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Inclusion, diversity & equity

Giving back to our communities

Employees’ commitment to better outcomes for our world makes an impact across communities

Our world continues to evolve. We navigate twists and turns, from the lingering impact of COVID-19 to war, economic turmoil, and climate change. We have all had to adjust, and many of us have been compelled to lend a hand. Medtronic and the Medtronic Foundation are committed to creating better outcomes for our world, especially for those who’ve been marginalized. Employees embrace the opportunity to create solutions that make an impact and are sustainable.

Medtronic employees pack supplies.

Caring for our global communities

People from every corner of the world have a passion to contribute to society — and that doesn’t go away when they come to work. To support and amplify those passions, we identify ways for our employees to use their unique skills as a force for good. These opportunities, combined with individual efforts, help create long-term solutions to some of the biggest challenges in healthcare and in society.

Our employees regularly use their tech and STEM expertise to help when and where the need is most urgent. As a global healthcare technology leader, disaster response is part of our DNA. When war made its way to Ukraine, the Medtronic Foundation activated emergency humanitarian aid through Project Hope and several other global disaster response nonprofit partners. Project Hope deployed emergency medical kits to the Ukrainian border as well as primary care medical teams for impacted communities. Employees were offered a chance to contribute through the Medtronic Foundation Matched Giving program, including the Medtronic Emergency Assistance Fund.

“We’re proud to work with speed and decisiveness to strengthen the capacity and resiliency of communities to prepare for and recover from global disasters and humanitarian crises,” said Heidi Jedlicka Halvarson, Program Manager, Medtronic Foundation. “Our dynamic disaster response partnerships that include funding, expertise, and volunteerism is one of the ways the Medtronic Foundation strives to reduce barriers to achieving health, well-being, and prosperity.”

As of June 2022, Medtronic and the Medtronic Foundation have donated more than $7 million to support those impacted by the war in Ukraine. That effort has come through relief grants, product donations, and employee donations.

STEM student in lab

Advancing equity in STEM

In addition to disaster response programming, the Medtronic Foundation is working to advance equity in science, technology, engineering, and math. To date, the Foundation has launched partnerships with leading equity-based STEM organizations serving students in California, Colorado, Ireland, Minnesota, and Puerto Rico.

Over the next two years, the Medtronic Foundation will invest over $7.5 million to expand access to 90,000 underserved and underrepresented students. Each partnership underscores the commitment to sustainable outcomes to address inequities and inspire change for the better.

Personal community engagement

Within our organization, there are as many causes to champion as there are employees. The Medtronic Foundation supports them through community engagement programs such as:

  • Skilled service: Through these opportunities, Medtronic employees leverage their skills and talents to benefit nonprofits and improve equity for young people in STEM education.

  • Global Innovation Fellows: This is a unique 13-week, virtual skills-based volunteer opportunity for Medtronic employees. Through this experience, participants can collaborate with other employees and Medtronic Foundation partners from around the world.

  • Matched giving: The Medtronic Foundation matches Medtronic employee and retiree donations to any eligible nonprofit, up to $5,000 annually.

  • Volunteer grants: To support and encourage employees to volunteer in their communities for causes they are passionate about, employees earn $200 grants redeemable to an eligible nonprofit organization of their choice for every 10 volunteer hours they record. (Employees can earn up to $1,000 per calendar year.)

  • Project 6: A companywide kickoff of programming, volunteering resources, and events each June starts 365 days of giving back to causes that mean the most to Medtronic employees.

In FY22:

  • 136,799 employee volunteer hours were logged
  • 38 nonprofits partnered globally with Medtronic Foundation
  • $97.1M combined philanthropic investment by Medtronic and the Medtronic Foundation
 
Medtronic employees load boxes of supplies on a truck.

Lasting change

As a Mission-led company, we know that developing extraordinary healthcare technology isn't enough. Through skills-based volunteering and community engagement beyond our day jobs, we can improve lives and opportunities for people across our global communities. That is why we support and empower the extraordinary volunteering efforts of our employees. We're not just helping individuals, NGOs, and communities through a moment in time; we're helping them secure better futures.

About Medtronic Foundation
Medtronic plc is the sole funder of Medtronic Foundation, whose focus is on improving lives for underserved and underrepresented populations worldwide and supporting communities where Medtronic employees live and give. For more information, please visit medtronicfoundation.org.

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