RALPHS FUND

Your spare change, combined with donations from our team members, is helping to make our communities stronger.

The Ralphs Fund is part of The Kroger Foundation, an independent 501(c) (3) charitable foundation. The Ralphs Fund is supported through contributions from Ralphs Grocery Company; our parent company, Kroger; our suppliers; team members and our customers.

The generosity of our customers and team members, helped the Ralphs Fund award more than $1 million in grants in 2008, helping reduce hunger, inspire youth, support women’s health initiatives and promote the advancement of people of color throughout Southern California.

Focus areas of the Ralphs Fund:

There are many good organizations and worthwhile causes: unfortunately, no company can support every single one. The Ralphs Fund gives grants to nonprofit programs that meet the following focus area:

      Hunger Relief          Women’s Health          Education          Diversity          Environment

      Grassroots Community Support & Disaster Relief

Hunger Relief: Grants support programs and organizations, such as food banks, pantries and Meals on Wheels, that strive to reduce hunger and improve nutritional services to all of the communities where Ralphs customers and team members live and work. We are also a key partner of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization.

Women’s Health: The Ralphs Fund focuses on women’s health – especially breast cancer – because of its impact both on women, the primary shoppers in our stores, and their family members. Grants support local chapters of the American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer foundation. The Ralphs Fund also supports local chapters of the American Heart Association.

Children/K-12 Education: The Ralphs Fund’s grants for education – primarily to K-12 programs – have provided books for libraries, funded technology centers in schools and supported science programs. They also assist local arts, music, sports and enrichment programs.

Diversity: Grants support organizations that advocate and support the advancement of women and people of color, including local chapters of the YMCA, NCCJ, Urban League and NAACP.

Environmental Sustainability: Grants are primarily focused on those areas, such as waste reduction, energy conservation and community clean-up projects, which are the biggest opportunities for us to make a difference. The Ralphs Fund provides grants to support tree-planting initiatives and park improvements projects.

Grassroots & Disaster Relief: Our commitment to being a Good Neighbor is the largest grant-making focus of the Ralphs Fund. These grants are recommended by our stores and address local needs. In times of emergency, the Ralphs Fund also provides grants to the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and other local disaster relief agencies.

Where does the money come from?

Making Your Change Count: It all begins when you drop your spare change in the donation canisters at the check stands. All that spare change adds up … to nearly $1 million a year! And the best part is that the money you donate stays in your community. In 2008, that meant more than $1 million in grants throughout Southern California.

Team Member Contributions: Thanks to the thousands of Ralphs Team Members who donate generously, most through payroll deductions, many community grants can be awarded. In 2008, Ralphs Team Members donated more than $500,000 to the Ralphs Fund.

The Kroger Co. Foundation: Our parent company, Kroger, also supports the communities we serve by donating more than $100,000 to the Ralphs Fund every year.

How does my organization apply for a grant from the Ralphs Fund?

To be eligible, your organization must be:
• A 501 ©(3) tax exempt nonprofit
• Located in Southern California
• Working in one of our focus areas

The Ralphs Fund does not make donations toward the following:
• Individuals
• Capital campaigns
• Travel expenses
• Projects of sectarian or religious organizations whose principal benefit is for their own members or adherents
• Organizations that discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, sexual orientation or national origin
• Third party giving (when an organization requests funds from Ralphs and then donates those funds to another organization)

If your organization meets the eligibility requirements above, please submit a written request on your organization’s letterhead along with a copy of the organization’s Tax ID ( 501© (3) ) letter of determination from the IRS. Requests should be mailed to:

Ralphs Fund
c/o Ralphs Community Relations
P.O. Box 54143
Los Angeles, CA 90054

Requests to the Ralphs Fund must arrive eight (8) weeks prior to the event date or date of need.

Requests must include:
• The organization’s 501© (3) tax ID number
• The organization’s address, main contact first and last name, phone number, fax number and email address.
• Be specific as to the amount of grant be requested, how the grant will be used, and who the grant will serve. Include any other pertinent information about the program for which funding is being requested.
• Include how the Ralphs Fund will be recognized should the grant be approved.
• Include any brochures, website addresses or attachments about the organization seeking funding.

Where does the money go?

Learn more about a few of the organizations the Ralphs Fund supports. These organizations strengthen and enhance our communities.