• Global Climate Change
• Air and Water Pollution
• Habitat Destruction
• Toxins in the Environment
• Waste Generation

At Aveda, we are addressing these issues both internally and externally. Internally, we are constantly improving our design, manufacturing and distribution processes as part of our goal of minimizing our environmental footprint. Externally, we are working with our suppliers to undertake stewardship practices that will ensure a sustainable supply of our raw materials without harming the environment from which they were drawn, or the economic integrity of the communities that depend on the wise use of those resources.

Accomplishing our commitment to earth and community care includes partnering with nonprofit organizations whose work addresses our key areas of concern. Through the Aveda Earth Fund, we make grants to support the work of those organizations.

OUR APPROACH
The Aveda Earth Fund is part of our mission to give back to society and is an example of our longstanding commitment to social and environmental leadership and responsibility. Our grantmaking program makes grants that focus on caring for the earth and protecting natural resources and biodiversity. Projects funded through this grant program will demonstrate a commitment to Earth Care and help address the aforementioned threats to our earth�s future.

It is the aim of the Fund to:

• Support projects that protect the ecological and social wellbeing of communities where Aveda does business. This includes the geographic areas in which Aveda sources ingredients, as well as the communities where we market our products.
• To help protect natural resources and ecosystems essential to our business.
• To inspire the passions of Aveda employees, our professional salon, spa and retail Network and consumers.
• Seek collaborations that combine environmental, economic and social benefits at a local level.

FUNDING CRITERIA
Please know that Aveda receives far more requests for funding than we can possibly fulfill. While there are many worthy and important projects that we would love to support, due to inherent limitations in funding dollars, we must unfortunately turn down many respectable projects. To guide us in evaluating the high volume of proposals we receive, priority is given to projects that demonstrate the following criteria:

• Community-based environmental projects that are results-oriented, achieve measurable results, and enhance local capacity to create more sustainable communities.
• Projects that focus on activities that change the systems that are causing the environmental problems or social/community challenges and are not just focused on direct service.
• Projects that have a plan for long-term financial sustainability or adequate funding to see the project through to completion.
• Projects that ensure that the basic infrastructure of environmental programs is sustained or enhanced (e.g., recycling programs, sustainable agriculture, forestry certification programs).
• Projects that combine the above environmental work with socio-economic responsibility.
  

WHAT WE DO NOT FUND
Philanthropic programs can be most effective by concentrating their resources in a few areas. Inevitably, this means that we cannot support many worthy projects outside our focus areas. The Aveda Earth Fund does not provide support to the following:

• Grants to individuals or scholarship programs
• Organizations without 501(c)3 status in the USA or equivalent internationally
• Political organizations or campaigns
• Government agencies or programs
• Religious organizations or direct religious activities
• Social service agencies - Athletic scholarships, teams or events
• Beauty pageants, fashion shows, or similar events
• Medical or disease-specific projects
• Endowment funds - Debt retirement - Capital campaigns

TYPES OF GRANTS
Small Grants � $1,000 - $10,000
Large grants � greater than $10,000 or grants that include multi-year commitments of three to five years. Grant size is limited to $50,000 to organizations applying to the Aveda Earth Fund for the first time.

HOW TO APPLY
Start by submitting a two- to four-page Letter of Interest (LOI). We accept Letters of Interest at any time, but we review them only two times per year.  

Letters of Inquiry Due: November 1st,  Grants are awarded in: January
Letters of Inquiry Due: April 1st,           Grants are awarded in: June

Letter of Interest (LOI) – Complete the LOI cover page and attach it to an original copy of a LOI on your organization’s letterhead.  Include a legible copy of your latest IRS letter of determination. The LOI should not exceed 4 pages in length and should employ a readable font size (no less than 12 pt.) and one-inch margins.   Included in the LOI should be the following:

1. A description of your organization’s mission and major accomplishments
2. A description of the short and long term goals and design of the project for which you are seeking funds
3. The outcomes you expect to achieve from the project and explanation of how success will be measured.
4. The amount of support you are requesting.
5. A breakdown of the project budget, in round numbers, by major categories of expense.  Include sources of income other than the amount you are requesting from Aveda.
6. A project timeline.
7. An explanation of why you want to partner with Aveda and how your project is aligned with Aveda’s earth and community care concerns. 

In an effort to conserve natural resources, we prefer to receive applications via email.  Please send your completed letter of interest and LOI cover page to avedaearthfund@aveda.com.  We recognize that this is not feasible for all organizations, so if absolutely necessary, paper copies can be submitted through regular mail at the address below.  Do not use binders, plastic covers or sheet protectors.  Do not include glossy photos, videos, cassettes or other back up materials with your LOI.  They will not be reviewed and will not be returned.  All application materials must be printed double-sided and should be on paper with a minimum of 50% post-consumer content. 

Aveda Earth Fund Program
4000 Pheasant Ridge Drive
Minneapolis, Minnesota  55449-7106
USA

Small grant awards will be based on the LOI along with an in-person or telephone conversation(s), and will not require a full proposal.  If your request for a large grant has been accepted for further consideration, we will notify you within four weeks of the LOI due date and invite a full proposal.  Proposal guidelines will be sent along with your invitation notice and a due date by which we will need to receive your complete proposal.

Full Proposals – If your request for a large grant is accepted for further consideration, you will be invited to submit a full proposal. 

To download the Letter of Interest Cover Page, click here.