The Papa John's Foundation Inc
The Papa John's Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Established with tax-exempt status in August 2019, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic work across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1M
+131.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.6M
+12.0% YoY
Grant Count
267
+23.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-9.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Papa John's Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $129K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support communities as they work together for equality, fairness, respect and opportunity for all. The foundation believes empowered communities overcome divides through civility and unity.
The foundation focuses on three primary areas:
- Youth Leadership & Entrepreneurship — Building the next generation of leaders and helping them reach their full potential
- Hunger Relief & Food Security — Supporting organizations working to alleviate hunger and reduce food waste
- Supporting Local Communities — Collaborating with franchisees to support local communities through diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants exclusively to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Requests for sponsorships, in-kind donations, or other support are considered only if they advance the foundation's strategic goals and objectives.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking reaches organizations across 39 states. Primary funding regions include Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky. The foundation primarily supports organizations in Georgia, the District of Columbia, and Kentucky, which account for 21% of all grants. Additional significant funding activity occurs in states including California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, and others.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue:
- Total assets: $1.1 million (as of most recent filing)
- Annual income: $3.4 million
- Total giving (2024): $2.57 million
- Revenue (2023): $2.74 million
- Expenses (2023): $2.49 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,141,738 | $494,337 | $240,944 |
| Revenue | $3,366,158 | $2,741,278 | $9,937 |
| Expenses | $2,723,757 | $2,487,885 | $3,712,397 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,723,457 | $2,487,747 | $3,712,397 |
| Net Investment Income | $28,283 | $18,323 | $9,937 |
| Distributable Amount | $129,182 | $97,063 | $132,402 |
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
206 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Boys & Girls Clubs of America ($382,500), Boys & Girls Clubs of America ($362,500), Atlanta Community Food Bank Inc ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 804 COACHES FOR CHANGE INC RICHMOND, VA | Community Classic | $5,000 |
| ABBIE ROGERS CIVITAN CAMP ENDOWMENT FUND HATTIESBURG, MS | Inclusion Begins with "I" | $2,500 |
| ACHIEVE TWIN CITIES MINNEAPOLIS, MN | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| ACRES OF DIAMONDS DUVALL, WA | General & Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER TRUST INC MIAMI, FL | General & Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| AIDNOW VIRGINIA BCH, VA | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| AKRON COMMUNITY FARMS AKRON, OH | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| AKRON COMMUNITY FARMS AKRON, OH | Regenerative Food Waste Initiative | $7,500 |
| AKRON COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER & URBAN LEAGUE AKRON, OH | Scholars Academy Fund | $5,000 |
| AKRON COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER & URBAN LEAGUE AKRON, OH | Akron Urban League Scholars Academy Fund | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by 9 officers and trustees. Foundation Source serves as the principal officer. The foundation's leadership team includes directors and officers who serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madeline Chadwick | Dir, Pres, Member Spokesperson | 1 | — |
| Amanda Clark | Dir | 1 | — |
| Chris Collins | Treas | 1 | — |
| Kenneth M Cox | Sec | 1 | — |
| Kevin Ellis | Dir | 1 | — |
| Joe Johnson | Dir | 1 | — |
| Robert Lynch | Dir, Pres | 1 | — |
| Todd Penegor | Dir | 1 | — |
| Miki Woodard | Dir | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced several significant philanthropic achievements and initiatives:
**Shaq-a-Roni Fundraiser:** $9.6 million raised since 2020 through this fundraising initiative
**Local Community Investment:** $2.5 million invested in local franchisee communities
**Boys & Girls Clubs Support:** $4 million invested in Boys & Girls Clubs of America's youth leadership programs
**UNCF Scholarships:** 250 UNCF students supported through scholarships and financial aid
**Hunger Relief Commitment:** Pledged to donate 10 million meals to those in need by 2027 through the Harvest Program expansion
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Papa John's Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission is to support communities as they work together for equality, fairness, respect and opportunity for all. The foundation believes empowered communities overcome divides through civility and unity. The foundation focuses on three primary areas: • **Youth Leadership & Entrepreneurship** — Building the next generation of leaders and helping them reach their full potential • **Hunger Relief & Food Security** — Supporting organizations working to alleviate hunger and reduce f…
How do I apply for a grant from The Papa John's Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes grants exclusively to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Requests for sponsorships, in-kind donations, or other support are considered only if they advance the foundation's strategic goals and objectives. **Grant Activity:** • Total grants awarded: 615 grants totaling $10.8 million (through 2024) • Annual giving has grown from $1.5 million in 2020 to $2.3 million in 2023 • Highest grantmaking activity occurred in 2022 with …
Where does The Papa John's Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking reaches organizations across 39 states. Primary funding regions include Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky. The foundation primarily supports organizations in Georgia, the District of Columbia, and Kentucky, which account for 21% of all grants. Additional significant funding activity occurs in states including California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, and others.
What size grants does The Papa John's Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Papa John's Foundation Inc awarded 267 grants totaling $2.6M — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Papa John's Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Papa John's Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $129K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Papa John's Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Papa John's Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2449693. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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