Weekly Funding Opportunity: Dean Foods

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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 Dean Foods.

Dean Foods is one of the leading food and beverage companies in the country. It is the largest processor and distributor of milk and other dairy products. Through its WhiteWave Foods division, it is also the nation's leading manufacturer of soymilk, organic milk, and other organic foods. Dean Foods operates more than 100 plants in the United States and employs more than 26,000 people.

Program Areas: Dean Foods is committed to nurturing and supporting the communities where it does business. These are located in the states of Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Dean Foods' community support efforts are focused on:

	Health/nutrition, including hunger. As a food company, Dean Foods helps educate consumers on matters that affect their health, particularly the importance of making good nutritional choices and leading healthy, active lifestyles. Dean Foods also realizes that good and healthy food choices are not an option for millions of Americans who go hungry. A number of its processing facilities make substantial product donations and cash contributions to combat hunger in their communities through America's Second Harvest and local food banks across the country. Its employees also participate in food drives and other activities benefiting anti-hunger organizations in their communities.
	Education/arts. Dean Foods supports programs that improve the education of and opportunities for children, particularly at-risk children. The company also believes that exposure to the arts, whether through self-created works or through enjoying the works of others, is extremely beneficial to children. The arts can improve thinking and communication skills, build self-confidence, and provide creative and healthy means of expression. Dean Foods has provided funding and support for organizations and facilities that increase children's access, especially at-risk children, to the visual, literary and performing arts.
	Environmental stewardship/conservation. Dean Foods believes that partnering with communities means not just supporting them today, but also sustaining them for tomorrow. The company contributes to causes and organizations that further sustainable agriculture, conservation of natural resources, animal welfare, and preservation of family farms and rural communities.

Dean Foods supports worthy organizations both at the corporate level and locally through its network of processing facilities nationwide.

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

Eligibility: Qualified nonprofit organizations may submit proposals to Dean Foods that respond to these philanthropic priorities. Donations are made only to organizations that are classified as 501(c)(3).

Several principles form the basis of Dean Foods' giving guidelines. These include:

	Dean Foods' giving is concentrated on health and nutrition (including hunger), education and the arts, and environmental stewardship.
	The company prefers to support and participate in a meaningful way with a limited number of organizations that support these three focus areas, rather than spread its limited resources more broadly.
	Dean Foods prefers programs that provide direct service to individuals and communities in need.
	The company prefers to make grants for specific projects with measurable results, rather than for general operating support.
	Dean Foods looks for innovative programs that demonstrate best practices.
	The company places special emphasis on supporting organizations that assist children, particularly at-risk children or children with disabilities, or that are dedicated to serving their needs.
	Dean Foods funds organizations that are fiscally sound and have strong management practices and accountability.
	The company supports initiatives only in the communities in which it operates and where its employees live and work.

Dean Foods generally does not provide support for the following purposes:

	Organizations not registered to operate with a 501(c)(3) tax status in the United States.
	General operating support.
	Operating support for colleges/universities.
	Operating support for high schools or elementary schools; however, restricted grants for arts in education programs are permitted, providing a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization is the grantee.
	Endowments.
	Amateur athletic teams, such as Little League.
	Fraternal, veteran, or labor organizations.
	Named charities or foundations.
	Political campaigns.
	Political or lobbying organizations, or those supporting the candidacy of a particular individual.
	Special events, such as fundraisers, golf outings, and dinners.
	Benefit tickets or courtesy advertising.
	Travel funds.
	Religious organizations that serve primarily only their denomination.
	Organizations that might in any way pose a conflict with the company's goals, programs, products, or employees.

Award Amount: Award amounts vary.

Application Process: To apply for funding, organizations should submit a proposal. Each proposal must contain the following elements:

	A brief (two-page maximum) summary statement of the organization's project or program needs. This overview should explain how the proposal meets one or more of Dean Foods' specific focus areas or program areas. It should also note the amount requested, the funding period and any key dates.
	The name of the organization, address, phone number, and the name of a contact person familiar with proposal details.
	A program budget detailing the amount requested. Requests should detail all sources of financial support, including amounts committed or pending that might leverage any contribution made by Dean Foods.
	An audited financial statement for the previous year.
	A list of donors (United Way, corporations, foundations, individuals, government individuals and government agencies) to the overall organization, as well as a separate list of donors for the specified program to receive funding.
	A copy of the organization's certificate of tax exemption from the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3).
	Written verification of the organization's federal tax identification number (FEIN).
	A timetable for project implementation, communication, and evaluation.
	A brief statement (two-page maximum) of the organization's history, purpose, and goals; size of membership and constituency; geographic service area; use of volunteers; and general accomplishments to date.
	A list of officers and board members and their affiliations.
	A copy of the organization's most recent annual report.

Requests should be sent to:

Corporate Contributions
Dean Foods Company
2515 McKinney Ave., Suite 1200
Dallas, TX 75201

No phone calls. Allow at least six to eight weeks for consideration. Organizations will be notified by phone or in writing if Dean Foods is able to participate.

Deadlines: Ongoing.

Contact: For more information on Dean Foods' corporate giving, contact:

Corporate Contributions
Dean Foods
2515 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1200
Dallas, TX 75201