Community Giving

Our Community Commitment

Whole Foods Market is proud to support our local non-profit organizations that sustain our communities and the environment through donations, sponsorship and fundraising events. Since our doors opened we have been a source for food share programs such as Second Helpings along with a number of organizations who help the hungry in Hamilton County such as the Carmel Food Bank. We have also been a proud participant & sponsor for many local environmental, health, animal welfare & family-centered events including:

• Carmelfest
• Carmel Public Safety Day
• Earth Day Indiana
• Tour de Carmel
• Gluten Free Living Now Expo

Here is a partial list of local community organizations that we have partnered with in 2011: 

• Alliance for Responsible Pet Ownership
• Carmel Education Foundation
• Carmel Elementary School
• Carmel Green Initiative
• Carmel Green Teen
• Carmel High School
• Central Indiana Dance Ensemble
• Clay Middle School
• Exotic Feline Rescue Center
• FitCity
• Freewheelin’ Community Bikes
• From the Heart Rescue
• Indiana Recycling Coalition
• Indiana Wildlife Federation
• IndyReads
• Kids Tri for Kids
• Midwest Academy of Indiana
• Montessori School of Westfield
• Morning Dove Therapeutic Riding Center
• NIFS Mini Marathon Training Program
• Orchard Park Elementary School
• People for Urban Progress
• PrimeLife Enrichment
• Slow Food Indy
• Smoky Row Elementary School (check spelling)
• Sycamore School
• Washington Woods Elementary School
• West Clay Elementary
• WFYI
• Women Walk of Hope (St. Vincent Foundation)
• Woodbrook Elementary School
• Various local wellness groups, scout troops & businesses through our free store tours

 To request a donation, please stop in the store, fill out a donation request form, pair that with your organizations 501(c)3 and any written information you have about the event. Turn in the completed application to a Customer Service Supervisor. As we receive numerous requests, we are unable to fulfill them all. If we are able to fulfill your request, we will get back to you. Please be aware that we require a minimum of 8 weeks to process all donation requests.

To propose a sponsorship or advertising opportunity, please send written information to:
Whole Foods Market
Sarah Smith, Marketing
14598 Clay Terrace Blvd., Carmel, IN 46032
If your proposal is something we can move forward on, I will get in touch with you.

Types of Giving Programs

General In-Kind Donations

At Whole Foods Market we are proud to support local nonprofit organizations and causes. The most common way is by donating gift baskets or food for special events. We are happy to help non-profit organizations in Indianapolis area who are holding special events by donating a gift basket/bag, food or beverages. If you are a non-profit organization in the local community, we might be able to help you! If your non-profit organization would like to request a donation, please come by the store to pick up our General In-Kind Donation Application. Having our applications only available in store ensures that we are supporting events/causes that our customers are passionate about. You can turn in completed applications at Customer Service. Please keep in mind that we require a minimum of 8 weeks to process all donation requests.

One Dime at a Time Fundraising Program

Whole Foods Market offers 10¢ per bag to customers who reuse their own bags. Customers can accept their refund, or direct the cashier to donate the cash to the store’s chosen non-profit – through the One Dime at a Time (ODAAT) program. This program reduces our impact on the environment & supports a local nonprofit. If your non-profit organization would like to apply to be an ODAAT partner, please come by the store to pick up our One Dime at a Time Application.

2011 One Dime at a Time Recipients

• January, February & March: School on Wheels
• April, May & June: Friends of Indianapolis Dogs Outside
• July, August & September: Jameson Camp
• October, November & December: Fountain of Mercy

2012 One Dime at a Time Recipients

• January, February & March: Art With A Heart 
• April, May & June: Daubenspeck Community Nature Park - Bring your own bags now to support!

Community Support Day

Community Support Days are just one of the many ways we give back to our community. On designated days throughout the year a total of 5% of the day’s sales are donated to a local non-profit organization. To be considered for this program, organizations must have a large support base that is easy to access and mobilize. If your non-profit organization would like to apply to be a Community Support Day partner, please come by the store to pick up a Community Support Day Application.

2011 Community Support Day Recipients

• Q1: January 12: Kids Tri for Kids raised $1,361.70
• Q2: April 6: Indiana Recycling Coalition raised $1,394.70
• Q3: June 15: Freewheelin’ Community Bikes raised $1,698.04
• Q4: September 14: People for Urban Progress raised $1,521.89

2012 Community Support Day Recipients

• Q1: January 11: Cancer Support Community raised $1,780.12
• Q2: April 4: Craine House raised $1,647.20

Secure The Call

Recycle those old cell phones – don’t put them out with the trash! Whole Foods Market 86th St. is pleased to be participating with “Secure the Call” and organization that takes old cell phones, refurbishes them by wiping out any information stored on them and then reprograms them to make 911 emergency calls. All phones are redistributed to community partners (women’s shelters, senior centers, school systems, and police and fire departments). You’ll find the collection bin located by the registers.

Donation Criteria

At Whole Foods Market we are proud to support local nonprofit organizations and causes. The most common way is by donating gift baskets or food for special events.

Each store keeps a monthly Donations Budget. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we regret we cannot grant every request. We evaluate applications based on the following guidelines:

1.Organization must be tax-exempt under code 501(c)3. A copy of the organization’s letter from the IRS stating exemption status must accompany the application. We are unable to accept a state tax-exempt form.

2.The application must be received at least eight weeks prior to the desired pick-up date for budgeting and promotional purposes. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. Please submit your application as early as possible.

3.Organization must fall under one of the categories Whole Foods Market supports:

·Environmental Preservation

·Preventative Health Care and Wellness

·Hunger Relief

·Organic Farming and Sustainable Food Resources

·Arts and Education

4.Organization must provide a written acknowledgement to Whole Foods Market within 30 days of receiving a donation, and include the following:

·The amount of cash and/or a description of any product contributed by Whole Foods Market.

·Goods or services given from the organization in consideration, in whole or in part, for any cash or other product contributed.

Please apply to the one store closest to your organization’s headquarters, chapter or event location. Please do not submit an application to multiple stores for consideration. Each approved organization is restricted to one donation per year; past support of an organization or event does not guarantee future support. We do not donate to individuals, individuals seeking pledges or multiple requests from the same organization.

Requests by phone, email or letter will not be considered until an official application is received. Having our applications only available in store ensures that we are supporting events/causes that our customers are passionate about. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we regret we cannot grant every request nor respond to all requests, but we will do our best.