Creating A Sustainable Future Together

Last fall, Ecolab announced a commitment of $5 million to create a sustainable future together with the University of Minnesota.

The generous gift is the largest gift ever from the Ecolab Foundation to the U. The Carlson School of Management received $750,000, a significant part of the company’s overall commitment, to establish the Ecolab Scholars program.

Steeped in the ethos of “business as a force for good,” Carlson graduates enter the workforce with a sense of social responsibility in the business fields addressing grand challenges.

Ecolab Scholars will build the Carlson School’s capacity to deliver a diverse and globally prepared workforce by funding scholarships to undergraduate students that support business degrees and international experiences. This investment equips students to address the real and growing risks to our shared environment.

“Our students are ambitious, career conscious, and passionate about causes greater than themselves,” says Raj Singh, associate dean for Undergraduate Programs. “Ecolab's gift gives them substantial financial support and also gives them permission to engage with their passion for sustainability. I believe this will enrich their academic experience and help them discover the path they want to travel in the future.”

It is estimated the gift will support nearly 40 Ecolab Scholars over the next six years.

In addition, to support for Carlson School undergraduate scholarships, the gift will also create University-wide scholarships, endow the Ecolab 
Chair for Environmental Leadership at Institute on the Environment (IonE), and outreach initiatives led by IonE.

Ecolab and the Carlson School, By the Numbers

37 years of consecutive giving to the Carlson School

More than 275 Carlson School alumni are currently working at Ecolab

10 years as a Carlson Global Institute partner with site visits and global business practicum

$2 million in total giving to the Carlson School