What’s new: The UPS Foundation has updated its focus areas, centering its work on equity and justice, including a commitment to spend at least 25% ($17M in 2022) of its philanthropic dollars to advance equity and economic empowerment in underserved communities.
Why it matters: UPS has a longstanding commitment to equity and inclusion through economic empowerment and support for underrepresented communities.
- Volunteerism: To mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day, UPSers are volunteering at a number of events throughout the week, many organized by local chapters of the company’s African American Business Resource Group. UPS has pledged at least 1 million volunteer hours to Black communities by 2025.
- Additional financial support to underserved communities includes:
- The UPS Foundation recently made a $1 million grant to the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce’s Forward Atlanta project and ATL Action for Racial Equity. The funds will help drive economic development efforts focused on workforce, education, inclusive economic development and corporate policies.
- UPSers gave more than $44 million to strengthen economic opportunities and advance greater equity and justice in communities through the United Way last year.
- With The UPS Foundation’s commitment to $1 million to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, we are supporting educational programs advancing racial equality in a multi-year grant.
- The UPS Foundation allocated more than $3.2 million in 2021 for programming to support employment, education, small businesses, advocacy and reform with longstanding UPS partners including the National Urban League, the NAACP, United
Negro College Fund and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ Education Fund, among others.
- Growing diverse businesses: UPS launched the Proudly Unstoppable campaign last year to amplify the voices of Black-owned small businesses during Black History Month and has since expanded to include other underrepresented communities. And we have several new initiatives that will be launched later this week to expand on these efforts. More to come there.
“We’re proud of our longstanding commitment to equity and economic empowerment,” said Nikki Clifton, president of social impact and The UPS Foundation. “That’s why it was important to update our strategy to better focus it on our mission and purpose. Our work to help people and communities thrive is also an important way we are helping realize Dr. King’s dream of a more equitable and just world.”