Union Pacific

Community-Based Grant Program

• General Criteria
• Who Can Apply
• How to Apply
• When to Apply

General Criteria

The Foundation awards grants through an annual application process through which nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations located in Union Pacific communities may apply. Applications are accepted only through the online process.

Copies of the application mailed to the Foundation will be returned.

The Foundation does not provide leadership gifts or support requests for which it is asked to be the sole funder. An organization is allowed to complete only one application for only one program/project during the open application process.

Applications undergo a competitive review process. A Foundation invitation to submit an application in no way guarantees funding of that request. The Foundation receives a multitude of grant requests for worthwhile projects every year.In a typical year, we are able to provide some level of funding to about 50% of the requests. The volume of funding requests received also precludes providing individual critiques of unsuccessful requests.

To see recent grants awarded to organizations in your state or community, please visit our Community News Releases section and look for your state.

Who Can Apply

The Foundation requires that an organization be located in a community served by Union Pacific Railroad, is a 501(c)(3) public charity as identified by the IRS, or Governmental Entity, and falls within one of the two areas of interest outlined below.

1. Union Pacific Community: The community where the organization is based must be served by Union Pacific Railroad. (View a map showing where Union Pacific Railroad operates in the United States.) Your community must be located on these railroad lines. The Foundation does not accept applications from organizations located outside the Union Pacific served area even though the intent may be to operate a program in a Union Pacific community or county.
2. Public Charity or Governmental Entity: The organization must have a current 501(c)(3) status from the IRS and be classified as an organization described in sections 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) under 170(b)(1)(A)(vii) of the Internal Revenue Code. Governmental Entities located on Union Pacific lines may apply for one-time programs/projects provided the program/project benefits the entire community.
3. Areas of Interest: The Foundation has a strong interest in promoting organizational effectiveness among nonprofits. To that end, the Foundation will dedicate the majority of these grants to help nonprofit organizations build their capacity, increase their impact, and operate more efficiently and effectively. The Foundation will be particularly receptive to proposals that fall within the following categories:
   • Community and Civic: To assist community-based organizations and related activities that improve and enrich the general quality of life in the community. This category includes organizations such as aquariums, botanical gardens, children's museums, history/science museums, public libraries, public television and radio, zoos, etc.
   • Health and Human Services: To assist organizations dedicated to improving the level of health care or providing human services in the community. The Foundation is proud to support the United Ways in numerous Union Pacific communities. Applications will not be accepted from United Ways as funding is awarded annually at the Foundation's discretion.

The Foundation generally will not consider a request from/for:

• Individuals
• Organizations/projects/programs that do not fit within the Foundation's funding priorities
• Organizations without a Section 501(c)(3) public charity determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service
• Organizations that channel grant funds to third parties
• Organizations whose dominant purpose is to influence legislation or participate/intervene in political campaigns on behalf of or against any candidate for public office
• Organization/projects/programs for which the Foundation is asked to serve as the sole funder
• Organizations that already have an active multi-year Union Pacific Foundation grant
• Religious Organizations for non-secular programs (i.e. programs which promote religious doctrine)
• Organizational deficits
• Local affiliates of national health/disease-specific organizations
• Non-US-based charities
• Organizations whose program activities are mainly international
• Elementary or Secondary schools
• Athletic programs or events
• Donation of railroad equipment
• Conventions, conferences or seminars
• Fellowships or Research
• Loans
• Labor organizations
• Organizations whose programs have a national scope

How to Apply

Union Pacific Foundation will accept only online applications through the two-stage process outlined below. Printed copies of the application are not available and will not be accepted.

Your computer must have one of the following browsers, with cookies enabled, to access the forms:

• Internet Explorer 7.0, 8 and 9
• Mozilla Firefox (for PC and Mac) 
• Safari (for PC and Mac)
• Google Chrome 

Note: If you are currently using a SPAM-blocking tool, please add upf@up.com to your “approved” e-mail contacts.

Stage One: Preliminary Application – Due by 4:00 p.m. CDT August 14

Note: A last-minute submission of your Stage One Application Form may not allow for “processing time” of that Application, or, if your Stage One Application is accepted to move on to Stage Two, you may not have allowed yourself enough time to complete the Application by Midnight, August 15. (Please check back next year, as our deadline for 2012-2013 has passed.)

Complete the Stage One Application by selecting the appropriate link for your organization type.

• 501(c)(3) Public Charity
• Governmental Entity

You first will be asked to create an account by providing your e-mail address and creating a personal password which will allow for future access to the application. Please make a note of your password.

The Foundation will notify you via e-mail of acceptance or rejection of your preliminary application. Please call the Foundation at 402-544-5600 if you do not receive a response from us in a timely manner.

Stage Two: Final Application – Due by Midnight CDT, August 15

Instructions on how to access your Stage Two Application (through your account) will be included in the notification e-mail. Stage two allows you to provide more details about your organization and the program/project for which you are seeking funds.

Applications undergo a competitive review process. A Foundation invitation to submit an application in no way guarantees funding of that request. The Foundation receives a multitude of grant requests for worthwhile projects every year. In a typical year, we are able to provide some level of funding to about 50% of the requests. The volume of funding requests received also precludes our providing individual critiques of unsuccessful request.

When to Apply