Community Engagement

Connecting the World Through Community Impact
At Delta we know the actions of one can make the difference to many, in communities as near as our own backyards or as far as the horizon. Because it’s not just about where we fly —it’s about who we lift along the way.

Whether it’s helping a child chase their dreams or ensuring food reaches families in need, the spirit of Delta lives in every act of care — and you can be part of it.  Donate miles through SkyWish or contribute to one of our Delta-supported fundraisers. Together, we can make a world worth traveling.

We are on a mission to connect the world, and it begins with the communities where our employees live, work and serve. Giving back to our communities has been core to Delta and its culture for nearly 100 years, and we are just getting started.
Delta Employee Planting Trees Delta Employee Planting Trees

Environment

Through Delta's community partnerships and corporate sustainability goals, we are cultivating sustainable and livable communities locally as we combat climate change globally. From planting trees to increase the tree canopy in urban areas and ultimately create more equitable, healthier neighborhoods, to an on-board recycling program that has turned recycled plastic and oil into funding for 12 Habitat for Humanity homes, Delta is committed to creating a more sustainable planet.  

Expanded Tree Coverage Leads to More Equitable Neighborhoods 

In the U.S., people of color are three times more likely to live in nature-deprived areas, with neighborhoods with higher numbers of Black residents tending to be hotter than other neighborhoods in the same city. Delta served as the seed partner to help launch the Downtown Tree Planting Plan, created by Trees Atlanta and Central Atlanta Progress. This effort aims to double the tree canopy in downtown Atlanta by planting 8,000 trees over 10 years. Nationally, Delta people are helping create healthier, more equitable communities with similar tree-planting initiatives in Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York City, Salt Lake City and Seattle.   

Environment Partnership Highlights

  • Tree planting and greenspace partners in Delta hubs and targeted markets across the U.S.
  • $14M to Global Citizen to help reach the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030
  • $1M to radically transform Atlanta’s 16-acre Cook Park into a vital urban greenspace

Equity

Delta is committed to pursuing a more fair and just world by partnering with organizations that work to expand economic opportunity for all while closing the access gap for future generations. Delta’s work spans providing emergency retention grants to help students combat financial pressures that are a barrier to degree completion to supporting programs that ensure every American has access to jobs with a living wage and good benefits. 

 

HBCU Graduates Interviewed by Delta HBCU Graduates Interviewed by Delta

Fueling Futures for HBCU Students

Accredited historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) enroll over 300,000 students each year, including many who are the most at risk of not completing college: low-income, first-generation college students. Delta’s partnership with UNCF helps raise funds for HBCU students and students of color seeking a higher education. In 2023, Delta was honored with UNCF's Keeper of the Flame Award, the organization's most prestigious honor. The award commemorates Delta's dedicated and successful partnership with UNCF that has seen Delta contribute nearly $5.8 million to UNCF programs specifically benefiting HBCU students. 

Equity Partnership Highlights

  • $1.6M to UNCF for financial aid to help underrepresented students combat financial pressures that may prevent them from completing their degrees
  • OneTen founding partner helping to advance 1 million Black individuals into family-sustaining careers over 10 years
  • Delta has made contributions to organizations and initiatives founded in the honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ambassador Andrew J. Young, Rep. John Lewis, Rev. C.T. Vivian, Rev. Joseph Lowery, Rev. Hosea Williams, Xernona Clayton and Hank Aaron to continue the work of these icons of the civil rights era.
Female Pilot in Flight Deck with Two Program Participants Female Pilot in Flight Deck with Two Program Participants

Education

Partnering with more than 100 educational organizations worldwide, Delta connects tomorrow's employees, customers and communities with skills and experiences they need to take on the world with purpose. Through curriculum that teaches students financial literacy and work readiness to a reengineered classroom experience that pushes the boundaries of traditional learning, Delta is reshaping the talent pipeline of the future.  

Reframing High School Education

As real-world challenges continue to evolve, a new model of education is seeking to equip students through relevant, experiential and authentic curriculum. As one of the early supporters of 3DE, Delta is helping students at 51 public high schools in 11 states access this new way of learning and prepare for life beyond the classroom walls. 

Education Partnership Highlights

  • Support for 30 Junior Achievement chapters across five continents to teach students financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship
  • Support for 51 3DE programs in public high schools in 11 states to re-engineer education to better reflect the real world
  • Over 2,300 scholarships for National Flight Academy to inspire interest in aviation and STEM careers among youth 

Entire Wellness

Through these nonprofit partnerships, Delta aims to nurture all the aspects of wellness – physical, emotional, financial, social and more – to prepare members of our communities for thriving futures and flourishing lives. Delta people roll up their sleeves to give the gift of life through blood donations, build homes and playgrounds to promote healthier, more equitable communities and help secure stable,  prosperous futures for all by providing financial coaching.

