Whole Foods Market Los Gatos is passionate about supporting the local causes that are important to our community! To that end, we offer 4 different community giving programs outlined below. Please review the following information to find the program that is the best fit for your request. Should you have any further questions please contact Sandy Mariscal, Marketing and Community Outreach Team Leader, at sandy.mariscal@wholefoods.com for further information.
Community Giving Guidelines
We ask that you look over the following guidelines before submitting your request.
1. Your organization or event must be located in Los Gatos or San Jose.
2. Your organization must be a 501-C (3) nonprofit organization. A copy of the 501-C (3) letter from the IRS must accompany the application. This letter comes from the Treasury Department and is different from the state tax-exempt form.
3. Whole Foods Market has specific guidelines for the organizations we are able to support with donations. In addition to being a non-profit, you must fall into one of these categories:
- Environmental Preservation
- Preventative Health Care
- Hunger Relief
- Organic Farming / Sustainable Food Resources
- Children or the very local community
- Education on any of the above
Because Whole Foods Market believes in being an active community member, requests from other civic and charitable groups will be considered if the organization is in the immediate vicinity of a store location, meets our core values, and funding is available.
4. We do not donate to individuals, individuals seeking pledges, or multiple requests from the same organization or organizations and/or causes. Each approved organization is restricted to one donation per year from any and all Whole Foods Market stores.
5. Past support of an organization or event is not a guarantee of future support. Although we would like to support every worthwhile cause, due to the volume of applications, it is not possible for Whole Foods Market to fulfill every request.
6. Due to the volume of requests that we receive, we are unable to meet with every organization that drops by with a donation request. All donation requests and information about donations need to be via email. We will not be able accomodate last minute requests, phone requests, or dropping by customer service for donations.
If your organization falls under one of the above listed categories, you may choose to apply for one of the following programs at our store. Please download the appropriate application, fill it and email it to sandy.mariscal@wholefoods.com.
5% Community Support Day
Our Community 5% Days are one meaningful way we give back to our community. Twice a year, a total of 5% of the day’s net sales are donated to a local non-profit organization. Non-profits that fall under any of the categories listed above can apply to participate in this program. The organization that is selected as our recipient and Whole Foods Los Gatos will work together to publicize the event. Customers support the selected organization by shopping on the designated 5% Day. Since we offer this program only twice a year, we require the applications to be turned in as early as possible.
Our recent recipients for the 5% day Program:
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Montalvo Arts Center
Download application(PDF Format): Community Support Day Application
Nickels for Nonprofits
Did you know that Whole Foods Market gives customers a 5-cent credit for bringing your own shopping bags? Did you know that we also have a program where customers can donate that credit to local nonprofit organizations? If you are a customer who reuses bags to save paper, consider donating your credit to our designated non-profit. If you are with a local charity, apply to be considered for the program. Please be sure to include your non-profit tax-ID# and your W9 to help us process your application. Thanks to all our environmentally conscious customers for supporting the following organizations:
Our current recipients are: The Los Gatos Education Foundation
Our recent recipients were:
Act for Mental Health
Download application(PDF Format): Nickels-for-Non-Profits application
General Donations
Each month, Whole Foods Market Los Gatos sponsors several charities. From schools, charities, philanthropic and other non-profit groups, we are pleased to help the organizations that make our community better. We donate gift cards, products, gift bags for silent auctions, fruits, water and more. If you belong to a non-profit group that fits with Whole Foods Market's mission and have a specific event or program that needs sponsorship, please apply to be considered. Please submit your application at least 60 days prior to your event. Due to the volume of requests we get, we may not be able to fulfill every donation request and respond to every application. Please note that every application must be accompanied by a copy of your 501(c)3 letter from the IRS in order to be processed.
Download application (PDF format): Donation Application
Apply online: Donation Application
Picking up donations:
If you have received an email confirming donations to your event from the Loa Gatos Marketing Team Leader (with a date and time for pick), please come to our Customer Service Desk and let them know that you are picking up a donation for your organization. If you have not received an email confirmation about the date and time of your pick up, our Customer Service team will not be able to give you any items or gift cards. If you are unsure, please call the store and check with the Customer Service team or email sandy.mariscal@wholefoods.com before making a trip to the store. Gift card donations will require an ID for pick up, and will be handed to the person that was the primary contact for the donation request.
Email is the best way to contact the Los Gatos Marketing Team. If you are trying to contact us regarding a donation application that you sent us, please note that we will contact you via email once your application has been processed. If we do not contact you at least two weeks prior to your event, it may be because we have not been able to allocate donations for your event. Please email the Marketing Team Leader for further information about the status of your application. While our budget is fixed and limited, we will do our best to support as many organizations as possible.
School Scrip Program
Scrip may be purchased in $1000 increments; your organization will receive a 4% discount on the purchase. Our scrip is available on gift cards in the following denominations ($10, $25, $50, $100). It is not necessary to spend the entire amount on the card in one purchase – your balance will remain on the card for future use. Our scrip is redeemable at all Whole Foods Markets across the nation.
If you would like to participate in our School Scrip Program, please follow the steps below.
1.) Sign up for our School Scrip Program by submitting a scrip application form to the Marketing Team Leader at your local store. You will also need to include a copy of your official IRS tax letter identifying you as a public school or a 501c3 tax exempt entity. Your Marketing contact will confirm your participation upon review of these materials.
2.) Order scrip by emailing your Marketing Team Leader with your order request.
Please include the following information: organization name, name of the person to contact when your order is ready, the phone number to be called when your order is ready, the amount of scrip you’d like to purchase (orders must be in $1000 increments) and the store location where you will pick up the scrip. Please allow 7 to 10 working days for your order to be ready.
3.) The store will contact you when your order is ready for pick up. You will pay for your order at the store.
Check: Your check should be written for the amount of the order, minus the 4% discount. (Example: If you place an order for $2500 worth of scrip, your check should be made out for $2400.) This check must be drawn with your organization name printed on it. No personal checks will be accepted.
Credit Card: Credit cards with your organizations name printed on them will also be accepted. No personal credit cards will be accepted.
Download application (PDF format): Scrip Application
For all donations, marketing and community outreach program inquiries please contact:
Sandy Mariscal
Marketing and Community Outreach Team Leader
Whole Foods Market Los Gatos
Email: sandy.mariscal@wholefoods.com
