The Foundation requires that an organization be located in a community served by Union Pacific Railroad, is a 501(3)(3) public charity as identified by the IRS and falls within one of the three 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 unsolicited 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.
    
2. Public Charity or Municipality: The organization must possess a current 501(c)(3) determination letter from the IRS stating that the organization is not a private foundation and has been classified as an organization described in sections 509(a)(1) and 170(1)(A) (ii) of the Internal Revenue Code. Municipalities located on Union Pacific lines may apply for one-time programs/projects provided the program/project benefits the entire community. Applications for services for which the municipality has taxing authority, i.e. fire department, police department, etc., will not be considered.
    
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.
      
   • Fine Arts: To create a wider opportunity for the enjoyment of and participation in the visual and performing arts. A limited amount of funding is available for this category. Preference will be given to those organizations with whom the Foundation has an established relationship.
      
   • 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 Community Chest-type organizations, i.e. United Way, in numerous Union Pacific communities. Applications will not be accepted from these Community Chest-type organizations as funding is awarded annually at the Foundation's discretion. Applications from affiliated agencies of Community Chest-type organizations already supported by Union Pacific Foundation, i.e. United Way, are limited to capital requests only.
      

Please Note: Effective with the 2004 grant program, unsolicited requests from formal educational institutions such as colleges and universities will no longer be accepted.

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

• Individuals
• Private Foundations
• 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 Union Pacific Foundation grant
• Organizations which are sectarian (i.e. programs which promote religious doctrine)
• Organizational deficits
• Organizational salaries/benefits for employees
• Local affiliates of national health organizations
• Animal rights organizations
• Non-US-based charities
• Organizations whose program activities are mainly international
• Elementary or Secondary schools
• Volunteer Fire Departments and other emergency response organizations
• 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