The Coca-Cola Company Takes High-Tech Approach to Community Funding
Internet Simplifies the Application Process
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Requesting a charitable grant or community sponsorship from The Coca-Cola Company just got a little easier. Global Community Connections (GCC), the community engagement arm of The Coca-Cola Company, launched a paperless online application system today that will make it simpler for nonprofit organizations to request cash contributions, in-kind product donations, and community sponsorships.
The paperless system, developed by Massachusetts-based Cybergrants, the pioneer of online grants management, will eliminate the manual processing of more than 10,000 paper applications received each year by the Company and its foundation.
"The Coca-Cola Company is committed to giving back a portion of what we earn each year to make a unique and sustainable difference in communities worldwide," said Ingrid Saunders Jones, senior vice president of Global Community Connections for The Coca-Cola Company, and chair of The Coca-Cola Foundation. "In 2008, The Company disbursed more than $82 million in charitable contributions. The online application will simplify the request process, speed the response time back to our community partners, and assist community organizations in identifying our priority areas."
As a global beverage and sustainability leader, The Coca-Cola Company regularly evaluates its processes to ensure that those doing business with the Company do so in an expedient and efficient way. This online application system creates a single entry-point for nonprofit organizations around the world to apply for support from The Coca-Cola Company, its global foundation or seven regional foundations. The online application also provides information about the Company's priority community investment initiatives, such as water stewardship, community recycling, active healthy living, and local level initiatives, such as education, diversity or support for HIV/AIDS prevention.
Organizations seeking support for community sponsorships, in-kind donations, fundraising dinners and or cash contributions must complete the online application at www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/application_guidelines. Those submitting paper applications will be asked to resubmit the application using the online application tool.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with nearly 500 sparkling and still brands. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio includes 12 other billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, POWERADE, Minute Maid and Georgia Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of nearly 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our Web site at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.
Source: The Coca-Cola Company
Released September 8, 2009