Childhood Hunger
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, childhood hunger affects more than 12 million U.S. kids, which can prevent them from performing their best. Through investments in local and national partners, we support food access programs, including community pantries, backpack programs, and school lunch assistance, to provide the food necessary to fuel potential.
Youth Empowerment
We know the right experience at the right time can kickstart a child’s confidence for the future. Whether this experience is an introduction to a team environment, a transformative relationship, or a new way of thinking, we help unleash the leaders of the next generation.
Career Readiness
Basic job skills help lay the foundation for a strong future. By building partnerships within communities across America, we’re inspiring youth to see their full potential and chart their path to a successful career.
Child Health
Children battling illness or injuries are often robbed of the simple joys of childhood. Through community and signature grant programming, we create joyful experiences for kids and their families to escape treatment and enjoy time just being kids. We are also committed to supporting early intervention for physical and mental health challenges as well as broadening access to primary care physicians for children.
Driving change
for good
Our foundations leverage the unique spirit and values of each brand to develop partnerships with non-profit organizations, create signature programs, and offer grants that align with each brand purpose. Empowering our brand foundations to approach our shared focus areas from their perspective leads to an incredible diversity in programs and initiatives that target specific communities and address a range of needs.
We are extremely proud of our foundations and grateful for the support of our partners, our team members, and our guests, who make this possible.
Arby’s partners nationally with No Kid Hungry, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Junior Achievement, to ensure that every kid is empowered to dream big and pursue their dreams with confidence.
$100M+
donated to youth-related causes
550+
organizations benefitted through local grants
14.5M
meals provided to youth in need
Click to read about our recent initiative:
Arby’s Foundation Donates $1 Million to Support School Lunch Debt Relief
The Baskin-Robbins Pint Sized Heroes program honors pediatric patients who bring happiness to others. These kids despite their challenges, find ways to inspire and bring happiness and joy to our communities – they are heroes. Pint-sized heroes are honored at their care facilities and receive an honorary $31,000 grant in their name for the children’s hospital where they receive treatment and free ice cream for a year. PSH help the care team determine ways these funds can be used to bring happiness and joy to other pediatric patients.
$93,000
donated to hospitals in honor of Pint-Sized Heroes
Click to read about our recent initiative:
Benefitting the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and other youth sports organizations, the Buffalo Wild Wings Foundation is helping thousands of youth develop life-enhancing skills through participation in team sports.
$30M+
raised and donated to youth-related causes
44K
balls provided for at-home sports
10K
pieces of equipment provided to local BCGA Clubs
Click to read about our recent initiative:
Buffalo Wild Wings Foundation Teams Up with 21Savage to Kickoff the New School Year in Atlanta
The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation brings the simple joys of childhood to kids battling hunger or illness. Through local grants to hunger relief organizations and children’s hospitals and through our signature programs like Dogs for Joy, Dunkin’ Prom, Connecting Joy, and Joyful Spaces, the Foundation helps kids feel like kids, even on their most difficult days.
630+
grants given to children’s hospitals and nonprofits
100+
volunteer events at organizations providing children with food access
2.6M+
children impacted by programs and grants per year
Click to read about our recent initiative:
2.1 Million Dunkin’® Iced Coffees Help Bring Joy to Children Battling Illness
Launched in early 2021, the Jimmy John’s Foundation is dedicated to providing youth the opportunities and skills to ensure they are able to pursue their dreams and thrive. While the Foundation is just getting started, it builds on the legacy of community engagement by the Jimmy John’s brand and its franchisees.
Areas of Focus
Independence
Community
Opportunity
Click to read about our recent initiative:
Jimmy John’s® Teams Up with Drew Brees for a Winning Play Across America
The Sonic Foundation is sparking brighter futures for America’s youth through support of hunger, education, and community. In partnership with DonorsChoose, Sonic’s Limeades for Learning program provides essential funds necessary for teachers to inspire creativity and learning.
$27M+
donated since 2009
59K
teachers supported through Limeades for Learning
11.8M
students impacted
Click to read about our recent initiative:
SONIC Sends 175 Educators from Across the Country to Training at Renowned Ron Clark Academy
Volunteerism
Good Citizens Month
Established in 2020, this month-long initiative encourages team members and franchisees around the world to embody the best of being Good Citizens, an Inspire core behavior that guides us to elevate each other and the communities we serve. The Inspire Brands Foundation and Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation partner with non-profit organizations to create impactful volunteer projects throughout the month of April with the goal of providing at least one volunteer opportunity every day, in addition to volunteer projects team members and franchisees organize themselves and flexible service projects that can be completed remotely at any time during the month.
In April 2024, Inspire team members and franchisees served at volunteer events nationwide, logging more than 10,200 collective hours of giving back through service projects that included sorting and packing donations, spending time at animal shelters and hospitals, and cleaning up our communities.
SPARK
In November 2023, Inspire hosted the inaugural SPARK event in Atlanta, Georgia. SPARK is a first-of-its-kind collaboration among hospitality, entertainment, and nonprofit thought leaders designed to expand what’s possible to help ensure that our next generation is workforce-ready. This full day event was co-hosted by Paul Brown and Grammy Award-winning artist, actor, and philanthropist Ludacris, with the goal of giving back to the nonprofits who are leading the way in workforce readiness programs. Announced live on-stage, the Inspire Brands Foundation, along with corporate partners, celebrated $1 million in grants through the end of 2023 to support youth-focused workforce readiness initiatives across the nation.
In 2024, we hosted the 2nd Annual SPARK event and incorporated a new community summit for 80+ nonprofit and community leaders. Summit attendees gained insight into the current state of youth culture and left with actionable takeaways for their organization to prepare youth for the workforce.
“Our vision for SPARK is to create a moment in time where the hospitality industry comes together to amplify our mission to inspire youth in realizing their full potential and charting their path to a successful, long-term career,” said Paul Brown.
Exemplifying Good Citizens Behavior
In addition to the countless volunteer events hosted by Inspire, some teams go above and beyond to incorporate service projects into their work, embodying the goal to elevate each other and the communities we serve.
Pro Bono Services
Inspire’s Legal Team worked with the Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta and the law firm Alston & Bird to provide pro bono services to nonprofits in the greater Atlanta area. Members of the Inspire team were matched with organizations such as the Brain Injury Association of Georgia and MED Alliance for Educator Diversity, where they volunteered their time and services to complete projects for each nonprofit. We’re inspired by their passion to use their skills and expertise to support our community.