SC Johnson is a privately held, family-led consumer products company whose mission extends beyond household brands to long-term social and environmental impact. In addition to manufacturing well-known cleaning, storage and pest control products, the company operates a substantial philanthropy and community investment portfolio that channels a portion of its pretax profits into charitable grants and donations.
Role of SC Johnson in the funding ecosystem
Since 1937, SC Johnson reports donating five percent of all pretax profits to charities “at work for a better world.” This commitment underpins its role as a corporate grantmaker, supporting nonprofits and community organizations in countries where it operates. Giving is focused on themes that mirror the company’s impact strategy: education and STEM learning, environmental protection and plastic waste reduction, sustainability, and public health initiatives related to insect-borne disease.
Key funding themes and focus areas
- Education and STEM: The Community section highlights partnerships and philanthropy that support youth, inspire innovation and broaden access to STEM education, including grade-specific programs and adult learning opportunities.
- Environmental sustainability and plastics: Through its Impact platform on plastics, SC Johnson develops partnerships to scale collection, reuse and recycling, and backs education campaigns such as The Blue Paradox and other awareness initiatives to reduce plastic pollution.
- Public health and insect-borne disease: Building on decades of entomological research, the company supports programs that help protect vulnerable communities from mosquito-borne illnesses, combining commercial innovation with philanthropic outreach and education.
- Community development: SC Johnson emphasizes that every community where it operates should be better because it is there, engaging in local philanthropy in its hometown of Racine, Wisconsin, and in other regions worldwide.
Publics served and global impact
SC Johnson’s funding activities primarily benefit registered charities, NGOs, schools and community organizations that align with its focus on education, environment and health. Many initiatives target children and young people, especially in STEM and environmental education, while others support vulnerable populations facing the impacts of plastic waste or insect-borne disease. The company’s global footprint enables it to combine financial contributions with in-kind support, technical expertise and awareness-raising campaigns to maximize impact.
Transparency and accountability
Impact and accountability reports, available via the Impact section, summarize progress on environmental goals, health initiatives and community programs. While detailed grant application guidelines are not presented on the main pages referenced, the presence of a dedicated “Grants” area within the Community section and regular impact reporting indicate a structured approach to corporate philanthropy and responsible stewardship of donated funds.