Does Carnival Cruise Lines donate to fundraisers?

Carnival Foundation says it is not accepting applications at this time, including in-kind donations and grants. Applications already under review stay in review.

Separately, Carnival Cruise Line donates cruises to organizations for fundraising raffles and auctions.

Carnival Cruise Line focuses on nonprofits that improve residents' quality of life, support veterans, military families and first responders, provide health and mentoring services to children, or protect the environment.

Its community giving is focused on its 13 homeport cities.

Carnival Foundation only gives to 501(c)(3) organizations and will not consider elementary or secondary schools, including extracurricular activities, PTA/PTO/PTSA or booster clubs.

Tips from the program page: Qualified Foundation applicants should allow up to two months for a written response, and submissions that do not meet the guidelines get no reply.

What Carnival Cruise Lines donates

Carnival Cruise Lines has typically donated: grant, sponsorship or in-kind donation.

Who can apply

Carnival Cruise Lines donates to organizations with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Carnival Cruise Lines does not donate to individuals. Carnival Cruise Lines does not support events run for profit.

Carnival Cruise Lines limits donation requests by area: Regional.

How to apply

Carnival Cruise Lines asks every request to include the following.

• To request a donated cruise, fill out the form on Carnival Cruise Line's homeport community page at least three months before you need it.
• When Carnival Foundation accepts applications, in-kind requests must arrive four to six months before the event.
• Foundation in-kind applications ask for a letter of request, event name and date, past auction proceeds and audience, how funds will be used, other cruise suppliers taking part, publicity opportunities, your IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, your latest 990 and the area you serve.
• All Foundation requests go through its online portal; requests by mail, email or fax are not accepted.

When to ask

Carnival Cruise Lines states a lead time of 4-6 months. Count back that far from your event date and send the request no later than then.

Across more than 25,000 fundraising events in our own records over fifteen years, March, April and May are the busiest months for fundraisers, October is the next busiest, and July and December are the quietest.

Work backwards from your event rather than forwards from today, and if your event falls in the spring peak, ask earlier than the stated lead time rather than later.

Common questions

Do I need to be a 501(c)(3) to request a donation from Carnival Cruise Lines?

Yes. Carnival Cruise Lines' donation program is limited to organizations with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, so you will need your determination letter and Tax ID before you apply.

How far ahead should we ask Carnival Cruise Lines for a donation?

Carnival Cruise Lines' stated lead time is 4-6 months. Work backwards from your event date: count back that far from the day of the event and send your request before that point.