IRVINE, Calif. — The Taco Bell Foundation has announced a historic $28 million in Community Grants to nearly 500 nonprofit organizations across the United States, marking its largest annual giving year in the foundation’s 30-plus-year history.
The 2025 grants represent a $5 million increase over the previous year and reflect the foundation’s deepened commitment to empowering youth through education and career readiness. The funding supports programs focused on academic success, mentorship, college and career exploration, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and socio-emotional well-being.
“We believe that empowering young people is one of the most meaningful ways we can invest in the future,” said Lisa Lane Cardin, Executive Director of the Taco Bell Foundation. “This record investment is a testament to the power of community-driven change and the limitless potential that exists when we remove barriers and open doors.”
Among the recipients are the Boys & Girls Club of the Twin Cities, which received $175,000, and Junior Achievement of San Diego County, awarded $70,000. New partners include Notes for Notes, which provides free music programming to youth, and Braven, a national nonprofit supporting first-generation college students and those from low-income backgrounds.
The grants are driven by Taco Bell’s Round Up campaign, which allows customers to donate spare change at checkout. In 2024, the campaign raised over $50 million, earning recognition as the top point-of-sale fundraiser in Engage For Good’s 2025 Charity Checkout Champions report.
Unlike traditional grant models, Taco Bell’s program relies on local franchise owners to nominate nonprofits, ensuring targeted investments in communities where Taco Bell fans and team members live and work. This year, 45% of funding supports career readiness programs, 29% goes to academic mentorship, and 11% aids college readiness initiatives.
Since its founding in 1992, the Taco Bell Foundation has awarded more than $203 million in grants and scholarships, reaching nearly 9 million young people nationwide.
For more information, visit tacobellfoundation.org.