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 Indianapolis such as Mid-North Pantry and The Food Link. We have also been a proud participant and sponsor for many local environmental, health, animal welfare & family-centered events including:

• NIFS Mini Marathon Training Program
• Indy Wine Festival
• Journey's Fire events with Julia Butterfly Hill and Ocean Robbins
• Indiana Living Green's 'Greening Your Life' series of events
• Earth Day Indiana
• Indy Baby Expo's Green Day

Here is a partial list of local community organizations that we have partnered with in 2009:

• Alliance for Responsible Pet Ownership
• Autism Advocates of Indiana
• The CARE Group Reviving Hearts Program
• Central Indiana Dance Ensemble
• Crooked Creek Elementary School
• Eagle Creek Park (food for rescued animals)
• Earth Day Indiana
• Exotic Feline Rescue Center
• Friends of Holliday Park (Holliday Park Trail Run)
• From the Heart Rescue
• Holliday Park (food for rescued animals)
• Improving Kids' Environment
• Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Indianapolis Zoo
• Lion's Club Eye Bank
• National Institute for Fitness & Sport
• National Women's Forum
• Nora Elementary School
• Orchard Park Elementary School
• Park Tudor School
• Peace Learning Center
• School for the Blind
• Second Starts
• WFYI
• Various local women's groups & mom's groups
• Various local scout & brownie troops
• Various local schools and non-profits through our Scrip program
• and more!

Visit our Eighty-Sixth St. Store today to find out how we can contribute to your organization through one of our Giving Programs: Scrip, One Dime at a Time, Community Support Day or General In-Kind donation programs. All donation applications are available at the Customer Service desk.

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 at the Customer Service desk. 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 6 weeks to process all donation requests.

To propose a sponsorship or advertising opportunity, please send written information to:
Whole Foods Market
Sarah Smith, Marketing
1300 E. 86th St., Indianapolis, IN 46240
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 a Donation Application. Please keep in mind that we require a minimum of 6 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.

2009 One Dime at a Time Recipients

• January: Improving Kids' Environment raised $344.10
• February: Reviving Hearts Program raised $355.40
• March: Autism Advocates of Indiana raised $520.30
• April: Indiana Recycling Coalition raised $379.30
• May: The Julian Center raised $457.90
• June: Alliance for Responsible Pet Ownership raised $446.40
• July: Walk A Hound, Lose A Pound raised $409.40
• August: Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN's) Walk for Food Allergy raised $464.30
• September: Teachers' Treasures raised $503.70
• October: Young Survival Coalition of Central Indiana (Total coming soon!)
• November: Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana (Shop now to support MOW!)

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 net 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.

2009 Community Support Day Recipients

• Q1: January: Peace Learning Center raised $1,678.30
• Q2: June: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis raised $1,811.37
• Q3: August: United Way of Central Indiana's BackPack Attack raised $1,857.91
• Q4: September: Talk About Curing Autism raised $1,790.69

Scrip Fundraising Program

The Scrip fundraising program is a Gift Card Program where participating organizations purchase gift cards from Whole Foods Market for a discount of 5%. Then the organization sells them at face value and keeps the profit.

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 cafe near the exit door.

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. The recipient must be a 501c3 nonprofit organization. A copy of the 501c3 letter from the IRS must accompany the application in order for your request to be considered. This letter comes from the Treasury Dept. and is different from a state tax-exempt form.

 2. The application must be received at least six weeks before the 'pick up' date in order to be considered. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Because the Donations Budget is limited, early submission of your application is recommended.

 3. The organization must fall into one of the categories Whole Foods Market supports:

• Environmental Preservation
• Preventative Health Care and Wellness
• Hunger Relief
• Organic Farming/Sustainable Food Resources
• Arts and Education

 4. We do not donate to individuals, individuals seeking pledges, multiple requests from the same organization or organizations and/or causes outside of the (store) area. Past support of an organization or an event is not a guarantee of future support.

Please attach any relevant literature. Requests by phone are not accepted. Submit this form to the one store location closest to the community that your organization serves. Please do NOT turn in a donation request to multiple stores for consideration.

Each approved organization is restricted to one donation per year.

Please note: All donees must provide a written acknowledgement/receipt to Whole Foods Market within 30 days of receiving a donation, to include the following:

• The amount of and/or a description of any product/donation Whole Foods Market contributed.
• Whether the donee organization provided any goods or services in consideration, in whole or in part, for any cash or other product contributed.