Costco Wholesale – Charitable Contributions

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Supporting Children, Education, and Health & Human Services

Costco Wholesale provides monetary charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations that support children, education, and health and human services. Giving is designed to strengthen communities and address unmet needs, with funding available through both local warehouse donations and corporate grant applications.

Organization: Costco Wholesale
Support Type: Monetary donations and grants (cash only)
Geographic Focus: United States and international markets where Costco does business

About the Funder

Costco Wholesale is a global membership warehouse retailer committed to responsible corporate citizenship. Through its Charitable Contributions Program, Costco supports nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of children and families and to strengthen educational and health-related services in communities around the world.

Funding Priorities

Costco considers funding requests from nonprofit organizations focused on:

Children & Youth
Education
Health & Human Services

Organizations may apply regardless of proximity to a Costco warehouse, as long as their work aligns with these focus areas.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Costco support, organizations must:

Be an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Focus on children, education, and/or health and human services
Submit monetary requests only (no in-kind requests)
Limit requests to one application per fiscal year (September–August)

Giving Options

Costco offers two primary pathways for charitable support:

Warehouse Donations

Intended for local organizations and local causes
Requests should be submitted directly to the nearest Costco warehouse
Review and decisions are handled at the warehouse level

Grant Applications

Intended for larger, broad-based organizations or programs
Requests are submitted through Costco’s online grant application
Applications are typically reviewed within 4–6 weeks

Funding Amounts

Grant sizes vary
Requests should generally not exceed 10% of the program’s total budget
New applicants are encouraged to submit conservative funding requests

Timeline & Review

Application Cycle: Rolling / year-round
Recommended Lead Time: At least 3 months prior to an event or program start date
Review Period:
- Warehouse donations: Varies by location
- Grant applications: Approximately 4–6 weeks

Applicants are typically notified by postcard, letter, phone call, or email.

Additional Notes

Incomplete applications will not be considered
Costco typically does not fund more than one request per organization per fiscal year
Costco does not seek public recognition for its contributions; organizations should coordinate with Costco before any public acknowledgment

Application / Learn More

Organizations should carefully review Costco’s Charitable Giving Guidelines and FAQs before applying.

➡️ Apply / Learn More:
https://www.costco.com/charitable-giving.html

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This program is well suited for organizations that:

Are established 501(c)(3) nonprofits
Focus on children, education, or health and human services
Are seeking cash support rather than in-kind donations
Can demonstrate clear community need and measurable outcomes

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Review Type: Rolling
Funding Type: Cash grants only
Fiscal Year Limit: One request per organization (Sept–Aug)
Best Suited For: Nonprofits with programs benefiting children, education, or health and human services