Mars Impact Fund – summary
- Mars launches Impact Fund supporting community resilience in cocoa regions
- Three million dollar grant expands VSLAs and strengthens Indonesian cocoa communities
- Programme empowers women and young people through inclusive decision making structures
- Child wellbeing efforts address labour risks and promote education participation
- Initiative advances climate adaptation using agroforestry and disaster planning tools
Confectionery giant Mars, Inc. has launched the Mars Impact Fund, aimed at providing a “meaningful and lasting impact” in the communities it operates.
The Fund has selected Save the Children as one of its initial grant recipients and approved a three-year, $3m (€2.5M) grant to help expand Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and strengthen community resilience programmes in cocoa-growing areas of Indonesia.
Supporting cocoa growers
“Delivering impact starts with listening to communities and working with partners that understand local needs,” says Michelle Grogg, executive director of the Mars Impact Fund. “We are pleased to work with Save the Children to advance financial inclusion, income diversification and climate-smart practices – all critical for improving livelihoods and strengthening resilience.”
The work, says Mars, will complement the Mars Village Cluster projects led by the Cocoa business which are currently focused on productivity and agroforestry.
The initiative also aims to build the capacity of local civil society organisations and “community champions”, enabling them to lead and replicate these approaches independently.
“The partnership programme with Save the Children emphasises Mars’ commitment in Indonesia to supporting community empowerment and social resilience in cocoa-producing regions,” says Marlyn Sumbung, president director of PT Mars Symbioscience Indonesia. “Through the development of the VSLAs and other community resilience initiatives, we believe that women’s economic empowerment and climate-friendly agricultural practices will open up new opportunities for farmers and their families.”
The Mars Impact Fund
The Mars Impact Fund will support:
- Economic empowerment: 85 VSLAs mobilising savings and investments for income-generating activities, benefiting 17,250 farmers (60% women)
- Social resilience: Women and young people actively participating in decision-making, supported by functional multi-stakeholder forums and Community Action Plans
- Child wellbeing: Integrated child protection groups addressing child labour, school attendance, and positive parenting in 115 villages
- Climate adaptation: Communities equipped with disaster preparedness plans and climate-smart agricultural practices.
Mars has partnered with Save the Children worldwide, for more than 14 years, advancing child welfare, women’s economic empowerment, and resilient supply chains.
“The long-standing collaboration between Save the Children and Mars reflects our shared dedication to improving children’s wellbeing, expanding opportunities for women and girls, and strengthening resilient supply chains,” says Dessy Kurwiany Ukar, CEO of Save the Children Indonesia.
The Mars Impact Fund will focus on:
- Boost sourcing community resiliency: Supporting farm families and communities to improve livelihoods, wellbeing, and resilience
- Grow and diversify the pipeline of scientists: Expanding opportunities for scientists, especially in food, agriculture, and petcare
- Improve companion animal wellbeing: Increasing access to veterinary care and support for pets in under-resourced homes and communities.
Industry impact and potential
The challenges facing cocoa‑growing regions – from climate volatility and economic insecurity to persistent social issues – are not unique to Mars’ supply chain. They’re shared across the industry.
And as pressure mounts from consumers, investors, and regulators for companies to demonstrate real, measurable impact, initiatives like the Mars Impact Fund may signal a shift towards more community‑driven models of sustainability.
By pairing long-term funding with collaborative, locally informed programmes, Mars is positioning the Fund as both a catalyst and a blueprint – a way to demonstrate how social impact, climate adaptation, and resilient sourcing can reinforce one another.
If successful, the work in Indonesia could set a precedent for what responsible cocoa sourcing looks like – not only for Mars, but for confectionery manufacturers of all sizes who rely on the same landscapes and communities.
