These Frequently Asked Questions will be helpful to employees and representatives from nonprofit organizations who are considering applying for grants from the private Enterprise Holdings Foundation.
What is the Foundation's purpose?
The Foundation was established by our founder, Jack C. Taylor, to give back to the communities in which our partners and employees live and work. The Foundation provides charitable support to worthwhile, nonprofit initiatives that are actively supported by the company's employees, their spouses/legal domestic partners, and loyal partners in the thousands of local communities where we operate. The Foundation also provides more sizable special grants to nonprofit groups or causes of significant strategic or social importance to the company and its employees.
What efforts or organizations does the Foundation support?
The Foundation’s philanthropic and community relations mission is to ensure that we maintain our leadership position as a valued and responsible corporate citizen by enhancing the quality of life in our communities consistent with the company’s business goals and objectives. The Foundation provides grants to qualified tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charities in the United States, registered charities in Canada, registered and exempt charities in the United Kingdom, charities on the DZI list or that have documentation for Appendix to Accreditation or Notice of Exemption in Germany, and charities with a tax eligibility certificate in France and Spain. The Foundation supports relief projects or causes the company deems important as they arise, such as natural disasters that affect our partners and employees.
What areas will the Foundation not fund?
The Foundation considers the support of schools (other than higher education); athletic teams; and churches, synagogues or other houses of worship a personal responsibility, and therefore discourages requests for Foundation support of these types of organizations.
In addition, the Foundation does not consider support for individuals; employee-created charities, man-made disasters; terrorist organizations or groups that condone acts of violence; political and labor organizations; school organizations including clubs, parent teacher groups, social fraternities and sororities, and alumni associations; non-charitable or private organizations (according to IRS Codes); tuition; fees; memberships; memorial donations; dues; tickets; subscriptions; telethons; or beauty pageants.
The Foundation does not support multiyear grants; nor does it fund an organization’s ongoing operating expenses, salary costs, or budget deficits.
In an effort to support as many worthwhile causes as possible, the Foundation will consider only one request per year, per organization.
What is the Foundation's relationship with the United Way?
Our company holds an annual United Way campaign to facilitate donations from employees who wish to support their local United Way chapters through payroll deductions. The Foundation provides a 50 percent match of employee contributions to United Way campaigns throughout communities in the United States and Canada. Similarly, the Foundation supports the "Give as You Earn" scheme in the United Kingdom.
Does the Foundation have a matching gifts program?
The only matching program the Foundation participates in is the annual United Way campaign. The Foundation matches 50 percent of employee contributions.
How long is my grant award for?
Foundation grants are awarded for a 12-month period during one of the two meeting cycles (Fall or Spring). Organizations will be eligible for consideration again for same meeting cycle in the next year.
How do I apply for a grant from the Foundation?
The Foundation accepts donation requests from Enterprise Holdings employees and their spouses/legal domestic partners only. The requestor must be personally and actively involved in the organization. In addition, Enterprise Holdings’ employees may make requests on behalf of established partners who use our services on a regular basis. If you are an employee, you may access the grant request link from the company’s intranet under “Enterprise Holdings Foundation.”
Do I need to include a copy of my 501(c)(3) letter?
You do not need a copy of the organization's IRS determination letter; however, you will need the organization's nine-digit federal tax ID number in order to begin the online grant application for the United States. The system will automatically verify the number against the IRS's system. For Canada and United Kingdom, you will need the organization's Registered/Exempt Charity number.
How does the Foundation award grants?
Requests may be submitted during open cycle periods (closed from the submission deadline through the meeting review period). The Enterprise Holdings Foundation Board meets twice a year to consider requests. Board meetings take place in the Fall (October or November) and Spring (April or May). Submission deadlines are posted on the company's intranet site.
How will I know the status of my application?
Requestors will be notified by email regarding the status of their requests. Once an application is submitted online, the requestor will receive an email confirmation that the request has been received. Upon initial review, the application will be accepted or declined and the applicant will be notified either way by email. If the request is accepted, the next notification will occur approximately three to four weeks after the next regularly scheduled board meeting and it will be sent by regular mail.
May I schedule an appointment to discuss project or program ideas?
Unfortunately, the Foundation does not generally discuss specific individual grant applications. If your question is not answered here or you would like more information, you may contact the Foundation at foundation@ehi.com
How often can an organization request funding from the Foundation?
Grants are for a period of one year, and requests may be made once a year or every 12 months. Charities with outstanding contribution receipts are not eligible for consideration until their paperwork is current.
Your guidelines state a request must come from an employee or an established partner. If my organization doesn’t have a corporate account but rents vehicles from your company, may we submit a grant request?
If you are a regular user of the company’s services, you will need to reach out to your account representative to apply on your behalf.
How can I engage an Enterprise Holdings employee with my organization, or how do I request that employees volunteer on a project in my community?
Please reach out to your local affiliate or its regional subsidiary’s administrative offices for these inquiries.
How can I get a vehicle donated to my organization or for a raffle?
Because regulations and laws governing the automotive rental and leasing industries vary, Enterprise Holdings has a company-wide policy prohibiting the Foundation and its affiliates from donating vehicles or rentals.
Do I send my sponsorship proposal to the Foundation?
The Foundation does not traditionally support sponsorships. For information on community relations opportunities within the St. Louis area, please contact the Community Relations department at our corporate headquarters at (314) 512-5000.
If I make Alamo Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car or National Car Rental my preferred car rental agency for my event, will the Foundation consider supporting the event?
Whether or not one of our brands is named a preferred rental car agency has no effect on the consideration of a Foundation request.
If the Foundation sponsors a table for an event, can the regional subsidiary use those tickets to attend?
No. If the Foundation makes a contribution to an organization or event, no goods or services can be received in exchange for the donation. The Foundation is prohibited from receiving benefits from organizations that receive contributions from the Foundation. Benefits that regional subsidiaries may not receive include tickets to events, dinner invitations, golf outings, and advertising. Recognition of a Foundation grant on signage and in programs should go to the Enterprise Holdings Foundation only in regular typeface with no company logo. The regional subsidiary should not be recognized unless they make a contribution in addition to the Foundation’s grant. For a regional subsidiary to attend events or receive any benefits, the regional subsidiary must make a donation in addition to the Foundation’s donation.
How may I obtain a copy of the Foundation's logo for my organization’s brochure or website?
The Foundation does not provide its logo for publication. We appreciate being recognized as a donor in simple typed format as "Enterprise Holdings Foundation." If a regional subsidiary makes a donation in addition to the Foundation's grant, the regional subsidiary would be able to assist with providing the company's regular logo.
My organization has received funding for several years from the Foundation, but this year its application has been declined. Why?
The Foundation considers grant requests on an individual basis at regular meetings each year. Unfortunately, the Foundation does not guarantee funding for certain organizations; each application is treated as a new request for funding.
How may I learn more about philanthropy?
The following websites provide links to resources within the philanthropic sector:
Council on Foundations: cof.org
Guidestar: guidestar.org
The Foundation Center: foundationcenter.org
The Chronicle of Philanthropy: philanthropy.com
The Center for the Study of Philanthropy: philanthropy.org
If you don't see your question answered here, or if you want more information, please contact the Foundation at Foundation@ehi.com.