Supporting, Serving and Strengthening our Communities
Purposeful giving is the Synthomer Foundation’s mantra and commitment to our communities. Whether providing grants to nonprofit organizations or volunteering with employees through our Synthomer Cares initiative; we are dedicated to making a positive impact in the communities where we operate throughout the U.S.
For more than 60 years, the Foundation has had a positive presence in our communities. Beginning with its roots as the General Tire and Rubber Foundation, to taking on the names of GenCorp, OMNOVA and now the Synthomer Foundation; our continued effort to build on to this great legacy of giving and servant leadership remains at the forefront of our existence.
In 2023, the Foundation awarded $1.3 million to nonprofit organizations who provided services that improved the quality of life through education, health and human service, civic initiatives and the arts. Take a look at our annual report for a complete list of our partnerships.
Synthomer in the community
Through our Synthomer Cares initiative, our employees are empowered to volunteer and give back in their local communities. This promotes employee engagement and allows Synthomer to provide hands on support to local nonprofits who need us the most. Each year we sponsor a Synthomer Cares week of service to promote global volunteerism and employee camaraderie.
Supporting our employees in the community
Not only do we encourage our employees to get involved in the community, we reward their efforts by recognizing their commitments through our Employee Community Leadership Award and Matching Gifts programs.
Employees within the U.S. are eligible to make contributions to any accredited K-12 and higher education institution, and the Foundation will match their gift dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000 annually. Additionally, through the Employee Community Leadership Award program, eligible employees can apply to receive a modest grant in support of the non-profit where they volunteer.
The Synthomer Foundation considers support to nonprofit organizations throughout our U.S. footprint whose programs and projects make a significant impact in the community. While some unrestricted funding is provided, the Foundation prefers to fund specific projects. Our giving areas include:
The Foundation believes in the power of education. We want to motivate our future leaders and workers to gain the knowledge and career skills required for corporations like ours to succeed and maintain a competitive edge. Therefore, education is our highest giving priority.
Arts and Culture
We recognize the vibrancy, importance, and quality of life that arts and culture bring to our communities, and we support organizations who foster those unique opportunities that broaden the cultural experiences for our local families.
Foundation support extends to civic projects that address important issues designed to fuel community growth and important economic development initiatives.
Health and Human Services
The health and well-being of our communities are vital! Our support reaches the vulnerable, and focus efforts on programs and services that address immediate social needs and long-term sustainability.
The Foundation funds organizations that demonstrate competency and effectiveness. Organizations seeking and receiving funds from the Synthomer Foundation must provide information on how projects will be evaluated and measured. All grant recipients will be required to submit a final program report prior to the distribution of new funds (if applicable).
Grant consideration is given to organizations who meet the following criteria:
We consider support to non-profit, tax-exempt organizations, established for public use, which hold an active 501c3 status under the Internal Revenue Service Code.
While we fund a limited number of national projects, priority emphasis is given to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. where we have facilities and where our employees live and work. These communities include:
- Akron, OH – Summit County
- Beachwood/Warrensville Heights, OH – Cuyahoga County
- Calhoun, GA – Gordon County
- Chester, SC – Chester County
- Fitchburg, MA – Worchester County
- Franklin, VA
- Houston, TX - Harris County
- Jefferson Hills, PA - Allegheny County
- Kingsport, TN - Sullivan and Hawkins Counties
- Longview, TX - Gregg County
- Mogadore, OH - Summit/Portage County
- Roebuck, SC – Spartanburg, SC
The Synthomer Foundation does not support:
- Organizations that are not considered tax-exempt under Section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Code, or the equivalent.
- Individuals, private foundations, fraternal, social, or labor organizations
- Organizations that discriminate because of race, color, creed or national origin
- Political parties, candidates or lobbying activities
- Organizations and programs that might pose a potential conflict of interest for Synthomer
- Courtesy advertising, benefits, raffle tickets and the purchase of tables
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