Community Ties Giving Program: Local Grants

Union Pacific Railroad is dedicated to the economic and community wellbeing of cities and towns across the nation. By aligning with its unique heritage, strengths, and assets, Union Pacific strives to contribute to vibrant, healthy, and inclusive communities. Emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion, the company commits to advancing safety, workforce development, community vitality, and environmental sustainability through strategic investments in local communities within its operating regions.

Type of Support

Overview

The Community Ties Giving Program, through its Local Grants, focuses on supporting small and medium-sized organizations with projects aimed at improving safety, workforce development, community vitality, and environmental sustainability within the areas Union Pacific operates. Grants target direct services and capacity-building endeavors that emphasize safety, prepare youth and the workforce for future opportunities, enhance the livability and economic health of neighborhoods, and address environmental challenges. Specific causes supported include but are not limited to rail, driver, bike and pedestrian safety; employment and technical skills training; cultural and recreational initiatives; and environmental conservation and sustainability efforts. The program particularly seeks to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion among underrepresented populations in these focus areas.

Eligibility

Organization's Location
USA
Program Location
AR, IL, IA, KS, LA, MN, MO, NE, OK, TN, TX, WI, AZ (Cochise County, Maricopa County, Pima County, Pinal County, Santa Cruz County, Yuma County), CA (Alameda County, Amador County, Butte County, Contra Costa County, Fresno County, Imperial County, Kern County, Los Angeles County, Madera County, Merced County, Modoc County, Monterey County, Nevada County, Placer County, Plumas County, Riverside County, Sacramento County, San Benito County, San Bernardino County, San Joaquin County, San Luis Obispo County, San Mateo County, Santa Barbara County, Santa Clara County, Shasta County, Siskiyou County, Solano County, Stanislaus County, Sutter County, Tehama County, Tulare County, Ventura County, Yolo County, Yuba County), CO (Adams County, Arapahoe County, Boulder County, Chaffee County, Cheyenne County, Delta County, Denver County, Douglas County, Eagle County, El Paso County, Elbert County, Fremont County, Garfield County, Gilpin County, Grand County, Gunnison County, Huerfano County, Jefferson County, Lake County, Larimer County, Lincoln County, Logan County, Mesa County, Moffat County, Montrose County, Morgan County, Pueblo County, Routt County, Sedgwick County, Weld County), ID (Ada County, Bannock County, Bear Lake County, Benewah County, Bingham County, Blaine County, Bonner County, Bonneville County, Boundary County, Butte County, Canyon County, Caribou County, Clark County, Elmore County, Franklin County, Gooding County, Jefferson County, Kootenai County, Lincoln County, Madison County, Minidoka County, Oneida County, Payette County, Power County), MT (Beaverhead County, Silver Bow County), NV (Churchill County, Clark County, Elko County, Eureka County, Humboldt County, Lander County, Lincoln County, Pershing County, Storey County, Washoe County), NM (Doña Ana County, Grant County, Guadalupe County, Hidalgo County, Lincoln County, Luna County, Otero County, Quay County, Torrance County), OR (Baker County, Clackamas County, Gilliam County, Hood River County, Klamath County, Lane County, Linn County, Malheur County, Marion County, Morrow County, Multnomah County, Sherman County, Umatilla County, Union County, Wasco County), UT (Beaver County, Box Elder County, Cache County, Carbon County, Davis County, Emery County, Grand County, Iron County, Juab County, Millard County, Morgan County, Salt Lake County, Summit County, Tooele County, Utah County, Weber County), WA (Adams County, Benton County, Columbia County, Franklin County, King County, Lincoln County, Pierce County, Spokane County, Thurston County, Walla Walla County, Whitman County), WY (Albany County, Carbon County, Converse County, Goshen County, Laramie County, Lincoln County, Niobrara County, Sweetwater County, Uinta County)
Organization Type
Non-profit, charitable organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
Classified as organizations under sections 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vii)
Emergency service providers with 501(c)(3) designation
Religious organizations with a separate 501(c)(3) for the funded program
Other
  • The program or project must primarily benefit communities served by Union Pacific
  • It is preferred that the organization requesting funds is located in a community served by Union Pacific
  • Applicants must specify the community/communities the proposed grant will serve
  • Must align with a cause area and its objectives as per Funding Priorities & Objectives
  • Must demonstrate the need for the program or project
  • Must show the organization's capacity to deliver quality programming and meet goals
  • Potential for positive social benefit across broad and diverse populations
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the organization and/or its programs

Ineligibility

Local Grant recipients who haven't submitted a Grant Impact Report
Organizations having received local grants for three consecutive years (2021-2023) for the 2024 cycle
Governmental entities without a 501(c)(3) designation since 2018
Elementary and secondary schools for direct funding
Private foundations or disqualified supporting organizations per section 4966(d)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code
Programs not serving a Union Pacific community
Projects outside the Community Ties Giving Program's funding priorities
Requests for general operating support
Event sponsorships and fundraising events
Social, labor, alumni, and fraternal organizations
Professional and amateur sports events and teams
Political organizations or those aiming to influence legislation/elections
Organizations funneling funds to third parties (except local United Way chapters)
Organizations without a 501(c)(3) needing a fiscal sponsor
Organizations discriminating based on protected status, except religious groups with a 501(c)(3) for a general outreach program
Terrorist organizations or those not compliant with the USA Patriot Act
Non-US-based charities or mainly international programs
Individuals
Fellowships or research projects
Projects altering Union Pacific Railroad property
Requests for railroad equipment
Organizations not current with UP agreement obligations.
5k – 30k

Submission

Visit Apply for more information.