Walton Family Foundation

The Walton Family Foundation pursues a philanthropic mission established by Sam and Helen Walton, which began modestly in the small town of Bentonville, Arkansas.

When Sam Walton opened the original “Walton's Five and Dime” in 1950 he did so with a strong belief in the power of an individual to make a positive difference in his or her own life and community. Throughout a career that created Wal-Mart, one of the world’s leading companies, Sam Walton believed strongly in achievement, and that included philanthropic commitment and results as well as corporate success.

Sam and Helen Walton’s philosophy of giving is based on life-long experiences in small town Northwest Arkansas that teach the value of personal engagement and involvement, the power of education in society, and that making philanthropic investments should make an appreciable difference in communities.

The Foundation and the Walton family today seeks to honor those basic principles and values, even as the focus of its giving has expanded beyond projects and institutions in Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas.

Indeed, the Foundation’s commitment to addressing K-12 education reform, conservation of sensitive marine and freshwater environments, and economic development in the Delta Region of Arkansas and Mississippi is the result of constant and thorough evaluation and re-evaluation of strategic philanthropic investments that can deliver measurable, meaningful benefits.

In 2007, the Foundation made grants and program-related investments totaling more than $241 million. And if Sam Walton were alive today, we hope that he would be able to go through the list of the Foundation’s grantees and agree that each one delivers value for the dollar, and reflects Sam and Helen's principles and philanthropic aspirations.