Team Depot and Home Depot Foundation fund veteran housing, disaster response, training

Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate volunteer program housed in The Home Depot Foundation, is stewards of grant funding and hands-on volunteer projects that support veteran housing, disaster response, skilled trades training and community repairs. The program combines foundation grants with associate labor, and it steers resources to local nonprofits and government entities while assigning store-level volunteers known as Community Captains to plan and run projects.

The program’s internal standard operating procedures spell out the structure and expectations for Community Captains and volunteers. The SOP states, "The Team Depot program exists to allow associates of The Home Depot to engage in quality volunteerism at the local level. To help facilitate this work, the program stewards financial resources to nonprofits and government agencies (Grantee) in the form of grants." Community Captains are defined in the SOP as "associates that are designated by their leader to plan and organize Team Depot projects," and associates are instructed to "connect with their Community Captain" to volunteer or organize events.

Grant eligibility is tightly defined. The Home Depot Foundation funds government entities such as public schools, municipalities, fire departments and parks departments, 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, and veterans organizations classified as 501(c)(19) or 501(c)(23) with 75 percent veteran membership. The SOP lists ineligible grantees, including Political Action Committees, individuals serving as both grantee and beneficiary, and "501c4 Social Welfare organizations like Rotary."

Safety and incident procedures are prominent in internal guidance. The SOP warns volunteers that teams "will stop work if we see signs of mold lead or asbestos before or during project," requires following an appendix of Team Depot General Safety Rules and directs volunteers to "Follow store reporting process when incidents occur on Team Depot projects." The SOP also states a communicable disease policy: "Volunteers (associate, nonprofit partner, beneficiary, community member, family, etc.) may not participate at a Team Depot event if they have tested positive or been exposed to or showing symptoms of any communicable diseases (Influenza, COVID, Monkeypox, common cold, etc.) and the isolation/quarantine period has not been met per the CDC’s guidance."

The Foundation pairs grantmaking with large volunteer mobilizations. Since its formation in 2002, The Home Depot Foundation has granted more than $270 million to nonprofit organizations, and the foundation announced a $30 million commitment in 2011 to improve housing for economically disadvantaged veterans over three years. Nationwide volunteer efforts such as the MLK Week of Service mobilize "hundreds of associates" from stores to construct furniture for nonprofits with partners such as ToolBank USA. Projects typically involve up to 40 volunteers working in Home Depot parking lots or ToolBank warehouses; more than 20 cities have hosted Team Depot service projects, and one kickoff saw 40 volunteers assemble picnic tables for The Salvation Army of Caguas in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Team Depot captain Robin reflected on the experience: "During my first Team Depot project, I truly felt like I was a part of something bigger." Foundation president Kelly Caffarelli said, "We are delighted to support local volunteer projects aimed at creating and maintaining stable and healthy communities."

For associates, Team Depot offers hands-on ways to engage with neighbors, develop leadership through the Community Captain role and support veterans and disaster recovery efforts directly. Store leaders and Community Captains are the on-ramps for participation, and adherence to safety, grant eligibility and reporting rules shapes which local nonprofits can receive grants and how projects are carried out. As Team Depot scales volunteer events and grantmaking, the next step for associates is to connect with their Community Captain to learn about upcoming projects and training opportunities that pair foundation funding with volunteer labor.