The holiday season reminds us to turn our hearts and efforts outward in support of others. For the Caterpillar Foundation, it’s also a time to reflect on the impact we’ve made over the past year.
In 2025, the Foundation celebrated a remarkable milestone, surpassing $1 billion in global giving since its founding in 1952. For more than 70 years, the Foundation, in collaboration with its grantees and Caterpillar employees and retirees, has helped build resilient communities and created lasting, positive changes around the world.
And this historic achievement was just the beginning. Throughout 2025, the Foundation advanced its mission in meaningful ways.
Celebrating Caterpillar’s Centennial World Tour
January marked the start of a year-long celebration for Caterpillar Inc.’s 100th anniversary. In connection with the Centennial World Tour, the Caterpillar Foundation visited Caterpillar employees at more than 120 sites across the globe, donating to local causes that Caterpillar employees care about along the way.
From Arkansas to Australia, the Foundation donated nearly $2 million total to more than 70 charities across 21 countries —including food banks, homeless shelters, hospitals and schools.
A return to the Foundation’s roots in Peoria, Illinois, was especially meaningful; it was there, in 1952, that the Foundation made its first ever donation to a local firehouse. This year, the Foundation awarded $87,000 each to Dream Center Peoria, Midwest Foodbank of Illinois-Peoria and Easter Seals Central Illinois. Another highlight was at the Irving, Texas, tour stop, where the Foundation presented $48,000 to Irving Cares, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to families in financial crisis.
Through the Foundation’s Matching Gifts and Volunteer Service Match programs, Caterpillar employees recorded more than 1,200 volunteer hours and, together with the Foundation, donated $900,000 to 160 food-related charities globally. These charities include the Trussell Trust UK Food Banks, Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, and Tafel in Germany.
Driving impact across strategic pillars
- Workforce of today and tomorrow: This year, Learning Undefeated (LU) exemplified the Foundation’s commitment to education and reskilling. In January, LU unveiled the Breakout Box, a mobile lab delivering hands-on STEM challenges to students in grades 6–12. Read more about this collaboration here.
- Caterpillar employee matching power: Caterpillar employees fueled a record-breaking 10:1 match. In just under 12 hours, more than 2,400 employees helped reach the Caterpillar Foundation’s $10 million goal, supporting over 1,300 charities worldwide — from Voice Trust in India to Matrix Lifecare Center in Indiana and to Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation in Seguin, Texas.
- Advancing Disaster Preparedness: The Foundation collaborated with MediaPlanet and USA Today to showcase its 360-degree approach to resilience and celebrate grantees like the American Red Cross. Over the past five years, the Foundation has contributed $9 million through the Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP), ensuring immediate response to emergencies worldwide.
Ending the year strong
In December, Caterpillar and the Foundation announced that more than $15.2 million was pledged for the United Way chapters and their partner agencies across the United States, Mexico, Canada and Panama. With annual contributions exceeding $5 million and supporting 508 of United Way’s 1,100 chapters, Caterpillar and the Foundation were recognized as a United Way 2025 Leading Corporate Partner President’s Circle member.
Looking ahead
As 2025 draws to a close, the Caterpillar Foundation celebrates a historic year. Every milestone and donation reflects the passion and dedication of the Caterpillar community. Here’s to the people, collaborations and possibilities that shaped this journey — and to the future we will transform together.
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