Application Eligibility
Sharing Success is a proprietary program established by CoBank to match the contributions of its customer-owners. If you are a CoBank customer who has made or is in the process of making a charitable contribution in your community, you are eligible to apply for a match through Sharing Success.
Only CoBank customers may apply. Nonprofit organizations are not eligible to apply directly to Sharing Success.
Application Timeline
Sharing Success opens on April 1 each year when the application is made available on CoBank.com. No applications will be accepted before April 1. Applications are considered on a first come, first served basis.
Applications will be accepted through September 30 or the point at which the fund is exhausted, whichever comes first. Applications received after the September 30 deadline do not qualify for the program.
Gift Match Eligibility
Contributions to 501(c)(3) charities are eligible for match under the Sharing Success program. However, CoBank reserves the right to review any request for support (matching or otherwise) and to decline those that are inconsistent with its mission, values and philanthropic goals.
Select organizations not designated as 501(c)(3) charities may also be eligible. These organizations include schools and government organizations such as counties or municipalities and their agencies or departments. Where donations serve a public purpose and are consistent with the purpose of the Sharing Success program, these contributions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
CoBank prohibits contributions to organizations that are political in nature or to any non-religious organization that has a written policy of discrimination (based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age or status as a protected veteran).
To be eligible for a Sharing Success match, cash contributions must be made by the customer organization. Contributions made by its employees or donations received from the customer organization’s members are not eligible for match. In-kind donations are not eligible for match through Sharing Success.
Number of Matching Contributions
Eligible customers may request matches for up to four contributions. If you submit more than one application, you do not have to submit them all at the same time. However, be aware that Sharing Success is a first come, first served program. If you hold an application for later submission, CoBank cannot guarantee that funds will be available.
Amount of Matching Contributions
The minimum eligible contribution is $250 and the total of all matches may not exceed $10,000.
Application Instructions
The application includes contact information for the CoBank customer, the name and address of the charity, the amount donated and the purpose of the donation.
- If you are providing general support for a food bank, you may enter “hunger relief” as the purpose of the contribution
- If the contribution is made to a school to specifically support its local FFA chapter, you may enter “support for [name of school] FFA program”
- If the contribution is made to a community foundation that will then distribute the funds to a number of volunteer fire departments, you may enter “support for local fire departments” and include a list of recipients.
Please ensure that your description provides enough detail for the Sharing Success team to fully understand the purpose of your contribution.
Application forms must be completed in their entirety.
A copy of the designated charity’s IRS 501(c)(3) tax exemption notification must be included with the application.
Check Delivery
Once applications are reviewed and approved, checks will be sent to you, the customer. Please ensure you have included your full and correct mailing address.
Check Delivery Deadline
To ensure that donations are making their way to recipients and benefitting local communities, matching contributions must be delivered and deposited by the charitable recipient within 90 days of issuance. If checks are not delivered and deposited within this timeframe, they may be cancelled.
Questions
Contact sharingsuccess@cobank.com.