Delta Employee Gives Blood at Flight Museum Drive Delta Employee Gives Blood at Flight Museum Drive

80+ Years of Partnership: Delta and The American Red Cross 

Delta Air Lines and the American Red Cross first joined forces in 1941 during World War II, making it Delta’s longest-standing nonprofit partner. Delta employees, retirees and customers contributed 15,053 units of blood at 348 drives in 72 locations across the country during the 2023 fiscal year (July 2022 – June 2023), helping Delta maintain its position as the No. 1 U.S. corporate blood drive sponsor for the sixth consecutive year (see below). Along with serving as an Annual Disaster Giving Program member at the $1 million level, Delta provides additional support for pressing humanitarian crises around the world, providing financial aid and resources to communities facing disaster. 

Wellness Partnership Highlights

  • Helped build or rehab 283 homes in 13 countries with Habitat for Humanity since 1995
  • Support for 21 food banks across three continents
  • Support of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization
  • Delta’s global hospital support includes 13 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, plus other leading hospitals like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Mayo Clinic Children's Center

Our Additional Pillars of Giving

Return to Normandy

Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion

ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Delta takes a stand against human trafficking with impactful monthlong programming

DIVERSITY

All aboard as Delta people take part in Amsterdam’s colorful Canal Parade to celebrate Pride

CIVIC LEADERSHIP

Ed Bastian receives Four Pillar Award for leadership and commitment to economic development in Atlanta

Contribute to Delta-Supported Fundraisers
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American Red Cross

Across the world, we activate our people, partnerships and aircraft fleet to meet the humanitarian needs of our global communities. The American Red Cross uses donations to mobilize its workforce during emergencies to provide critical aid for those in need.

American Cancer Society

2023 saw Delta’s 21st year of partnership with the American Cancer Society, raising nearly $20 million during that time through a number of grassroots employee initiatives. Delta’s Relay for Life and Jet Drag events, which together had over 8,500 participants, collectively raised $1.15M for the organization. 

BCRF

Since 2005, Delta employees and customers have raised over $24 million for Breast Cancer Research Foundation, including a record-breaking $3 million during the 2023 campaign. To kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Delta’s iconic Pink Plane carried more than 150 employee breast cancer survivors on the “Breast Cancer One” survivor flight. , Go to footer note

Covenant House

Delta provides support to Covenant House through sponsorship of nine houses. Each year, Delta employees across the country participate in Covenant House's Sleep Out, giving up their beds for a night in solidarity with homeless youth, or help fundraise if they are unable to participate.

United Way

Each year, Delta supports United Way, opens in a new window with employee, customer and corporate contributions. Among Delta’s senior leaders, there is a 100 percent participation rate in giving to United Way. In 2023, Delta people raised $1.8 million for the organization. 

Points of Light "The Civic 50" Winner Emblem Points of Light "The Civic 50" Winner Emblem

Industrials Sector Lead, Points of Light Civic 50

Recognized as one of the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States, Delta has been named an honoree of The Civic 50 by Points of Light, the world's largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, for the seventh year in a row. In 2024, Delta was again the only airline named to the list.

 

Red Cross #1 Corporate Blood Drive Sponsor Emblem Red Cross #1 Corporate Blood Drive Sponsor Emblem

#1 American Red Cross Corporate Blood Drive Sponsor since 2018

Delta people’s steadfast commitment to life-giving blood drives made the airline the No. 1 corporate blood drive sponsor of the American Red Cross for a seventh consecutive year, with employees, retirees and customers contributing a record 15,585 units of blood in fiscal year 2024 (FYE 6/30).

 

The Delta Difference: Humanitarian Response
Across the world, we activate our people, partnerships and aircraft fleet to meet the humanitarian needs of our global communities.

Disaster Relief

Delta swiftly responds to national disasters across our global communities, from relief in the wake of the Hawaii Wildfires, to Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, to the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

SUPPORTING UKRAINE

Delta has contributed $1 million to the American Red Cross and Global Red Cross Movement in support of humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine, with Delta customers helping raise an additional $1 million.

EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

Delta Air Lines contributed $100,000 to the American Red Cross in support of Turkey and Syria following a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck southeast Turkey early February, 2023.

Latest News
In anticipation of Delta's annual Girls LEAD! Camp in partnership with Junior Achievement Africa, 12 young female leaders received the opportunity to grow in their professional and personal leadership skills. 
This contribution is in addition to the $1 million grant to the American Red Cross as an Annual Disaster Giving Program partner from The Delta Air Lines Foundation.
Giving back has been core to Delta's culture for nearly 100 years. Here are some of the ways Delta and its people gave back to communities across the world in 2024.

Reports

Delta’s Commitments to People and the Planet

Beyond community engagement, Delta is committed to being good stewards of the planet and the people within it in all we do. Review our latest ESG Report, which highlights Delta’s intention to be a catalyst for global change, as well as read about our corporate commitments to Sustainability and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.