Foundation grants and sponsorships

Through the RBC Foundation – USA and our strategic partnerships with charitable and non-profit organizations, we help the communities where we live and work thrive. Let’s make a positive impact together.

Foundation grants


Investing in our communities

The mission of RBC Foundation – USA is to improve the quality of life in the communities where we do business by supporting non-profit organizations that make a positive difference and promote diversity.

In 2023, RBC Foundation – USA awarded grants exceeding $2.8 million to non-profit organizations nationwide.

As a founding member of the Minnesota Keystone Program, Minneapolis-based RBC Wealth Management pledges a percentage of profits as charitable contributions each year.

Learn more about our areas of focus and how to apply.

Giving guidelines

For maximum impact, RBC Foundation – USA gives to the following areas:

Youth

Youth grants are focused on programs that prepare students for future success. We concentrate our giving on programs that fall within one of the following areas and target young people in their transitional years, specifically ages 15-29. (Private, charter or independent fee-based schools are not eligible for funding.)

  • Programs that provide work-integrated learning experiences, for example internships, apprenticeships, vocational training;
  • Programs that provide solutions to address the skills gap, including education opportunities and mentorships;
  • Programs that provide access and learning opportunities for:
    • Critical thinking
    • Complex problem solving
    • Social perceptiveness
    • Financial literacy
    • Information communication/technology/digital literacy
    • Teamwork and collaboration
    • Communication
    • Creativity and innovation
    • Adaptability
    • Persistence/grit

Arts and culture

RBC believes that the arts reflect our culture and enrich the quality of life in the communities where our employees and clients live. The Foundation’s emphasis is on two areas:

  • RBC Emerging Artists program
  • Programs providing arts access for diverse populations

The Emerging Artists program supports initiatives that help artists in their early years of development and that bridge the gap between their academic experiences to professional careers in the arts. Grants are intended to support programs and initiatives that:

  • Support artists who are at an early stage in their careers, have completed their basic training and have created a modest independent body of work
  • Are on-going and sustainable (i.e. not one-time events)
  • Educate and raise awareness about the importance of the arts
  • Provide emerging artists with the opportunity to demonstrate their talent publicly (performance or exhibition), and/or to provide a connection to professional contacts (agents, publishers, etc.)
  • Provide a structured curriculum of mentorship and training, typically for a period of three to six months, although shorter more intensive programming may be considered
  • Provide an opportunity for interaction between the professional staff, visiting artists and emerging artists; serving as a bridge between senior academic programs and the professional world
  • Engage the broader community in the art form, through free performances or programming to underserviced or rural communities

Health

Health grants are exclusively directed to the RBC Youth Mental Well-being Project, focusing on programs that are helping youth and families access the right care at the right time. We will consider requests for funding that support:

Navigation programs

Navigation programs help solve the issue of navigating an often complex and segregated array of mental well-being services. These programs help solve these issues by directly connecting youth and families with the services they need as efficiently as possible.

These programs are offered through a number of different access points, such as hospitals, community centers, schools and universities. The services may be delivered face-to-face and/or through technology solutions.

Technology-based solutions

In some parts of the country there are not enough mental well-being service providers to meet the demand in local communities. Technology is increasingly becoming the solution to these issues by increasing remote access to care. We are supporting programs that use technologies like email, apps, web-posting, and phone or live/video conferencing to help bridge the gap between supply and demand of mental well-being services. These programs can offer assessments, diagnosis and care that would otherwise be delayed or not available at all.

Other programs

We will also consider supporting other programs that increases access to mental well-being care if they are collaborative, have proven results and can demonstrate successful outcomes.

Human services

To foster economic independence and promote self-sufficiency, the Foundation focuses on:

  • Organizations providing emergency food, shelter and basic needs
  • Adult literacy and employment training programs

Contact us

If you have questions, contact our foundation grants administrator.

Phone
Emailfndapplications@rbc.com

Eligibility requirements

Before applying for a grant from the RBC Foundation – USA, make sure your request meets these requirements.

Organizations must have the following

  • Their 501(c)3 registered non-profit status for a minimum of three years
  • A minimum annual operating budget of $100,000
  • An established relationship with an RBC Wealth Management employee, preferably board involvement

Generally, we do not support

  • Capital and endowment campaigns
  • Multi-year commitments
  • Start-up organizations

The Foundation Grant Program does not fund

  • Charitable sponsorships (including golf tournaments)
  • Fundraising events (e.g. dinners, benefits or sporting events)
  • Athletic teams, including events or scholarships
  • Direct grants to individuals, including scholarships, travel and related expenses
  • Political organizations
  • Trade associations, advocacy organizations, chambers of commerce, fraternal organizations and professional organizations
  • Individual pursuits
  • Private (fee-based) elementary or secondary schools
  • Religious organizations, unless they are engaged in a significant project benefiting the entire community
  • Endowment or memorial campaigns
  • Advertising or promotional campaigns
  • Travel-related events, including student trips or tours
  • The creation or repair of statues, monuments, art works or beautification projects
  • The publication of books or movie productions
  • Private foundations
  • Capital campaigns
  • Academic, medical or scientific research
  • Non-501(c)(3) organizations
  • Organizations with values, purposes, policies or practices in conflict with RBC values
  • Organizations that may present a reputational risk to the firm
  • Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other legally protected status

Contact us

If you have questions, contact our foundation grants administrator.

Phone
Emailfndapplications@rbc.com

Applications and deadlines

RBC Foundation – USA offers grants to non-profit organizations in locations where RBC Wealth Management has a business presence and where our employees are actively involved.

Please review our giving guidelines and eligibility requirements before you select the appropriate application based on your location.

Outside the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area

Deadlines

  • Feb. 29, 2024
  • July 15, 2024

Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area

Deadlines

  • Jan. 31, 2024
  • July 1, 2024

Funding decisions on all grant applications will be communicated in approximately 90 days of the deadline date.

Contact us

If you have questions, contact our foundation grants administrator.

Phone
Emailfndapplications@rbc.com

Sponsorships


Enhancing communities through strategic partnerships

Through sponsorship opportunities, RBC Wealth Management enriches the communities we serve with charitable partnerships, including theatrical and musical performances, art exhibitions and strategic fundraising events. Corporate sponsorships complement the work we fund with grants from RBC Foundation – USA. Sponsorships are separate from foundation grants because they include non-charitable components, such as cultural, educational or entertainment benefits.

Sponsorship guidelines

RBC Wealth Management sponsorships typically meet the following guidelines:

  • At least 80 percent of event proceeds must benefit a qualified charitable organization or effort
  • Offer premier visibility and opportunity for client or employee entertainment
  • Align with our business or marketing objectives
  • Priority is given to organizations and events with which our employees are actively involved
  • Priority is given to organizations and programs that fit our three primary corporate funding focus areas: arts and culture, human services and youth education

All sponsorships are evaluated to make sure they meet outlined objectives and must be endorsed by an employee. Major sponsorships also require approval by management.

Sponsorship applications

To apply for a sponsorship, please visit our application website.