Mars pledges $13 mln to communities, science, animal welfare

05 / 09 / 2026

By Marwa Nassar - -

Mars has pledged more than $13 million through its Mars Impact Fund to support communities, advance opportunities for the next generation of scientists and improve animal welfare through six new partnerships across Côte d’Ivoire, India, the United States and Thailand.

The grants to Elucid, Tanager, People’s Action for National Integration (PANI), Pratham Education Foundation, National 4-H Council and Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) will fund healthcare and income opportunities for farming communities, career pathways for young people, and efforts to expand access to veterinary care and accelerate rabies elimination.

“The Mars Impact Fund aims to develop long-term partnerships that deliver sustained impact over time,” said Michelle Grogg, executive director of the Mars Impact Fund. “We are confident that these multi-year investments in Elucid, WVS, National 4-H, Tanager, Pratham Education Foundation and PANI will improve farmer livelihoods, increase opportunities for youth and improve the health of people and pets in our communities.”

$4 mln for cocoa communities:

Mars is providing Elucid with $2.07 million over three years, alongside about $2 million in matching funds from Gavi, to expand healthcare access for up to 12,750 cocoa-farming households in Côte d’Ivoire.

The program will combine enrollment in the national health insurance scheme with complementary coverage for services and costs not fully covered by the public system.

It will also invest in rural clinics, mobile healthcare and maternal and child health services, while Gavi’s funding will support vaccination and disease-prevention programs reaching at least 200,000 people.

$5.6 mln for Indian farmers:

In India, Mars is investing $5.6 million to support more resilient mint-farming communities.

Through a new partnership with Tanager, 20,000 mint-farming families will be supported in raising farm income by diversifying into crops including potatoes, mustard and rice.

Mars also plans to work with Pratham Education Foundation to improve early childhood development and school readiness for 3,000 children in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh.

A planned partnership with PANI will focus on reducing child undernutrition and establishing sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure in rural schools.

The investments build on the Mars Shubh Mint program, which has reached more than 24,000 farmers, more than doubling mint incomes while cutting production costs by about 20%.

$3 mln to prepare young scientists:

In the US, the Fund is committing $3 million to National 4-H Council to introduce up to 200,000 young people to careers in food, agriculture and veterinary sciences.

The initiative will offer hands-on learning, leadership development and career-focused experiences, alongside innovation grants for 4-H programs, immersive leadership events and digital career exploration tools.

Another 60 teenagers will receive full scholarships to attend Ignite by 4-H, a youth leadership event focused on skills, career preparation and professional connections.

$3 mln to fight rabies:

The Fund is investing another $3 million in WVS to support final-mile rabies elimination in Thailand.

Working with Thailand’s government-led efforts, WVS will provide veterinary expertise and field support to reach free-roaming and hard-to-reach dog populations, strengthen rabies surveillance and build the capacity of veterinary and public health teams.

The program will also support training through the WVS International Training Centre in Chiang Mai, helping strengthen Thailand’s national One Health response capabilities.

Earlier 2026 grants:

The latest awards add to the Mars Impact Fund’s global portfolio launched earlier this year.

Previous grants include $1 million to World Central Kitchen for earthquake relief in Venezuela, €1.5 million to the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings for fellowships for early-career researchers, $3 million to Save the Children to strengthen resilience in cocoa-growing communities in Indonesia, and $726,000 to Humane World for Animals to expand veterinary care in India and Mexico.