The Walmart Spark Good Local Grants program is designed to support community organizations in the areas where Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Distribution Centers operate. This initiative aligns with Walmart’s mission to strengthen the communities they serve while fostering positive relationships with local organizations and customers. The grant program provides financial assistance ranging from $250 to $5,000 to eligible nonprofit organizations, government entities, schools, and faith-based organizations conducting projects that benefit the broader community. Walmart U.S. stores, Sam’s Clubs, and Distribution Centers distribute these grants quarterly through an open application process.

Organizations seeking funding must first create a Spark Good account on Walmart.com/nonprofits and undergo verification through Deed, Walmart’s third-party verification partner. Only authorized users of the organization’s Spark Good account can apply. Additionally, applicants must ensure their proposed project serves the same geographic area as the Walmart facility from which they seek funding. The program allows organizations to maintain up to 25 applications in a pending or approved status at any given time. However, once an organization receives funding from a specific Walmart facility, it cannot apply for additional funding from the same facility within the same fiscal year.

Applications are accepted quarterly within the following submission windows: March 10 – April 15, May 1 – July 15, August 1 – October 15, and November 3 – December 31. Grant decisions are made before the next quarter’s application period begins. Facility managers are responsible for reviewing applications and selecting grant recipients based on three main criteria: alignment with Walmart’s mission, trustworthiness of the organization, and clarity of the proposed project’s impact. Facility managers prioritize funding organizations with whom they have established relationships and that address critical community needs, such as hunger relief.

Organizations recommended for funding must agree to Walmart’s logo usage and recognition guidelines, as well as comply with all Spark Good local grant requirements. If selected, they will receive a notification via email with instructions to set up electronic payment through JP Morgan. Organizations must complete this process within 21 days of the grant approval notification, or the grant will be forfeited. Walmart also reserves the right to adjust funding amounts at its discretion.

Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) public charities, government entities (such as cities, counties, and municipal agencies), educational institutions (including public and nonprofit private schools, community and junior colleges, and universities), and faith-based organizations that provide community services, such as food pantries and soup kitchens. Ineligible organizations include non-charities such as 501(c)(4), (c)(6), and (c)(19) organizations, including civic leagues, homeowner’s associations, and volunteer fire departments. All organizations must be verified by Deed and comply with applicable terms and conditions.

Final funding decisions are at the discretion of facility managers and grant administrators. Organizations are notified of the outcome via email, and all decisions are final. Grant funds cannot be awarded to organizations that discriminate based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or other protected statuses. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding, and all applications are subject to review regarding the organization’s reputation and compliance with Walmart’s grant requirements.