Waffle House Foundation Inc
Waffle House Foundation Inc is a corporate foundation established in 1982 and headquartered in Norcross, Georgia. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation is dedicated to returning to the community a portion of the goodwill received by the Waffle House brand. The foundation operates with a mission to improve the quality of life for people in the metro-Atlanta area and beyond.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$199K
-10.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$322K
+26.1% YoY
Grant Count
39
+21.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+3.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Waffle House Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $13K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary goal is to improve the quality of life for people in the metro-Atlanta region. Funding priorities include:
- Education and educational programs
- Health and human services
- Youth and youth programs
- Civic affairs and causes
- Support for economically disadvantaged people
- College scholarships for students in financial need
The foundation does not consider funding requests for capital campaigns, endowments, debt reduction, religious organizations for religious purposes, political candidates, charity balls, or golf outings.
Grantmaking
The foundation distributes grants to charitable organizations, with recent activity showing:
Ready to take the next step with Waffle House Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily focuses on the metro-Atlanta area. However, grantmaking extends to multiple states including California, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year (Ending May 2024):
- Total Revenue: $299,529
- Total Expenses: $321,600
- Total Assets: $199,192
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Net Income: -$22,071
The foundation operates with no employees and is supported by contributions from the Waffle House organization.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $199,192 | $221,263 | $253,533 |
| Revenue | $299,529 | $222,811 | $349,819 |
| Expenses | $321,600 | $255,081 | $342,500 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $321,600 | $255,000 | $342,500 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $13,337 | — | — |
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
130 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Waffle House Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Across the Bridge Inc ($20,000), Focused Community Strategies ($20,000), Aurora Day Camp ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| HOPE Inc DULUTH, GA | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Serenade Heights WOODSTOCK, GA | Charitable | $9,000 |
| Must Ministries Atlanta, GA | Charitable | $8,500 |
| Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Atlanta, GA | Charitable | $1,000 |
| Camp Twin Lakes Atlanta, GA | Charitable | $12,500 |
| Quality Growth Institute Atlanta, GA | Charitable | $10,000 |
| By His Stripes Ministry Cape Coral, FL | Charitable | $1,100 |
| Grady Health Foundation Atlanta, GA | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Across the Bridge Inc LAWRENCEVILLE, GA | Charitable | $20,000 |
| Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries NORCROSS, GA | Charitable | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Marianne Hovey - Vice President
- Asha Schein - President
- Tracy Bradshaw - Vice President
- Lindsay Westcott - Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASHA SCHEIN | PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
| TRACY BRADSHAW | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in supporting metro-Atlanta communities. Recent news indicates the foundation has made significant donations, including an anonymous $1 million donation linked to Waffle House that benefited Avondale Estates. The foundation has also provided support to the Clarke County Sheriff's office.
Waffle House\u2013linked $1M donation surprises Avondale Estates | Avondale\Frequently Asked Questions
What does Waffle House Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary goal is to improve the quality of life for people in the metro-Atlanta region. Funding priorities include: • Education and educational programs • Health and human services • Youth and youth programs • Civic affairs and causes • Support for economically disadvantaged people • College scholarships for students in financial need The foundation does not consider funding requests for capital campaigns, endowments, debt reduction, religious organizations for religious purpose…
How do I apply for a grant from Waffle House Foundation Inc?
The foundation distributes grants to charitable organizations, with recent activity showing: • **2024 Grant Activity**: 40 organizations received funding totaling approximately $279,000 in grants • **Recent Grant Examples** (2024): • Focused Community Strategies: $20,000 • Across the Bridge: $20,000 • Hands on Atlanta: $15,000 Grant awards are determined on a case-by-case basis, with preference given to health and human service organizations, youth and educational programs, and support for the …
Where does Waffle House Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily focuses on the metro-Atlanta area. However, grantmaking extends to multiple states including California, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
What size grants does Waffle House Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Waffle House Foundation Inc awarded 39 grants totaling $322K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Waffle House Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Waffle House Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $13K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Waffle House Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
The O Wayne Rollins Foundation
ATLANTA, GA
Assets
$432.0M
Grants
29
Total Given
$39.5M
Rhedcloud Foundation Inc
DECATUR, GA
Assets
$6K
Grants
1
Total Given
$13K
Atlanta Committee for Progress Inc
ATLANTA, GA
Assets
$2.1M
Grants
1
Total Given
$15K
Atlanta Postal Credit Union
ATLANTA, GA
Assets
$2.4B
Grants
4
Total Given
$308K
Justice for Children Foundation Inc
SAVANNAH, GA
Assets
$24K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Southeast Area Blood Bankers
PEACHTREE CITY, GA
Assets
$33K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Waffle House Foundation Inc on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Waffle House Foundation Inc to a real strategy.