OVERVIEW: The Levi Strauss Foundation seeks organizations that advance the rights and well-being of apparel workers in regions of the world in which Levi’s products are made. Its grantmaking supports reproductive justice, worker rights and well-being, immigrant rights and democracy.
IP TAKE: This funder typically awards grants for project specific support rather than those for general operating support. A GUTC signatory, Levi Strauss conducts work nationally and globally, but remains inaccessible and less unapproachable, making it difficult to partner with. While the foundation’s staff is proactive and seeks those conducting gaming-changing work in the foundation’s areas of interest, plenty of organizations contact this foundation, so make a succinct pitch if a program officer seems interested and your work might get advanced. Grants are highly competitive here. This is also a collaborative funder that likes to give multi-year grants and is in for the “long haul.” Persistence is key here — assuming your work aligns with the foundation’s.
The Levis Strauss Foundation wound down its HIV/AIDS program in December 2023 after four decades of support.
PROFILE: The Levi Strauss Foundation was established as the philanthropic arm of Levi Strauss & Company in 1952. It supports “pioneering leaders and organizations fighting for change on the issues and events of our time in locations where LS&Co. has a business presence.” It was also the first U.S. corporate donor to combat HIV/AIDS through a donation to San Francisco General Hospital in 1982. The foundation, a signatory of the GUTC Pledge, supports “advances in human rights and well-being of underserved populations,” that are “touched” by the apparel and textile industry. Around 68 percent of the world’s apparel workers are women and around 45 percent of people working in the textile industry are women. Levi’s grantmaking interests are focused on reproductive justice, worker rights and well-being, immigrant rights and democracy.
Grants for Women and Girls
The foundation created its Reproductive Justice program in 2017 and has provided $5.6 million in grants since then. The program seeks to “advance the rights and power of those who most experience reproductive oppression and face the greatest barriers to reproductive freedom and justice.” Grantees in this area include New Voices for Reproductive Justice, Access Reproductive Justice, and National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice.
Grants for Global Development
Levi Strauss supports global development through its Worker Rights and Well-being program. This global program seeks to “advance the rights of apparel workers and lift systemic approaches for improving the well-being of workers in the garment industry.” According to the website, over $25 million in grants have gone to 17 countries and reached 219,000 workers employed by 113 suppliers. Previous grantees include HomeNet Pakistan, Central American Women’s Fund, and Resilience Fund for Women in Global Value Chains.
Grants for Immigrant and Refugees
The foundation supports immigrant and refugees through its Immigrant Rights program, which seeks to “advance immigration reform that creates systems that are equitable, anti-racist and humane, and engage the most marginalized communities of immigrants as active leaders in the movement.” It has provided $5.8 million in support since 2017, and has made grants to Define American, Asian Prisoner Support Committee, and Transgender Law Center: Border Butterflies Project, among others.
Grants for Democracy
The foundation’s Democracy program works to “establish a strong and inclusive democracy” in the United States. It has made over $6.6 million in grants since 2019. Its focus is multifaceted and includes voter rights protection, increased civic engagement, and create and preserve “open and inclusive media and information ecosystems.” Grants have gone to IllumiNative, Momentum, and Black Futures Lab.
Grants for Global Health
Since it began working on HIV/AIDS issues in 1982, Levi Strauss has supported the most marginalized populations by addressing stigma and discrimination in laws, policies, and social settings, building advocacy capacity for vulnerable groups affected by HIV/AIDS, and providing direct services (such as prevention, testing, and treatment) for apparel workers. However, after four decades of support, it wound down its HIV/AIDS program in December 2023.
Important Grant Details:
Grant amounts typically range from $10,000 to $50,000, but may go as high as $250,000. To get a broader sense of the types of organizations the Levi Strauss Foundation supports, explore its grant list. Note that the Levi Strauss Foundation primarily supports work in cities and regions where it has a significant business or manufacturing presence, such as the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, Atlanta, and Washington D.C., as well as over forty countries, including China, Argentina, South Africa, Thailand, and Mexico. The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funding but may be contacted at mbxlsfoundation@levi.com.
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