Wal-Mart Foundation Revamps Its Giving

The Wal-Mart Foundation, in Bentonville, Ark., has announced plans to restructure its philanthropy, in part by giving more overseas and stepping up grants to groups that work across an entire state, reports the Financial Times.

The foundation has announced three grant-making priorities: education and training for people ages 12 to 30, environmental sustainability, and health care.

The foundation has typically made grants of a few hundred dollars to schools and local groups, but now it will award grants of at least $25,000 apiece to statewide projects. In addition, it has hired program officers to evaluate whether its grants are making a difference.

Last year, the Wal-Mart Foundation gave away more than $290-million in the United States.

For more on corporate giving, read The Chronicle’s annual survey on charitable giving at major corporations.

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