The Union Pacific Community Ties Giving Program’s Annual Local Grants initiative supports nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Union Pacific-served communities through an annual competitive grant process. The program aims to advance the company’s philanthropic priorities by funding local projects that align with the Local Grants program’s objectives. These objectives include strengthening community safety, workforce development, and community vitality.

For the 2025 grant cycle, the application window opened on April 1 and will close on May 14, 2025, at 3:00 PM Central Time. All applicants are required to create a new profile due to updated software for the application portal. Returning 2024 grantees must still create a new profile to apply for 2025 but may use their old login credentials to submit the required 2024 Grant Impact Report. The first step in the application process involves completing an eligibility questionnaire. If the organization meets eligibility requirements, they may then proceed to complete and submit a full application. Applicants are advised to begin the process by May 7, 2025, to allow sufficient time for technical support if needed, as late applications will not be accepted.

The grant awards typically range from $5,000 to $30,000 and are issued for a one-year period, from September 2025 through August 2026. Organizations may only submit one application and receive one grant per year. However, local chapters of national organizations sharing the same EIN are still eligible to apply individually. To encourage broader access to the funding, organizations that have received local grants for three consecutive years (2022, 2023, and 2024) are not eligible for the 2025 cycle but may reapply in 2026.

All grantees awarded in 2024 must submit their Grant Impact Reports by August 1, 2025, and must do so before being considered for 2025 funding. The program emphasizes strict adherence to reporting and application deadlines. Late applications or late reports will disqualify organizations from receiving new grants. The 2025 award status notifications will be issued on or before September 1, 2025, and funds will be distributed in September or October.

The application platform used is Blackbaud YourCause GrantsConnect, and applicants may receive communications from this system. For technical support, applicants may contact program staff via email at upf@up.com, although responses may take up to two business days. Staff will not provide feedback on the application content itself but can help troubleshoot technical and navigation issues with the platform.