Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for a grant?

All current US Staples, Inc. employees residing in the US (including US subsidiaries) who are full time or part time (except for seasonal and/or temporary employees) are eligible to apply to Staples Cause for Caring in times of severe financial need. Please note, the significant qualifying circumstance must occur while employed by Staples, Inc. and the employee must be active or on a company-approved leave of absence at the time the grant payment is made.

Associates of US Retail, please visit the Share Fund site.
Employees residing in Canada, please visit the Share Fund Canada site.

What is a qualifying event?

Staples Cause for Caring defines a qualifying event as an unforeseen event that has happened within the last six months and has caused a severe financial hardship. Qualifying events include the following:

• Natural disaster (e.g., fire, flood, tornado, hurricane, ice/wind/snowstorm, mudslide, etc.)
• Illness or injury
• Death/Funeral
• Housing assistance due to the following:
  • Unforeseen sale or foreclosure of a home/apartment rented from a private landlord
  • Condemned or uninhabitable home/apartment rented from a private landlord
  • Extreme situations where an employee received an official court order.
• Involuntary unemployment for spouse or employee’s second job (e.g., layoff, position elimination, company closure, etc.)
• Domestic abuse or violence that causes the employee to feel unsafe in their home
• Military deployment

Staples Cause for Caring may consider specific unavoidable emergency situations not listed above on a case-by-case basis.

What is a qualifying expense?

Staples Cause for Caring defines a qualifying expense as past due rent/mortgage/property taxes, past due basic utilities (limited to electric, heat, water, internet, sewage, garbage) and groceries/food. Staples Cause for Caring may also help pay security deposits (or other move in or moving fees) for new housing and specific expenses related to the death of an immediate family member or relative (funeral expenses and emergency travel expenses).

In the case of a natural disaster (e.g., fire, flood, tornado, etc.), Staples Cause for Caring may also help pay for emergency housing and uninsured/underinsured repairs to a primary residence.

How do I apply for a grant?

If you have a severe financial need due to an emergency, you may qualify for assistance from Staples Cause for Caring.

Once you have gathered all the required documentation, please submit an application using the Apply link. After submitting, please email all required supporting documents to Staples Cause for Caring at StaplesCauseforCaring@staples.com. In the subject line of the email, please include your full name, employee ID and the phrase, “Supporting Documents” to help expediate the reviewing process.

Will Staples Cause for Caring reimburse an employee for expenses they have already paid?

Staples Cause for Caring aids in situations where the employee has no other means of paying the necessary expense. If the expense has already been paid then there is no longer a financial need. Generally, Staples Cause for Caring will not consider reimbursement of paid expenses.

What documents do I need to supply?

All applications for a Staples Cause for Caring grant must provide proof of the qualifying event (varies based on the event) and proof of the qualifying expense (copies of past due bills).

How long does it take to make a decision on a Staples Cause for Caring grant application?

Staples Cause for Caring strives to turn around a response within 5-7 business days (excluding weekends and holidays) from the time we receive a completed application. Lack of proper documentation will result in an immediate denial of an application. We will reconsider an application once the employee provides all required documentation. As a result, processing time may be extended in cases where we are missing documentation, signatures or if we require other information.

Which family member does Staples Cause for Caring consider as eligible immediate family?

Staples Cause for Caring considers the employee, their spouse or domestic partner, minor children, and other dependents for whom the employee is 100% financially responsible, as eligible. Typically, immediate family members are those who can be covered by the employee’s insurance.

Parents, grandparents, siblings, or other relatives are not considered dependents unless the employee can show they are 100% financially responsible for that relative (e.g., a copy of the most recent tax return showing dependents).

The only exception is for the death of an employees family member or relative. Staples Cause for Caring may aid with funeral expenses for other family members such as parents, grandparents, siblings, if they can prove they are financially responsible or contributed to the expenses. For an example: employees name listed on funeral invoice/receipts.

