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.
Key facts about The Papa John's Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 83-2449693
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,570,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 267
- Average grant
- $9,627
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,141,738
- Primary geography
- Georgia (36% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Papa John's Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Papa John's Foundation Inc's 267 itemized 2024 grants were Georgia (36%), District of Columbia (10%) and Kentucky (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (12 grants), Louisville, KY (11 grants), Atlanta, GA (10 grants) and Orlando, FL (8 grants). 7% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Team Member Grant Program" (8 grants).
How The Papa John's Foundation Inc gives
- 53% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−5%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Papa John's Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate The Papa John's Foundation Inc as a funder
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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
Share of all 267 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
793 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Boys & Girls Clubs of America ($758,500 across 3 grants), United Negro College Fund Inc ($115,000), Food Recovery Network Inc ($87,500 across 6 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA Atlanta, GA | 2024 Memorandum of Understanding and Building Community Fund | $382,500 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA Atlanta, GA | 2024 Memorandum of Understanding | $362,500 |
| UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND INC Washington, DC | 2024 Mission of Understanding | $115,000 |
| FOOD RECOVERY NETWORK INC Washington, DC | General Support | $50,000 |
| DARE TO CARE INC Louisville, KY | General Support | $30,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE FOUNDATION INC Louisville, KY | General & Unrestricted | $30,000 |
| ATLANTA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK INC Atlanta, GA | Support for the continued operation and expansion of service at the Marietta Community Food Center | $25,000 |
| CONCRETE JUNGLE INC Atlanta, GA | Produce Buyers Club and Adventure Picks programs | $25,000 |
| GREATER LOUISVILLE FOUNDATION INC Louisville, KY | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT USA Atlanta, GA | In support of a Case Challenge for 10th grade students at Osborne High School | $25,000 |
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
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS 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.
Does The Papa John's Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.