Investing in communities around the world

The Caterpillar Foundation makes sustainable progress possible in our communities in the areas of basic human needs, disaster relief, education and environmental programs. The Foundation has invested more than $500 million since its inception in 1952. Historically those investments were made in and around our headquarters in central Illinois. Today, the Foundation supports communities around the world, with 50 percent of its dollars invested in 2011 outside the United States.

Investments in 2011 include:

• A five-year, $12.5 million grant to the World Resources Institute (WRI) to promote the concept of sustainable cities in China, India and Brazil — countries in which rapid urbanization poses substantial challenges. WRI will develop low-carbon city models and — by partnering with up to five urban centers — will demonstrate how cities can improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve water quality, mobility, and land use.
• A $10,000 grant to the Winston-Salem Sustainability Resource Center to improve the energy efficiency of homes in North Carolina, U.S. Through collaboration with neighborhood organizations, the program provides energy consumption monitoring, educational workshops, installation of energy efficient products and technical support for homeowners.
• A $1 million pledge to the Dealer Environmental Sustainability Fund (DESF). The DESF is a partnership between the Caterpillar Foundation, participating Cat^® dealers worldwide and eligible nonprofit environmental organizations to promote environmental sustainability around the world.
• A $3 million pledge to Water.org, a non-profit organization that aims to provide more than 218,000 people with clean water and sanitation over the next three years.
• A $3.5 million investment in disaster relief to assist in relief repair and rebuilding.