TOGETHER, WE'RE CHANGING LIVES

“

The KFC Foundation has changed my life. As a REACH Grant recipient, I have been able to further my own education and also encourage and empower my team to apply for KFC Foundation programs. After receiving my own REACH Grant, I assisted 3 other team members in applying, 2 of whom were recipients this year. Once I received my own grant, I became more involved with KFC Foundation opportunities and helped my team sign up for the MyChange with SaverLife Challenge and also win the KFC socks for our team!
Samantha

“

Waking up to an email that read 'Reach Grant Winner' was momentous. I cried of joy for almost an hour because the excitement was so surreal. I have never received so much money and for it to all go towards a dream is insane. I cannot stress enough how thankful I am about the assistance KFC has for its employees. Programs like this can change someone's life. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all those who have assisted me in making my educational dreams one step closer to achieving. Thank you KFC and the KFC Foundation for this unforgettable opportunity.
Alicia

“

I had the pleasure of receiving a REACH Grant [twice]. To receive this was such an honor. I take great pride in my education and have dreamed of attending college for as long as I can remember. It’s very important to me, as I’m the first person in my immediate family to earn a college degree. To have these programs available to myself and my coworkers means a lot to me. Scholarships have been a life saver for me and continue to put me one step closer to my dreams. I will never be able to express how much this means to be able to accomplish something so important to me. You have changed my life for the better in all aspects.
Savannah

“

This Foundation has inspired me to help others, and I also hope to one day help students achieve their goals just like this foundation has done.
Oscar

“

When I was told I was a recipient for the REACH Educational Grant, I was filled with joy as I felt tears form in my eyes. It showed me that someone believes that I can and will succeed as a future RN and they are giving me the opportunity to do so. Having this program available to me and my coworkers is a dream come true as it gives students financial assistance and allows for the opportunity to pursue our passions without feeling impossible.
Alyssa

“

I can’t express enough gratitude to KFC for helping me along my journey. My managers themselves have supported me throughout the college application journey and made me feel comfortable. Not to mention that I’m able to help my family with expenses now and with this grant, I’ll be able to enjoy my college experience without worrying about my expenses. Thank you, KFC and the KFC Foundation, from the bottom of my heart. I never knew just how much you would help me.
Ja'Quayzsha

Letter from Justin & Emma

Wow! Another incredible year has flown by.

This year, our focus has been setting your KFC Foundation up for future success.

With our new strategic plan in hand, we have a bold vision for where we want to go: Make every KFC restaurant employee feel supported and empowered to be their best selves.

We know that your restaurant employees join the KFC Family at all different stages and phases of their lives, and at the Foundation, we see it as our job to meet each team member where they are – whether as part of their first job at 16 or having worked in our restaurants for years

Over the next 3 years, we want to grow our impact from $2 million annually to $10 million annually to bring that vision to life.

Currently, we serve more than 2,000 restaurant employees per year helping them work toward their GED, get college tuition assistance, receive financial aid in the midst of a hardship, build a habit of saving money and a short-term emergency fund and give back to their communities in a big way.

What would your restaurant look like if 5x more people received support from the KFC Foundation?
What if team members facing a crisis were supported not only financially by the Foundation but were also connected to the resources in their community that could continue to help them?
What if working parents had access to emergency back-up child-care support?
What if every restaurant employee had access to free college?

We’re asking big questions to reach this vision and the journey takes the entire KFC Family. We wouldn’t be where we are today without your generous and enthusiastic partnership, and we can’t get where we’re going without your continued support.

If there’s one thing we’ve all learned over the past year and a half, it’s that taking care of people is not just a priority; it’s THE priority. And your KFC Foundation is strategically positioned and ready to take this concept to a whole new level.

Our vision is to make every KFC restaurant employee feel supported and empowered to be their best selves.

Together, we can bring this to life.

With gratitude,

Justin Stewart
Board Chair

Emma Horn
Managing Director

2021 Highlights

Raised $100,000+ at the first-ever virtual Convention

Generated more than 278 million media impressions for the KFC Foundation and KFC brand

Relaunched Kentucky Fried Wishes, awarding $110,000 to 11 local non-profit organizations nominated by KFC restaurant teams

Kicked off our first national $1 for $1 Savings Match Challenge for restaurant employees

Revamped kfcfoundation.org to incorporate increased capabilities, more restaurant employees front and center, and a modern look (take a look around while you’re here! 😊)

Created a Salesforce database so we can provide relevant data to stakeholders more nimbly and frequently

Launching Round Up campaign in restaurants across the country, with a goal to raise $1 million for restaurant employees

Our Vision

Growth with a goal: To give more and do more.

Our Impact

We’ve had quite a year investing in KFC restaurant employees and the causes they care about.

