Starbucks Foundation

The Starbucks Foundation was created as part of our commitment to strengthen communities.

We started in 1997 by funding literacy programs in the United States and Canada. Today we’re supporting communities around the globe:

Developing Young Leaders

The Starbucks Foundation believes in developing young people to become extraordinary leaders, by investing in the leadership skills required for the changing global economy.

Community Service

The Starbucks Foundation also supports our partners' (employees) engagement in their local community through Partner Match and Community Service Grants. These programs provide matching grants to nonprofits where our partners’ made personal monetary and time contributions. By working together, we can help create positive change and make communities thrive.

Supporting Coffee, Tea and Cocoa Communities

Starbucks supports social development projects that help the communities that produce our coffee, tea and cocoa. Projects include improving access to education and agricultural training, microfinance and microcredit services, improving biodiversity conservation, and increasing levels of health, nutrition and water sanitation.

Access to Get Clean Water

Ethos Water began as a social venture startup with the goal of providing people in developing countries with access to clean water. For every bottle of Ethos® water sold in the United States, 5 cents is directed to the Ethos© Water Fund to help finance water programs around the world. Thanks to our valued customers, we have raised more than $6 million to date.

Fostering Education in China

In 2005, as part of its ongoing commitment to social responsibility and in recognition of China's rich tradition of placing an importance on education, Starbucks Coffee Company established the Starbucks China Education Project, a US $5 million (approximately RMB 40 million) commitment to support educational programs in China at Give2Asia.

Please know we are not seeking opportunities for national or local sponsorships, nor are we accepting product or in-kind requests at this time. We remain committed to helping communities thrive through the Starbucks Foundation programs listed above and the efforts of Starbucks stores in their local communities. 

What We’re Doing Now

The Starbucks Foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) charitable organization that receives funding from Starbucks Corporation and private donations. The Foundation invested $13.8 million in 2012, making over 400 grants to nonprofit organizations. Grants included $2.3 million for Starbucks Youth Leadership grants and $2 million in origin social development grants to Mercy Corps, Save the Children, Ethos Water Fund, PCI (Project Concern International) and PATH.

In 2012 Starbucks Corporation donated $6.5 million in cash, including $1.75 million to the Starbucks Foundation. Corporate giving included funding for community-building programs – including the Global Fund through our partnership with (RED) ™ and other efforts – and $40 million in in-kind contributions.

Community