Northwestern Mutual Foundation 

Fun Center Program Kicks Off in Arizona

Northwestern Mutual, through its foundation, is donating 10 Starlight Children’s Foundation Fun Centers™ to seven children’s hospitals in several U.S. cities, as part of a multi-year commitment to support families fighting childhood cancer.

Starlight Fun Centers are mobile entertainment units that easily roll up to a hospital bed so children can play video games and watch movies. Whether nervously awaiting surgery, enduring treatment, or sitting in their hospital room, Fun Centers help children cope by providing endless hours of fun and distraction.

The donations and dedication ceremonies kicked off at Banner Thunderbird Children’s Medical Center in Glendale, AZ, on Nov. 13. “I am excited to help deliver these entertaining Fun Centers to families fighting childhood cancer,” said Ben Miller, managing partner of Northwestern Mutual - Southwest. “Our goal is to strengthen families who are fighting cancer by alleviating some of the stress accompanying their experience.”

Additional Fun Center donations are scheduled up through early December for Milwaukee, Phoenix, Tucson, Miami and Albuquerque

Additional $100,000 Donated to Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy Recovery

The devastation left behind by Hurricane Sandy has prompted Northwestern Mutual to increase its giving to the American Red Cross’ disaster recovery effort. Northwestern Mutual through its Foundation, announced a $100,000 grant to the American Red Cross – and is challenging its 5,000 employees and 18,000 members of its network offices to match the gift dollar-for-dollar by donating through its Red Cross website.

The charitable donation builds upon a two-year $500,000 Northwestern Mutual Foundation grant announced in July to strengthen the American Red Cross' Disaster Responder Program.

Northwestern Mutual is also urging its employees to participate in the company’s upcoming blood drives, helping to stem shortfalls caused by the storm-related cancelation of 100 planned American Red Cross blood drives across the Mid-Atlantic U.S.

Childhood Cancer Program

Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children 15 years old and younger in the U.S.; yet childhood cancer research and support services are vastly and consistently underfunded. This disease takes an enormous physical and emotional toll on children and families. It can also create severe financial hardships due to medical costs and lost wages – as parents take time off from work to care for children. Families facing childhood cancer want and deserve strong and secure futures.

Our Mission

Our national signature philanthropy program demonstrates our dedication to accelerate the search for a cure to childhood cancer and to provide support to the families facing the daily struggles of this disease.

This multi-year commitment will harness the passion and spirit of thousands of our employees and financial representatives; their families, friends and clients; and the Northwestern Mutual Foundation to provide help for today and hope for tomorrow.

Watch this video to learn more about our Childhood Cancer Program.

Our Partners

To help us make a significant and lasting impact, we’ve teamed up with two national nonprofit organizations with proven results: Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and Starlight Children’s Foundation. These nonprofits will be able to best allocate funds to support our cause and to provide expertise and programming that will help us meet our goals.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation funds research into new treatments and cures for childhood cancer and also provides funds to support families who need to travel to and stay near treatment centers far from home.

Starlight Children’s Foundation improves the quality of life for chronically ill children, including those with cancer, through programming that helps kids cope both in and out of the hospital.

Our Commitment

To kick off this program we’ve donated nearly $500,000 in grants to our nonprofit partners.

Additional funds raised through the program will support Northwestern Mutual’s Childhood Cancer Research Fund and the Family Travel Fund. The Research Fund provides grants to support a wide range of critical research, and the Family Travel Fund will assist families facing the enormous financial costs of traveling – including airfare, gas and lodging – to help their children receive life-saving treatments away from home.

In early 2013, we will work with Starlight Children’s Foundation to place Fun Centers, mobile entertainment centers, in hospitals across the country and to hold Great Escapes events where children with cancer and their families can enjoy relaxing and fun-filled activities away from the hospital.

Developing Our Local Community

Northwestern Mutual, through its Foundation, focuses on programs in Milwaukee, its hometown, that deliver improved outcomes for academic success and for supporting our community in Milwaukee to enhance quality of life and targeted local neighborhoods.

