If you have a question about your grant, please make sure that it cannot be answered by reviewing the local corporate grant-making guidelines as well as the frequently asked questions found below. If you cannot find an answer to your question, contact the appropriate Global Corporate Citizenship site representative.
If you have a technical question about or problem with the online grant application process, contact CyberGrants, the outside vendor that manages the technical aspects of the application process, by clicking on the "Need Support" link that is available on all CyberGrants pages.
- Q: Should I submit a U.S. or international application?
- Q: How does an agency apply for a grant?
- Q: Does Boeing have submission deadlines?
- Q: May I set up an appointment to discuss my project idea?
- Q: When I submit my electronic grant application, should I send a hard copy as well?
- Q: When will I get a response to my electronic grant application?
- Q: Who reviews the applications?
- Q: Will your staff conduct site visits?
- Q: How long will it take for me to find out if my grant is approved?
- Q: What could delay a decision on my request?
- Q: How can I check on the status of my request?
- Q: How are applicants notified when a decision is made?
- Q: If my agency's application is declined, will you explain why it was rejected or critique the proposal?
- Q: Do you consider requests from newly established nonprofits?
- Q: Who is eligible to apply for grants from Boeing?
- Q: Do you provide general operating grants?
- Q: Do you fund capital requests?
- Q: Does Boeing award multi-year grants?
- Q: Where do I find information on corporate donations and sponsorships?
- Q: If we have one grant, can we apply for another in the same year?
- Q: How many applications do you receive each year?
- Q: Can you share a copy of a successful grant application?
- Q: In the application, how do I know if I should select "local/regional/state," or "national or multinational?"
- Q: Do you accept requests for in-kind donations?
- Q: What are the most common reasons why an application is declined?
- Q: If we are awarded a grant, are there specific guidelines for submitting grant reports?
- Q: May I apply for a grant via e-mail or fax?
- Q: If we have already uploaded or faxed a copy of our government charity license (or U.S. 501(c)(3) letter) with proposals submitted in the past, do we need to submit another copy?
- Q: May I submit an application if I am missing some required information (e.g., project budget) and submit the missing information once received?
- Q: May I reapply if our application was turned down in the past?
- Q: Do you fund requests that are not directly aligned with your focus areas?
- Q: Are there any special considerations for first-time applicants?
- Q: Are we required to have other sources of funding?
- Q: What size grant should we request?
- Q: What should I include in my line-item budget?
- Q: If my organization is small and does not have an audited financial statement, what kind of financial information should we submit?
Q: Should I submit a U.S. or international application?
A: If any of the following statements is true, you must submit an international grant application, even if your organization is a based in the United States.
To submit a grant application, click on either of the first two links below. Note: you must submit an international grant application if any of the following statements is true:
- Your organization or school is located outside of the United States
- Your program or project is located outside of the United States
- Your program or project will benefit those outside of the United States
- Your program or project is primarily intended to benefit people in multiple countries, one of which could be the United States.
Q: How does an agency apply for a grant?
A: Prior to applying, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the company's five focus areas and corresponding objectives as well as any local corporate grant-making guidelines. All requests for cash grants and in-kind donations must be submitted via Boeing's online application system. There are different application forms for U.S. and international corporate cash grants, in-kind donations, business donations and event sponsorships and Employees Community Fund cash grants.
Q: Does Boeing have submission deadlines?
A: Deadlines vary from site to site. Please check local corporate grant-making guidelines to verify if submission deadlines exist in your geographic area. If local guidelines are not published for your geographic area, please contact your local Global Corporate Citizenship representative for information.
Q: May I set up an appointment to discuss my project idea?
A: Ideally, we would like to meet with everyone who wants to discuss a project. However, due to the volume of inquiries Boeing receives, doing so can be difficult. Please review the company's five focus areas and corresponding objectives as well as any local corporate grant-making guidelines as a first step to determining if your project or program aligns.
If you then have additional questions, you may contact the appropriate local Boeing Global Corporate Citizenship representative for further discussion. Please be patient in awaiting a response.
Q: When I submit my electronic grant application, should I send a hard copy as well?
A: We are unable to accept applications that are mailed, emailed or faxed. All applications must be submitted online and only online.
Q: When will I get a response to my electronic grant application?
