• Mars Impact Fund is awarding more than $13 million across six partnerships spanning Côte d’Ivoire, India, the United States and Thailand.
• Funding will target healthcare, farmer income, education, science careers and rabies elimination across key sourcing and operating communities.
• The grants expand Mars’ 2026 social impact portfolio, with a focus on long-term community resilience and measurable development outcomes.

Mars, Incorporated is committing more than $13 million through six new multi-year grants aimed at strengthening communities, developing future scientists and improving animal health.

The latest funding from the Mars Impact Fund supports partnerships with Elucid, Tanager, Pratham Education Foundation, People’s Action for National Integration, National 4-H Council and Worldwide Veterinary Service.

Projects will operate across Côte d’Ivoire, India, the United States and Thailand. They address several areas closely tied to corporate sustainability strategies, including rural healthcare, agricultural livelihoods, education and One Health systems.

“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.“

Healthcare and income support for farming communities

In Côte d’Ivoire, Mars is providing $2.07 million over three years to Elucid. The project will also receive about $2 million in matching funding from Gavi.

The initiative is designed to give up to 12,750 cocoa-farming households greater access to affordable healthcare. Families will be supported in enrolling in Côte d’Ivoire’s national health insurance system. Additional coverage will address services and costs not fully covered by the public scheme.

Funding will also support rural clinics, mobile health services and maternal and child healthcare. Gavi’s contribution is expected to expand vaccination and disease prevention programs to at least 200,000 people.

In India, Mars is committing $5.6 million to strengthen the economic resilience of mint-growing communities.

Tanager will work with 20,000 farming families to increase income from crops beyond mint. Those crops include potato, 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 separate planned partnership with People’s Action for National Integration will address child undernutrition. It will also support sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure in rural schools.

The projects build on the Mars Shubh Mint program, which has worked with more than 24,000 farmers. Mars says the program has more than doubled mint incomes while reducing production costs by around 20%.

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$3M backs future science and agriculture talent

In the United States, the Fund is committing $3 million to National 4-H Council.

The initiative aims to engage up to 200,000 young people in food, agriculture and veterinary science careers. Funding will support hands-on education, leadership development, digital career tools and community-level innovation grants.

Sixty teenagers will also receive full scholarships to attend Ignite by 4-H, a youth leadership program focused on skills, confidence and career preparation.

For employers and investors, the initiative reflects the growing corporate focus on talent pipelines linked to food systems, agriculture and animal health.

Thailand funding targets final-mile rabies elimination

Mars is also investing $3 million in Worldwide Veterinary Service to support rabies elimination efforts in Thailand.

Working alongside government programs, WVS will focus on free-roaming and difficult-to-reach dog populations. It will also strengthen rabies surveillance and veterinary capacity.

Training will include support through the WVS International Training Centre in Chiang Mai.

The investment brings public health and animal welfare objectives together through Thailand’s One Health framework. That approach recognizes the links between human, animal and environmental health.

The new grants expand a Mars Impact Fund portfolio launched in 2026. Earlier commitments include $1 million for earthquake relief in Venezuela, €1.5 million for scientific fellowships, $3 million for cocoa-community resilience in Indonesia and $726,000 to expand veterinary care in India and Mexico.

For companies with complex agricultural supply chains, the program illustrates a broader ESG shift toward interventions that connect sourcing security with health, education and local economic resilience. Such investments can also reduce long-term operational risk while aligning corporate capital with social and development priorities across global markets.