MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wells Fargo today announced the company donated $19.1 million through 1,200 grants to local nonprofits, schools and community organizations in 2018 to help the communities and people of Florida.
Wells Fargo’s philanthropic contributions build on a long history of collaboration with local nonprofits and community leaders to make a positive impact by addressing urgent community issues such as affordable housing, small-business growth, access to education and sustainability.
When combined with the $1.8 million donated by the company’s Florida team members, nonprofits in the state received nearly $21 million from Wells Fargo and its team members in 2018. That amounts to an average daily donation of more than $57,000.
“Across our community, many residents are working hard to make ends meet. Here in Florida, we want to help people find a stable place to live, help small business owners expand, and help young people gain a quality education that prepares them for the workforce,” said Kate Wilson, Wells Fargo’s Florida Community Affairs manager. “We are determined to help people and communities, especially in underserved areas, succeed financially. We will continue to provide philanthropy, volunteers, expertise and other resources to revitalize and strengthen local neighborhoods.”
Beyond philanthropy, Wells Fargo team members in Florida volunteered nearly 91,000 hours in 2018 to support nonprofits and causes important to them.
“Part of what makes Wells Fargo unique is the generosity of our team members who help multiply our community impact,” continued Wilson. “Sometimes giving time is even more valuable than money, because it puts our desire to build a strong community into action and gives us a tangible way to personally make a difference.”
United Way Worldwide recently recognized Wells Fargo for having the No. 1 workplace giving campaign in the U.S. for the tenth consecutive year.
Making an impact in Florida
Wells Fargo concentrated its local philanthropic contributions on addressing urgent community issues such as:
- Affordable housing. To help increase affordable, stable housing and homeownership in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, Wells Fargo collaborated with grantees such as Habitat for Humanity, Florida Housing Coalition, Orlando Neighborhood Improvement Corporation and other Neighborworks America affiliates across the state to provide homebuyer education, down payment assistance and other affordable housing solutions.
- Small business growth. Small businesses are critical to job creation and a vibrant community. Many diverse-owned small businesses, especially those in rural and low- to moderate-income communities, face unique challenges and often lack access to the full spectrum of resources necessary for growth and success. Nonprofits serving small businesses — including ACCION, Black Business Investment Fund and Prospera — received grants to provide access to capital and training for entrepreneurs in rural and urban markets.
- Economic equity and inclusion. Support included grants to nonprofits that directly serve diverse and historically underserved groups, including initiatives focused on the development of women and diverse talent, education and vocational training and other solutions for communities with limited access to traditional financial services. For example, Wells Fargo collaborated with the United Negro College Fund and the Urban League.
- Access to education. Support included grants for local K-12 schools, scholarships for post-secondary or vocational training, and financial education, including Take Stock in Children, Teach for America and City Year.
- Minimizing the impacts of climate change. The company supported the work of nonprofits helping communities become more resilient in the face of a changing climate, including environmental education, resiliency planning, green infrastructure and bringing renewable energy to low-income communities. For example, Wells Fargo supported The Nature Conservancy, Audubon Florida and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science.
About Wells Fargo
Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,800 locations, more than 13,000 ATMs, and the internet (wellsfargo.com). Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. With approximately 259,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 26 on Fortune’s 2018 rankings of America’s largest corporations. In 2018, Wells Fargo donated more than $444 million to nearly 11,000 nonprofits in support of affordable housing, small business growth, financial education, and sustainability, among other community needs. For 10 consecutive years, Wells Fargo has held the honor of No. 1 in workplace giving by United Way Worldwide. Wells Fargo team members also make a difference by donating more than 2 million hours of volunteer time in the last year. News, insights and more information on the company’s corporate responsibility are available at Wells Fargo Stories.