Darden Restaurants Inc Foundation
The Darden Restaurants Inc Foundation is a private, company-sponsored foundation established in 1995 and based in Orlando, Florida. It serves as the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants, Inc., a full-service restaurant company operating hundreds of locations across North America featuring brands including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V's, and Yard House. The foundation works in partnership with more than 1,500 restaurants and 150,000 employees to support charitable causes in communities where Darden operates.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.1M
+8.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.6M
+303.4% YoY
Grant Count
27
+58.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$246K
+154.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on extending Darden's core values of service into the communities it serves. Primary funding focus areas include:
- Fighting Hunger – Food security and hunger relief initiatives
- Investing in Future Generations – Education and youth development
- Helping in Times of Need – Disaster relief and emergency assistance
- Making a Difference in Our Hometown – Community development in the Orlando area and other key markets
The foundation also supports organizations involved with arts and culture, the environment, and animal welfare.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $100 to $4,000,000.
Ready to take the next step with Darden Restaurants Inc Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Florida, Ohio, and New York, with particular emphasis on communities where Darden restaurants operate across North America.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2024-2025):
- Total Assets: $12,061,877
- Total Annual Giving: $6,641,840
- Revenue: $8.5 million (2024)
- Expenses: $1.65 million (2024)
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,061,877 | $11,136,074 | $4,282,271 |
| Revenue | $7,584,721 | $8,502,382 | $4,157,938 |
| Expenses | $6,658,918 | $1,648,579 | $4,241,731 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,641,840 | $1,646,549 | $4,241,652 |
| Net Investment Income | $567,643 | $500,344 | $145,796 |
| Distributable Amount | $648,064 | $472,538 | $323,296 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
139 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MONE ISAIA | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| SUSAN M CONNELLY | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| RICARDO CARDENAS | CHAIRMAN & TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MATTHEW R BROAD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARY DARDEN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| NONI A HOLMES-KIDD | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JOE LEE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ANGELA M SIMMONS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| STEPHANIE L GHERTNER | EXEC. DIR., ASST. SECRETARY, TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JOHN MARTIN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| THERESA WILLINGS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| RAJESH VENNAM | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SCOTT BROPHY | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| ANDREW RUSH | ASSISTANT TREASURER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2024:** Darden Restaurants announced its fourth consecutive year of food truck donations to Feeding America, providing 10 additional 26-foot refrigerated trucks (each with 12,000-pound capacity) to food banks in California, Texas, Kentucky, South Carolina, and North Carolina, among other states. This $2 million grant from the foundation continues the company's multi-year commitment to expanding food distribution capacity.
News Details - Darden Restaurants Inc. - Investor Relations**Ongoing Partnership:** The Darden Foundation has maintained a dedicated partnership with the American Red Cross since 1997, supporting disaster preparedness, relief, and recovery efforts.
Contact Information
- Address: 1000 Darden Center Drive, Orlando, FL 32837-4032
- Phone: 407-245-5542
- Website: www.dardenfoundation.com
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Virgil P Warren Fdn Tr Ua
ORLANDO, FL
Assets
$4.2M
Grants
14
Total Given
$96K
The Fritch Foundation
FT LAUDERDALE, FL
Assets
—
Grants
17
Total Given
$167K
Leiman Asterisk Foundation Inc
DELRAY BEACH, FL
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
2
Total Given
$62K
Rachel Memorial Foundation
SANTA RSA BCH, FL
Assets
—
Grants
6
Total Given
$10K
My Brother'ssister's Keeper Charitable
ROYAL PALM BEACH, FL
Assets
$462K
Grants
1
Total Given
$50K
The Shore Lane Family Foundation Inc
BOCA GRANDE, FL
Assets
$335
Grants
20
Total Given
$430K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Darden Restaurants Inc Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities