Print This PageCorporate Giving
Monsanto Canada’s Corporate Giving Program regularly seeks out opportunities to support organizations or programs with a direct connection to agriculture and rural communities. Annually, between $200,000 and $300,000 in corporate support is provided to groups or projects with a focus in one or more of four key areas:
- Science and Agriculture Education
- Agricultural Awareness
- Leadership and Development Programs for Rural Youth
- Farm Safety
An additional $200,000 in corporate support is dedicated to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank Community Growing Project program and Monsanto Canada’s Opportunity Scholarship Program, which provides $1,500 entrance scholarships each fall to eligible first-year university students pursuing a degree or diploma in agriculture or forestry.
Some of the programs/groups that have benefited from Monsanto corporate support are:
- Ag in the Classroom
- Canadian 4-H Council
- Manitoba 4-H
- Saskatchewan 4-H Foundation
- MB Farmers with Disabilities
- Biotrek
- Outstanding Young Farmer Program
- The Grain Academy
- Ducks Unlimited
- The Living Classroom Program
- University of Guelph
- Prairie Youth Leadership Program
- Sask Institute of Applied Science and Technology
- Saskatchewan Abilities Council
If your organization’s mandate falls within Monsanto Canada’s four core focus areas, please submit a proposal outlining your organization, its mandate, your project and your request for monetary support and send to:
Monsanto Canada’s Corporate Giving Program
900-One Research Road
Winnipeg, MB R3T 6E3
Attn: Trish Jordan
The Monsanto Fund
Monsanto Canada also has access to corporate giving support provided by the larger Monsanto Fund. Established in 1964, the Monsanto Fund is Monsanto Company’s philanthropic arm. It aims to bridge the gap between people’s needs and their available resources. The following Canadian-based charitable groups or programs have been successful in recent years in securing Monsanto Fund Grants:
Science Alberta Foundation – The Science Alberta Foundation (SAF) was formed in 1989 to address the issue of poor science literacy by improving the quality of elementary science education. SAF aims to support this cause by providing elementary teachers with innovative teaching materials. The Monsanto Fund provided Science Alberta Foundation with a USD$40,000 grant for its "Science in a Crate" program in June 2004. The grant supports a series of 11 crates titled "Down Under: Discover Crawly Critters." An additional four crates are supported through Monsanto Canada’s corporate giving program. Each crate contains seven activities that help children learn about soil, insects and soil organisms. The activities also help children learn about the importance of healthy soil for agriculture. The crates are made available to schools and service clubs for teaching second- and third-graders about science.
Habitat for Humanity, Winnipeg – The mission of Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to eliminating poverty housing by building safe, decent and affordable homes for hardworking, low-income people. Worldwide, Habitat for Humanity spans over 100 countries and is responsible for placing over 160,000 families into new homes. The Monsanto Fund provided a grant of USD$60,000 in June 2005 to allow Monsanto Canada employees to construct a house for a needy family in Winnipeg. More than 60 Monsanto employees donated a week of their time to frame walls, hammer nails and feed crews during Habitat’s “Blitz Build” in the summer of 2005.
The Agricultural Biotechnology Enrichment (ABE) Program – The ABE program developed by Pembina Trails School Division in Winnipeg, MB was introduced to high school science students in 2001 and had previously received funding through Monsanto Canada’s corporate giving program. The ABE program works with high school teachers and students to introduce new and authentic science concepts being applied in medical and agricultural research to high school science students and expose them to the exciting, research, science and career opportunities in the field of biotechnology. The ABE program received a USD$150,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund in June 2006.
The University of Saskatchewan’s “Experience Science in Agriculture” – The Experience Science in Agriculture program builds on the past successes of University of Saskatchewan programs focused on increasing agricultural awareness and agricultural education. The Experience Science in Agriculture program presents agriculture as a vital, exciting and dynamic industry to the leaders of tomorrow. It has a particular focus on technology and the field of science and seeks to position agriculture as a choice for students that will provide them with a challenging, exciting, high-tech and rewarding career. The program also engages science educators and better equips today’s science teachers to teach agricultural and science-related concepts in the classroom. The University of Saskatchewan, Experience Science in Agriculture program received a USD$150,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund in June 2006.
Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre – The Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre located just outside of Winnipeg, Manitoba received a Monsanto Fund Grant in 2007 to ensure its popular travelling wetland education program - the Watershed EcoVan Program - could continue to be delivered to communities in Manitoba, Northwest Ontario, Eastern Saskatchewan and Alberta. The Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre, a joint venture of Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Province of Manitoba, fosters public awareness and knowledge of the inherent values of wetlands and their associated ecosystems and encourages support for their conservation through innovative education and outreach programs. The Watershed Ecovan Program is a travelling education program that builds broad environmental awareness through community education and participation. For 11 years, the Interpretive Centre's outreach programs have helped schools, day cares, youth groups and senior centres learn about the role of wetlands in keeping watersheds clean; creating environmental awareness among communities at large. Monsanto's support of $170,000 USD funds the Watershed EcoVan Program for two years, expanding access to those schools and communities that have not previously had access to the Interpretive Centre's wetland education programs.
Biotrek – Biotrek is a is a unique, week-long summer biotechnology program for selected high school students across Canada. The program gives students the hands-on opportunity to perform challenging biotech experiments with advanced equipment seldom seen in regular classrooms. It also helps Canadian youth become more aware of the impact biotech has on their lives and encourages them to consider a future with Canada's biotech sector. The Biotrek program - established in 1999 by Dr. Sheppy Coodin, a science teacher from Winnipeg – has quickly grown to include several major centres from coast to coast. Through the assistance of a Monsanto Fund Grant of $109,000 USD awarded in 2007, BioTrek has been able to increase the number of students participating in its summer biotechnology adventure and expand the summer camp program to four new Canadian cities. The Monsanto Fund Grant also helped Biotrek purchase much-needed biotech equipment and lab supplies; and help cover expenses associated with program development and delivery.
