FAQs

Not finding what you need? Email us at vznmail@cybergrants.com or call (866) 247-2687.

• What organizations are eligible to receive a volunteer grant from Verizon Foundation?
  • U.S.:  Most U.S. based 501(C)(3) organizations, U.S. public and private schools and U.S. accredited colleges and universities.
  • APAC, Canada, EMEA, LATAM: Click here for the organizations list
• Who is eligible to request a Verizon Foundation volunteer grant?

  Active full-time and part-time employees are eligible; retirees are not eligible.

• How do employees access the Verizon Foundation’s Employee Volunteer Grant system?

  Employees must log-in to the Volunteer Grants System using their SSO at: www.verizonfoundation.org/employee-retiree/log-in

  *Note – APAC, Canada, EMEA, LATAM Employees:

  • First-time users outside the U.S. MUST allow the transfer of their Human Resources information records to CyberGrants, the Verizon Foundation’s grant administration vendor.  To allow this transfer:
    • Click on www.verizonfoundation.org/donor
    • Login (using SSO credentials) under first column option “Verizon Employees”
  • Click on the “Verizon Foundation Employee Matching Gifts” checkbox to consent to having your HR records transferred to CyberGrants. You can “opt-out” of the program at any time.
  • Once your HR records have been transferred to CyberGrants, your user account will be created and you will be able to register your matching gift requests and/or volunteer hours.
  • Returning users can register for Matching Gifts through about you or by visiting www.verizonfoundation.org/donor.
• What if I am a U.S employee and I volunteer outside the U.S. with a U.S. based charitable organization or educational institution?

  Most charitable organizations and educational institutions registered with the IRS as a 501(C)(3) organization that operate internationally are eligible to receive a matching grant from the Verizon Foundation.

• What steps do I have to take to request a volunteer grant for a charitable organization or educational institution?
  • Volunteer with an eligible charitable organization or educational institution.
  • Log your volunteer hours – via the volunteer journal – on the Verizon Foundation website.
  • Submit an online grant request once you’ve reached 50 volunteer hours.  After submitting your volunteer grant request, send the system-generated gift confirmation instructions to the benefiting organization or educational institution so they can verify receipt of your donation.
• How many volunteer grants can I earn in a calendar year?

  You can earn a $750 grant for up to two separate organizations or educational institutions where you volunteer.  If you are applying for a grant for two separate eligible organizations, you must volunteer a minimum of 50 hours with EACH organization to request the grant. You cannot combine organization volunteer hours to meet the 50-hour minimum.

• Can I estimate or project my volunteer hours for the year in the online journal system?

  No.  Hours entered into the volunteer journal must be actual volunteer hours completed.  When journaling, you will be required to break out your volunteer activity by day and time.

• Am I permitted to request a grant for my volunteer hours with a charitable organization or educational institution if a member of my family or someone with whom I share a close personal relationship with is a founder or employee of the organization?

  Employees are permitted to request a matching grant for their donation as long as Verizon funds are not used to benefit the employee, employee’s family member* or someone with whom the employee shares a close personal relationship.**  If your family member or person with whom you share a close personal relationship works for or is a founder of the recipient charity, you will be required to disclose this information as a potential conflict of interest when you request the grant.**

  *Family Member includes members of the employee's immediate and extended family.  (Immediate and extended family includes, but is not limited to, one's spouse, domestic partner, parents, brothers, sisters, children, grandparents, grandchildren, cousins, in-laws, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews or any similar half or step-relationship.)

  **Close Personal Relationship refers to anyone in your family or household, someone with whom you have, or had, a romantic relationship or other close personal relationship.

• If I volunteer with other employees, can we enter volunteer hours online for each other?

  No.  Each employee must log in and register their own hours and apply for their own individual volunteer grant.  If volunteering with another employee, employee volunteer hours cannot be combined or shared to meet the 50-hour minimum.

• If I volunteer with an eligible organization that my child or family member is involved with are my volunteer hours valid towards the volunteer grant?

