The Business and Work Program reflects a new strategic plan adopted by The Hitachi Foundation Board in November 2008. This program focuses on building an authentic integration of business actions and societal wellbeing in North America.
The Foundation will identify suitable candidates for grants and invite proposals. Due to limited resources, we will not issue Requests for Proposals. Proposals may only be submitted at the Foundation's invitation.
More details about The Hitachi Foundation's grantmaking focus are in the first section below. Eligibility requirements and decision-making criteria are discussed in the second section.
Grantmaking Focus
Our strategy focuses on discovering and expanding business practices that create tangible and enduring economic opportunities for low-wealth Americans, their families, and their communities. The Business and Work Grants Program seeks to advance the fields of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate citizenship by discovering business practices that both strengthen the bottom line and create pathways out of poverty for low-income workers. To read more about this program, visit the Business and Work Program page. To read more about the types of organizations and initiatives we fund, visit our Initiatives page.
Grantmaking Process
The Foundation will identify promising candidates for grants and invite them to submit proposals. Due to limited resources, the Foundation will not issue broad-based Requests for Proposals. Proposals may only be submitted at the Foundation's invitation. However, nonprofit organizations that may meet our eligibility requirements may want to share initial information through our online inquiry system. (To view the full list of questions before completing your submission, click here.)
Eligibility Requirements and Decision-Making Criteria
Overarching eligibility requirements include:
- Support is limited to nonprofit organizations in the United States.
- Organizations must have Section 501 (C) (3) designation by the IRS.
- The Foundation does not make grants to individuals. Nor does the Foundation make grants to for-profit businesses or to individuals for business start-ups or expansions.
- The Foundation does not support capital drives or fund raising efforts. Funding for conferences and seminars is considered only when there is an exceptionally strong match with the Foundation's mission and strategic objectives.
Program-specific eligibility requirements include:
- The project's primary focus must be on creating tangible and enduring economic opportunities for low-wealth Americans, their families, and their communities.
- The project's benefits in terms of strengthening the business bottom-line and supporting low-income workers must be compelling and clearly articulated.
- Local projects should serve high poverty areas or communities as evidenced by poverty rates or other indicators of need.
- The project must demonstrate effective and innovative corporate citizenship practices and/or promote learning and adoption of good practices.
- The project should represent path-breaking work in our areas of focus and interest.
- The project must define expected outcomes for the target populations and measure and report impacts over time.
- We will give priority consideration to projects that: leverage our support with other funding sources; are replicable or have a model that can be brought to scale; and/or focus on small to medium sized businesses in the targeted sectors.
Online Inquiry System
Through our online inquiry system, your organization may complete an electronic form detailing your project ideas and receive our response as to whether your project meets our criteria for further consideration. If the idea corresponds with the priorities of our Business and Work Program, your organization may be invited to submit a concept paper or a complete proposal. (To view the full list of questions before completing your submission, click here.)
