In the Community

Grant Making Focus

As with our business transactions, we invest our corporate contributions wisely in order to be good stewards of our resources, to strengthen our communities, and to develop human talents. Preference is given to grant proposals that align with our strategic interests:

• Literacy & Education - K-12 Public Education & Literacy is our focus
  • Building blocks of education - developing the foundation to help build our communities from the ground up 
  • Drives and aligns with employee volunteerism and community goals 
  • Reaches greater % of employee base 
  • Better focus on end-game: critical life skill that enhances opportunity for economic self sufficiency    
  • Critical need in all of the communities we serve 
  • Help children & youth reach their full potential 
    
    
• Environmental Stewardship - Piedmont's Foundation will support organizations that help conserve, protect or sustain the environmental resources in our communities and states
  • Direct alignment with industry and company public policy goals 
  • Produce significant results in environmental quality:  conservation, public policy, research & education, & environmental management
    
    
• Assistance with Low-Income Energy Needs - Focus on low-income energy assistance needs in the communities we serve
  • Project HELP
  • Share the Warmth
    
    
• Development of Communities - Quality of Life Enhancement and Economic Development
  • Support of Federated Arts Campaigns and other organizations and entities that are not affiliated with the larger umbrellas organizationThe growth of our company is directly related to the economic growth of the communities we serve 
  • Support community development and revitalization efforts 
    
    
• Service to Neighbors
  • Support of the United Way Organizations in the communities we serve        
  • Support of Health & Human Services entities that are not affiliated with the United Way organizations in their communities 

Funding Limitations

Piedmont Natural Gas Foundation grants are limited to organizations, which are exempt from taxation under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. In addition, the Piedmont Natural Gas Foundation will not consider requests from the following types of organizations or for the following purposes:

• Types of Organizations NOT eligible for Funding: 
  • Religious 
  • Fraternal political, 
  • Athletic 
  • Private foundations 
  • Social or veterans organizations  
    
• Contributions will not generally be made to or for:
  • Individuals (including scholarships)        
  • Pre-college level private schools         
  • Travel and conferences        
  • Third-party professional fundraising organizations        
  • Controversial social causes         
  • Fraternal and veterans organizations or private clubs        
  • Religious organizations with programs limited to or expressly for their membership only         
  • Athletic events and programs        
  • Any proposals that falls outside the stated guidelines or the geographic area in which Piedmont Natural Gas does business.

The Foundation is prevented by federal law by making a grant to any cause from which the Company will receive any benefit such as tickets to fundraising events, memberships to museums, various sponsorship packages, etc., which can constitute self-dealing situations.