Social Impact
We bring comfort, optimism, and joy to our communities and inspire hope, especially for children.
Our Commitment to Community
Through financial contributions, collaborations with nonprofit organizations, in-kind donations, and employee volunteering, Disney brings positive, meaningful, and measurable impact to our communities around the world.
Charitable Giving
We focus our charitable giving on efforts that align to our social impact focus areas; leverage our unique resources, skills, talents, and expertise; and address pressing community needs.
155K+
Magical wishes granted globally with Make-A-Wish® since 1980
$235M+
Total charitable giving in FY23
$145M+
Invested in programs that serve underrepresented communities in FY23*
13M+
Employee volunteer hours since 1983
*Charitable giving that we report includes grants directed toward historically underrepresented and protected communities, including Asian American & Pacific Islander, Black & African American, Hispanic & Latino, Native American & Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, People with Disabilities, veterans, and women communities. The percentage of services reaching underrepresented and protected communities varies by organization and we include grants to organizations where a percentage of its services reaches underrepresented and protected communities. If the organization spends a majority of its efforts on one or more underrepresented or protected community, we count the entire grant; if the organization does not spend a majority, we count a proration of the grant. We rely on each organization’s self-reported percentages regarding communities served. On a sample basis, we validate the percentages that we report.
Children's Hospitals and Wish Granting
Delivering joy and comfort to children facing illness and the people who care for them is a core part of Disney’s efforts to be a force for good in the world. Our commitment is reflected in Disney’s $100 million global investment in helping to reimagine the patient experience in children’s hospitals, and in our efforts to help grant life-changing Disney wishes for children in collaboration with over 100 wish-granting organizations around the world.
Inspiring the Next Generation Through Disney Future Storytellers
Through social investments and programs that provide inspiration and hands-on experience, we’re inspiring youth to imagine their possibilities and increasing access to opportunities in media, entertainment, technology, and hospitality.
Nature
The Disney Conservation Fund was created more than 25 years ago to build on Walt Disney’s legacy of conserving wildlife, inspiring action, and helping to protect the planet. Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has directed more than $125 million to help protect more than 1,000 species of wildlife and safeguard more than 315 million acres of habitat.
Social Impact Program Examples
Magic of Storytelling
Since 2000, Disney has donated more than 93 million books to First Book, a nonprofit organization dedicated to removing barriers to educational equity by providing free and affordable new books and educational resources to educators who serve children in need, helping to inspire the next generation of storytellers.
Disney Ultimate Toy Drive
Disney’s relationship with the Marine Toys for Tots Program began in 1947, when Walt Disney and his animators designed the original Toys for Tots train logo that is still used today. Since then, Disney has supported Toys for Tots to help bring toys to millions of children in need during the holiday season.
Special Olympics
Since 2013, ESPN has been the Global Presenting Sponsor of Special Olympics Unified Sports®, which is dedicated to promoting social inclusion by bringing people with and without intellectual disabilities together to play, train, and compete. And since 2015, ESPN has been the Official Broadcaster for the Special Olympics USA and World Games, demonstrating our commitment to storytelling in this space.
Providing Nutritious Meals
Over the past decade, Disney has collaborated with Feeding America to improve access to nutritious meals. Our support has included providing funding to help food banks provide more fresh produce to kids and families facing hunger by removing barriers to sourcing and distributing produce, building capacity by increasing refrigeration and equipment at food banks, and helping to store and distribute fresh produce within communities that need it most.
Disaster Response
Disney provides emergency relief and supports recovery efforts in communities worldwide. We continue to support several organizations, including UNICEF, the American Red Cross, and Good360.
Empowerment Through Sports
ESPN believes all kids should have access to play and supports programs that reach kids living in communities where sports access is limited. ESPN’s Access to Sports initiative works to provide children from all backgrounds with the chance to play.
Volunteering
Volunteering is an important and enduring part of our company’s culture. Through our Disney VoluntEARS program, the company encourages passionate employees around the globe to donate their time and talents to their local communities. Our employees and cast members worldwide have collectively contributed more than 13 million hours of service to their communities.
Employee Programs
Disney employees and cast members have a wonderful tradition of giving back. To recognize these efforts, we match financial donations to charitable organizations around the world through Disney Employee Matching Gifts.
Additionally, the Disney VoluntEARS Grants program allows eligible employees to direct donations from the
company to qualified nonprofits of their choosing as a benefit for the time they spend volunteering.
Over the past decade, Disney has matched more than $113 million in employee and cast member personal donations of time and money.
Charitable Giving Resources
For organizations seeking financial or in-kind support, please review our Charitable Giving Guidelines.
