Wells Fargo Awards $3 Million to Community-based Environmental Groups

​SAN FRANCISCO, April 22, 2013 –Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced 64 nonprofit recipients of its 2013 Environmental Solutions for Communities grant program. Philanthropic grants totaling more than $3 million will be distributed to community-based nonprofits to support land and water conservation, energy efficiency, infrastructure, and educational outreach in communities where customers and team members live and work.

“We’re pleased to announce the environmental grant recipients of this highly competitive program,” said Ashley Grosh, head of Wells Fargo Environmental Philanthropy. “We’re proud to support these nonprofits who are working hard to provide long-term solutions to environmental challenges. It is our belief that there is a strong link between economic development, community well-being, and the stewardship and health of the environment.”

The Wells Fargo Environmental Solutions for Communities grant program began in 2012 as part of Wells Fargo’s commitment to provide $100 million to environmentally-focused nonprofits and universities by 2020. It is funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation and administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) through a $15 million, five-year relationship to promote environmental stewardship across the country.

“We sought out the best ideas and programs to protect and conserve the environment for local communities,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “ThroughWells Fargo’s generous contributions, these community-based projects will provide immediate benefits to local ecosystems and will help build and strengthen environmental stewardship ethics.”

The program funded proposals in select cities/regions (see full list) in the following focus areas:

  • sustainable agriculture and forestry
  • conservation of land and water resources
  • energy efficiency and urban infrastructure
  • community outreach and environmental education

The community and environmental impacts of all grants will be measured and reported. For example, in 2012, the Wells Fargo Environmental Solutions for Communities grant program collectively funded 8,621 acres of habitat restoration and 165,970 newly planted trees. The grants also helped reduce more than 2 million gallons of runoff water and an estimated 331,840 pounds in CO21. Projects that benefited underserved communities and encourage volunteerism were given priority consideration.

The full list of 2013 winners can be found at here. Details of the program and a link to the 2014 application can be found at the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation application website: www.nfwf.org/environmentalsolutions.

Environmental impact estimates were made using the National Arbor Day Tree Benefit Calculator. For more information visit: https://www.arborday.org/calculator/

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.4 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 stores, 12,000 ATMs, and the Internet (wellsfargo.com), and has offices in more than 35 countries to support the bank’s customers who conduct business in the global economy. With more than 270,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 26 on Fortune’s 2012 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially.

A leader in reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions and building sustainably, Wells Fargo has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Center for Corporate Climate Leadership, the Carbon Disclosure Project and the U.S. Green Building Council. Since 2005, Wells Fargo has provided more than $21 billion in environmental finance, supporting sustainable buildings and renewable energy projects nationwide. This includes investments in more than 260 solar projects and 34 wind projects that generate enough clean renewable energy to power hundreds of thousands of American homes each year. For more information, please visit. www.wellsfargo.com/environment.