Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc
Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc is a public charity based in Louisville, Kentucky, formed in 1998. Its charitable programs support KFC U.S. restaurant employees through education, hardship assistance, and personal-finance programs, and support local communities through grants to nonprofits.
Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc gave $970K across 97 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), top state Kentucky. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $970,000
- -3.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 97
- -3.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $10,000
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $10,013,948
- -5.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (6% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
Organizations cannot submit unsolicited Kentucky Fried Wishes applications; the Foundation invites eligible organizations to apply. The program describes eligibility as U.S.-based charitable organizations in good IRS standing for at least two years that serve people in the United States and operate locally, or as a local affiliate or chapter. The 2023 guide recommended preparing answers with an application template before submitting.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1900 Colonel Sanders Ln, Louisville, KY 40213
Phone: (502) 257-2476
Website: https://kfcfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
12 open opportunities from Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc
$1 for $1 Savings Match Program
Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc
Amount
Matching 1:1 savings deposits
Deadline
Deadline not published
Become Your Best Self - Learn New Skills Program
Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
BetterHelp Mental Wellbeing Program
Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was ARK Association To Rescue Kritters ($10K). Together the top 10 received $100K.
Grant Size Distribution
258 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 258 grants of 258 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Kentucky Fried Wishes eligibility is limited to organizations based in the United States that serve people in the United States and operate locally or through a local affiliate or chapter. In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states; the largest reported state shares were Kentucky (6%), Michigan (5%), Illinois (5%), New York (4%), and Tennessee (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 97 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $110K (2021) to $1.0M (2023). In 2024 it made 97 grants totaling $970K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARK Association To Rescue Kritters St Helen, MI | Charitable | $10,000 |
| American Federation of Teachers Norwich, NY | Charitable | $10,000 |
| ASMT Inc (Autism Tennessee) Nashville, TN | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Aurora Public Library Foundation Aurora, IL | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Bennington Project Independence Inc Bennington, VT | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Boolean Girl Inc Arlington, VA | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Boys Home Inc DBA Boys Home of Virginia Covington, VA | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Breathing Association Columbus, OH | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Buckhorn Child and Family Services Buckhorn, KY | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Camp Jamison Corporation Philadelphia, PA | Charitable | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2024 grants were 97 awards of $10,000 each.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $10,013,948 | $6,802,108 | $7,642,747 | $970,000 | 97 | $294,716 |
| 2023 | $10,603,378 | $6,895,190 | $6,492,445 | $1,000,000 | 100 | $195,611 |
| 2022 | $9,741,395 | $5,382,876 | $3,911,469 | $500,000 | 50 | $73,360 |
| 2021 | $8,394,233 | $4,045,887 | $2,285,608 | $110,000 | 11 | $215,599 |
| 2020 | $6,322,528 | $2,426,337 | $2,639,806 | — | — | $61,797 |
| 2019 | $6,065,626 | $2,078,321 | $2,230,274 | — | — | $88,613 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation states that its mission is to care for KFC U.S. restaurant employees by providing charitable support through education, hardship assistance, and personal-finance programs. Its programs include scholarships and GED support, crisis assistance, financial-literacy and savings support, and mental-health resources. These are primarily benefits for employees and their dependents, rather than grants for outside organizations.
Through Kentucky Fried Wishes, the Foundation supports local organizations’ actionable community projects. Examples of grantees’ work include the Des Moines Public Library Foundation’s fundraising and advocacy for its library system; GreenRoots Inc’s environmental-justice and youth-leadership work; and City Care Inc’s efforts addressing social injustice and extreme poverty. Other 2024 recipients included organizations focused on education, community success, and care for people experiencing hunger, homelessness, or other needs.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 97 Kentucky Fried Wishes grants totaling $970,000. Each listed grant was $10,000. The program supports actionable projects on nonprofit wish lists. The Foundation’s current program information describes focus areas including education and training, health and wellbeing, food and shelter, and the environment and animals.
The 2024 recipients included Buckhorn Child and Family Services in Kentucky, Aurora Public Library Foundation in Illinois, and Autism Tennessee in Tennessee, each receiving $10,000. Other recipients included the Des Moines Public Library Foundation, GreenRoots Inc, Centenary University, and Great Falls Rescue Mission, each of which received $10,000.
Kentucky Fried Wishes is invite-only: the Foundation identifies and invites organizations whose work aligns with its focus areas and mission. Its website says it is not accepting unsolicited applications. A 2023 application guide described a project-focused application process and advised applicants to request funding for a tangible project feasible with $10,000, preferably completable within six months. That guide excluded salaries, scholarships (including waived program fees), and capital building endeavors.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Emma Horn as secretary/executive director, Matt Hanson as board chair, Steve Orton as treasurer, Debra Rollins as assistant secretary, and Clinton Lewis as vice chair. It also lists Karen Adams, Chris Basinger, Karen Sherman, Bill Byrd, and Heather McCoy as directors.
Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc is led by Emma Horn, Secretary & Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2019); 2 of 13 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Emma Horn
Secretary & Executive Director
Managing Director → Managing Director & Secretary, 2020
Managing Director & Secretary → Secretary & Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$28K (2019) → $146K (2024)
Matt Hanson
Board Chair
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joan Bowling
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Adams
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bill Byrd
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Basinger
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather McCoy
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Sherman
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lana Swearingen
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thuthuka Nxumalo
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Debra Rollins
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$61K (2020) → $83K (2024)
Clinton Lewis
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Orton
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Justin Stewart (2019–2023) — Board Chair
- Former: Chris Caldwell (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Karen Ancira (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Mark Everett (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Nick Chavez (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Tom Broome (2022–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Holly Winkle (2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Jeff Griffin (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Holly Winkel (2021–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: John Kurnick (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Marcus Shelton (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Nancy Fox (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Eric Trett (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Holly Goode (2019–2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Melissa Faurest (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Debbie Rollins (2019) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Kathleen Gosser (2019) — President - Partial Year
- Former: Krista Snider (2019) — Secretary & Managing Director
- Former: Tony Cameron (2019) — Director - Partial Year
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 $146K, to Emma Horn (Secretary/Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc
How much does Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc give each year?
Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc gave $970K across 97 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.0M across 100 grants.
What is Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,000, across 97 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc give grants?
Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc's top state is Kentucky, with 6% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Michigan (5%) and Illinois (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (2 grants), St. Louis, MO (2 grants), Little Rock, AR (2 grants) and Las Vegas, NV (2 grants).
Does Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 97 grants with a stated purpose on Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (97 grants).
Who are Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include ARK Association To Rescue Kritters ($10,000), American Federation of Teachers ($10,000) and ASMT Inc (Autism Tennessee) ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 3% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc?
Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc reported $10.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.8M.
What does Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation states that its mission is to care for KFC U.S. restaurant employees by providing charitable support through education, hardship assistance, and personal-finance programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc?
Organizations cannot submit unsolicited Kentucky Fried Wishes applications; the Foundation invites eligible organizations to apply. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc's EIN?
Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1337601. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 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
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 6, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 1, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/kentucky-fried-chicken-foundation-inc-morg_a1d6dfb6fe7f43c0a65eedc4e367ffb4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_611337601_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/kentucky-fried-chicken-foundation-inc-morg_a1d6dfb6fe7f43c0a65eedc4e367ffb4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Kentucky Fried Chicken 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.
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