A Look at the Arby’s Foundation’s Grantmaking in Georgia and the Southeast
/ Alyssa Ochs
The fast-food restaurant chain Arby’s has over 3,300 restaurants around the world and maintains a presence in 48 U.S. states. However, the Arby’s Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the franchise, is based in Atlanta, and a sizable portion of the corporate funder’s grants benefit Georgia and the Southeast.
Here are three things to know about Arby’s Foundation giving in the region.
1. It’s All About Youth Funding
With the Arby’s Foundation, causes for children and youth are the top priority. The funder looks for ways to help kids dream big, be confident, and pursue their dreams. Accordingly, the foundation divides youth grantmaking up into a few categories.
One of these categories is childhood hunger, which is a logical choice for a restaurant-affiliated funder. The foundation invests in local hunger relief organizations, such as the Georgia Food Bank Association. Youth leadership is another top cause for Arby’s, as the foundation supports the JA Academy and the annual Dream Big Atlanta event that aims to recognize and inspire local students. The third main area of focus for this funder is career readiness, and the Arby’s Foundation supports it through grants to the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation to train future generations of leaders.
2. Grants Can be Sizeable
Since 1986, the Arby’s Foundation has awarded over $85 million to causes related to youth. Yet individual grant amounts are typically in the $10,000 to $100,000 range. Although many of the funder’s grants are awarded in its home base of Atlanta, it has supported causes in all 50 states over the years.
3. Unsolicited Applications Are Not Encouraged
Unfortunately for grantseekers, Arby’s does not make it easy to get in touch or to apply for a foundation grant. Although the Arby’s Foundation has a detailed website, it does not provide any guidelines or deadlines to keep local nonprofits informed. But through the Arby’s Foundation Partner Program, the funder brings together leaders to sponsor events that help kids reach their dreams. Past Partner Program events have involved Coca-Cola, Dream Big Atlanta and the Golf Club of Georgia.
Learn more about this funder’s history and how it approaches grantmaking in IP’s profile of the Arby’s Foundation. Here, you’ll find links for staff contact information, foundation resources, and how to get involved with the foundation.
