Celebrating a 50-Year Partnership
Shining a spotlight on a leading partner, John Deere, in advancing United Way’s mission and dedicated to building a world where every person in every community can thrive.
John Deere and United Way partner globally to fight hunger, invest in youth education, and engage employees in community service. We are pleased to celebrate our ten-year partnership in Europe & the Middle East, decades-long partnership in the U.S., and John Deere’s founding membership in the President’s Circle of the United Way Leading Corporate Partners Program, which recognizes partners who raise or invest $5 million USD annually.
ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP
Long a pacesetter for workplace philanthropy, especially in the US, John Deere has expanded their partnership with United Way over time through impact investments from the John Deere Foundation and employee volunteerism in Day of Caring programs.
John Deere’s history began in 1837, 50 years before United Way was founded in 1887. The relationship between the two organizations is also 50 years old: partnering worldwide to address food security, support youth education, and improve quality of life in local communities.
Late 2025 marks 10 years of partnership in the Europe & Middle East region. What began with one Day of Caring in Mannheim, Germany has grown to a multinational corporate citizenship effort benefiting over 400 partner organizations. Recently, the John Deere Foundation renewed their leadership support with a two-year, $3.88-million USD grant to empower over 4,000 youth by providing essential support to stay in school and to provide 1 million meals to individuals and families in need, across Germany, France, the UK, Israel, and Spain.
In honor of this remarkable legacy of service, United Way Worldwide is pleased to welcome John Deere as a President’s Circle member of the Leading Corporate Partners Program, which recognizes companies that advance our shared mission at scale.
Global Reach. Local Impact.
John Deere employees and their families give back to the communities where they live and work. Through United Way partnerships, they commit time and resources to ensure access to healthy food and educational opportunities so all can learn, grow, and prosper.
Making A Difference Together
From 2015 to 2025, John Deere teams in the United Way Europe & Middle East region made significant contributions to support healthy communities and youth opportunity, building both local relationships and scalable solutions to food insecurity and education gaps.
537K+
beneficiaries
515K+
individuals provided with food
22K+
youth supported through education
23+
locations
John Deere currently supports workplace giving campaigns in 19 U.S. locations plus four countries internationally, with more locations being added this coming year.
Our employees' passion is as audacious as the loyalty it inspires. We want to make a powerful impact within our communities and around the world."
- Vanessa Buttignon, John Deere EU Public Affairs and Citizenship Manager
55+
years
John Deere helped start the United Way near their Moline, Illinois headquarters in the 1970s and has supported United Way Quad Cities every year since then.
We visited three farms in Massachusetts impacted by heavy flooding a few years ago. Local United Ways are helping these farmers rebuild. Seeing the John Deere tractors and knowing they are a strong partner made the experience even more meaningful."
- Will Gordon, United Way Worldwide Creative Director
Our Work
Learn more about the areas where United Way and John Deere partner to improve communities around the world.