The General Motors Foundation directs large-scale corporate philanthropy toward communities where GM operates, with a strong emphasis on STEM education, transportation and road safety, climate/environmental initiatives, and local community development. Much of its giving is employee-driven at the facility level (Community Impact/Plant City programs) while a central Corporate Giving program makes project and capacity grants that align with GM's social impact pillars. Grants range from modest local awards to multi-hundred-thousand and multi-million dollar program investments, and GM prioritizes organizations that can advance transportation safety, equitable access to STEM, and resilient local communities near company sites.
Annual Giving$31.4M(2015)
Focus Areas
K–12 STEM education expansion and workforce pathwaysVehicle and road safety programming and traffic-calming placemakingCommunity development in cities with GM plants (placemaking, human services)Climate resilience and clean transportation / environmental programsCapacity-building and general operating support for local nonprofits
Giving Approach
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Combination of employee-nominated, facility-level grants (invite/nomination-driven Community Impact/Plant City programs, typical local awards ~$20k–$35k) plus centrally managed Corporate Giving that accepts Letters of Inquiry Jan–Sept and rolling requests; award sizes vary widely up to multi-hundred-thousand or multi-million dollar investments, with an annual ~$2M plant-level grant pool distributed across communities.
How to approach this funder
Local facility grants are employee-nominated—build relationships with GM employees at nearby plants and encourage nominations; for central Corporate Giving, submit a Letter of Inquiry between January and September or use the rolling submission option, clearly tie proposals to STEM, transportation safety, climate, or community development near GM operations, and be prepared to request either project-specific or general operating support with clear budget justification.
Notable grantees:
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America
• Recipients of GM on Main Street / Four Main Street programs
• Local nonprofits in GM plant communities (Plant City grant beneficiaries)
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from General Motors Foundation, Inc. that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: Varies
Corporate Giving Program
social impactcommunity opportunityaccess expansion+2 more
Who can apply: Eligible applicants must be U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in good standing with the relevant state(s) and the IRS. GM does not consider multi-year commitments, retroactive requests, capital campaigns, endowments, private buildings, faith-based religious purposes, government/tax-supported entities, K-12 schools or districts, hospitals, political organizations, private clubs, robotics/sports/race teams, athletic scholarships, individual scholarships, vehicle donations, or organizations that do not share GM's values or unlawfully discriminate.
Deadline: LOIs are accepted on a rolling basis, but no LOI will be accepted after September 30 each year.
Who can apply: Open only to U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in good standing with the relevant state(s) and the IRS. Projects must align with GM's strategic business objectives and social impact pillars, measure impact through defined objectives, demonstrate innovative approaches, create opportunity and expand access for local populations, and advance GM's core value of serving and improving communities. Ineligible uses include capital campaigns, endowments, private buildings, faith-based religious purposes, government/tax-supported entities including colleges/universities, individual K-12 schools/districts/clubs/teams, hospitals and medical-related facilities, political activity, private clubs, robotics/sports/race teams, athletic scholarships, individual requests, vehicle purchases, and organizations that do not share GM's values.
No LOI will be accepted after September 30 annually. LOI is accepted on a rolling basis until the annual cutoff.
Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: Varies
Plant City Grant Program
STEM EducationTransportationClimate+3 more
Who can apply: Verified IRS 501(c)(3) status; programs must align with GM's focus areas; organization must be located in an area where GM has operations. Subject to GM funding restrictions (see Corporate Giving guidelines).
Deadline: Rolling basis submissions (no specific deadline provided).
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.