success in the communities in which Dow operates and in which Dow employees reside. Applicants must be charitable or non-profit organizations (have a 501(c)(3) non-profit tax designation) or be municipal or government agencies. Faith-based organizations that have a 501(c) (3) can also apply, provided their projects benefit the community as a whole and not just their organization membership. A committee of Dow employees will select the projects. The maximum grant request is $10,000.
Dow values the opportunity to provide financial support to communities in which the Company has a presence. With great demand for contributions, Dow wants to target its funding in the areas that will have the greatest long-term, positive impact for community members.
Certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, municipalities, county, governmental or state agencies or faith-based organizations that have a 501(c)(3). All applications must be endorsed by the Executive Director (or equivalent) of the organization.
The Dow Promise 2022 program will start accepting applications in late summer.
In order to be eligible for a charitable contribution all of the below criteria must be met:
Generally, only the following types of organizations can be qualified organizations:
The following types of organizations are not eligible:
Contributions to other organizations will be subject to additional reviews and approvals, including a review of the proposed recipient’s legal status by Dow’s approved intermediary grantmaking organization and a determination that the recommended grant is consistent with charitable purposes of Dow, subject to confirmation by Dow Global Citizenship. In such cases, contributions will be contingent on the approval of the intermediary organization through completion of equivalency determination or expenditure responsibility. Under either protocol, the intermediary organization may also make payment on behalf of Dow. Where required or directed by local law, direct payments by Dow or its affiliate(s) must be approved by the Director of Global Citizenship.
Note: An intermediary organization must determine the eligibility of organizations in India, Middle East, Africa, Turkey, Latin America and Asia Pacific.
Not all payments to qualified organizations are considered charitable contributions. For instance, the following types of payments do not qualify:
Charitable contributions may not be used, directly or indirectly:
Tax Deductible:
A tax-deductible contribution is defined as a voluntary transfer of cash or property to organizations described in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, Section 170(c), for which no value has been received in return. If items of value are offered in exchange for the contribution, the charitable contribution is the amount by which the payment exceeds the fair market value of the property received (meals, tickets, advertising, etc.). To research a U.S. organization’s tax status, use the Internal Revenue Service’s website (http://www.irs.gov/app/pub-78/) or www.guidestar.org.
In some instances, payments may qualify as part contribution, part entertainment. Both types of expenses have unique tax limitations and must be recorded correctly by the employee requesting payment.
Outside the United States, an organization must meet the specific taxing authority requirements of the country in which the contribution is made. Please check with the Tax Department in your country for specific laws that may apply.
Non-Tax Deductible:
Tangible benefits are any benefit that Dow receives which has economic value. It is a non-tax-deductible portion of a contribution. Examples include: tickets to an event, a meal, general admission, a gift, and advertising.
All cash grant recipients must agree to the below statement during the grant application process in order to be eligible for funding.
By accepting funding from The Dow Chemical Company, or any affiliates, all grant recipients agree that no person will be excluded from agency services, employment or volunteer participation on the basis of gender, race, religion, HIV/AIDS status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, national or ethnic origin or other inherent personal characteristic protected by law.
Organizations that serve a specifically defined population or charitable class of people as part of their mission are not considered non-inclusive or discriminatory. The above statement applies to how the organization serves its target population as well as how it handles hiring and volunteer participation. The application of religious requirements with respect to the hiring of religious officials may not exclude an organization from qualifying as a grant recipient, provided the subject organization demonstrates that it otherwise complies with this Policy.
Aligned to Dow’s ambition and fueled by volunteer service, Dow is applying its innovative technology, employee expertise and culture of inclusion to drive its citizenship strategy and generate transformational social impact.
Dow focuses on social impact in three key areas of priority – Advancing sustainable solutions, Building inclusive communities and Developing tomorrow’s innovators.
Additionally, investment in community resiliency remains a fundamental aspect of global citizenship activities at Dow, to help create thriving and safe communities where Dow families live and work. And engaging for impact continues to be a key focus area – where Dow employees donate their time, talent and expertise in alignment with our 2025 Sustainability Goals, the Employee Experience and our company ambition.
Eligible organizations can apply for funding request up to $10,000.