Corporate Responsibility: Charitable Giving
Giving back to the community is a part of our corporate culture and a direct extension of our core value of integrity.
The Principal® and the Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. have embraced corporate responsibility by making philanthropic investments in the communities where our employees work and live.
The Principal Riverwalk
Our signature project currently under construction is The Principal Riverwalk; a $70 million dollar project revitalizing the downtown Des Moines riverfront.
Community Grants Program
Since 2000 nearly $90 million in financial support has been awarded to organizations focused in the following areas:
Geographic Focus
Grants are available in the communities where we have a significant employee presence. These communities include:
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Appleton, Wis.
- Cedar Falls, Iowa
- Grand Island, Neb.
- Mason City, Iowa
- Ottumwa, Iowa
- Spokane, Wash.
- Wilmington, Del.
Grant Types
Grants may be awarded in the following areas:
- Program Support
- General Operating Support
- Capital Support
- Considered mainly in Des Moines, Iowa, and awarded on a limited, case by case basis.
- Capital support is considered independent of general operating support and program support.
Giving Focus
Organizations should apply for funding in the grant category that most closely aligns with the mission of its organization, versus the specific focus of its program or project.
- Health-related contributions focus on organizations that provide:
- Access to primary and preventative health services to medically underserved populations. Special preference is given to programs targeting care for the elderly.
- Programs that focus on wellness.
- Public health outreach programs.
- Programs that facilitate disease and disorder prevention/awareness and education.
- Substance abuse prevention and treatment programs.
- Human service contributions focus on organizations and services that:
- Support community initiatives to strengthen families by building positive social networks.
- Assist families in their efforts toward self-sufficiency and financial independence. This includes financial literacy, affordable housing, and workforce preparedness programs. Special preference is giving to programs focused on financial literacy.
- Promote physical and social independence for older adults.
- Support youth development through mentoring programs, school readiness, and healthy baby initiatives.
- Our contributions in education focus on:
- Providing access to higher education for diverse populations of students.
- Promoting areas of study important to the business objectives of the Principal
Financial Group. These areas include, but are not limited to:
- Actuarial Science
- Business
- Information Technology
- Accounting
- Finance
- Rewarding high performing students.
- Our contributions in arts and culture focus on promoting the arts as a key component of viable communities.
- Special consideration is given to programs that celebrate cultural diversity and make the arts more accessible to all audiences.
Civic, Community, & Environment
- Organizations and programs funded through this focus area include quality-of-life attractions, civic betterment programs that promote the vitality of communities, and organizations that work to protect and enhance the environment.
Application Deadlines
Grant application deadlines are based an organization's location and area of focus. Application deadlines refer to the received by date, not the postmark date. Deadlines are applicable in all cases, even if a deadline falls on a weekend or a holiday.
Outside of Des Moines, Iowa
- Applies to Cedar Falls, Iowa, Mason City, Iowa, Ottumwa, Iowa, Wilmington, Del., Grand Island, Neb., Spokane, Wash., and Appleton, Wis.
- Includes Heath & Human Services, Education, Arts & Culture and Civic, Community & Environment
- Application Deadline: Must be received by June 1
Des Moines, Iowa
- Health & Human Services
- Application Deadline: Must be received by March 1
- Education
- Application Deadline: Must be received by June 1
- Arts & Culture
- Application Deadline: Must be received by September 1
- Civic, Community & Environment
- Application Deadline: Must be received by December 1
Ineligible Requests
Each grant request is carefully evaluated to determine general eligibility and compliance with our guidelines and available funds. Awards are generally not made to the following:
- Athletes or athletic organizations
- Capital fund drives for hospitals or health care facilities
- Conference or seminar attendance
- Courtesy or goodwill advertising in benefit publications
- Endowments or memorials
- Fellowships
- Fraternal organizations (police, fire associations, Greek letter societies)
- Individual K-12 schools, except those where The Principal is the official business partner
- Individuals
- Political parties, campaigns or candidates, partisan political organizations
- Private foundations
- Retirement communities or nursing homes
- Sectarian, religious and denominational organizations, except for specific programs that are broadly promoted, available to anyone, and free from religious orientation
- Social organizations
Additional Considerations
- Only one grant request will be accepted per organization per calendar year for general operating support or program support. Requests for capital support are considered independent of annual support and require a separate application.
- Organizations who have previously received funding must submit the grant evaluation form to be considered for future funding.
- Notice of award decisions will be made by letter to organizations within eight to ten weeks after the application deadline.
Ready to apply?
Find out how to apply for a grant and where to send your application.
