The Starbucks Foundation’s first Global Community Impact Grants focus on youth issues, diversity and inclusion
Part of an initiative to invest $30 million by 2030, The Starbucks Foundation’s first batch of funding will be given to more than 50 nonprofits, nominated by Starbucks international partners (employees) who are empowered to drive change locally.
The Starbucks Foundation, in partnership with licensee partners, is awarding $2 million to more than 50 local organizations in more than 30 international markets in its first-ever round of Global Community Impact Grants. Supporting youth empowerment emerged as the most common theme among recipients, followed by inclusion and diversity. This announcement comes on the heels of a pledge last month to invest $30 million by 2030 toward driving locally relevant impact in communities where Starbucks operates around the world.
“Since the beginning, Starbucks has been about more than coffee. We are a people company, driven by Our Mission to inspire and nurture the human spirit of all who touch Starbucks,” said Michael Conway, group president, International and Channel Development at Starbucks and board member of The Starbucks Foundation. “Our partners (employees) know their communities best, and we’re proud to work alongside our licensed business partners around the world to deepen our collective impact and invest in meaningful ways that will help people and communities thrive.”
Inaugural recipients are working in six cause areas that build on the Starbucks people-positive agenda, including:
- Empowering youth
- Promoting inclusion and diversity
- Combating hunger
- Advancing economic mobility and opportunity
- Providing critical human and social services
- Supporting local coffee, tea and cocoa origin communities
Deepening local impact on a global scale
While The Starbucks Foundation has been providing grants worldwide for more than 25 years, these Global Community Impact Grant recipients were nominated by licensees, which operate Starbucks stores in international markets. Recipients were nominated by licensee leaders in more than 30 markets across three regions – Asia Pacific, Europe Middle East & Africa, and Latin America & the Caribbean – and reflect causes meaningful to local communities.
To deepen impact, licensees also co-invest in the initiative by matching funds and leveraging other resources, from providing in-kind donations to encouraging Starbucks partners (employees) to volunteer their time.
Alsea, a licensee and operator of stores in Mexico and other countries, is passionate about ending hunger and empowering youth. Building on seven years of partnership with The Starbucks Foundation, Alsea Foundation will provide additional funding for grants this year to reach vulnerable young people in Mexico. “We have impacted more than 15,000 lives and we look forward to expanding our partnership, together,” said Ivonne Madrid, director of Alsea Foundation.
The recipients of the Global Community Impact Grants include a mix of longstanding nonprofit partners and charities that are collaborating with Starbucks partners for the first time.
Strengthening existing relationships, building new ones
In Indonesia, The Starbucks Foundation and PT. Sari Coffee Indonesia, which operates Starbucks stores in Indonesia, have worked with Prestasi Junior Indonesia since 2019 in support of teaching youth about entrepreneurship through experiential learning. In 2021, more than 450 volunteers were mobilized to conduct experiences with 1,250 students in six cities. Now one of the first recipients of a Global Community Impact Grant, Prestasi Junior Indonesia will continue to deepen impact through a creative youth entrepreneurship program that will support youth in gaining business skills and building their own micro-enterprises over the coming school year.
In Korea, the first Starbucks Community Store’s nonprofit partner is ChildFund Korea. Since 2015, Starbucks Coffee Korea (now SCK Company) has supported 71 students through the Starbucks Youth Leadership Program, offering academic scholarships, leadership and communication skills training and mentorship for primary school-aged children. Starbucks Korea also has a strong relationship with Junior Achievement Korea. Through the Build Success Skills program, more than 1,400 Starbucks partners have helped provide skills training to over 17,700 vocational school students.
The newest grants from The Starbucks Foundation will continue to support these initiatives that focus on helping young people access opportunities to participate in the economy.
In addition to The Starbucks Foundation funding, SCK Company is co-investing in academic scholarships, global experience opportunities and internships at the Korea support center.
In Ireland, Starbucks Coffee Company (Ireland) Ltd, operated by licensee EE Group, nominated Jigsaw, a local nonprofit that provides mental health support to youth. With the Global Community Impact Grant, Jigsaw will offer Jigsaw Connect, an integrated and holistic suite of services and support to young people experiencing mental health difficulties. Starbucks partners will engage as community ambassadors to encourage understanding, increase knowledge of Jigsaw’s services and foster collaboration.
Celine, a director for the licensee, said in her nomination letter that she learned about Jigsaw from a long time Starbucks partner whose young daughter was struggling with escalating anxiety. “As [her daughter] is visually impaired from albinism, she cannot recognize her school colleagues.,” Celine wrote. “They think she’s just rude rather than attributing this to a sight issue, they don’t understand the trauma she goes through daily. My heart broke for her…I asked [the Starbucks district manager] if she was getting any help – she said Jigsaw was the only charity who really listened to her daughter and [they] found the service invaluable.”
This insight inspired Celine to explore other ways partners can support young people across Ireland. In addition to receiving a Global Community Impact Grant, EE Group has committed to giving a minimum of $25,000 and is planning fundraising activities in the hope of raising an additional $50,000.
About The Starbucks Foundation
The Starbucks Foundation strengthens humanity by transforming lives across the world, with a focus on enabling community resiliency and prosperity and uplifting communities affected by disaster. Established in 1997, The Starbucks Foundation is a Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization under U.S. law. Learn more at sbux.co/foundation.
