McCormick & Company – Corporate Charitable Donations Program
Corporate Charitable Contributions Supporting Education, Health, the Environment, and Arts & Culture
McCormick & Company provides charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations working to improve quality of life in communities where the company operates, its employees live and work, and its ingredients are sourced. Through its Corporate Charitable Donations Committee, McCormick supports initiatives in education, health and wellness, environmental protection, and arts and culture.
Requests are accepted on an ongoing basis and reviewed regularly. Priority is given to organizations with meaningful connections to McCormick employees, including employee volunteer participation or representation on nonprofit boards and leadership teams.
Organization: McCormick & Company, Inc.
Support Type: Corporate charitable contributions
Geographic Focus: United States, with priority for McCormick operating and employee communities in California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, and Texas
About the Funder
McCormick & Company is a global manufacturer of spices, seasonings, flavorings, and other food products, headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland.
The company’s charitable giving reflects its commitment to improving quality of life in the communities connected to its operations, workforce, and sourcing activities.
Corporate contributions are overseen by McCormick’s Charitable Donations Committee (CDC), whose members are appointed by the company’s management committee. The CDC evaluates requests according to established corporate giving guidelines and makes recommendations for charitable support.
What This Program Supports
McCormick focuses its charitable involvement on four principal areas.
Education
McCormick supports educational initiatives involving:
- Higher education institutions and programs
- Elementary and secondary school programs that prepare students for the workplace
- Educational programs serving students with special needs
- Programs designed to meet the needs of diverse communities
General elementary and secondary school requests are not eligible unless they meet the company’s specified educational priorities.
Health & Wellness
Organizations and programs working to improve health, wellness, and quality of life may be considered for charitable contributions.
McCormick does not publish a more detailed list of eligible health and wellness activities.
Environment & Habitat
McCormick supports charitable initiatives focused on environmental protection, habitat, and related community environmental priorities.
Culture & the Arts
Programs that strengthen cultural life and expand access to arts and cultural activities may align with McCormick’s giving priorities.
Eligible Support Types
Corporate Charitable Contributions
McCormick provides company-funded charitable contributions to qualifying nonprofit organizations.
Requests may support eligible charitable programs, projects, or organizational activities aligned with the company’s giving guidelines.
The company does not publish standard contribution amounts or specify whether general operating support is routinely available.
Multiyear Requests
McCormick’s application guidelines acknowledge multiyear requests and identify additional documentation requirements for them.
However, the company does not guarantee multiyear commitments.
Eligibility & Preferences
To qualify for consideration, an organization must:
- Be a nonprofit organization
- Be organized and operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary, educational, humanitarian, or animal welfare purposes
- Be supported wholly or partly by charitable contributions
- Hold IRS tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4)
- Comply with McCormick’s nondiscrimination policy
Priority Consideration
McCormick gives priority to organizations that:
- Operate in communities where McCormick employees live and work
- Have McCormick employees serving on their board of directors or leadership team
- Have McCormick employees actively volunteering with the organization
Applicants should clearly identify any existing McCormick employee involvement in their request.
Geographic Eligibility – McCormick Operating Communities
McCormick’s charitable giving guidelines prioritize organizations located in communities where its employees live and work.
The company has significant U.S. manufacturing, corporate, and distribution operations in the following states.
Maryland
- Hunt Valley: Corporate headquarters and major operations
- Belcamp: Manufacturing and operational facilities
- Baltimore: Corporate and operational presence
California
- Commerce: Manufacturing operations
- Salinas: Manufacturing operations
Georgia
- Atlanta: Manufacturing operations
Illinois
- Geneva: Manufacturing operations
Indiana
- South Bend: Manufacturing operations
Louisiana
- Gretna: Manufacturing operations
Missouri
- Springfield: Manufacturing operations
New Jersey
- Lakewood: Manufacturing operations
Texas
- Irving: Manufacturing operations
Mississippi
- Byhalia: Distribution operations
Geographic Eligibility Considerations
These locations represent communities where McCormick maintains a significant operating presence and where organizations may have stronger alignment with its employee-centered giving priorities.
