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Community Contributions

The mission of Bank of the West's Community Contributions Program is to help meet the needs of the communities we serve by supporting nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving quality of life.

We make every effort to fund top performing organizations that have strong alignment with our philanthropic priorities, demonstrate impact, strong operations and program delivery models, opportunities for employee volunteerism, and ability to meet Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) eligibility requirements.

woman high fiving child

Funding Criteria

Organization Requirements

Contributions are limited to public, nonprofit charitable organizations and agencies that are exempt from federal taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Recipient nonprofit organizations must:

  • Serve our geographic areas
  • Fit within our giving categories
  • Operate as an equal opportunity employer
  • Be governed by a board of directors
  • Demonstrate fiscal and administrative stability

Funding Exclusions

Bank of the West will not donate to organizations which we reasonably believe to have a policy and/or practice of discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, creed, sex, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, citizenship, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identify or expression, or any other legally protected status.

  •  Organizations without 501(c)(3) status
  •  Individuals
  •  Fraternal or alumni organizations
  •  Political Action Committees, political candidates, causes or organizations attempting to influence legislation
  •  Capital campaigns
  •  Trips or tours for individuals and groups
  •  Talent and beauty contests

Regions

Counties that we serve:

Apache
Coconino
Gila
Maricopa
Navajo
Pima
Pinal
Yavapai

 

Counties that we serve:

Alameda
Butte
Contra Costa
El Dorado
Fresno
Kern
Kings
Lake
Los Angeles
Marin
Monterey
Napa
Nevada
Orange
Placer
Riverside

Sacramento
San Benito
San Bernardino
San Diego
San Francisco
San Joaquin
San Mateo
Santa Barbara
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz
Solano
Sonoma
Stanislaus
Tulare
Ventura
Yolo

Counties that we serve:

Adams
Arapahoe
Boulder
Broomfield
Chaffee
Clear Creek
Delta
Denver
Douglas
Elbert
Gilpin
Grand
Gunnison
Jefferson

Kit Carson
Larimer
Las Animas
Logan
Mesa
Montrose
Morgan
Park
Phillips
Routt
Summit
Weld

Counties that we serve:

Ada
Blaine
Boise
Canyon
Gem
Owyhee
Jefferson

 

Counties that we serve:

Benton
Boone
Carroll
Dallas
Davis
Decatur
Guthrie
Harrison
Jasper
Johnson

Jones
Linn
Madison
Mills
Polk
Pottawattamie
Story
Warren
Washington
Winneshiek

Counties that we serve:

Barton
Butler
Cowley
Finney
Ford
Franklin
Harvey
Johnson

Leavenworth
Linn
Miami
Pawnee
Reno
Sedgwick
Sumner
Wyandoitte

Counties that we serve:

Anoka
Benton
Carver
Chicago
Clay
Cottonwood
Dakota
Dodge
Fillmore
Grant
Hennepin
Houston
Islanti
Jackson
Le Sueur
Lincoln

Lyon
Mille Lacs
Morrison
Nobles
Norman
Olmstead
Otter Tail
Ramsey
Scott
Sherburne
Stearns
Stevens
Swift
Wabasha
Washington
Wilkin
Wright

Counties that we serve:

Bates
Caldwell
Cass
Clay
Clinton
Jackson
Lafayette
Platte
Ray

 

Counties that we serve:

Box Butte
Buffalo
Cass
Cherry
Dawes
Dodge
Douglas
Gage
Hall
Howard

Lancaster
Lincoln
Madison
Merrick
Morrill
Platte
Sarpy
Saunders
Seward
Sheridan
Washington

Counties that we serve:

Carson City
Clark
Storey
Washoe

 

Counties that we serve:

Bernalillo
Dona Ana
Sandoval
Torrance
Valencia

 

Counties that we serve:

Bronx
Kings
New York
Queens
Richmond

 

Counties that we serve:

Cass
Golden Valley
Richland
Stark

 

Counties that we serve:

Canadian
Carter
Cleveland
Creek
Garfield
Grady
Lincoln
Logan
Mcclain
Oklahoma

Okmulgee
Osage
Pawnee
Payne
Pontotoc
Rogers
Seminole
Tulsa
Wagoner

Counties that we serve:

Clackamas
Columbia
Lincoln
Malheur
Multnomah
Umatilla
Wasco
Washington
Yamhill

 

Counties that we serve:

Beadle
Charles Mix
Clay
Douglas
Perkins
Potter
Spink

 

Counties that we serve:

Davis
Salt Lake
Tooele
Weber

 

Counties that we serve:

Benton
Clark
Franklin
King
Kittitas
Pierce
Skamania
Snohomish
Yakima

 

Counties that we serve:

Washburn

 

Counties that we serve:

Albany
Carbon
Converse
Fremont
Laramie
Lincoln
Natrona

Niobrara
Park
Platte
Sheridan
Sublette
Sweetwater
Teton
Uinta

Regions

Program Priorities


We fund nonprofit programs in a range of areas. We see all of these areas as interconnected and critical to healthy social and economic development of the communities where we live and work.

Grants which benefit low- to moderate-income individuals and communities will have a high priority.

Financial Capability

Small Business Support & Entrepreneurism

Environment, Climate & Energy Transition

Affordable Housing

Job Training & Employment

College Readiness & Success

Youth Education & Enrichment

How to Apply

Bank of the West's Community Contributions Program is by invitation only. You will receive an invitation code to complete a full grant application.

However, you may submit a letter of inquiry (LOI) to inform our team about your program for consideration in future funding rounds. Follow the Apply Online instructions and proceed without an invitation code.

Applying online is easy.

  • Review our funding criteria
  • Register your nonprofit with CyberGrants
  • Complete your application

Apply Now

What you need to apply

  • Tax ID
  • Funding Request Details
  • Electronic versions of:
    • W-9 Form
    • List of Board of Directors
    • Recent Financial Statements

For questions or more information, contact our Community Contributions Program team:

Tell us where you live

Choose your state of legal residence. We can then give you information about the products and services available in your area.

Note: Bank of the West has branches only in the states listed in the drop-down. At this time, we only open accounts for individuals and businesses in these states.