What if my immediate family member also works for Staples? Can we each apply for a grant for the same event?

No. Staples Cause for Caring will review grant applications by reviewing a household’s total need for the same qualifying event.

Can Staples Cause for Caring be used for medical expenses or bills?

No. Federal law prohibits Staples Cause for Caring from making any grants designed to replace or supplement Staples, Inc.’s compensation or benefits to its employees. Due to this law, Staples Cause for Caring is unable to provide grants to help pay for medical expenses.

What if I leave the company prior to receiving the grant?

Employees must be employed at the time of the grant disbursement. The only exception is if you are part of a reduction in force. If you have already submitted your application and then are laid off prior to the disbursement of the grant, assuming your application meets the criteria of Staples Cause for Caring, you will be eligible for a grant.

What other resources should I try besides Staples Cause for Caring?

Staples Cause for Caring grants are not meant to replace other available resources such as medical/life insurance, short/long-term disability coverage, personal savings, 401(k) hardship loans, assistance from family members, etc. Employees are encouraged to contact the Staples Life Services program through ComPsych Guidance Resources, our free and confidential employee assistance program. The Staples Life Services program can help you with emotional support and additional life services, including legal, financial, and other resources. The Staples Life Services program is available for all associates, full- and part-time and their immediate household family members, and they can be reached by calling 866-676-3533 or by visiting guidanceresources.com, Web ID: Staples. Help is available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.

Do I have a right or entitlement to receive a grant from Staples Cause for Caring if I meet the eligibility criteria?

No. Staples Cause for Caring reserves the right to approve or deny applications for any reason in its sole discretion. Regardless of whether eligibility criteria are met, no applicant has a right or entitlement to receive a grant from Staples Cause for Caring.

What constitutes Staples Cause for Caring fraud?

• Falsification or alteration of supporting documentation
• Use of grant funds for anything outside the stated purpose for which funds were provided
• Intentionally misrepresenting the financial hardship or qualifying event
• Intentionally withholding relevant information that would ultimately result in a denied application
• Intentionally attempting to deceive the Staples Cause for Caring support team

Staples Cause for Caring takes fraud very seriously. The above are violations of the Staples Code of Ethics. Any confirmed fraud, whether it is successful or not, may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination from Staples.

How can I donate?

There are many ways to support the Staples Cause for Caring, including automatic payroll deduction, one-time or recurring credit card donation, or by running a fundraiser within your Staples Inc. location.

The most effective way to support Staples Cause for Caring is to set up an automatic payroll deduction at HRConnect. Under Compensation: Click “Manage Personal Contributions”, Click “Add” and follow the prompts. For one-time or recurring credit card donations, please donate using the “Donate” link on this website.

What is Staples Cause for Caring tax ID number?

The Staples Cause for Caring federal tax ID number is 84-5135177.

Is my donation tax deductible?

The Staples Cause for Caring is a 501 (c) (3) organization. Donations are tax deductible. The federal tax ID is 84-5135177

Can I designate my donation to a particular employee or employee’s family member?

Donations to Staples Cause for Caring cannot be targeted to a specific individual(s). Grants will be allocated according to the rules and procedures of Staples Cause for Caring.

If I sign up for automatic payroll deductions, how long do I have to give?

You may give for as long as you want and can opt out anytime. For example, if you want to cancel or change the amount of your contributions, just log into HR Connect and change your payroll deduction preferences. You can also set an end date when initially signing up.

How can I get involved with the organization?

You can donate to support the work of Staples Cause for Caring. If you want to volunteer in other ways or have ideas, please email us at StaplesCauseforCaring@staples.com.

How do I contact Staples Cause for Caring?

To contact us by mail, please use the following address:

Staples Cause for Caring
500 Staples Drive
Framingham, MA 01702

To contact us by email, please contact us at StaplesCauseforCaring@staples.com.

To send documents via fax, please use 508-382-1540.