A: You will receive a system-generated email response upon submission, verifying that your application has been received. Timelines for proposal reviews and funding decisions vary at different Boeing locations. Please review local corporate grant-making guidelines for more information where available or contact the appropriate local Boeing Global Corporate Citizenship representative.
Q: Who reviews the applications?
A: Each application is routed to the geographically appropriate reviewer depending on the location of the applicant or the site that will benefit from the project. Applications are reviewed by local Global Corporate Citizenship representatives.
Q: Will your staff conduct site visits?
A: A site visit may be required as part of the review process, depending on the nature of the proposed project. In some cases, both pre- and post-grant site visits are scheduled.
Q: How long will it take for me to find out if my grant is approved?
A: Review timelines vary throughout Boeing's geographic areas. Please review local corporate grant-making guidelines for more information where available or contact the appropriate local Boeing Global Corporate Citizenship representative.
Q: What could delay a decision on my request?
A: Incomplete applications (e.g., missing documents, omitted budgets) are primary delay factors. Requests for ineligible items, unsubstantiated line items or unspecified expenses delay a decision on an application.
Q: How can I check on the status of my request?
A: Due to the volume of requests received, we appreciate your patience in awaiting a response. Please check local corporate grant-making guidelines for specific information regarding the general length of your local review process.
Q: How are applicants notified when a decision is made?
A: You may receive notification via mail, email and/or a phone call from your local Global Corporate Citizenship representative when a decision is made about your application.
Q: If my agency's application is declined, will you explain why it was rejected or critique the proposal?
A: We will contact you via letter or email outlining the main reason your proposal was turned down. Due to the large volume of inquiries and limited staff resources, we are unable to provide great detail for decline rationale or individual critiques of applications we decline. Because we have limited resources, we are only able to provide funding to a small percentage of qualified applicants. This means that many excellent projects, even ones that fall within our areas of interest, may not be funded. Please understand that a rejection of your application does not imply that your proposal lacks merit.
Q: Do you consider requests from newly established nonprofits?
A: This may vary from site to site. Contact your local Global Corporate Citizenship representative with this question.
Q: Who is eligible to apply for grants from Boeing?
A: In the United States: Your nonprofit must be a U.S.-based IRS 501(c)(3) qualified charitable or educational organization or an accredited K-12 educational institution to apply for a Boeing corporate or Employees Community Fund grant.
U.S. organizations will need a 501(c)(3)-qualified tax ID number or NCES (K-12 schools/districts) ID number to apply. Individual K-12 schools need to provide both their NCES district ID number (seven digits) and school ID number (five digits). Most public U.S. universities or colleges will need to apply using the tax ID number for their 501(c)(3) charitable foundation or development office.
Outside the United States: Only nonprofit, nongovernmental charitable organizations and educational institutions are eligible for Boeing grants. Your organization must include a copy of the government charity license, registration or other official evidence of tax-exempt charitable status and include the name of the issuing government body, registrar or bureau.
Other documentation also may be required, such as a constitution or governing documents and audited financial statements. For more information, click here.
Q: Do you provide general operating grants?
A: Outside of the United States, we provide operating support to build nonprofit capacity as well as funding for programs and projects. Within the United States, we support specific programs and projects, but not general operations. Some Employees Community Fund organizations may provide funding for general operations, please check your local corporate grant-making guidelines for specific information.
Q: Do you fund capital requests?
A: Boeing rarely uses charitable dollars to fund capital requests in the United States where our sole focus is on supporting projects and programs that align with one or more of out five focus areas and corresponding objectives.
Outside of the United States, however, where such needs are greater, Boeing provides funding to organizations for capital items necessary to improve their capacity to deliver services or start new programs. This can include equipment purchases, staff training, essential furnishings, renovation and new construction. Well-substantiated budgets backed by multiple estimates or bids for the intended purchases and services will generally speed the review process, as will an organizational history of providing receipts or photos in progress reports.
Q: Does Boeing award multi-year grants?
A: Multi-year grants are extremely rare as most grants are awarded for a one-year period. Periodic progress reports and an outcomes report must be submitted each year, and re-application is necessary for follow-on funding.
Q: Where do I find information on corporate donations and sponsorships?
A: Unlike philanthropic donations, donations to nonprofit organizations and sponsorships of nonprofit events, programs and projects by our business units and functions are intended to build business relationships and support the Boeing brand, image or reputation.
For more information about business donations and events sponsorships, click here.
Q: If we have one grant, can we apply for another in the same year?