Important: McCormick does not publish an exclusive list of eligible states, counties, or cities for its charitable contributions program.
Organizations outside these states may still be considered, particularly if they can demonstrate a connection to McCormick employees or other corporate community priorities.
Although McCormick operates internationally, its published eligibility guidelines require IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) status. Organizations should not assume that international nonprofit registration alone satisfies this requirement.
Ineligible Requests
McCormick does not make charitable contributions to:
- Individuals
- Labor organizations
- Political organizations
- Elementary and secondary schools, except for programs specifically identified in its educational giving priorities
- Daycare centers
- Travel funds
- Advertising or promotional activities
- Organizations that do not comply with McCormick’s nondiscrimination policy
- Organizations whose activities may conflict with McCormick’s goals, products, or employees
The company also limits consideration to one contribution request per nonprofit organization per year.
Funding Amounts
McCormick does not publish standard minimum or maximum contribution amounts.
Award decisions depend on the proposed charitable activity, alignment with company priorities, available funding, and the Charitable Donations Committee’s review.
The company receives more requests than it can fund, and eligibility does not guarantee support.
Timeline & Review
📅 Application Timeline: Rolling / ongoing
📅 Review Schedule: The Charitable Donations Committee meets regularly.
📅 Annual Request Limit: One contribution request per nonprofit organization per year
📅 Review Period: Not publicly specified
📅 Recommended Lead Time: Submit well before the date funding is needed and include all important project deadlines.
McCormick provides a written response to each funding decision.
Application / Request Process
Organizations must address their charitable contribution requests to the Chairperson of McCormick’s Corporate Charitable Donations Committee.
Required One-Page Summary
Each request must include a one-page written summary containing:
- The organization’s or project’s mission statement
- Organizational goals and objectives
- Program or project needs
- Explanation of how the request aligns with McCormick’s charitable giving guidelines
- Key deadlines
- Specific involvement of McCormick employees with the nonprofit
- Organization name, address, telephone number, and website
- Name of a contact person familiar with the proposal
Additional Documentation
For first-time or multiyear requests, applicants must also provide:
- Current organizational operating budget
- Program or project budget, if applicable
- Sources of financial support, including committed and pending amounts
- Statement of administrative, fundraising, and general expenses
- IRS 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) determination documentation
- List of officers, board members, and affiliates
The Charitable Donations Committee may request a personal interview with an organizational representative. Interviews may be conducted by telephone or local management when appropriate.
Where to Submit
Email: cdc@mccormick.com
Mailing Address:
The Charitable Donations Committee
McCormick & Company, Inc.
24 Schilling Road
Hunt Valley, MD 21031
Apply / Learn More: https://www.mccormickcorporation.com/responsibility/charitable-donations
Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit
This opportunity is particularly well suited for organizations that:
- Hold 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status
- Work in education, health and wellness, environmental protection, or arts and culture
- Serve communities connected to McCormick’s operations or workforce
- Operate in or near one of McCormick’s U.S. manufacturing, corporate, or distribution communities
- Have McCormick employees volunteering or serving in leadership roles
- Can demonstrate clear alignment with the company’s charitable giving priorities
- Can prepare a concise written request with appropriate financial documentation
McCormick & Company’s Corporate Charitable Donations Program offers a potential source of support for nonprofits working to improve community quality of life, particularly those with established connections to McCormick employees and operating communities.
Corporate Grants Guide Notes
Review Type: Rolling; committee meets regularly
Annual Request Limit: One per nonprofit organization
Eligible Organizations: IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofits
Priority Geography: Communities where McCormick employees live and work
Major U.S. Operating States: California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas
Funding Amounts: Not publicly specified
Application Method: Email or postal mail
Best Suited For: Nonprofits focused on education, health, the environment, and arts and culture, especially those with McCormick employee involvement