Community Giving

Supporting our Community

Caring about our community is one of the Core Values at Whole Foods Market. In keeping with this philosophy it is our practice to make contributions to fund raising events held by local non-profit groups. We also invite our customers to join with us in supporting our community by participating in our "Community Spotlight" and our "5% Days".

Community Spotlight at Whole Foods Market Chapel Hill
Each month we provide an opportunity for a different area organization to "spotlight" their services to the community on a designated bulletin board and at each register. Selections are made before year's end for all Community Spotlight organizations for the upcoming year. Each group receives the donations collected at the registers for the entire month. We encourage Spotlight groups to send representatives to the store during the month to share information directly with interested customers.

Community 5% Days
On designated days throughout the year a total of 5% of the day's net sales are donated to local non-profit organizations. Customers help support our selected organizations just by shopping on these 5% Days.

Download our 5% Day Application or pick one up at our Customer Service Desk. Application deadline is the end of September. Selections are made before year's end for all 5% Day organizations for the upcoming year.

Community Spotlight Organizations and 5% Recipients

• Volunteers & Partners for Education (VPE)
  VPE mobilizes the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community to volunteer and support educational projects including the School Reading Partners and the newly implemented Spanish School Reading Partners.
• Club Nova
  Club Nova was founded to address the needs of Orange County citizens living with mental illness by providing a holistic, caring environment designed to promote rehabilitation and reintegration into the community. Following the successful Clubhouse Model pioneered by Fountain House in New York City, Club Nova focuses on members' strengths and potential rather than illness. Club Nova provides a sense of belonging, acceptance, friendships, and repeated opportunities to its members. Services provided by Club Nova include: a range of employment opportunities, access to housing, supported education, evening and weekend social/recreation programs, community support services (case management), affordable meals, clothing and household goods at Club Nova Thrift Shop. The 5% day at Whole Foods Market benefited Club Nova's construction of a wheelchair lift on the back of their building. The lift will provide equal access for all Club Nova members, many who live with physical disabilities.
• Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA
  The YMCA Strong Kids Campaign helps families and individuals participate in YMCA programs.
• Students United for a Responsible Global Environment (SURGE)
  The Blue Bikes campaign will provide low-cost, reliable alternative transportation options for Chapel Hill and Carrboro residents and visitors.
• North Carolina Botanical Garden
  The North Carolina Botanical Garden includes the main garden, Coker Arboetum, Battle Park, Coker Pinetum, Mason Farm Biological Reserve and hundreds of additional acres of land held by the State of North Carolina for preservation.
• Triangle Family Services
  Established in 1937 Triangle Family Services provides individual and family counseling for adults and children, emergency and housing assistance, financial/budget counseling and family violence intervention services.
• Latino Community Development Center (LCDC)/Latino Community Credit Union (LCCU)
  The LCDC and LCCU provide financial education and access to financial services for low-income and un-banked individuals and immigrants in North Carolina.
• New Life Mobility Assistance Dogs
  Founded in 1997, New Life Mobility Assistance Dogs, rescues and trains shelter dogs to assist the disabled.
• The Scrap Exchange
  The Scrap Exchange is a creative reuse center dedicated to collecting and distributing industrial discards.
• Center for Women's Health Research
  The Center for Women's Health Research compiles the North Carolina Women's Report Card.
• Inter-Faith Council for Social Services (IFC)
  IFC provides emergency shelter, transitional housing.

Event Specific Donations to Community Non-profit Organizations
Your organization can request support for local events. Five weeks advanced notice is needed.
Download our Donation Request Form

Store Tours, In-store Events and Courses
Throughout the year we welcome schools and community groups into our store for special tours, meetings and fun samplings or food and drink. Please contact Christine Parton for information and scheduling.

SCRIP Program at Whole Foods Market Chapel Hill
SCRIP is a method of fund-raising for schools, preschools and non-profit educational programs. By purchasing SCRIP for your program at a 5% savings, then selling the SCRIP at full price; your program earns the 5% profit on the amount purchased and subsequently sold to program participants. SCRIP is offered in $20 increments only, and there is no limit on the number of SCRIP purchases made by a program during the year.
Download our Scrip Application

Here is how you get started:

• Complete an application for your program, including your 501(c)(3) letter (applications available at the Customer Service Desk)
• Place an order for a specific dollar amount of SCRIP by Monday at noon
• SCRIP is available for pick up every Thursday by noon.
• Payment is made at the time of pickup for the gross amount minus 5%
• Your program representative distributes SCRIP to participants
• SCRIP may be redeemed only at the Whole Foods Market Chapel Hill store