The Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc (also known as the KFC Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Established in 1998, the Foundation operates as a company-sponsored foundation dedicated to supporting KFC U.S. restaurant employees and their communities. The organization's tagline is "The Secret Recipe for Good."
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.0M
-5.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$970K
-3.0% YoY
Grant Count
97
-3.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+0.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's mission is to care for KFC U.S. restaurant employees by providing charitable support through education, hardship assistance, and personal finance programs. The organization's charitable programs focus on:
- Education Accessibility – Supporting employees pursuing college degrees, trade/vocational training, and graduate studies
- Financial & Hardship Assistance – Providing crisis assistance for employees facing severe hardships or catastrophic incidents
- Community Giving – Supporting nonprofit organizations through community-focused grants
Grantmaking
Typical grant awards are $10,000. In 2024, the Foundation awarded $200,000 and $250,000 in education and training projects to nonprofits.
Grant Range
s & Activity
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation primarily funds in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Illinois, with a primary focus on supporting KFC U.S. restaurant employees nationwide.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $10,013,948
- Total Revenue: $6,802,108
- Total Expenses: $7,642,747
- Total Liabilities: $400,000
- Total Giving: $5,543,680
Tax-Exempt Status: Tax-exempt since June 1999 (IRS ruling year: 1999)
EIN: 61-1337601
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,013,948 | $10,603,378 | $9,741,395 |
| Revenue | $6,802,108 | $6,895,190 | $5,382,876 |
| Expenses | $7,642,747 | $6,492,445 | $3,911,469 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $294,716 | $195,611 | $73,360 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
161 grants across all recorded years
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
Rolling / Open
Become Your Best Self - Learn New Skills Program
KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
BetterHelp Mental Wellbeing Program
KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Emma Horn – Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMMA HORN | SECRETARY/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $145,994 |
| DEBRA ROLLINS | ASST. SECRETARY | 40 | $82,549 |
| MATT HANSON | BOARD CHAIR | 1 | — |
| STEVE ORTON | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| KAREN ADAMS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CLINTON LEWIS | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| CHRIS BASINGER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KAREN SHERMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BILL BYRD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HEATHER MCCOY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LANA SWEARINGEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| THUTHUKA NXUMALO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOAN BOWLING | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation has demonstrated significant impact and growth:
Has provided more than $39 million to support, empower, and serve more than 17,500 individuals and over 4,500 nonprofits
In 2024, awarded $200,000 and $250,000 in education and training projects
$200,000 Invested in Education & Training ProjectsReceived a 99% rating (Four-Star) from Charity Navigator, reflecting strong commitment to accountability, transparency, and impact measurement
Contact Information
- Website: www.kfcfoundation.org
- Phone: 800-248-5092 or 502-257-2476
- Email: foundation@kfc.com
- Address: 1900 Colonel Sanders Lane, Louisville, KY 40213-1970
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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