Hooter's Community Endowment Fund Inc

ATLANTA, GA EIN: 58-2006561

Hooter's Community Endowment Fund Inc is a private corporate foundation based in Atlanta, Georgia. The organization was established in 1993 and holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. As a corporate foundation, it directs philanthropic resources to support charitable causes aligned with the Hooters organization's community engagement mission.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$437K

-43.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$648K

-13.2% YoY

Grant Count

-28.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$65K

+21.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hooter's Community Endowment Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $10K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The organization has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on grantmaking patterns, the foundation focuses on:

Education
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Human Services
General support to charitable organizations

The foundation explicitly identifies its service area as "local communities of Hooters stores."

Grantmaking

The foundation primarily awards general support grants to public charities.

Average Grant

amount: $96–$700,995

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in:

Texas
South Carolina
Pennsylvania
Georgia (particularly Atlanta)

Grant Distribution by State

North Carolina $3.5M (89%)

Texas $366K (9%)

Pennsylvania $22K (1%)

Georgia $22K (1%)

Florida $9K (0%)

California $8K (0%)

Iowa $4K (0%)

Oklahoma $3K (0%)

+3 more states

States

California Connecticut Florida Georgia Iowa North Carolina Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennessee Texas

Cities

Altamone SpringsAtlantaBaytownBeaver FallsCaryCharlotteCloverDallasDawsonvilleEdmondFriendswoodFulshearGarlandHelotesHoustonIrvineJacksonvilleMariettaMillerstownMount Pleasant

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Most Recent Financial Data (2023):

Total Assets: $770,851
Total Revenue: $818,230
Total Expenses: $845,047
Total Liabilities: $728,000

Financial Trend:

Revenue decreased 5% from 2022 ($861,318) to 2023 ($818,230)
The foundation operates with minimal investment income, relying primarily on contributions

Note: More recent 2024 data indicates total assets of $436,670 with total giving of $647,500.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$436,670	$770,851	$857,614
Revenue	$551,276	$818,230	$861,318
Expenses	$718,522	$845,047	$884,667
Qualifying Distributions	$647,500	$746,238	$811,775
Net Investment Income	—	—	—
Distributable Amount	$9,781	$8,603	$13,466

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 2024

Grant Size Distribution

52 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include V Foundation ($542,961), Metroplex Military Charitable Trust ($87,864), Legacies Alive ($5,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
LEGACIES ALIVE BEAVER FALLS, PA	GENERAL SUPPORT	$5,000
METROPLEX MILITARY CHARITABLE TRUST DALLAS, TX	GENERAL SUPPORT	$87,864
SPECIAL PALS INC HOUSTON, TX	GENERAL SUPPORT	$96
V FOUNDATION CARY, NC	GENERAL SUPPORT	$542,961
SOUTH PLAINS SWEETHEARTS HELOTES, TX	GENERAL SUPPORT	$731
BOOT CAMPAIGN INC DALLAS, TX	GENERAL SUPPORT	$940
H LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER TAMPA, FL	GENERAL SUPPORT	$5,000
LAKE WYLIE CHILDRENS CHARITY CLOVER, SC	GENERAL SUPPORT	$217
GUNS N HOSES FOUNDATION GARLAND, TX	GENERAL SUPPORT	$3,491
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEW HAVEN, CT	GENERAL SUPPORT	$1,200

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Key officers identified in filings:

Salvatore Melilli – President
Lawrence Linen – Vice President
Matt Nisbet – Vice President, Treasurer
Beth Van Loon – Vice President
Benjamin Benson – Secretary
Cary A Hudson – Listed officer

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
SALVATORE MELILLI	PRESIDENT	0.75	—
LAWRENCE LINEN	VICE PRESIDENT	0.75	—
MATT NISBET	VICE PRESIDENT, TREASURER	0.75	—
BETH VAN LOON	VICE PRESIDENT	0.75	—
ALISA CLEEK	SECRETARY	0.75	—

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hooter's Community Endowment Fund Inc fund?

The organization has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on grantmaking patterns, the foundation focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • General support to charitable organizations The foundation explicitly identifies its service area as "local communities of Hooters stores."

How do I apply for a grant from Hooter's Community Endowment Fund Inc?

**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2024): $647,500 • Average grant amount: $96–$700,995 • Median grant amount: Data not specified • Number of grants (2023): 12 grants made, totaling $1,463,300 **Recent Grantees (2023):** • The V Foundation: $700,995 (General Support) • Metroplex Military Charitable Trust: $12,114 (General Support) • Atlanta Community Food Bank: $1,000 (General Support) • Chase Elliott Foundation: $5,000 (General Support) **Grant Type:** The foundation primarily awards general …

Where does Hooter's Community Endowment Fund Inc make grants?

The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in: • Texas • South Carolina • Pennsylvania • Georgia (particularly Atlanta)

What size grants does Hooter's Community Endowment Fund Inc award?

In 2024, Hooter's Community Endowment Fund Inc awarded 10 grants totaling $648K — an average of about $65K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Hooter's Community Endowment Fund Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Hooter's Community Endowment Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $10K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Hooter's Community Endowment Fund Inc's EIN?

Hooter's Community Endowment Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-2006561. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.