Mars Impact Fund’s $13m global grants: summary
- Mars awarded over $13m supporting communities across four countries
- Elucid funding expands healthcare access for 12,750 cocoa-farming households
- Tanager partnership helps 20,000 mint-farming families diversify incomes through additional crops
- Grants support youth education, nutrition, veterinary science careers and leadership development
- Initiative reflects growing corporate focus on resilient supply chains and communities
Mars, Inc. has announced more than $13m in grants to strengthen farming communities, expand healthcare access and support future talent development.
The world’s biggest confectionery company is working with six organisations – Elucid, Tanager, Pratham Education Foundation, People’s Action for National Integration, National 4-H Council and Worldwide Veterinary Service – through the Mars Impact Fund.
What is the Mars Impact Fund
Launched in February 2026, the Mars Impact Fund was established to deliver a “meaningful and lasting impact” in the communities in which the multinational operates.
It selected Save the Children as its first recipient, with a $3m grant to help expand Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and strengthen community resilience programmes in cocoa-growing areas of Indonesia.
Since then, World Central Kitchen has received $1m to support earthquake relief efforts in Venezuela, the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings €1.5m to fund global fellowships for early-career researchers, and Humane World for Animals $726,000 to expand equitable veterinary care in India and Mexico.
“The Mars Impact Fund aims to develop long-term partnerships that deliver sustained impact over time,” says Michelle Grogg, executive director of the Mars Impact Fund. “We are confident that these multi-year investments will improve farmer livelihoods, increase opportunities for youth and improve the health of people and pets in our communities.”
Elucid
Supported by a $2.07m grant, Elucid will enable up to 12,750 cocoa-farming households in Côte d’Ivoire to access affordable healthcare by combining enrolment in the national health insurance scheme with complementary coverage for services and costs not fully covered by the public system.
The partnership will also strengthen rural health systems through investment in clinic quality, mobile clinics and maternal and child health.
Tanager
A $5.6m grant will help Tanager to support 20,000 mint-farming families increase their income through crops beyond mint such as potato, mustard and rice.
Pratham Education Foundation
The Fund is also partnering with Pratham Education Foundation to strengthen early childhood development and school readiness for 3,000 children in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, in India.
People’s Action for National Integration
Complementary to the partnership with Pratham Education Foundation is the People’s Action for National Integration (PANI), aimed at combating child undernutrition and establish sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in rural schools.
The investments in India, says Mars, supports the Mars Shubh Mint programme, which has helped more than 24,000 farmers double their mint incomes, while reducing production costs by around 20%.
National 4-H Council
Mars has committed $3m to the National 4-H Council to help prepare the next generation of young Americans to be ‘Beyond Ready’ for the future.
This initiative also aims to inspire young people to explore careers in food, agriculture and veterinary sciences through hands-on learning, leadership development and career-connected experiences.
Plus 60 teens will receive full scholarships to attend Ignite by 4-H, an immersive youth leadership event where they will build the skills, confidence, experiences and connections that prepare them for future careers.
Worldwide Veterinary Service
Finally, the Fund is investing $3m in the Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) to support final-mile rabies elimination in Thailand.
Working alongside Thailand’s government-led rabies elimination efforts, WVS will bring specialist veterinary expertise and targeted field support to help reach free-roaming and hard-to-reach dog populations that campaigns can struggle to reach, strengthen integrated rabies surveillance so outbreaks are detected early and build the capacity of veterinary and public health teams to sustain this progress, including through the WVS International Training Centre in Chiang Mai.
Together, this will help protect millions of people and animals while strengthening and sustaining critical response capabilities within Thailand’s national One Health systems.
Industry impact
The latest grants reflect a growing trend among major food and beverage manufacturers to invest beyond their direct supply chains, addressing wider social, health and environmental challenges in the communities where they source ingredients.
The investments are also closely linked to the long-term resilience of key agricultural supply chains, particularly cocoa and mint, which face increasing pressure from climate change, rural poverty and labour shortages.
By supporting farmer livelihoods, access to healthcare, education and workforce development, Mars is strengthening the sustainability of the communities that underpin its business.
The initiative also highlights the expanding role manufacturers are playing in areas traditionally led by governments and development organisations, including public health and nutrition.
As pressure grows on companies to deliver tangible sustainability outcomes, initiatives such as the Mars Impact Fund are increasingly viewed as a way to strengthen sourcing communities while supporting long-term business resilience.
