Does Smucker's donate to fundraisers?

The J.M. Smucker Co. directs most of its cause-related giving to communities where it has offices and manufacturing facilities.

It receives many requests and cannot support every one.

A request must meet all of these criteria: the organization is a registered IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) (or Canadian equivalent); it serves an organization or initiative located near a Smucker office or manufacturing facility; and it helps the company act on its Purpose and strategic Giving Pillars.

The company needs 60–90 days' notice to review and, if approved, process a request.

Tips from the program page: Check your distance from a Smucker office or plant before applying. Location is one of the criteria every request must meet. · Show how your event connects to the company's Giving Pillars, since alignment is a stated criterion. · School groups raising money for their own sports team, band, cheer squad or PTO fall under the stated exclusions.

Who can apply

Smucker's donates to organizations with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Smucker's does not donate to individuals. Smucker's does not support events run for profit.

Smucker's limits donation requests by area: Near a J.M. Smucker Co. office or manufacturing facility.

How to apply

Smucker's asks every request to include the following.

• IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) status, or the Canadian equivalent.
• Location near one of the company's offices or manufacturing facilities.
• Submit through the Charitable Request form linked from the company's FAQ, 60–90 days before you need the donation.
• Not eligible: organizations without 501(c)(3) status; individual support such as fellowships, stipends, benefits, travel or personal assistance; for-profit organizations; religious and faith-based organizations and programming; political campaigns; medical research and equipment; book, film and video production; sports teams, athletic programs and sporting events, including related groups such as cheerleading, band or PTO raising funds for that organization.

What Smucker's will not fund

Smucker's states in its own published guidelines that it will not fund the following.

• Organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) status (or Canadian equivalent)
• Individual support (e.g., fellowships, stipends, benefits, travel, personal assistance)
• For-profit organizations
• Religious and faith-based organizations and programming
• Political campaigns and related organizations
• Medical research and equipment
• Books, films, and video sponsorship and/or production
• Sports teams, athletic sponsorships, and sporting events, including related organizations (e.g., cheerleading, band, PTO) raising funds for that organization

This covers only what Smucker's states. A request can still be turned down for reasons a company does not publish.

When to ask

Smucker's states a lead time of 60-90 days. 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 Smucker's?

Yes. Smucker's 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.

Can a school, team, or individual apply to Smucker's?

Smucker's states that it will not fund: Organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) status (or Canadian equivalent); Individual support (e.g., fellowships, stipends, benefits, travel, personal assistance); For-profit organizations; Religious and faith-based organizations and programming; Political campaigns and related organizations; Medical research and equipment; Books, films, and video sponsorship and/or production; Sports teams, athletic sponsorships, and sporting events, including related organizations (e.g., cheerleading, band, PTO) raising funds for that organization. Check your organization and your event against that list before you apply — those are the restrictions Smucker's publishes itself.

How far ahead should we ask Smucker's for a donation?

Smucker's stated lead time is 60-90 days. Work backwards from your event date: count back that far from the day of the event and send your request before that point.