Supporting Our Communities

Thank you for your interest in the L.L.Bean charitable giving program. As a lead corporate contributor, we seek to give back to our valued stakeholders – our customers, employees and surrounding communities. We provide support within the categories of Conservation and Recreation, Education, Health and Human Services and Culture and the Arts. Please see the eligibility guidelines below.

Based on L.L.Bean's heritage and ongoing commitment to ensuring quality outdoor experiences for our customers, we've chosen conservation and outdoor recreation as the primary focus of our corporate charitable giving program. We look to local, state, regional and national organizations to help our customers enjoy the outdoors in a responsible manner.

In the last three years, L.L.Bean has contributed nearly $6 million in this category. Leaders in promoting conservation and stewardship of our natural resources include the National Park Foundation, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, The Student Conservation Association, The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, the Maine Coast Heritage Trust and the American Hiking Society. To learn more about L.L.Bean's conservation efforts, please visit our online list of conservation partners.

We are reviewing a very limited number of proposals from regional and national programs whose activities include the maintenance or stewardship of a natural resource. Priority will be given to proposals that include activities directly linked to our product line, such as camping, hiking, bicycling, canoeing, kayaking, fly fishing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

In Maine, L.L.Bean contributes to statewide initiatives and local education partnerships to improve the quality of education for the children of our employees and neighbors.

One such initiative is Project Aspire, a joint effort between L.L.Bean and the Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations. The program offers parents and teachers insight into eight conditions that affect young people's aspirations. These include a sense of belonging and accomplishment, leadership and responsibility, a spirit of adventure, and fun and excitement.

We do not accept unsolicited proposals for education initiatives outside of Maine.

L.L.Bean has donated over $2.5 million to health and human service organizations in the past five years. We support health and human services primarily through the United Way organizations in communities where we have a major physical presence. These donations reflect our confidence in the United Way allocation process and our belief in supporting the physical and emotional well-being of our employees, their families and our neighbors.

We are not accepting unsolicited proposals from health and human service organizations at this time.

L.L.Bean recognizes the important contribution arts and cultural programs make to our employees' and customers' quality of life. We support organizations that enrich the cultural development of our local Maine communities. Examples include the Portland Symphony Orchestra, Maine State Music Theatre and the American Folk Festival in Bangor.

Our culture and art funding is limited to the Maine communities of Freeport, Portland, Brunswick, Lewiston, Waterville and Bangor.

L.L.Bean contributions include program grants, capital campaign pledges and product donations.

Only non-profit organizations designated as tax-exempt by the Internal Revenue Service under Section 501(c)(3) are eligible.

Company policy, budget limitations and/or federal law prevent L.L.Bean from providing support to:

• Individuals, including scholarships or travel-related expenses
• Political, sectarian, fraternal or religious organizations
• Sponsorships of conferences, sporting events, athletic teams or pageants
• Advertising in programs, bulletins, yearbooks or brochures
• Film or television productions
• National health organizations and their local affiliates
• Individual youth clubs, troops or school classrooms
• Organizations or projects focused outside the United States

L.L.Bean does not have a formal application form. Proposals from qualifying organizations are accepted throughout the year. If your organization meets the above criteria and would like to apply for a grant, please send a brief proposal of no more than five pages that includes the following:

• A brief statement of the organization's goals and accomplishments
• The purpose of the project, description of the target population to be served and a time frame for activities
• Amount of request and how the grant funds will be used
• Method of program evaluation
• An itemized budget including all sources of committed and anticipated funding from individuals or other corporations or foundations
• A statement of the organization's 501(c)(3) non-profit status

Please do not send binders, videos or books.

All proposals will be responded to within four weeks of receipt. The status of the request will be given at that time. In December, the L.L.Bean Board of Directors will review those proposals that have been processed for further consideration.

If you have further questions regarding our corporate giving guidelines, email us at donationrequest@llbean.com or write to:

L.L.Bean, Inc.
Community Relations Office
15 Casco Street
Freeport, Maine 04033