American Girl has a long-standing commitment to children's charities nationwide. The company has generated millions of dollars for programs that support education, literacy, environmental awareness, multicultural appreciation, and fine arts for children through innovative partnerships with nonprofit organizations.

American Girl administers its philanthropic efforts in several ways:

American Girl Fashion Show: American Girl offers nonprofit organizations a fully conceived fund-raising Fashion Show event that leverages the widespread appeal of the American Girl brand to raise funds for children’s charities. Blending learning with entertainment, the American Girl Fashion Show offers a unique, memorable experience for girls and their families and friends. Since 1992, American Girl events have generated millions of dollars for worthwhile causes nationwide.        

United Way:  Since 1992, American Girl has generously invested in United Way campaigns in those areas where its employees live and work. In addition, every holiday season American Girl volunteers repair returned and damaged dolls for distribution to families in need through the local United Way chapters. 

Special Olympics: As part of Mattel’s global partnership with Special Olympics, American Girl provides employee volunteers to assist at local Special Olympics athletic events held throughout the year. By providing support and encouragement to the individual athletes, American Girl’s volunteers help further Special Olympics’ mission to empower people with intellectual disabilities through sports training and competition.

Charitable Donations:  American Girl donates its award-winning dolls and books to schools, libraries, and other children’s organizations seeking product contributions for raffle and auction fundraisers. To date, the company has donated hundreds of thousands of dolls and books to nonprofits throughout the country. American Girl has also liquidated several million dollars worth of children’s clothing through Kids in Distressed Situations (KIDS), an organization that partners with many of the leading toy and apparel manufacturers to assist children in need throughout the world.

Madison Children’s Museum:  American Girl donates seconds and returned merchandise to the Madison Children’s Museum, whose volunteers refurbish the products for an annual benefit sale. Since American Girl initiated this unique partnership in 1988, the Annual Benefit Sale has raised over $17 million and attracted more than 140,000 shoppers from around the country.

American Girl’s Fund for Children: A percentage of the proceeds generated by the Madison Children’s Museum sale is returned to American Girl and redistributed through the company’s Fund for Children (FFC). The FFC provides grants for philanthropic programs throughout Dane County that enhance children’s education in the arts and environment. To date, American Girl’s Fund for Children has awarded over $6 million to numerous nonprofits. Within Dane County, the Fund for Children grants have built The Aldo Leopold Nature Center and Nature Net, a collaborative consortium of natural sites in southern Wisconsin dedicated to environmental education of elementary school children; established Onstage: A Performing Arts Series for Students and the Kids in the Rotunda performances at the Overture Center for the Arts; and supported hundreds of local performance groups and artist-in-residence programs throughout the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission.