We strive to be a respected leader in encouraging positive change in the communities where our employees live, work, and raise their families. We do this primarily through donations to effective organizations working to improve the quality of life in their communities.
Our Approach
We make financial donations in two broad categories: Corporate Responsibility and Community Development. These include arts, education, environment, social services, emergency relief, alcohol issues, diversity & inclusion and economic development.
Actions
While our business competes at a global level, we understand the true measures of our success may very well be found in our own backyard. We are a major donor to such organizations as Actors Theatre of Louisville, Louisville Ballet, University of Louisville, Muhammad Ali Center, Kentucky Educational Television, The Nature Conservancy, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Bellarmine University, among many others.
The arts in Louisville generate more than $259 million in local economic activity. Our support for the arts makes good business sense because it helps boost economic prosperity and growth for the entire community, which helps us recruit and retain the best and the brightest employees from around the world.
A large majority of employees contribute to the Metro United Way and Louisville's Fund for the Arts. And more than 80 employees serve on the boards of local non-profit organizations
Recent corporate contributions include:
- A donation of $200,000 over three years (ending 2011) to the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky, to expand its programs for educating students about alcohol abuse. The donation is part of our efforts to be part of the solution to the problems of alcohol misuse and abuse.
- A $1 million multi-year grant to The Louisville Ballet that began in Fiscal 2007 through which Brown-Forman has sponsored the Ballet’s annual holiday performance of “The Nutcracker” for several years. The new funds will allow for an entirely new production of the Holiday classic, as well as provide the opportunity for many of Brown-Forman’s community partners to enjoy this ageless holiday tradition as our guests.
- A commitment of financial support and technical expertise, in partnership with the University of Louisville, to assist local non-profit organizations with technology needs and college students with practical experience. Provided community leadership, along with dollars for building renovation, to establish “ArtSpace,” to consolidate offices and create financial efficiencies for six of the city’s largest arts organizations, as well as other civic non-profit organizations.
- The Jack Daniel Distillery awarded a grant to Lynchburg/Moore County for the development of a new community park in the community and new landscaping at the Lynchburg/Moore County courthouse. Another grant to Moore County Historical Society helped with renovations to the historic jail.
- During the fall of 2008 we assisted local organizations with emergency relief assistance through Dare to Care following Hurricane Ike. In January 2009 we contributed to the American Red Cross during the Kentucky ice storm.
- In 2008, we continued our support for The Healing Place with a $150,000 multi-year grant towards a new women’s facility. This Louisville, Kentucky, charity is internationally recognized for providing recovery services for many people whose lives have been affected by alcoholism, other addictions, and homelessness.
In addition, we continually look for ways to work directly with the non-profit agencies that we serve; helping them to enhance the skills and training that will allow their organization to grow beyond the dollars and hours that we contribute.
We are a founding member of the U.S. London Benchmarking Group, a relationship that provides us with the tools to better measure the effectiveness of our global contributions program. We will continue to evaluate our corporate giving structure to help us remain a leader in Louisville while also examining opportunities for global civic engagement that reflect our worldwide business and workforce.
Strategy
We want to increase our direct investment in reducing the harmful effects of alcohol abuse and expand our civic engagement program outside of corporate headquarters in Louisville. As a first step, we will concentrate our corporate giving in locations where our employees live and work, near our production facilities and regional offices.
While this strategy was originally intended to begin in earnest in 2009, economic realities have caused us to make a meaningful reduction in corporate giving in Fiscal 2010, reconsider the timing, and delay its implementation. Nevertheless, we remain committed to the communities where we live and work, and when the time is right we look forward to expanding our corporate giving.
Performance
Total Cash Contributions
Charitable Contributions by Type
