Weekly Funding Opportunity: Unum Group

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Each week, Neighborhood Networks provides potential funding sources to help centers develop and improve programs and services. Featured this week is the Unum Group.

Through its businesses, Unum Group is the leader in income protection. The company's subsidiaries offer comprehensive insurance solutions to help protect against the financial effects of accident, illness, or death. It operates in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Program Areas: Unum seeks to partner with charitable organizations that primarily target four areas:

	Disability. Unum leverages its disability expertise with its corporate giving to help people with disabilities lead independent and fulfilling lives.
	Public Education (K-12). Unum focuses on grades K-12. Funding is provided for school programs that help students achieve high results.
	Health and Wellness. Unum supports organizations that provide programs and projects that improve the wellness of individuals.
	Arts and Culture. Unum supports arts organizations that have a charter, program, and vision that closely aligns with its established corporate giving strategy.

Under Unum's Volunteer Service Grant program for employees, the company will match $1 for each hour an employee volunteers up to 500 hours ($500) per year. An employee may report volunteered hours accumulated from a single and/or multiple eligible organizations and combine those hours to meet the minimum 50-hour requirement.

Targeted Area: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West.

Eligibility: Organizations must have Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. The following types of organizations do not qualify for funding:

	Political organizations and political candidates.
	Religious organizations whose purpose is predominantly to pursue a religion, sect, or cult.
	Individuals.

Award Amount: Award amounts vary.

Application Process: Requests are reviewed by local community relations representatives. One request will be considered from an organization during a 12-month period. Proposals must be submitted in writing to the local community relations representative, and include:

	A cover letter on the organization's letterhead describing the purpose of the contribution and who will benefit from the requested funding.
	The dollar amount requested.
	Operating budget for the current year (if the request is for a specific program, include the program/project budget).
	Most up-to-date, year-end financial statements.
	IRS letter of tax-exempt charitable status under Section 501(c)(3) and proof that the organization is not a private foundation as defined in Section 509(a) of the IRS code.
	List of the current board of directors.

Deadlines: Ongoing.

Contact: Contact the Unum Group for more information about their corporate giving. Be sure to include the contact's full name, phone number (with area code), and the organization's name.