The Starbucks Foundation
The Starbucks Foundation is a private, company-sponsored foundation established in 1997 and based in Seattle, Washington. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations working to strengthen communities, with a particular focus on youth development, community resilience, and social investments in coffee, tea, and cocoa-growing regions worldwide.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$22.5M
-48.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$23.6M
+15.7% YoY
Grant Count
73
+2.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$323K
+12.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Starbucks Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports programs designed to:
- Youth and Community Change: Support young people creating change in local communities
- Water Initiatives: Fund water projects through the Ethos Water Fund
- Origin Communities: Make social investments in countries where Starbucks sources coffee, tea, and cocoa
- Community Resilience: Support thriving communities through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, Starbucks partners (employees), and licensee partners
The foundation's current priority areas include:
- Origin Grants: Supporting coffee and tea-growing communities
- Neighborhood Grants: Funding local community organizations
- Global Community Impact Grants: International community development
- Disaster Response: Emergency assistance and community recovery
The foundation has committed to positively impact 1 million women and girls in origin communities by 2030.
Grantmaking
Grants support the development of innovative learning opportunities for children and youth, including funding for books, educational materials, volunteer training, and staff support.
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates with a nationwide focus across the United States and Canada, with particular emphasis on:
- Communities where Starbucks operates
- Coffee, tea, and cocoa-growing regions globally
- Seattle and surrounding neighborhoods (hometown focus)
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (Fiscal Year Ending September 2024):
- Total Assets: $22.5 million
- Total Revenue: $2.76 million
- Total Expenses: $21.8 million
- Net Income: -$19.04 million
- Net Assets: $9.74 million
Prior Year Data (2023):
- Total Revenues: $32.34 million
- Total Expenses: $24.17 million
- Total Assets: $43.81 million
Annual Giving:
- Total giving: $23.58 million (based on most recent IRS 990 filing)
Funding for the foundation comes primarily from Starbucks Coffee Company and individual donations.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $22,542,308 | $43,805,725 | $31,947,882 |
| Revenue | $2,762,084 | $32,343,166 | $13,543,636 |
| Expenses | $21,798,299 | $24,165,469 | $17,682,484 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $23,691,598 | $20,484,164 | $17,314,546 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,590,530 | $993,382 | $136,106 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,746,892 | $1,760,011 | $1,463,646 |
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Fidelity Charitable ($4,588,000), Mercy Corps ($2,150,000), Myriad Usa ($1,732,044).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AAKOMA PROJECT ARLINGTON, VA | THRIVING COMMUNITIES & DISASTER RESPONSE | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BEAN VOYAGE WILMINGTON, DE | THRIVING COMMUNITIES & DISASTER RESPONSE | $199,971 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | THRIVING COMMUNITIES & DISASTER RESPONSE | $1,165,000 |
| AMPOWERING REDMOND, WA | THRIVING COMMUNITIES & DISASTER RESPONSE | $10,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA TAMPA, FL | THRIVING COMMUNITIES & DISASTER RESPONSE | $1,000,000 |
| BLOSSOMS OF GUYANA LANHAM, MD | THRIVING COMMUNITIES & DISASTER RESPONSE | $10,000 |
| BORN THIS WAY FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | THRIVING COMMUNITIES & DISASTER RESPONSE | $100,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA ATLANTA, GA | THRIVING COMMUNITIES & DISASTER RESPONSE | $200,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF PUERTO RICO INC CAROLINA, PR | THRIVING COMMUNITIES & DISASTER RESPONSE | $10,000 |
| BROAD STREET LOVE PHILADELPHIA, PA | THRIVING COMMUNITIES & DISASTER RESPONSE | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARA TRILLING | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHELLE BURNS | VICE PRESIDENT/SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ALICIA VERMAELE | EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 5 | — |
| BRADY BREWER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL CONWAY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| AJ JONES III | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TAI FUNG | TREASURER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to expand its grantmaking across multiple priority areas:
**Global Community Impact Grants**: The foundation maintains active grant programs supporting international community development
Global Community Impact Grants**Neighborhood Grants**: Ongoing funding for local organizations across the United States and Canada
**Canadian Expansion**: The foundation has strengthened Canadian communities with more than $1 million in grants across all provinces and Yukon
The Starbucks Foundation Strengthens Canadian Communities with $1M+ in Grants**Disaster Response**: Active participation in community response and resilience initiatives
The foundation emphasizes collaborative partnerships, with Starbucks partners (employees) engaging and volunteering to support grant recipients' missions and help participants develop job-readiness and skills.
The Starbucks Foundation Strengthens Canadian Communities with $1M+ in Grants---
**Contact Information:**
Address: 2401 Utah Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98134
Phone: 206-318-1575
Website: www.starbucks.com
EIN: 91-1795425
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Starbucks Foundation fund?
The foundation supports programs designed to: • **Youth and Community Change**: Support young people creating change in local communities • **Water Initiatives**: Fund water projects through the Ethos Water Fund • **Origin Communities**: Make social investments in countries where Starbucks sources coffee, tea, and cocoa • **Community Resilience**: Support thriving communities through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, Starbucks partners (employees), and licensee partners The foundation'…
How do I apply for a grant from The Starbucks Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Since its inception in 1997, the foundation has awarded $8 million to more than 760 literacy and youth organizations • In 2018, the foundation made $1.3 million in "Opportunity for All" grants to 47 programs and organizations, with individual grants ranging from $5,000 to $60,000 • In response to COVID-19, the foundation contributed more than $9 million, including more than $1 million in Neighborhood Grants to more than 400 local organizations across the United States and …
Where does The Starbucks Foundation make grants?
The foundation operates with a nationwide focus across the United States and Canada, with particular emphasis on: • Communities where Starbucks operates • Coffee, tea, and cocoa-growing regions globally • Seattle and surrounding neighborhoods (hometown focus)
What size grants does The Starbucks Foundation award?
In 2024, The Starbucks Foundation awarded 73 grants totaling $23.6M — an average of about $323K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Starbucks Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Starbucks Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Starbucks Foundation's EIN?
The Starbucks Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1795425. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Starbucks Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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