Merck's philanthropic programs and giving approach are guided by the following three priority areas:

• Health: We support programs that focus on innovative ways to improve healthcare quality, capacity and access, as well as those working to alleviate barriers to good health. We share results and best practices that help expand knowledge and advance the healthcare field. Through this work, we are discovering better ways to improve human health outcomes.
• Education: We support programs that foster educational opportunity, eliminate achievement gaps among disadvantaged people, and expand quality education in science. We also share results that contribute to knowledge creation and best practices. As a result, we are discovering better ways to improve human health through educational empowerment.

• Community: We provide financial support and share Merck innovations and the expertise of our employees with programs that focus on solving critical community health and social issues where Merck has a presence. In so doing, we are discovering better ways to improve human health through community involvement and employee engagement.

  Through our philanthropic programs we have the ability to make a positive impact on healthcare access and capacity building, educational opportunities and academic achievement, and quality of life issues facing the world's communities. We believe that helping to improve global health is one of the most responsible and important ways we can actively engage in finding solutions to global challenges.

Governance

We recognize that our customers, communities, neighbors and investors have an interest in how we conduct ourselves and how we support our commitment to society. Our philanthropy must also reflect efficient, responsible and ethical judgment and behavior. This is why Merck's Executive Committee and the Board Committee on Public Policy and Social Responsibility annually review our philanthropic programs and initiatives. In addition, the Office of Corporate Philanthropy and The Merck Company Foundation were audited internally in 2010 to ensure uniformity in our giving criteria and grant making, accurate outcomes data for our philanthropic programs, and compliance and transparency.

In 2010, we launched an online grants management system. The system is global in reach allowing organizations seeking cash contributions to submit proposals online. It also facilitates the completion of all compliance documentation before we review individual funding requests.

We manage our philanthropic giving through three mechanisms:

• The Merck Company Foundation serves as the company's chief source of funding support to qualified non-profit charitable and philanthropic organizations whose initiatives address important societal needs and whose goals are consistent with our giving priorities. Established in 1957, The Merck Company Foundation is a U.S.-based private foundation funded entirely by Merck.
• Office of Corporate Philanthropy supports charitable work through cash donations and employee volunteerism that contribute not only to the health and well-being of people around the world, but also to Merck employees, our neighbors and others in communities where employees live and work, and where the company conducts business. The Office of Corporate Philanthropy also coordinates Merck's response to disasters throughout the world.
• Office of Corporate Responsibility engages with a range of stakeholders on initiatives that build health care capacity and provides donations of Merck's medicines and vaccines, primarily in the developing world. The group manages the Merck Medical Outreach Program, the primary mechanism through which Merck donates its pharmaceuticals and vaccines for humanitarian assistance in the developing world and in support of disaster relief and emergencies worldwide. The Office of Corporate Responsibility also manages the Merck MECTIZAN^® Donation Program and developing world vaccine access programs.

To learn more about Merck's online grants management and application system, click here.