Mars Impact Fund

Photo credit: Mars, Incorporated

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Sectors: Community Development Education Health & Wellness Sustainable Food & Agriculture
Locations: Virginia, United States
Focus areas: Economic Inclusion Food Systems Regenerative Agriculture Workforce Development

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Locations

Virginia, United States North America

The Mars Impact Fund is Mars, Incorporated’s enterprise philanthropic vehicle, launched in February 2026 and based with the company in McLean, Virginia. It sits alongside brand foundations (PEDIGREE Foundation, Banfield Foundation, BluePearl Cares, VCA Charities, Royal Canin Foundation, Mars Snacking Foundation) rather than replacing them. The Fund’s job is long-term, invitation-only grants with NGOs, academic partners and development organizations in places Mars already sources, sells or employs people.

Three pillars organize the portfolio: sourcing-community resilience (farm livelihoods, women’s economic power, child nutrition and WASH), scientist pipelines in food, agriculture, nutrition and pet care, and companion-animal wellbeing (preventive care, spay/neuter, last-mile veterinary access). A fourth operational role is disaster response when communities around Mars operations are hit—illustrated by a $1M World Central Kitchen grant after the 2026 Venezuela earthquakes.

Capital is corporate philanthropy, not a return-seeking impact vehicle: $85 million allocated for 2025–2027, then at least $50 million a year from 2028. The Fund does not accept unsolicited applications; Michelle Grogg is executive director.

Key benefits

Three-pillar grantmaking
Every disclosed grant maps to sourcing-community resilience, scientist pipelines, or companion-animal wellbeing—plus disaster response when Mars communities are hit.
Multi-year NGO partnerships
Awards are structured as sustained partnerships (Elucid, Tanager, 4-H, WVS, Save the Children, Lindau) rather than one-off charity cheques.
Supply-chain communities first
Cocoa (Côte d’Ivoire, Indonesia) and mint (India, including Shubh Mint overlap) sit at the centre of livelihood, health and education grants.
Pet-care and One Health
Veterinary access, rabies elimination and Humane World for Animals work connect the Fund to Mars’s hospital and pet-nutrition businesses.
Invitation-only, scaled capital
Unsolicited applications are closed. The envelope is $85M for 2025–2027 and $50M+ a year from 2028.

Investment thesis

Mars is using the Impact Fund to buy multi-year partnerships that sit on top of its cocoa, mint, pet-care and scientific networks, not to run an open RFP. Grants are meant to look like supply-chain mutuality plus One Health: healthier farming households, a thicker bench of food/ag/vet scientists, and fewer untreated animals in the communities where Mars brands and hospitals operate.

Expect large, named NGO partners (Save the Children, Humane World for Animals, 4-H, WVS, Lindau) rather than early-stage startups. Matching capital (for example Gavi alongside Elucid in Côte d’Ivoire) is in-scope when it stretches health coverage. If you are a nonprofit aligned to the three pillars, the path is a proactive conversation with the Fund team, not a public application portal.

Check size

$726,000 – $5,600,000

Frequently asked questions

What does Mars Impact Fund fund?: The Mars Impact Fund is Mars, Incorporated’s enterprise philanthropic vehicle, launched in February 2026 and based with the company in McLean, Virginia. It sits alongside brand foundations (PEDIGREE Foundation, Banfield Foundation, BluePearl Cares, VCA Charities, Royal Canin Foundation, Mars Snacking Foundation) rather than replacing them. The Fund’s job is long-term, invitation-only grants with NGOs, academic partners and development organizations in places Mars already sources, sells or employs people. Three pillars organize the portfolio: sourcing-community resilience (farm livelihoods, women’s economic power, child nutrition and WASH), scientist pipelines in food, agriculture, nutrition and pet care, and companion-animal wellbeing (preventive care, spay/neuter, last-mile veterinary access). A fourth operational role is disaster response when communities around Mars operations are hit—illustrated by a $1M World Central Kitchen grant after the 2026 Venezuela earthquakes. Capital is corporate philanthropy, not a return-seeking impact vehicle: $85 million allocated for 2025–2027, then at least $50 million a year from 2028. The Fund does not accept unsolicited applications; Michelle Grogg is executive director.
What is Mars Impact Fund's check size?: $726,000 – $5,600,000
What is Mars Impact Fund's investment thesis?: Mars is using the Impact Fund to buy multi-year partnerships that sit on top of its cocoa, mint, pet-care and scientific networks, not to run an open RFP. Grants are meant to look like supply-chain mutuality plus One Health: healthier farming households, a thicker bench of food/ag/vet scientists, and fewer untreated animals in the communities where Mars brands and hospitals operate. Expect large, named NGO partners (Save the Children, Humane World for Animals, 4-H, WVS, Lindau) rather than early-stage startups. Matching capital (for example Gavi alongside Elucid in Côte d’Ivoire) is in-scope when it stretches health coverage. If you are a nonprofit aligned to the three pillars, the path is a proactive conversation with the Fund team, not a public application portal.
Which sectors does Mars Impact Fund invest in?: Community Development, Education, Health & Wellness, Sustainable Food & Agriculture