PG&E's Grantmaking Program

• Print Page
• Email Page

2008 Guidelines and General Information

PG&E’s goal is to be the leading corporate citizen in the diverse communities we serve. We donated $18.3 million to charitable organizations in 2007, which is a 25 percent increase from 2006.

We expect to provide almost $18.7 million in charitable funding this year. This represents 1.2 percent of PG&E’s pre-tax income from operations. As always, the company’s charitable contributions program will be funded entirely by shareholders and will have no impact on electricity or gas prices.

General Requirements

First, please determine whether your organization and the funding you seek meet the requirements listed. Also, please review the list of grants made by PG&E in previous years to learn whether your request fits into the types of grants we have made in the past. Applicants must hold current tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or be a unit of government (including a public school).

Second, prior to applying for a grant, please contact your local PG&E Public Affairs representative listed in our “Application Instructions” section. If you believe that your organization and grant request fit within these guidelines, you are welcome to submit an application. However, we want to advise you that unsolicited applications, and those from organizations whose staff do not contact PG&E Public Affairs staff, are rarely granted.

Third, please note that PG&E will use GuideStar to determine the eligibility of nonprofit organizations, and will check applicants’ information by using security lists generated by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Finally, all applicants must submit requests using the online grant application. PG&E will neither accept nor process grant proposals in any other format. Submit a completed application only. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please Note: The PG&E Corporation Foundation and PG&E Corporation do not have separate grant application processes. Please apply directly to Pacific Gas and Electric Company as described in these guidelines and instructions.

Areas We Fund

In 2008, PG&E will focus our grantmaking strategy on projects in the field of Environmental and Energy Sustainability. Projects that we may fund include:

• Environmental education programs (e.g., PG&E Solar Schools, Nature Restoration Trust)
• Residential and community solar energy distribution projects (PG&E Solar Habitat program in partnership with Habitat for Humanity)
• Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the public education surrounding them
• Alternative energy and energy efficiency programs
  
• Habitat restoration, enhancement and conservation projects
  

We will reduce our grantmaking efforts in the fields of Emergency Preparedness, Economic Development, Education, and Emergency Energy Assistance.

Whom Do We Fund?

PG&E will make grants only to organizations that hold current tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or are units of government (including public schools).

The most successful grant applications:

• Address a demonstrated community need
• Link a nonprofit or government program to PG&E’s business goals and employee presence in the community
• Provide the grantee and PG&E with recognition in the community

We prefer to make grants for specific programs, but we may provide funds for general operations to ensure our community partners receive the greatest possible flexibility in meeting the challenges they face daily.

We award few grants to organizations located outside of our service area.

Underserved Populations

Our goal is that 75 percent of our total grant-making dollars assist underserved communities. In general, this includes:

• Persons with low incomes
• People of color
• Seniors
• The disabled
• The LGBT community

Who Decides, For How Much and When

In general, we refer proposals for projects within a particular city or county to the local PG&E Public Affairs Director responsible for that city or county. The Charitable Contributions department, with input from staff throughout the utility, decides other grant requests. Again, we strongly encourage all applicants to speak with a local PG&E Public Affairs staff representative prior to applying for any grant funding.

The majority of our grants are in the $1,000 to $25,000 range. Over two-thirds are under $15,000. We consider multi-year funding requests, and reserve the right to review a grantee’s progress on an annual basis to determine whether a subsequent grant is appropriate.

Under certain circumstances, PG&E may contribute surplus property such as vehicles, furniture, real estate, or other miscellaneous items, as well as volunteer labor using company assets. The utility may also donate temporary use of real estate, such as meeting rooms. California law prohibits PG&E from donating or reducing the cost of gas and/or electric services.

Grant Application Deadline

While our contributions program is funded throughout the calendar year, the deadline for applying to the program is October 3, 2008, and most grant requests are funded prior to September 30. We reserve the right, however, to consider requests at any time. Current grantees not receiving a multi-year grant must submit a new request for funding annually. Our goal is to respond to proposals within three months.

Non-Discrimination Practices and other Compliance Issues

Non-Discrimination Practices

PG&E will not fund organizations that, in their by-laws, policies, or practices, discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any basis prohibited by applicable law.

Charitable Purposes

Grants may be used only for charitable purposes, and must not be used to promote or oppose any candidate or ballot measure, to advocate any legislative or administrative action, or to personally benefit or compensate any elected official.

Legal Compliance

Applicants must be, and remain, in compliance with all federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations, including if applicable the California Nonprofit Integrity Act of 2004.

Patriot Act Compliance

Applicants and each of their grantees, if any, must be in full compliance with all statutes, Executive Orders, and regulations restricting or prohibiting U.S. persons from engaging in transactions and dealings with countries, entities, or individuals subject to economic sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. Applicants must be aware that a list of countries subject to such sanctions, a list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons subject to such sanctions, and overviews and guidelines for each such sanctions program can be found at www.treas.gov/ofac, and applicants must not promote or engage in violence, terrorism, bigotry, or the destruction of any state, or make grants or otherwise furnish support of any kind to any individual or entity that engages in such activities.

In addition, PG&E will not make contributions that support the following:

• Individuals
• Tickets for contests, raffles, or other activities with prizes
• Religious organizations (unless the request is specifically for a program offered to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis and without regard to the recipient’s religious affiliation)
• Endowments
• Debt-reduction campaigns
• Political or partisan organizations or events