A: You may apply for multiple grants, but the applications must be for distinct projects. In any event, it is highly unlikely that two grants to the same organization would be made during the same year.
Q: How many applications do you receive each year?
A: Boeing typically receives more than 3,000 applications a year; about half are approved.
Q: Can you share a copy of a successful grant application?
A: We do not share examples of successful grant applications.
Q: In the application, how do I know if I should select "local/regional/state," or "national or multinational?"
A: A local, regional or state program or project generally focuses on improving the quality of life in a particular community. The geographic scope of a national program generally extends across one entire country or involves multiple sites within that country. A multinational program generally involves multiple centers of operation in multiple countries.
Q: Do you accept requests for in-kind donations?
A: The availability and variety of surplus equipment, materials and services vary greatly, and not all locations have in-kind donations available. All in-kind donations must align to one or more of the five focus areas and corresponding objectives. To request an in-kind donation, contact the local Global Corporate Citizenship representative nearest you. If your requested item/s is/are available, you will receive an invitation code to use on an online application.
Q: What are the most common reasons why an application is declined?
A: There are several reasons why we decline applications; most often it is because the requests:
- Fall outside of our guidelines for the types of projects that we support
- Fall outside of the geographic area we support
- Do not follow our general grant-making guidelines
- Are not new or innovative
- Are more appropriately funded by another organization, either public or private
- Are not sustainable without reliance on Boeing funding
- Are not likely to generate significant long-term impact
- Are similar to projects we are already funding.
Q: If we are awarded a grant, are there specific guidelines for submitting grant reports?
A: Yes. Generally you will be asked to submit at least two reports, the first mid-grant and second at the end of the grant period, which is generally at the end of 12 months. Both the interim report form and the final outcomes report form are completed online. Links to these reports will be sent to you approximately two weeks before the report is due.
Q: May I apply for a grant via e-mail or fax?
A: No. All applications must be submitted electronically.
Q: If we have already uploaded or faxed a copy of our government charity license (or U.S. 501(c)(3) letter) with proposals submitted in the past, do we need to submit another copy?
A: No. We retain electronic copies of all the documents uploaded to our grant applications and can refer to the original.
Q: May I submit an application if I am missing some required information (e.g., project budget) and submit the missing information once received?
A: Please only submit your application when you have all of the required information and documentation prepared.
Q: May I reapply if our application was turned down in the past?
A: Re-submit an application only if instructed to do so by the local Global Corporate Citizenship representative after the content of the application has been revised and improved per the Global Corporate Citizenship representative's suggestions.
If you have been turned down in the past, you certainly may re-apply at any time with a new grant application for another project or program.
Q: Do you fund requests that are not directly aligned with your focus areas?
A: No. All projects and programs we fund must be aligned to at least one of the five focus areas and corresponding objectives.
Finance and funding related
Q: Are there any special considerations for first-time applicants?
A: For projects, programs and organizations in the United States, first-time applicants must provide detailed information about your finances, board members and top-five highly paid employees and be vetted through a process to ensure compliance with the U.S. Patriot Act and anti-terrorism laws.
For projects, programs and organizations outside of the United States, first-time applicants must furnish two references from prior funders. If we have not funded your organization in the past, you must upload or fax a copy of your government registration, license or tax-exempt certification with your application or we will be unable to consider your request.
Q: Are we required to have other sources of funding?
A: While a variety of funding sources is not essential, it is viewed by as an indication of broad interest in the proposed program. Typically, Boeing is not and does not seek to be the sole supporter for programs.
Q: What size grant should we request?
A: Every request is unique, and every Boeing site has prior commitments and strategic priorities to consider. To ensure that your request is practical and within our means, we recommend you review local corporate grant-making guidelines where available and/or discuss this with the appropriate Global Corporate Citizenship representative prior to applying.
Q: What should I include in my line-item budget?
A: Requests to support programs or projects must include a line-item budget and a detailed description of how the funds are intended to be used. We recommend uploading quotes, bids, price lists or invoices to substantiate the cost of items to be purchased under the grant. Expenses for items that fall outside of our funding guidelines and unsubstantiated line items may be deducted from the final grant amount if the grant is approved.
Q: If my organization is small and does not have an audited financial statement, what kind of financial information should we submit?
A: In place of an audit, your organization's most recent annual tax filing, profit and loss statement and annual budget may be submitted.