The Union Pacific Railroad is accepting applications for its Community Ties Giving Program.
Donor Name: Union Pacific Railroad
State: Selected States
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/14/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
Funding Priorities & Objectives
Throughout its existence, the success of Union Pacific’s business has been inextricably linked to the economic and community wellbeing of cities and towns across the nation. They take pride in the role they have played in helping communities thrive and believe the impact they can have on local communities is greatest when it is authentic to the history and reflective of the company they are today. As such, they have carefully aligned the Local Grants cause areas to the company’s unique heritage, strengths, and assets. Specifically, they prioritize funding for direct services and efforts that build the capacity of organizations focused on the following causes within the local operating communities.
- Safety
- In order for communities to thrive, all residents must feel safe. Just as the safety of the employees and community members is paramount to how they operate, Union Pacific is committed to helping communities prevent and prepare for incidents and emergencies, and helping residents get home safely at the end of each day. As such, they prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to:
- Encourage safe behaviors and prevent incidents through education and awareness, particularly projects which focus on rail, driver, bike, and pedestrian safety, and ensure outreach efforts reach underserved populations.
- Eliminate risks and improve safe and equitable access to community spaces through infrastructure improvements, such as signage, proper lighting, and public trail improvements.
- Prepare and equip residents and emergency responders to effectively respond to incidents and emergencies if or when they occur.
- Prevent crime and violent incidents and support survivors of domestic violence through efforts that address the root causes of these issues and seek to mitigate their occurrence.
- In order for communities to thrive, all residents must feel safe. Just as the safety of the employees and community members is paramount to how they operate, Union Pacific is committed to helping communities prevent and prepare for incidents and emergencies, and helping residents get home safely at the end of each day. As such, they prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to:
- Workforce Development
- For more than 160 years, Union Pacific has helped stimulate economic growth in cities and towns throughout the nation by training and providing employment to millions of workers. More than ever, they are committed to helping underrepresented residents in the communities achieve family-supporting careers like those offered by Union Pacific. As such, they prioritize funding for programs that seek to:
- Put youth on the right track by creating awareness of and pathways toward employment opportunities; building foundational skills, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); establishing necessary technical skills and life skills; and providing mentorship and positive role models for the future.
- Raise awareness of, educate and prepare young adults for middle skills jobs like those Union Pacific offers, for instance through community colleges, vocational and career training programs, workforce readiness initiatives, and programs that assist with job placement and/or on-the-job experience.
- Programs that develop proficiency in areas relevant to Union Pacific operations such as welding, electrical work, machine operations, and civil and electrical engineering are given priority.
- “Up-skill” the existing workforce by providing training and resources that enable them to reach the next level of their career. Programs that develop proficiency in areas of relevance to Union Pacific operations are given priority.
- Resolve barriers to employment such as transportation, childcare, acquiring necessary equipment for work, and second chance employment programs.
- For more than 160 years, Union Pacific has helped stimulate economic growth in cities and towns throughout the nation by training and providing employment to millions of workers. More than ever, they are committed to helping underrepresented residents in the communities achieve family-supporting careers like those offered by Union Pacific. As such, they prioritize funding for programs that seek to:
- Community Vitality
- Union Pacific Railroad is committed to establishing vibrant, healthy and inclusive communities for employees, customers and residents to work, visit and call home. Just as the railroad opened avenues for economic development and opportunity more than 160 years ago, they maintain this tradition by cultivating unique cultural and recreational experiences and equipping community members with opportunities to live healthy, vital lives. As such, they prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to:
- Create, sustain or expand artistic and cultural experiences offered to a broad and diverse audience (e.g., museums, theaters, zoos, cultural and local heritage, visual and performing arts, etc.)
- Provide recreational opportunities that foster wellbeing, enrichment and/or an appreciation for the natural environment (e.g., parks, libraries, senior centers, recreation centers, learning centers, etc.).
- Revive neighborhoods and main street areas, especially in historically underinvested neighborhoods, to improve livability, promote commerce and attract more residents, businesses and visitors to town.
- Ensure residents’ basic needs are met and barriers are overcome (e.g., safe shelter and homelessness prevention, hunger relief, mental health and community health needs, etc.).
- Offer youth development and educational opportunities to ensure young people can thrive into healthy and productive community members (e.g., mentoring, leadership development, tutoring, services for youth in foster care, etc.).
- Union Pacific Railroad is committed to establishing vibrant, healthy and inclusive communities for employees, customers and residents to work, visit and call home. Just as the railroad opened avenues for economic development and opportunity more than 160 years ago, they maintain this tradition by cultivating unique cultural and recreational experiences and equipping community members with opportunities to live healthy, vital lives. As such, they prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to:
- Environmental Sustainability
- The future of the business, communities and planet depends on bold, collective action to reduce and slow the impacts of climate change while building a more sustainable economy for the next generation. Union Pacific is taking deliberate steps to reduce the environmental impact and helping the partners improve their own. Extending this commitment to the community investments, they seek to support leading environmental nonprofits and community-based organizations to advance the health of the environment. As such, we prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to:
- Preserve and restore nature, including programs focused on natural habitats, ecosystems, and biodiversity.
- Protect and enhance water, soil and air quality through innovative and proactive solutions such as water conservation, carbon sequestration and emission reduction programs.
- Reduce waste through initiatives focused on promoting recycling and circularity throughout the community, including recycling and composting programs and other efforts that reduce waste.
- Develop environmental stewards through youth programs focused on fostering environmental appreciation, responsibility, and leadership.
- Advance a sustainable economy by helping communities accelerate their transition to environmental jobs and renewable energy, as well as helping nonprofits and small businesses build their own capacity to operate more sustainably.
- Promote environmental justice through initiatives that ensure access to clean air, water, and land and protect underserved populations from disproportionate and adverse environmental effects.
- The future of the business, communities and planet depends on bold, collective action to reduce and slow the impacts of climate change while building a more sustainable economy for the next generation. Union Pacific is taking deliberate steps to reduce the environmental impact and helping the partners improve their own. Extending this commitment to the community investments, they seek to support leading environmental nonprofits and community-based organizations to advance the health of the environment. As such, we prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to:
Funding Information
The Community Ties Giving Program distributes approximately $5 million annually through the Local Grants Program. Typical grant awards in the Local Grants program will range from $5,000 – $30,000. Based on the past several years, the average grant was less than $10,000.
Grant Period
September 2025 – August 2026.
Geographic Eligibility
The program or project for which grant funds are sought must primarily benefit a community that is served by Union Pacific; further it is preferred that the organization requesting funds be located in a community served by Union Pacific. The Community Ties Giving Program does not accept applications for programs that do not primarily serve a Union Pacific community; applicants will be required to select a U.S. State served by Union Pacific and include which community/communities the proposed grant will serve in their grant applications.
Eligibility Criteria
All grant recipients must be non-profit, charitable organizations tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and further, be classified as an organization described in sections 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) under 170 (b)(1)(A)(vii) of the code. The Community Ties Giving Program does not fund governmental entities (municipal governments, city departments, etc.) without a 501(c)(3) public charity designation from the IRS.
- Emergency service providers such as fire and police departments must apply under their own public charity with 501(c)(3) designation. As an additional opportunity for engagement, Union Pacific offers free Hazardous Materials Response Training to emergency service providers.
- Religious organizations such as churches, mosques, and synagogues may qualify only if they have established a separate 501(c)(3) organization to operate the funded program AND the outreach program is offered to the general population regardless of religious affiliation.
- Elementary and secondary schools cannot be funded directly; programs administered within a school environment by a separate 501(c)(3) organization may be considered.
For more information, visit Union Pacific Railroad.
