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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Monsanto Fund?

In existence since the mid-1960's, the Monsanto Fund is the charitable arm of the Monsanto Company.

2. What is the Fund's focus?

* Nutritional Improvement through Agriculture:

Working to implement sustainable agricultural improvements through education and research. Focus areas include field techniques, education in the areas of nutrition and vitamin deficiency and reducing the impact of pest and virus' on subsistence crops.
* Science Education:
Teacher training, science fairs, museum exhibitions
* Our Communities:
Particularly directed at the places where employees live and work, these are programs that are generally agreed upon between the community and Monsanto site management.

3. In what geographic areas does the Fund give grants?

Priority is given to communities where we have employees, facilities or strategic business interests.

4. Does the Fund give grants to individuals?

As a nonprofit designee of the Internal Revenue Service, the Fund is not allowed to provide support for scholarships, special trips, illness or personal disaster to individuals or families.

5. What other program areas are precluded from receiving funding?

Fraternal, labor, or veteran's organizations; deficit underwriting; benefits and dinners; advertisements; sporting events; religious, politically partisan or similar events; activities which directly support marketing programs; projects in which Monsanto Company has a financial interest or could derive a direct cash benefit or rights to intellectual property.

6. What are the other qualifications?

US organizations must be tax exempt public charities with proof of 501(c) 3 tax status, as described by the Internal Revenue Code. Schools, libraries and municipalities do not require this status.

The project must fit within the Fund's focus areas, as well as geographical focus. The nonprofit must be experienced, established, and have an annual audit. Start-ups are not considered eligible.

Outside the US, the project must be submitted to our World Area contacts. Inquiries sent directly  to St. Louis will be redirected to our contacts in the applicable country. See the Procedures - Cash Grant Requests (Outside the US) page of this site for further details.

7. If we are based in the US and believe that we qualify, what is the next step?

You must complete a Preliminary Funding Request (PFR).

8. When are Preliminary Funding Requests due?

The Fund has two giving cycles for organizations in St. Louis and communities that do not have a Production, Technology, or Manufacturing Site. PFR's are due January 1 and July 1 of each year.

Those organizations whose PFR's are seen as having promise will be invited to submit a full grant application. Anyone submitting a PFR will be notified of the status of their request within six weeks.

Grants are usually awarded in June and December of each calendar year.

9. Who makes the final decisions?

The Fund is governed by a Board of Directors which meets twice a year to determine final approvals.

10. Does the Fund make multi-year grants?

Occasionally, However spreading a grant over two years is generally the maximum.

11. What is the average size of the grants made?

The average grant size is $22,000, but can range from $250 to $1,200,000.

12. Do you provide items for auction or promotional goods?

The Fund CANNOT provide promotional items for your auctions and/or charities.

13. What about in-kind donations, such as lab equipment?

The Fund has an In-kind Donation Program at our St. Louis Location only.

We provide office furniture and lab equipment to qualified organizations as they become available throughout the year.

We do not donate printers, computers, copiers or scanners.

For more information, please review the In-kind donations page.

 

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