Inspire Brands Foundation Inc
Inspire Brands Foundation Inc is a public charity based in Atlanta, Georgia. It does business as the Arby’s Foundation, Buffalo Wild Wings Foundation, SONIC Foundation and Jimmy John’s Foundation, and supports youth-related causes through national and local partnerships.
Inspire Brands Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Inspire Brands Foundation Inc gave $11.0M across 306 grants in 2024 (avg $36K), top state Georgia. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $11,014,762
- -16.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 306
- -5.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $35,996
- -12.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $11,000
- Total assets
- $14,349,733
- -15.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (109 of 306, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (26% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Inspire Brands Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; grantees are nominated by members of the Inspire Brands community. SPARK Cohort participants may apply for the growth-focused grant opportunity.
- Contact
Mailing address: Three Glenlake Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: (678) 514-4100
Website: https://foundation.inspirebrands.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Inspire Brands Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was DonorsChooseorg ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $6.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,347 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,222 grants of 1,347 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its work as supporting youth in communities across the country through national and local partnerships. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Georgia (25%), New York (18%), Washington, DC (13%), Oklahoma (8%) and Florida (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 306 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Inspire Brands Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 109 of 306 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $48K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $13K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6.6M (2020) to $13.2M (2023). In 2024 it made 306 grants totaling $11.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DonorsChooseorg New York, NY | Mission Support | $1,973,689 |
| Share Our Strength Washington, DC | Mission Support | $1,254,758 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of America Atlanta, GA | Mission Support | $1,194,130 |
| Folds of Honor Foundation Owasso, OK | Mission Support | $613,210 |
| The Ron Clark Academy Inc Atlanta, GA | Mission Support | $426,725 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Bandera County Bandera, TX | Mission Support | $101,391 |
| United Heroes League Hastings, MN | Mission Support | $101,000 |
| City of Refuge Incorporated Atlanta, GA | Mission Support | $100,634 |
| 3DE National LLC Atlanta, GA | Mission Support | $100,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Tampa, FL | Mission Support | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Inspire Brands Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $14,349,733 | $14,984,452 | $16,926,907 | $11,014,762 | 306 | $1,006,579 |
| 2023 | $16,889,623 | $17,489,190 | $17,086,165 | $13,212,085 | 323 | $365,825 |
| 2022 | $15,019,799 | $12,653,183 | $11,511,452 | $8,016,094 | 259 | $104,340 |
| 2021 | $15,512,573 | $15,116,341 | $11,411,419 | $7,889,323 | 234 | $473,931 |
| 2020 | $11,528,068 | $11,993,911 | $10,152,692 | $6,599,128 | 225 | $368,656 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to “ignite and nourish change for good through strategic national and community partnerships.” Its three core pillars are childhood hunger, youth leadership and career readiness.
Its 2024 grants illustrate support for organizations working in education, hunger relief, youth development, sports and scholarships. DonorsChoose describes its work as engaging the public in public schools and helping students access tools and educational experiences. Share Our Strength says its No Kid Hungry campaign helps communities feed children and addresses the root causes of hunger and poverty. Boys & Girls Clubs of America says it provides safe spaces, mentors, meals and programs for young people through local Clubs. Folds of Honor Foundation describes its work as providing educational scholarships to qualifying spouses and children of military service members and first responders killed or disabled while serving.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 306 grants totaling $10,994,393. Grant amounts ranged from $5,032 to $1,973,689, with a median of $11,000.
The largest reported grants included $1,973,689 to DonorsChoose.org, $1,254,758 to Share Our Strength, $1,192,700 to Boys & Girls Clubs of America, $613,210 to Folds of Honor Foundation and $426,725 to The Ron Clark Academy Inc. Each was listed with the purpose “Mission Support.”
The foundation says all grantees are nominated by members of the Inspire Brands community and that it does not accept unsolicited requests. As part of the application process, grantees must indicate how funds will be allocated; those receiving $5,000 or more must submit a year-end report detailing use of funds and impact. Separately, organizations in the SPARK Cohort are eligible to apply for a growth-focused grant and must submit their two most recent years of audited financial statements.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Stuart Brown as Executive Director; Ryan Van Sickle as Senior Director of Operations; Emily Crawford as Director of Impact; Kristin Lutch as Accounting Manager; Catherine Stranberg as Impact Manager; Courtney Lowe as Vice Chairman/Treasurer; Christian Charnaux as Chairman; Chris Held as Secretary; and Patty Tucker and David Powell as Trustees.
Inspire Brands Foundation Inc is led by Stuart Brown, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 5 of 20 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Stuart Brown
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$200K (2020) → $263K (2024)
Christian Charnaux
Chairman
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Crawford
Director of Impact
Director Impact & Committee → Director of Impact, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$138K (2020) → $172K (2024)
Ryan Van Sickle
Senior Director of Operations
Director of Operations → Senior Director of Operations, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$139K (2021) → $166K (2024)
Bill Bolling
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Powell
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ed Baker
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marshall Freeman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patty Tucker
Trustee
Executive Committee → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charlie Morgan
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James North
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Renee Ducre
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Bremer
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Bowie
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Kelly
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tanishia Beacham
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catherine Stranberg
Impact Manager
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$107K (2022) → $123K (2024)
Kristin Lutch
Accounting Manager
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$119K (2022) → $151K (2024)
Chris Held
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Lowe
Vice Chairman & Treasurer
Vice President Treasury → Vice Chairman & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Chris Fuller (2020–2023) — Chairman
- Former: Travis Murphy (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Rita Patel (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Claudia San Pedro (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Danton Nolan (2020–2022) — Vice Chairman & Treasurer
- Former: Jim Taylor (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Lyle Tick (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Uta Belvin (2020–2021) — Senior Finance Manager
- Former: Dan Stephens (2021) — Community Impact Manager
- Former: Antonio Machado (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $263K, to Stuart Brown (Executive Director). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Inspire Brands Foundation Inc
How much does Inspire Brands Foundation Inc give each year?
Inspire Brands Foundation Inc gave $11.0M across 306 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $13.2M across 323 grants.
What is Inspire Brands Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Inspire Brands Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $11,000, and its average grant was $35,996, across 306 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Inspire Brands Foundation Inc that year got $15K on average.
Where does Inspire Brands Foundation Inc give grants?
Inspire Brands Foundation Inc's top state is Georgia, with 26% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were New York (18%) and District of Columbia (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (29 grants), Oklahoma City, OK (8 grants), Washington, DC (6 grants) and Asheville, NC (4 grants).
Does Inspire Brands Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 306 grants with a stated purpose on Inspire Brands Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Mission Support" (306 grants).
Who are Inspire Brands Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Inspire Brands Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include DonorsChooseorg ($1,973,689), Share Our Strength ($1,254,758) and Boys & Girls Clubs of America ($1,194,130), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Inspire Brands Foundation Inc?
Inspire Brands Foundation Inc reported $14.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $15.0M.
What does Inspire Brands Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is to “ignite and nourish change for good through strategic national and community partnerships.” Its three core pillars are childhood hunger, youth leadership and career readiness. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Inspire Brands Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; grantees are nominated by members of the Inspire Brands community. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Inspire Brands Foundation Inc's EIN?
Inspire Brands Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1692997. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Inspire Brands Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 28, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Inspire Brands Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/inspire-brands-foundation-inc-morg_70629ad2ced54636ae27db50f9446e9e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_581692997_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Inspire Brands Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/inspire-brands-foundation-inc-morg_70629ad2ced54636ae27db50f9446e9e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Inspire Brands Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Inspire Brands Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?