An overview of the programs supported by Northwestern Mutual’s Milwaukee Giving philanthropy focus area is below. For application process deadlines and a full list of requirements, please refer to the Application Process page.

Academic Success

Through its Foundation, Northwestern Mutual is committed to improving the academic success of underserved children in Milwaukee by ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed and stay in school. The company supports programs that promote academic results and student inspiration.

The measurable outcomes we intend to achieve include: increased high school graduation rates, standardized test scores and student attendance; reduced truancy; increased positive behaviors.

Academic Results

• Early Childhood Education (October 15, 2012 deadline)
  When $1 is invested in early childhood education, studies indicate that it can result in a return of up to $17 on that investment, creating learning opportunities for kids that last a lifetime. Children learn best in nurturing relationships and through every day experiences. These essential connections, oftentimes made through childcare settings, facilitate future learning and academic success. The quality of early experiences is essential for later school success.
  
  
• Literacy Programs (October 15, 2012 deadline)
  Third grade reading proficiency is vital for student achievement. In Milwaukee, about 50 percent of third graders are proficient or advanced in reading according to Wisconsin Knowledge Concepts Examination tests. Northwestern Mutual, through its Foundation, hopes to increase these achievement rates by supporting programs that provide outcome-based and accessible reading programs for students in Milwaukee.
  
  
• Higher Education (September 15, 2012 deadline)
  Raising the number of college graduates in the Milwaukee area will help drive economic prosperity in our community. Students of color face additional challenges and this support is intended to reduce financial pressures that could prevent them from success. Scholarship assistance for bridge programs, traditional college and vocational studies will be considered.

Learn more about academic results.

Student Inspiration

• Arts Education (March 15, 2013 deadline)
  Arts programming levels the playing field for at-risk students in the city of Milwaukee through providing creative, engaging and thought-provoking opportunities in a school curriculum.
  
  
• Mentoring (March 15, 2013 deadline)
  Programming that nurtures one-on-one educational relationships with at-risk students and professional adults, parents and/or peers helps to inspire children to avoid high-risk behaviors and overcome obstacles that may limit academic success.

Learn more about student inspiration.

Supporting Our Community

Northwestern Mutual Foundation, along with employees of the company, strives to be lead funders of the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and the United Performing Arts Fund.

• Milwaukee as a Destination (November 15, 2012 deadline, by invitation only)
  Cultural attractions and annual events in Greater Milwaukee that help make the city a destination point and a desirable place where employees want to live, work and play.
  
  Learn more about Milwaukee as a destination.
  
  
• Building Neighborhood Capacity (February 15, 2013 deadline)
  Northwestern Mutual Foundation intends on supporting capacity building efforts in targeted Milwaukee neighborhoods in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Building Neighborhood Capacity Program. Priority will be given to those institutions that provide holistic solutions on behalf of children and families to provide welcoming, safe and healthy neighborhoods with access to quality education in three Milwaukee neighborhoods: Metcalfe Park, Muskego Way and Amani. Applications to support work in Metcalfe Park and Muskego Way will be accepted on February 15, 2013. Applications for the Amani neighborhood will be taken by invitation only.
  
  Learn more about building neighborhood capacity.

Volunteers for Home Town America

Annually more than 1,000 Northwestern Mutual employees donate nearly 30,000 hours to community volunteer efforts through group activities, mentoring, charity drives, and service on nonprofit boards.

In addition, our financial representatives and staff volunteer thousands of hours in their local communities across our country.

Together, we’re committed to building better foundations for the lives of children in need and better communities in which they live and grow. Here are some of the ways Northwestern Mutual, via our Foundation, recognizes and supports our employees and financial representatives’ community service:

Our Community Impact Award recognizes volunteers from our field offices who collectively join forces to make a difference. The Foundation awards a total of $200,000 donated each year to nonprofits on behalf of the winners.

