Community
We improve the lives of women and families in our communities. We strive to make a positive difference in the communities where we live and work. That’s why, in 2016, we created the Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation (UBCF) to enhance the wellbeing and education of women and families. Women make up the majority of our guests and our associates, and our donations help women across the country live to their fullest potential.
Our philanthropic efforts began in 2009, when we began our partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Since then, we have broadened our focus to support other organizations that help women and families thrive. We have since added two more national partners, Save the Children® and Dress for Success® Worldwide, who we support each year with monetary and in-kind donations, board leadership and volunteer service. For the first time in 2022, UBCF will also donate $2 million to BIPOC and LGBTQ+-focused nonprofits, while offering volunteering and education opportunities for associates. UBCF has its own board made up of Ulta Beauty executives who help set policy and direction for the Foundation.
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Works to prevent and cure breast cancer by supporting clinical and translational research at medical institutions across the world. Our donations fund the work of a diverse group of researchers. This support covers the entire spectrum of breast cancer research—from understanding metastatic disease to identifying new targets and treatments. We’ve been a partner since 2009.
- $42 million raised since 2009
- Set a goal to fund 1 million hours of breast cancer research by 2024, equivalent to $50 million in funding
- Held our second Beauty on the Move, a virtual fitness event that raised funds and encouraged associates to stay healthy
- Fund 19 researchers across three countries, two of whom recently published results of the first large, multicenter study to improve the accuracy of breast cancer risk assessment by identifying gene mutations for women without a family history of the disease.
BCRF could not do what it does without Ulta Beauty. The research projects Ulta Beauty funds enable us to advance areas of cancer research such as the efficacy of liquid biopsies, which will give us the opportunity to get better information from a simple blood draw rather than an invasive biopsy. This is game-changing for patients, accelerating a cure and survivorship.
Save The Children
Works to give vulnerable children in the U.S. and around the world a healthy start in life and the opportunity to learn. We implement a program once a year at the in-store point of sale. Associates also wore red in 2020 to raise awareness with guests, and associates had the opportunity to write letters to children in vulnerable communities. We’ve been a partner since 2016.
- Doubled our fundraising compared to 2020, raising $2.4 million to help feed families and keep children learning in the U.S.
- Purchased over 2,000 books celebrating diversity, which were distributed to children learning from home during the pandemic
- Provided free haircuts, treatments and skin services to Save the Children employees as a token of our appreciation for all they do to care for our underserved communities
- Allocated funding to buy supplies in India during the COVID-19 surge there
Dress for Success
Empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the tools to help them thrive in work and in life. UBCF provides Dress for Success® Worldwide with financial support, products and associate volunteer time. We adjusted to provide services virtually in 2020 where we connected clients with job openings at Ulta Beauty, as well as provided general interviewing and job search advice. We’ve been a partner since 2017.
- Nearly $1 million donated since 2017 to help women achieve economic independence
- Held virtual career coaching and mentoring sessions
- Provided Board leadership through our Senior Vice President of Store Operations, Kelly Cusick-Dropchinski
Involvement
Wherever possible, we engage associates and guests in programs for giving back. During a typical year, associates will donate their time and talents to, for example, create hair and makeup styles for women looking to find employment or undergoing treatment for breast cancer, organize donation drives or participate in fundraising races. Meanwhile, guests can make contributions to our national partners at the register or online, and participate in Cut for a Cause®, where the cost of a service is donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. Due to COVID-19, many of these in-person events have been temporarily suspended, and, as a result, we have shifted to focus on matching gifts for associates and reaching guests and our nonprofit partners’ clients online.
In late 2020, we organized Beauty on the Move, a virtual fitness event benefiting BCRF® and open to all associates. Associates pledged to get moving by running, walking, swimming or biking, and raised funds through donations from family and friends. More than 450 associates took part in the event and collectively raised nearly $110,000 for BCRF®.
Supporting diverse communities near and far
Ulta Beauty’s corporate headquarters are located just outside the city of Chicago and supporting organizations that support the area is one of our priorities. We’re also building partnerships with nonprofits that empower underserved individuals in Chicago and beyond.
While UBCF remains focused on supporting women and families, we are also increasingly broadening our support to include organizations fighting for racial equality and that serve BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. Racism, homophobia and other forms of discrimination affect millions of women and young people, and we recognize the need for an intersectional approach.
We are doing this by surveying our community partners to better understand their DEI commitments and strategies, increasing our investments in groups that work with underserved communities, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters Chicago and Metropolitan Family Services and matching Ulta Beauty leaders, many of whom are diverse, with seats on nonprofit boards.
Over the past few years, we have also developed relationships with the Chicago Area Urban League, which works to achieve equity for Black families and communities through social and economic empowerment; and Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, which helps unemployed job seekers re-enter the workforce. Our support takes the form of donations, board service, volunteer time and even hands-on training on topics like interview skills. We increased our support for both of these organizations in 2020. We have hired more than 170 Chicagoans since we formed our partnership with Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, and the organization named us the 2020 Champion for the Unemployed for our efforts to hire the underserved and empower even more individuals to use their talents and skills to build a better future.
At this time, we are unable to accommodate unsolicited requests for donations, sponsorships, products or gift cards. We thank you for your understanding, and questions may be directed to communityrelations@ulta.com.
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