The Rachael Ray Foundation
The Rachael Ray Foundation (RRF) is a private foundation based in New York City that was launched in 2016 and received its IRS tax-exempt designation in December 2017. The foundation is fully funded by proceeds from the sale of Rachael Ray Nutrish products. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.4M
-11.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$13.5M
+1.8% YoY
Grant Count
88
+4.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$154K
-2.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports causes aligned with Rachael Ray's personal philanthropic interests, with primary focus areas including:
- Animal welfare and shelter support: Funding organizations that improve the lives of shelter animals and animals in need across the country
- Emergency relief and disaster assistance: Providing funds for urgent animal welfare situations requiring immediate assistance
- Culinary education: Supporting ProStart programs and culinary education initiatives in high schools
- Food security and nutrition programs: Supporting organizations that provide critically needed food programs and support services across the United States
- Yum-o! aligned causes: Funding organizations that support the mission of Yum-o!, Rachael Ray's 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Grantmaking
The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. No open application process is indicated in available sources.
Grant Range
approximately $146,000
Average Grant
approximately $146,000
Grant Types
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations across multiple states, with primary concentration in:
- New York
- California
- Texas
- Utah
- District of Columbia
Grantmaking reaches organizations across 36 states, with 36% of all grants supporting organizations in New York, Utah, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2024:
- Total Assets: $7,441,901
- Total Revenue: $13,895,124
- Total Expenses: $15,030,351
- Total Liabilities: $656,000
- Number of Employees: 0
Historical Grantmaking:
- Total grants made (all years): $66.2 million across 454 grants
- Annual distribution has ranged from $10.2 million to $26.9 million (2020-2023)
- Highest grantmaking activity in 2022: $26.9 million distributed across 200 grants
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,441,901 | $8,420,412 | $7,719,444 |
| Revenue | $13,895,124 | $15,008,927 | $14,626,499 |
| Expenses | $15,030,351 | $14,457,017 | $14,559,057 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $14,145,261 | $13,799,826 | $14,072,388 |
| Net Investment Income | $13,381,999 | $14,594,629 | $14,354,664 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,578,569 | $5,623,924 | $5,126,796 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Rachael Ray: President
- John Cusimano: Vice President/Secretary
- Judith Keane: Treasurer
- Andrew Peskoe: Board member
- Richard Fields: Board member
- Mark Smucker: Board member
All executive leadership serves without compensation. The foundation is governed by 7 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RACHAEL RAY | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| JOHN CUSIMANO | VICE PRESIDENT / SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| ANDREW PESKOE | GOVERNING MEMBER | 5 | — |
| RICHARD FIELDS | GOVERNING MEMBER | 5 | — |
| TRACY QUIGLEY | GOVERNING MEMBER | 5 | — |
| JOHN HALL | VICE PRESIDENT | 10 | — |
| JUDITH KEANE | TREASURER | 10 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has actively supported culinary education through ProStart Grow Grants:
Rachael Ray Foundation Awards $5,000 Grants to Support Culinary Education**2025**: Forty-eight high schools received ProStart Grow Grants of $5,000 each to support culinary education and develop culinary and restaurant management programs
Forty-Eight High Schools Receive The Rachael Ray Foundation ...**Previous years**: The foundation selected 27 and 40 high schools respectively to receive ProStart Grow Grants for developing their culinary and restaurant management programs
Forty-Eight High Schools Receive The Rachael Ray Foundation ...The foundation has supported 156 unique organizations throughout its grantmaking history.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Similar funders by location and focus area
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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