Application Period (April 1 - 30, 2026)
The Community Ties Giving Program receives a multitude of grant requests for worthwhile projects every year. Unfortunately, we cannot fund every worthy request. Therefore, we use the following annual competitive online process to identify nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations located in Union Pacific communities that best align with the funding guidelines and criteria. Our application is your organization's opportunity to demonstrate how a one-year grant from the Community Ties Giving Program will help you accomplish your goals and, ultimately, further the Local Grants program objectives.
Grant Application
Grant applicants will complete an eligibility questionnaire as the first step in the process. Organizations deemed eligible to apply for a Local Grant may then continue completing the full grant application.
Applications must be submitted by 3:00 PM Central Time on April 30, 2026. Applications started after April 23 may not have time for technical assistance, so we recommend beginning an application well before that date. Late applications cannot be accepted.
The Local Grant Application Portal will open on April 1, 2026
Other Considerations
- Typical grant awards will range from $5,000 - $30,000. The grant term is one year. See the schedule below under Timeline for further details.
- An organization is allowed to complete only one application, and receive only one grant, through the Local Grants program per annual grant period. While this is regulated by IRS EIN, local chapters of national organizations that share an EIN are eligible to submit an individual application.
- Due to the volume of requests received, Union Pacific does not provide specific feedback to applicants who are not awarded a grant.
- Organizations who have received three consecutive years of local grants (2023, 2024, 2025) are ineligible for the 2026 cycle but may apply again in 2027.
- The Community Ties Giving Program utilizes the Blackbaud YourCause GrantsConnect software. You may receive emails related to our program from this software application.
Timeline
ACTIVITY
| DATE |
|---|---|
| 2025 Grant Impact Reports Due | July 31, 2026 |
| 2026 Grant Application Submission Period | April 1 – April 30, 2026, 3:00 PM CT |
| 2026 Grant Award Status Notification | August 2026 |
| 2026 Grant Award Checks Mailed/Presented | September 2026 |
| 2026 Grant Term: Programs/Projects are Administered | September 2026 – August 2027 |
| 2026 Grant Impact Reports Due | July 31, 2027 |
Additional timeline narrative: Grant Impact Reports for prior year (2025) grant awards can be submitted anytime before July 31. Applications for the next cycle (2026) are due April 30. Prior to awarding 2026 local grants, we will confirm there are no outstanding Grant Impact Report for any 2026 applicants who were a recipient of a 2025 grant. Any 2025 grant recipient without a Grant Impact Report submitted will be unable to receive a 2026 grant.
Technical Difficulties & Other Assistance
If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please send an email inquiry to upf@up.com. Community Ties Giving Program staff will strive to respond to your email within 2 business days. Please note: staff will not review or discuss the subject matter of applications but can answer questions on how to navigate the application process and online system.
NOTE: The application window will not allow for late submissions. Therefore, applicants are advised to begin an application prior to at least April 23 to ensure enough time for technical troubleshooting. While UP Community Ties team will make efforts to quickly assist in resolving technical issues, last-minute requests for assistance may not be possible to resolve prior to the application deadline.