  Yes.  Verizon employees are permitted to request a Verizon Foundation grant for donations to eligible organizations or educational institutions in which a family member is involved.  However, the grant from the Verizon Foundation may not be used for any direct or indirect financial benefit to the employee, the employee’s family member* or someone with whom the employee shares a close personal relationship.**

  *Family Member includes members of the employee's immediate and extended family.  (Immediate and extended family includes, but is not limited to, one's spouse, domestic partner, parents, brothers, sisters, children, grandparents, grandchildren, cousins, in-laws, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews or any similar half or step-relationship.)

  **Close Personal Relationship refers to anyone in your family or household, someone with whom you have, or had, a romantic relationship or other close personal relationship.

• If I volunteer with my child’s PTA or Boy Scout group, can my $750 Foundation grant be used to offset the cost of my child’s participation with the organization?

  No.  The $750 volunteer grant from the Verizon Foundation cannot be used to offset costs or provide any direct or indirect financial benefit to the employee, the employee’s family member* or someone with whom the employee shares a close personal relationship.**  However, Verizon Foundation funds may be used to collectively benefit an entire team, charitable organization or educational institution of which the employee’s family member is a participant (e.g. a grant can be used to offset team uniforms or team registration).

  *Family Member includes members of the employee's immediate and extended family.  (Immediate and extended family includes, but is not limited to, one's spouse, domestic partner, parents, brothers, sisters, children, grandparents, grandchildren, cousins, in-laws, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews or any similar half or step-relationship.)

  **Close Personal Relationship refers to anyone in your family or household, someone with whom you have, or had, a romantic relationship or other close personal relationship.

• If I am participating in a charitable event where I am required to pay a registration fee or raise money, can the Verizon Volunteer grant be used towards my fees or to meet my fundraising requirements?

  No.  Funds from the Verizon Foundation may not be used to fulfill membership dues, registration fees or reach donation thresholds that provide any direct or indirect financial benefit  to the employee, employee’s family member* or someone with whom the employee shares a close personal relationship.**

  *Family Member includes members of the employee's immediate and extended family.  (Immediate and extended family includes, but is not limited to, one's spouse, domestic partner, parents, brothers, sisters, children, grandparents, grandchildren, cousins, in-laws, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews or any similar half or step-relationship.)

  **Close Personal Relationship refers to anyone in your family or household, someone with whom you have, or had, a romantic relationship or other close personal relationship.

• If I am participating in a charitable walk-a-thon, am I permitted to log the hours I am at the event as part of my 50-hour grant minimum?

  No.  You may not register volunteer hours associated with your participation in a walk-a-thon or other team fundraising initiative if you have registered your team under the Team Volunteer Program (i.e., you cannot “double-dip” – use two Foundation matching programs for same volunteer initiative).

• How does the charitable organization or educational institution verify my volunteer hours?

  A representative of the charitable organization or educational institution must verify your volunteer hours online at https://www.cybergrants.com/verizon/ee/vip organization.  If the organization needs assistance navigating through the verification process they may contact the Verizon Program Support Center via email at vznmail@cybergrants.com or by calling (866)247-2687 between 8AM and 8PM ET.

• Who can confirm my volunteer hours?
  • A representative of the organization or educational institution must confirm your volunteer hours online.  The following are individuals are NOT permitted to confirm on behalf of the organization or school:
    • The employee
    • A member of the employee’s family*
    • Someone with whom the employee  shares  close personal relationship**
    • Any Verizon employee
  • 2012 volunteer grant requests must be confirmed by March 31, 2013.

  *Family Member includes members of the employee's immediate and extended family.  (Immediate and extended family includes, but is not limited to, one's spouse, domestic partner, parents, brothers, sisters, children, grandparents, grandchildren, cousins, in-laws, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews or any similar half or step-relationship.)

  **Close Personal Relationship refers to anyone in your family or household, someone with whom you have, or had, a romantic relationship or other close personal relationship.

• Is there opportunity to have another nonprofit added to the list of eligible organizations and schools outside the U.S.?

  The list of eligible organizations and schools will evolve over time with organizations being added and removed to the list.  On an ongoing basis, employees will be able to search the eligibility list via the Verizon Foundation website.