The John Deere Foundation announced in late March that it is committed to spending $ 200 million by 2030 on initiatives that will fulfill John Deere’s overarching goal of running to move life forward.
The funds will largely come from the John Deere Charitable Foundation, which began operations back in 1948 and has provided more than $ 340 million in grants since its inception.
Over the next 10 years, the Fund will invest in:
- $ 100 million for families and youth who live, work and study in John Deere’s home communities to ensure inclusive and equitable access to educational resources and opportunities critical to human dignity and self-reliance. An annual investment of $ 2 million in food banks will provide the equivalent of 100 million meals over the next decade, and investment in youth education will reach at least one million underserved and underrepresented young people.
- $ 50 million will go to farmers around the world to improve their ability to earn a living, feed the world’s growing population, reduce inequality and protect the world around us. Working with a range of global partners that serve smallholder and family farmers with limited resources, the Foundation will help 15 million farmers reach their enormous potential.
- $ 50 million in outstanding John Deere employees – his greatest asset – to further mobilize and develop their immense volunteer talents and generosity to strengthen their communities and improve lives around the world.
“The urgency of working today with a vision for a better future is at the heart of John Deere,” said John May, chairman and CEO of Deere & Company and chairman of the John Deere Foundation. “The Fund’s financial commitment is in line with this goal as we invest heavily in the people we serve to overcome the challenges they face today and create paths for themselves to a better tomorrow.”
“The Fund’s ten-year commitment is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Fund will track and report investments in line with the relevant targets and metrics,” said Nate Clark, President of the John Deere Foundation.
In the coming months, the Foundation will announce several key grants that will demonstrate how this commitment is being implemented, Clarke said.