This year’s Community Impact Award recipients included:

• Special Olympics New Jersey – The Savino Financial Group, Princeton, N.J.
• Young Men’s Educational Network – The McTigue Financial Group, Chicago, IL.
• TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation – The Texas Financial Group, Dallas, TX.
• The Ben and Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment – Northwestern Mutual – Puget Sound, Seattle, WA.

The Community Service Award recognizes 26 individuals from our field for their volunteer commitment. More than $3.5 million has been donated to nonprofits around the country since the award's inception in 1995.

• This year’s Most Exceptional Volunteer, John Folkert, CLU, was recognized with a grant for $25,000 for his work with the Lone Survivor Foundation.

Mutual Friends brings together employees, retirees, family members and friends to lend a helping hand to community projects.

• Recently, a "Million Minutes" of service were donated by our employees in Milwaukee, WI to nonprofits throughout the city, including the time to build an entire playground at a Boys and Girls Club Camp – in just one day.

Our Volunteer Support Program recognizes employees who volunteer 40+ hours a year through a $500 donation to a local nonprofit.

During Days of Sharing, the Foundation commits $100,000 to 25 nonprofit organizations nominated by employees. Grants are given annually in the name of the employee winners.

Matching Gifts supports quality educational institutions by matching dollar-for-dollar contributions made by our field force and employees. Since 1995, the foundation has matched $40 million in support of well over 30,000 accredited schools across the country.

Our Disaster Relief Program supports rescue, recovery and rebuilding efforts following a natural disaster through a $500,000 grant to the American Red Cross.

Application Process

We require all applications to be submitted online. The application process includes an eligibility questionnaire to help determine if an organization fits our current areas of giving.  Your organization needs to meet the criteria in order to be considered for these Milwaukee-focused funding opportunities.

There are no open national deadlines for Northwestern Mutual’s Childhood Cancer Program.

Fiscal year 2013 began July 1, 2012 and continues through June 30, 2013.

The grant application focus area and grant application deadlines for this year are:

Academic Results:

Student Inspiration:

Supporting Our Community:

Table or event sponsorship requests can be submitted at any time, at least 60 days prior to the event date.

Submit a new application for charitable contribution or grant.
Submit a new application for table or event sponsorships.

Access your account to do any of the following:

• Return to an application you have saved but not submitted
• Access record of your previous submissions
• Access requirement forms
• Contact us with any questions

To learn more about Northwestern Mutual Foundation's online application process, including how to create an account, please download FAQs.

What We Fund

To be eligible for funding, an organization is required:

• To be a qualified 501(c)(3) organization with a valid IRS tax ID number.
• To be a U.S.-based organization.
• To include the following attachments:
  • List of officers and directors
  • Audited financial statements
  • Program/project budget
  • List of funding sources
  • IRS 501(c)(3) letter of determination
  • Financial template
  • Current annual report (or link)

What We Don’t Fund

We do not fund:

• Organizations that are not tax-exempt under paragraph 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service code.
• Individuals for any purpose.
• Nonprofit organizations located outside of the U.S. or that primarily serve clients located outside of the U.S.
• Organizations seeking funding prior to our 90-day review process.
• Grants that would represent more than 10% of a nonprofit organization’s annual operating budget.
• Endowment, debt-reduction or debt-retirement campaigns.
• Capital campaigns unless invited to apply by Foundation leadership.
• Groups or organizations that will re-grant Foundation support to other organizations or individuals (except for those approved on an exception only basis).
• Schools or community athletic events or teams, bands or choirs (including requests for equipment, uniforms, travel and any requests for in-kind donations to support special events).
• Labor, religious or fraternal groups that do not provide services to the community at large.

Missed Deadlines

The Foundation’s grant application deadlines align with our focus areas of giving. If a deadline is missed, an organization will have to wait until the next opportunity to submit an application for that focus area. Applications may be submitted up to 30 days before the focus area deadline, and grants are typically announced three to four months after the deadline closes.