I. STATEMENT OF POLICY
As a corporate citizen in the communities in which it operates, Western Digital recognizes a responsibility consistent with its business objectives to respond to the needs of the communities in which it operates and where its employees live. The quality of life and education, the well being of our employees and their families, and the economic health of our society are of vital interest to our organization, its leadership and staff.
The Western Digital Charitable Foundation, a California non profit benefit corporation, was created in 1997 to support Western Digital’s philanthropic activities that contribute to the economic, social, educational and health needs of these communities.
II. BUDGETS
We feel our monetary contributions should be consistent with both our corporate giving priorities and a defined target change of earnings. The budget is reallocated each fiscal year and will be reviewed quarterly against the Company's financial performance.
III. AREAS OF INTEREST
Western Digital supports organizations that operate in the following categories and allocates the specified percentage of the annual budget for charitable contributions:
Education
40%
Health and Human Services
40%
Civic and Community
20%
Emphasis is placed on supporting established and successful organizations in the community as well as new programs that may prove to be models for effective ways of delivering needed services.
Education
Western Digital supports educational organizations that offer programs from primary through graduate levels. Of special interest are programs that focus on:
Innovation in engineering (electrical, mechanical, chemical and solid state physics)
Personal computing literacy and science discovery
Western Digital also has a matching gifts program for donations made to educational institutions by employees. The program is administered through the WD/United Way partnership.
Health and Human Services
Emphasis will be placed on requests received from agencies that are directed toward countering economic hardship, providing for economic progress and leading to economic self-sufficiency. Organizations of particular interest focus their efforts on the needs of:
Disadvantaged or at-risk youth
Physically or mentally disabled persons
Civic and Community Western Digital supports organizations in Orange, Santa Clara and Alameda Counties in California, and Boulder County in Colorado, that promote the long-term betterment and permanent improvement of a community and are of benefit to all residents. Occasionally major special civic projects or projects with a national scope will be considered.
IV. CRITERIA Successful applicants will meet the following criteria to be considered for a contribution:
Be previously designated tax-exempt non-profit organization as defined under Sections 501( c)(3) and 170 (b) of the IRS Code.
Show program capability, sound fiscal policies, responsible management, evidence of long-range planning and effective use of volunteers.
Have a competent, active board of directors providing sound policies and guidance to the organization and its members.
Maintain a list of corporate contributors.
Produce a budget, financial statements and a plan for funding beyond the period covered by the proposed contribution.
Show a method of evaluating the results of the proposed project.
V. LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
Western Digital does not provide repetitive annual grants or continuing support for organizations or programs. Applications from organizations receiving current or previous Western Digital support will be reviewed as a new request annually and evaluated in relation to other submitted proposals and budgetary considerations.
Western Digital will not commit to multi-year donations.
No support will be extended to religious activities or programs that serve, or appear to serve, specific religious groups or denominations. However, if a proposal submitted by a church-based or similar organization falls clearly within program guidelines and is intended to serve as broad a segment of the population as the program of a comparable non-religious organization, we will consider the proposal on the same basis as others.
Exclusions to review for contributions due to Western Digital Foundation Laws or Policies, federal laws or budgetary considerations include:
Individuals
Sports Teams
Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, age or national origin
Grant-making foundations
Fund raising events
Political organizations
Organizations failing to meet Western Digital’s Corporate standards for ethical operation and social value.
VI. APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Proposals are reviewed by foundation staff for initial recommendation of denial or approval. The Contributions Committee, composed of senior management, makes the final recommendation.
Western Digital processes grant requests on a semi-annual basis. Grants not meeting the deadline will NOT be forwarded to the next cycle and must be resubmitted prior to the next deadline.
-July 1 – December 31 (Grant submittal deadline is May 15)
-January 1 – June 30 (Grant submittal deadline is Nov.15)
Proposals that are time sensitive should be submitted accordingly.
If an organization or program meets Western Digital's eligibility requirements referenced above and wishes to be considered for a charitable contribution they will need to submit the following documents:
A formal request on the organization's letterhead which includes:
A description of the organization, its name, address, telephone number and contact name
A brief statement of purpose or objectives of the organization
Specific dollar amount of request with an explanation of how the funds will be used
A copy of the organization's most recent tax-exempt ruling statement from the IRS (Does not pertain to educational institutions)
A list of the board of directors, or board of trustees, and their affiliations
A list of current corporate sponsors
The most recent financial report showing the overall budget of the organization, including income and expenses for the last two years and the year in which the contribution is being sought. If the donation request pertains to an event or program, a budget specific to that event is ALSO required.
All print or media deadlines should be clearly stated.
Please do not include video/audio tapes with your grant request package.
Please submit your completed Grant Request and required materials to the WD Foundation office serving your location:
Rose Krupp, Managing Director of WD Foundation Corporate/Orange County and Longmont/Boulder County
20511 Lake Forest Drive
Lake Forest, CA 92630
(949) 672-9813 - office
(949) 672-9676 - fax Rosemary.Krupp@wdc.com
Mary McCormick, Corporate Contributions San Jose/Santa Clara County
5863 Rue Ferrari
San Jose, CA 95138
(408) 363-5386 - office
(408) 363-5258 - fax Mary.McCormick@wdc.com
Dao Duong, Corporate Contributions
Fremont/Alameda County
44100 Osgood Road
Fremont, CA 94539
(510) 683-7314 - office
(510) 683-7706 - fax Dao.Duong@wdc.com
