PG&E's Grantmaking Program

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The Charitable Contributions Program is closed for 2009. Check back here soon for information regarding our 2010 grantmaking program.

PG&E’s goal is to be the leading corporate citizen in the diverse communities we serve. In 2008, we donated $18.7 million to charitable organizations, representing 1.2 percent of pre-tax earnings from operations. In 2009, we expect to provide $19 million in charitable funding. As always, the company’s charitable contributions program will be funded entirely by shareholders and will have no impact on electricity or gas prices.

Funding Areas

We shall continue to emphasize our grantmaking in the area of Environmental and Energy Sustainability. Projects that we may fund include:

• Sustainable Communities: Includes projects that assist in green building efforts, energy efficiency programs, brownfields, and/or urban park projects
• Air: Includes projects that aim to reduce air pollution and/or increase clean air transportation options
• Natural Resources: Includes the protection, conservation and restoration of natural resources, habitats, and non-urban parks, and/or also includes tree planting and replanting efforts and fire area protection and restoration projects
• Climate Change and Renewable Energy: Includes projects that support climate change and/or renewable energy efforts
• Environmental Education: Includes projects whose main goals are to educate the public about environmental issues and/or are education-related projects in schools

We shall continue to provide funding at lower levels for projects in the Workforce Development and Emergency Preparedness fields.

General Requirements

1. Determine whether your organization and the funding you seek meets the requirements described in “Whom Do We Fund” (below). Review the list of grants made by PG&E in 2008 to assess whether your request fits into the types of grants we have made recently. A complete listing of those grants is available on this website.
2. Prior to applying for a grant, please contact the local PG&E Public Affairs representative in your project area to discuss your grant proposal (please see “Application Instructions” – Section 4 – to identify your representative). Unsolicited applications, and those from organizations who do not make a preliminary PG&E Public Affairs staff contact, are rarely funded.
3. PG&E uses GuideStar to determine the eligibility of nonprofit organizations and checks applicant information by using security lists generated by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
4. Organizations that have not yet received an IRS 501(c)(3) designation must identify a “fiscal agent” to receive the requested grant. The fiscal agent must actually apply for the grant and the PG&E grant application describes that application process.
5. All applicants must submit requests using the online grant application. PG&E will neither accept nor process grant proposals in any other format. Submit a completed application only. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Note: The PG&E Corporation Foundation and PG&E Corporation do not have separate grant application processes. Apply directly to Pacific Gas and Electric Company as described in these guidelines and application instructions.

Whom Do We Fund?

PG&E only makes grants to organizations that hold current tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or to units of government (including public schools). A very high percentage of PG&E’s grants are made to organizations solicited by PG&E. Unsolicited proposals are rarely funded.

PG&E does not make contributions to or for:

• Specific individuals
• Tickets for contests, raffles or other activities with prizes
• Religious organizations (unless the request is specifically for a program offered to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis and without regard to the recipient’s religious affiliation)
• Endowments
• Debt-reduction campaigns
• Political or partisan organizations or events

Successful Grantees

The most successful grant applications:

• Link a program to PG&E’s grant focus areas and provide an opportunity for employee volunteerism in the community;
• Address a demonstrated community need;
• Provide the grantee and PG&E with recognition in the community; and,
• Are organizations in PG&E’s service area (central and northern California).

While we prefer to make grants for specific programs, on occasion we do fund general operating expenses that ensure our community partners have flexibility in meeting the daily operational challenges they face.

Underserved Communities

Our goal is that 75 percent of our total grant-making dollars assist underserved communities. In general, this includes:

• Persons with low incomes
• People of color
• Senior citizens
• Persons with disabilities
• The LGBT community

Who Decides, For How Much, and When

Who Decides?

In general, we refer proposals for projects within a particular city or county to the local area’s PG&E Public Affairs representative, which is why we strongly encourage all applicants to communicate with a local PG&E Public Affairs staff representative prior to applying for grant funding. The Charitable Contributions Department based in our San Francisco headquarters decides on other grant requests with input from staff throughout the utility.

How Much?

The majority of our grants are in the $1,000 to $25,000 range. Most are under $15,000. We shall consider multi-year funding requests and reserve the right to review a grantee’s progress on an annual basis to determine whether a subsequent grant is appropriate.

Under certain circumstances, PG&E may contribute surplus property such as vehicles, furniture, real estate, or other miscellaneous items, as well as volunteer labor using company assets. The utility may also donate temporary use of real estate, such as meeting rooms. California law prohibits PG&E from donating or reducing the cost of gas and/or electric services.

When?

While our contributions program is funded throughout the calendar year, the deadline for applying to the program is October 2, 2009 and most grant requests are funded prior to September 30. We reserve the right, however, to consider requests at any time. Current grantees not receiving a multi-year grant must submit a new request for funding annually. Our goal is to respond to proposals within three months.

Non-Discrimination Practices and other Compliance Issues

Non-Discrimination Practices

PG&E will not fund organizations that, in their by-laws, policies, or practices, discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any basis prohibited by applicable law.

Charitable Purposes

Grants may be used only for charitable purposes, and must not be used to promote or oppose any candidate or ballot measure, to advocate any legislative or administrative action, or to personally benefit or compensate any elected official.

Legal Compliance

Applicants must be, and remain, in compliance with all federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations, including, if applicable, the California Nonprofit Integrity Act of 2004.

Patriot Act Compliance

Applicants and each of their grantees, if any, must be in full compliance with all statutes, Executive Orders, and regulations restricting or prohibiting U.S. persons from engaging in transactions and dealings with countries, entities, or individuals subject to economic sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. Applicants must be aware that a list of countries subject to such sanctions, a list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons subject to such sanctions, and overviews and guidelines for each such sanctions program can be found on the U.S. Department of Treasury website, and applicants must not promote or engage in violence, terrorism, bigotry, or the destruction of any state, or make grants or otherwise furnish support of any kind to any individual or entity that engages in such activities.