Wherever Office Depot conducts business, we support nonprofit organizations with product donations and contributions of funds as well as by matching gifts of our associates to encourage them to become involved in helping their communities. Furthermore, every one of our retail stores, distribution centers and warehouses is matched with a local nonprofit organization to which it makes ongoing product donations.

Taking Care of Education

Our Company's commitment to education is longstanding and broad-based. Through far-reaching programs, we are pleased to be able to make an impact from kindergartens to university classrooms and laboratories. As part of our commitment to "Taking Care of Kids," we recognize the importance of supporting children, parents and teachers through several key programs designed to make a difference throughout the United States and Canada.

Office Depot is a founding member of the Business Education Network (BEN), which was created in 2005 by the Business Civic Leadership Center of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This coalition of businesses, chambers, educators and nonprofit organizations seeks to advance the global competitiveness of the U.S. education system and of America's future workforce. Our support helped to attract over 450 business and education leaders from 32 states to the inaugural BEN Summit in 2005.

National Backpack Program

Through its signature National Backpack Program, now in its seventh year, the Office Depot Foundation places new backpacks into the hands of children who might not otherwise have the proper tools for success. Prior to the start of the new school year, backpacks are donated to charitable organizations and schools on behalf of every Office Depot store in the United States and Canada. Since the program’s inception, more than
1 million backpacks have been given to deserving children. We often hear how these new backpacks help boost children’s self-esteem, confidence and pride.

In 2007 - for the third consecutive year - 300,000 backpacks will be donated. Special backpack presentation events are being planned for several South Florida cities – Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Delray Beach/Boca Raton and West Palm Beach – as well as in Orlando, Atlanta, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, New Orleans, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland (Oregon), Seattle, Vancouver, Toronto and Puerto Rico. In addition, the Office Depot Foundation will distribute backpacks through partnerships with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Communities In Schools, Feed The Children, the Kids In Need Foundation and the National Foundation for Women Legislators.

The Foundation is unable to accept requests for backpacks from individual organizations and schools this year.

Kids in Need Teacher Grants

Office Depot is proud to be a national sponsor of the Kids in Need Teacher Grants program, a project of the SHOPA (School, Home and Office Products Association) Kids in Need Foundation. The program provides K-12 educators in the United States with funding to help them realize their dreams of providing innovative learning opportunities for their students. Office Depot helps to engage students in the learning process by supporting our most creative and important educational resource - our nation's teachers. For more information on this exciting program, please visit www.kidsinneed.net.

"5% Back to Schools" Program

Office Depot is proud to support our schools and communities through the "5% Back to Schools" Program*. This program gives you an opportunity to help local schools receive credits for FREE supplies when you shop at Office Depot for student school supplies.

It's easy!

• Buy qualifying student school supplies at Office Depot
• Designate a local school to receive 5% of your qualifying purchase
• Office Depot will tally the qualifying purchases made during the program period
• Office Depot will award the designated school 5% of the qualifying purchases in credits the school can use for FREE SUPPLIES!*

Want to designate a school to receive 5% of your next school supply purchase? Visit your local Office Depot store to find a listing of "5% Back to Schools" ID numbers or designate the school of your choice at order confirmation.

Click Here to Find the Store Nearest You.

Visit your local Office Depot Store or call Office Depot Customer Relations at 1-800-GO-DEPOT (800-463-3768) for a list of qualifying student school supply items.

*5% of qualifying school supply purchases made during each program period will be offered to the participating school designated by each customer quarterly in the form of an Office Depot Merchandise Card (computers, technology items, furniture items and accessories, some bulk packaged products, ink & toner cartridges and Gift Cards are not qualifying purchases). Credits are not available to schools with less than $10 in tallied credits per quarter. Unaccepted/declined credits are void. Limited to Pre-K-12th grade. Other restrictions apply; visit your local Office Depot for details. Office Depot will honor up to $10 million in total credits to the designated schools that opt to participate.

