Waffle House Foundation Inc
Waffle House Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Norcross, Georgia. It says its goal is to improve quality of life in metro Atlanta, and it gives charitable grants to nonprofit organizations, prioritizing health and human services, youth and educational programs, people who are needy or disadvantaged, and other civic causes.
Waffle House Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Waffle House Foundation Inc gave $288K across 29 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Georgia. 72% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $288,000
- -10.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 29
- -25.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,931
- +20.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $185,312
- -7.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 72% first-time grantees (21 of 29, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Waffle House Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation says requests are reviewed case by case and should include a letter and any available program materials. Its website also lists a project description, the organization’s annual report, its most recent audited financial statement including sources of income, and a list of board members among the required materials. The filing names Asha Schein as the contact for requests. The foundation does not consider requests for capital campaigns, endowments, debt reduction, religious organizations for religious purposes, political candidates, charity balls, or golf outings.
- Review Cycle
- There is no deadline for charitable contribution requests.
- Deadline
- There is no deadline for charitable contribution requests.
- Contact
Application contact: Asha Schein
Mailing address: 5986 Financial Dr, Norcross, GA 30071
Phone: (770) 729-5780
Email: ashaschein@wafflehouse.com
Website: https://wafflehouse.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Waffle House Foundation Inc
Who Waffle House Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Christian City ($25K). Together the top 10 received $173K.
Grant Size Distribution
159 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 159 grants of 159 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated geographic focus is metro Atlanta. It says applicant nonprofits must be located in the metro-Atlanta area and gives preference to metro-Atlanta organizations. The counties it lists are Butts, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale.
In 2025, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Georgia and 7% to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Waffle House Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
72%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 21 of 29 grantees (72%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $14K repeat.
- 10% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−16%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $99K (2021) to $343K (2022). In 2025 it made 29 grants totaling $288K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Christian City Union City, GA | Charitable | $25,000 |
| Operation Warm Glen Mills, PA | Charitable | $20,000 |
| Catalyst Sports Atlanta, GA | Charitable | $20,000 |
| Must Ministries Marietta, GA | Charitable | $20,000 |
| Lighthouse Family Retreat Alpharetta, GA | Charitable | $20,000 |
| Angel Flight Chamblee, GA | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Songs for Kids Foundation Atlanta, GA | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Agape Youth and Family Center Atlanta, GA | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Camp Twin Lakes Atlanta, GA | Charitable | $12,500 |
| Breakthrough Atlanta Atlanta, GA | Charitable | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $185,312 | $274,120 | $288,000 | $288,000 | 29 | $288,000 | $12,192 |
| 2024 | $199,192 | $299,529 | $321,600 | $321,600 | 39 | $321,600 | $13,337 |
| 2023 | $221,263 | $222,811 | $255,081 | $255,000 | 32 | $255,000 | — |
| 2022 | $253,533 | $349,819 | $342,500 | $342,500 | 40 | $342,500 | — |
| 2021 | $246,464 | $20 | $98,600 | $98,600 | 19 | — | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Waffle House Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $12K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated goal is to improve quality of life for people in its hometown of metro Atlanta. Its stated priorities include health and human service organizations, youth and educational programs, organizations serving people who are needy or disadvantaged, and other civic causes.
Examples of grantees illustrate the kinds of work it has supported. Christian City says its mission is to extend Christ’s call to love one’s neighbor through housing, healthcare, crisis intervention, and community-building for children, youth, families, and older adults. Lighthouse Family Retreat says it provides respite for families caring for a child with cancer. Catalyst Sports says it gives people with physical disabilities access to adventure in an inclusive community. Songs for Kids Foundation says it provides music mentorship and interactive programs for young people with disabilities, illnesses, and injuries.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 29 grants totaling $288,000. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $25,000, with a median of $10,000. Its reported giving totaled $321,600 across 39 grants in 2024 and $255,000 across 32 grants in 2023.
The largest 2025 grant was $25,000 to Christian City in Union City, Georgia. Other notable grants included $20,000 each to Operation Warm in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania; Catalyst Sports in Atlanta; Must Ministries in Marietta; and Lighthouse Family Retreat in Alpharetta. Angel Flight, Songs for Kids Foundation, and Agape Youth and Family Center each received $15,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kari Hiers as president and Terra Tanner as vice president.
Waffle House Foundation Inc is led by Kari Hiers, President on the 2025 filing; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kari Hiers
President
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terra Tanner
Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Asha Schein (2021–2024) — President
- Former: Tracy Bradshaw (2021–2024) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Waffle House Foundation Inc
How much does Waffle House Foundation Inc give each year?
Waffle House Foundation Inc gave $288K across 29 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $322K across 39 grants.
What is Waffle House Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Waffle House Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $9,931, across 29 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Waffle House Foundation Inc that year got $9K on average.
Where does Waffle House Foundation Inc give grants?
Waffle House Foundation Inc gives mostly in Georgia: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Pennsylvania (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (13 grants), Alpharetta, GA (2 grants), Roswell, GA (2 grants) and Decatur, GA (2 grants).
Does Waffle House Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on Waffle House Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (29 grants).
Who are Waffle House Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Waffle House Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Christian City ($25,000), Operation Warm ($20,000) and Catalyst Sports ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Waffle House Foundation Inc?
Waffle House Foundation Inc reported $185K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $288K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $12K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Waffle House Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated goal is to improve quality of life for people in its hometown of metro Atlanta. Its stated priorities include health and human service organizations, youth and educational programs, organizations serving people who are needy or disadvantaged, and other civic causes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Waffle House Foundation Inc?
The foundation says requests are reviewed case by case and should include a letter and any available program materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Waffle House Foundation Inc's EIN?
Waffle House Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1477023. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 25, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Waffle House Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Waffle House Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/waffle-house-foundation-inc-morg_d01cb87f61434c7fa99c1f44bb03c61d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_581477023_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Waffle House Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/waffle-house-foundation-inc-morg_d01cb87f61434c7fa99c1f44bb03c61d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Waffle House Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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