GIVING BACK
How General Mills Gives Back in Minnesota
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Published From local school support to employee volunteerism, General Mills’ Minnesota roots have helped shape a longstanding commitment to stronger communities.
From local school support to employee volunteerism, General Mills’ Minnesota roots have helped shape a longstanding commitment to stronger communities.
Last week, five Minnesota schools each received $10,000 in celebration of Box Tops for Education’s 30th anniversary, contributing $50,000 in support to local classrooms.
This donation is part of a much bigger story. For three decades, Box Tops for Education has helped families across the country turn everyday grocery purchases into funds for schools, raising nearly $1 billion nationwide. It’s also part of General Mills’ longstanding commitment to education and the communities we call home. Here in Minnesota, schools earned more than $142,000 through the Box Tops program last year.
As the Box Tops program celebrates this major milestone we're reflecting on General Mills’ long history and commitment to education and community investment in Minnesota.
When Box Tops for Education began in 1996, families clipped Box Tops from participating product packages and schools collected them to mail-in. Classrooms made it a team effort, and schools used the funds for needs such as supplies, playground equipment, field trips and learning programs.
Today, families can support their school by simply scanning receipts for participating products or connecting their Walmart account in the Box Tops app.
For its 30th anniversary, Box Tops brought back a bit of nostalgia with “Saved by the Box Tops,” a campaign featuring the cast of the ’90s hit sitcom “Saved by the Bell.” As part of the campaign, Box Tops is awarding $10,000 each to 30 schools in need for the 2026–2027 academic year, to help fund books, school renovations, extracurricular activities and other resources. The five Minnesota schools are part of this celebration.
While much of our community support happens locally, Box Tops for Education gives families nationwide a way to carry that spirit forward — one receipt at a time.
Our connection to education in Minnesota began long before Box Tops, with our predecessor, the Washburn-Crosby Company, a Minneapolis flour-milling business.
The company’s founder, Cadwallader Washburn, left funding in his will to establish the Washburn Memorial Orphan Asylum. When it opened in 1886, it provided orphaned children with a caring home and education. Today, that legacy continues through Washburn Center for Children.
William Hood Dunwoody, a partner in the Washburn-Crosby Company, also supported education. His philanthropy helped establish the William Hood Dunwoody Industrial Institute in 1914, expanding opportunities for young people to gain practical and technical skills. The school is now Dunwoody College of Technology.
In 1928, the Washburn-Crosby Company joined other regional millers to form General Mills. More than 25 years later, in 1954, the General Mills Foundation was established with a focus on supporting public education.
Today, we continue to build on our longstanding commitment to giving back through employee volunteerism, charitable giving and food donations. In fiscal 2025, we contributed more than $83 million in food and charitable donations worldwide.
That commitment starts close to home, where our employees and community partners help bring this work to life. Through GoodWorks, our pro bono volunteer program, General Mills employees share their professional skills and expertise with entrepreneurs and community organizations across the Twin Cities. Since the program began in 2009, more than 250 employee volunteers have contributed to more than 70 projects, helping local organizations grow.
We also work alongside nonprofit partners across Minnesota to support the communities they serve. In 2025, more than 450 Minnesota charities – including NEON, Northside Achievement Zone, Best Prep, Boys & Girls Club and Way to Grow – received funding from General Mills.
Food donations also play an important role in our community support. Through longstanding relationships with organizations like Second Harvest Heartland, we help improve food access and support people experiencing food insecurity right here in our backyard.
Together, these efforts help strengthen local organizations and support the people and communities that need it most.
From our roots in Minneapolis to our work supporting communities globally, investing in education has long been part of our story.
Families can be part of that impact by downloading the Box Tops for Education app, shopping for participating products and scanning their receipts to earn cash for their school.
To learn more, visit BoxTops4Education.com and follow @btfe on Instagram for updates and more ways to earn throughout the year.
The nostalgic “Saved by the Box Tops” campaign brings together iconic classmates, retro-inspired packaging and $300,000 in funding for schools nationwide.
