Mars Incorporated has launched the Mars Impact Fund, a new enterprise-level philanthropic sustainability initiative aimed at driving long-term impact for people, pets and communities connected to the company’s global operations.
Benefitting people, pets and planet to create lasting impact
The fund will allocate $85 million between 2025 and 2027, with the company planning to distribute at least $50 million annually from 2028 onwards in additional philanthropic capital.
The initiative is designed to strengthen existing sustainability programmes while creating new partnerships focused on community resilience, scientific opportunity and companion animal wellbeing.
“The Mars Impact Fund builds on decades of partnership and investment in the communities where we operate, strengthening and scaling the work already underway. It is designed to complement our broader impact agenda to benefit people, pets and the planet and help us deepen relationships with organisations working to create lasting impact,” said Andy Pharoah, Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability.
Strategic priorities for global impact
The Mars Impact Fund will focus on three key areas aligned with the company’s business priorities and long-term sustainability strategy:
- Boost Sourcing Community Resiliency – Supporting farm families and communities to improve livelihoods, wellbeing and resilience
- Grow and Diversify the Pipeline of Scientists – Expanding opportunities for scientists, particularly in food, agriculture and pet care
- Improve Companion Animal Wellbeing – Increasing access to veterinary care and support for pets in underserved communities
The fund will also support rapid response efforts during large-scale disasters, enabling Mars to provide aid to affected communities, employees and supply chain partners.
“Change starts with listening, learning and working alongside the communities we serve. Through the Mars Impact Fund, we’re partnering with organizations that bring deep expertise and local insight so that, together, we can expand opportunity, strengthen resilience, and improve lives for people and pets around the world,” said Michelle Grogg, Executive Director, Mars Impact Fund.
Initial grants focus on Indonesia, India and Mexico
The first grants from the Mars Impact Fund target initiatives aimed at strengthening supply chain communities and improving access to veterinary care.
Among the initial recipients is Save the Children, which has been awarded a three-year, $3 million grant to expand Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and strengthen community resilience programmes in cocoa-growing regions of Indonesia.
The initiative will support financial inclusion, local economic development and community-led resilience efforts in farming communities.
“We’re grateful for our long-standing partnership with Mars, grounded in our shared commitment to children and communities,” said Janti Soeripto, President and CEO of Save the Children US. “As we enter this next phase of our collaboration in Indonesia, the Mars Impact Fund will help us reach 115 villages over the next three years. Together, we’re supporting families to build financial stability, strengthen child protection systems, and advance community-led resilience across cocoa growing areas—delivering lasting change for women, children, and families.”
A second grant of $726,000 has been approved for Humane World for Animals to expand access to veterinary care and professional training in underserved communities in India and Mexico. The funding marks the beginning of a multi-year partnership focused on improving animal welfare and public health outcomes.
“What excites me about our partnership with Mars is that together we’re removing one of the biggest barriers to better health and welfare outcomes for companion animals: access to quality veterinary care,” said Kitty Block, President and CEO of Humane World for Animals. “Our programs reaching street dogs and pets in underserved communities are doing more than just improving the lives of animals, too. They’re creating lasting solutions for healthier and safer communities around the world.”
A long-term sustainability commitment
The Mars Impact Fund forms part of the company’s broader ambition to use its scale and partnerships to deliver positive social and environmental outcomes.
As a family-owned business, Mars says the fund will help deepen collaboration with organisations that have local expertise while enabling long-term investment in communities connected to its global supply chains and operations.
The initial grants signal the beginning of what the company expects to become a long-term philanthropic platform supporting community resilience, scientific innovation and animal wellbeing worldwide.
This article was produced by the editorial team at Food & Beverage Outlook and published as part of the Outlook Publishing global network of B2B industry magazines.
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