Star Teacher Program

To recognize teachers for the difference they make in so many lives every day, Office Depot offers the Star Teacher Program throughout the United States and Canada. The program includes everyday discounts on purchases and a variety of special events and promotions during the year. Office Depot's popular Teacher Appreciation Breakfasts, which take place in the weeks prior to the opening of school, provide a welcoming atmosphere in the Company's retail stores where teachers have an opportunity to network with their colleagues and take advantage of special discounts.

Grand Openings

As Office Depot expands our network of retail stores across the United States, we not only open our doors to new customers, but we also welcome a wide variety of nonprofit organizations into our family. In conjunction with the Grand Opening of each new Office Depot, we make contributions to three charities serving children and families in the surrounding neighborhoods, towns and cities. Click here to view photos from recent Grand Openings around the nation.

Product Donations

Office Depot's product donation program is managed by Gifts In Kind International, the world's leading charity in product philanthropy. Each of Office Depot's retail stores, distribution centers and warehouses is matched to a nonprofit organization that helps children. On a regular basis, each Office Depot location makes a donation of products (supplies, furniture, business machines, etc.) to its matched charity.

Our ongoing Product Donation Program enables Office Depot to place its donated products in the hands of thousands of children's charities across the nation. For more information regarding Gifts In Kind International, and/or Office Depot's product donation program, please visit www.giftsinkind.org, send an e-mail to productdonations@giftsinkind.org. You may write to them at:

Gifts In Kind International
333 N. Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

Please Note: Product donations through Gifts In Kind International are ongoing and involve a membership fee.

Sponsorships and Other Support

Each year, Office Depot supports a limited number of nonprofit organizations, initiatives and events in key markets where the company conducts business. Such support may take the form of store gift certificates, event sponsorships, and marketing and branding opportunities. These relationships are typically initiated by Office Depot. Unsolicited proposals are discouraged.

Office Depot is proud to help a large number of local nonprofit organizations every year. To aid in the review of requests for corporate support, we have established the following criteria:

• The nonprofit organization must be aligned with Office Depot's mission to directly impact the health, education and welfare of children.
• Funds provided by Office Depot must directly assist children.
• The inquiring organization must provide background on the specific program and other funding sources.
• The organization must have an established track record of community advocacy and a clear direction for its future initiatives.
• The organization must have 501(c)(3) status.
• The organization must provide a Federal Tax Identification Number

Office Depot does not contribute to individuals and does not make donations in return for advertising. We also do not make donations to:

• Athletic Teams or Events
• Fashion Shows
• Project Graduation
• Fundraising Dinners/Auctions
• Capital Campaigns
• Individual or Group Travel
• Political Causes
• Film/Video Projects
• Nonprofit organizations that spend more than 25% of their revenue on management overhead and fundraising expenses.

Request Support from Office Depot

To request support from Office Depot for one of the purposes described above, please provide a brief description of your organization, your Federal Tax ID number, an explanation of what is being requested and the rationale based on our charitable giving guidelines. The request should be on your organization's letterhead. You must also provide a copy of your IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter. Send your request to:

Office Depot
2200 Old Germantown Road
Delray Beach, FL 33445
Attn: Donations

Please allow four weeks for Office Depot to review and respond to your request. If you have questions, please e-mail communityrelations@officedepot.com.

Office Depot Affiliate Program

From grassroots nonprofit organizations and small businesses to large-scale initiatives serving the entire nation, the Office Depot Affiliate Program provides its members with a simple and effective way to generate income. Businesses and organizations that join the Office Depot Affiliate Program agree to place links from OfficeDepot.com directly on their own websites. By doing so, they give their members, customers or clients the opportunity to choose from thousands of office supplies, furniture and technology items as well as to access useful information from Office Depot's small business services center.

The Office Depot Affiliate Program offers an excellent example of our Company's vision - Delivering Winning Solutions That Inspire Worklife™ - in action. Not only does it give nonprofit organizations and businesses a way to build instant credibility by associating with our corporate brand, but it also makes it possible for them to drive revenue, which helps to sustain their operations and enables them to grow. It also helps our customers with discounts, savings and other benefits.

Please click here for information about how to join the Office Depot Affiliate Program.