“Fortunately I was able to win the REACH Grant last year… It showed me that someone actually believed in my dream… It really sparked a fire in me. The REACH Grant really meant hope for me. It really boosted my confidence and my discipline so much.” – Maximiliano

“Receiving the REACH grant meant so much to me. I vividly remember my Managers being there to present me with my check and the tears rolling down the faces of me and my parents. I am extremely grateful that KFC can provide their workers with opportunities such as the REACH grant because it makes me realize how much they care about their workers and getting them to further their education.” – Alejandra

“The KFC Foundation is empowering the next generation of leaders to have a voice in the world, and I really appreciate it.” – Jeremy

“I’d like to thank the KFC Foundation for assisting me throughout my college education. I don’t even know if I would be in school right now if it wasn’t for KFC. That’s how much the KFC REACH Grant means to me.” – Lionel

“I love how much the KFC Foundation does for our teams! It really helps to show how much KFC values their employees. The grants and financial assistance offered through the KFC Foundation is very unique and makes KFC an amazing company to be a part of.” – Julie

“I love the fact the KFC Foundation helps those in need. It really means a lot to work at a place that will help you during bad times.” – Jasmine

“I truly think it’s a very, very great thing and a very, very generous thing to give KFC employees a chance to win these grants and scholarships in order to pursue their dreams.” – Kelvin

“I feel so relieved and happy to have accomplished my goal of earning my GED. I felt like a huge weight was finally off my shoulders.” – Jessica

“At the time, I was 30 years old and unable to get a high school diploma for various reasons. It weighed heavily on my mind knowing I missed an opportunity that could further my life. The Rise program helped me fulfill my dream of becoming a graduate, and now that I’ve achieved this goal, college is the next step. You’re never too young, or too old, to reach for what you want in life. I am proud of my accomplishment, its validation of the potential I always knew I had.” – Jamie

“Knowing that the KFC Foundation has your back when you need them is an asset that is not available everywhere you work and is highly cherished.” – Natasha

“I wanted to learn how to set aside money to have an emergency fund and be prepared for the unexpected. I am grateful for the MyChange program as I am learning so much! I have read different articles available on SaverLife that have shown the importance of paying off debt and saving. The real life stories help to show me it is possible to put money in savings & not touch it. I can see my savings grow and that helps me feel accomplished.” – Kerri

“The KFC Foundation has changed my life. As a REACH Grant recipient, I have been able to further my own education and also encourage and empower my team to apply for KFC Foundation programs. After receiving my own REACH Grant, I assisted 3 other team members in applying, 2 of whom were recipients this year. Once I received my own grant, I became more involved with KFC Foundation opportunities and helped my team sign up for the MyChange with SaverLife Challenge and also win the KFC socks for our team!” – Samantha

“Waking up to an email that read ‘Reach Grant Winner’ was momentous. I cried of joy for almost an hour because the excitement was so surreal. I have never received so much money and for it to all go towards a dream is insane. I cannot stress enough how thankful I am about the assistance KFC has for its employees. Programs like this can change someone’s life. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all those who have assisted me in making my educational dreams one step closer to achieving. Thank you KFC and the KFC Foundation for this unforgettable opportunity.” – Alicia

“I had the pleasure of receiving a REACH Grant [twice]. To receive this was such an honor. I take great pride in my education and have dreamed of attending college for as long as I can remember. It’s very important to me, as I’m the first person in my immediate family to earn a college degree. To have these programs available to myself and my coworkers means a lot to me. Scholarships have been a life saver for me and continue to put me one step closer to my dreams. I will never be able to express how much this means to be able to accomplish something so important to me. You have changed my life for the better in all aspects.” – Savannah

“This Foundation has inspired me to help others, and I also hope to one day help students achieve their goals just like this foundation has done.” – Oscar

“When I was told I was a recipient for the REACH Educational Grant, I was filled with joy as I felt tears form in my eyes. It showed me that someone believes that I can and will succeed as a future RN and they are giving me the opportunity to do so. Having this program available to me and my coworkers is a dream come true as it gives students financial assistance and allows for the opportunity to pursue our passions without feeling impossible.” – Alyssa

“I can’t express enough gratitude to KFC for helping me along my journey. My managers themselves have supported me throughout the college application journey and made me feel comfortable. Not to mention that I’m able to help my family with expenses now and with this grant, I’ll be able to enjoy my college experience without worrying about my expenses. Thank you, KFC and the KFC Foundation, from the bottom of my heart. I never knew just how much you would help me.” – Ja’Quayzsha

“No words can describe how grateful I am for receiving the REACH Grant. I am a first-generation student in my family. My parents never completed high school, therefore me being the first in my family to do so and to be able to attend college has been a blessing.” – Johanna

“I cannot begin to express how grateful I am for this help! You have truly lifted a weight off my shoulders. Sometimes life comes at us so unexpectedly and I have such a thankful heart knowing that there are caring people like you trying to help make people’s lives better! I want to thank you again for helping me through trying times when I had cancer a couple years ago. I have also witnessed the way you have helped others in their times of need. I am so proud to work for KFC. Hopefully I can pay forward the blessings you have given me.” – Heather

“I’m a candidate for heart transplant now on disability. The KFC Family Fund helped by paying a couple of my larger medical bills. It was a huge relief financially. The compassionate help I got through the KFC Foundation made me further realize I work for the right company.” – David

“We are so blessed!!! We were approached several months ago by our local KFC. They nominated us to apply for a Kentucky Fried Wishes Grant. Y’all, we got the grant, and chicken! Thank you Kentucky Fried Wishes and thank you to our local KFC for nominating us. We aren’t the largest or loudest organization, but this grant confirms that we are doing something right. Our hearts are full.” – Paris Downtown Boxing Gym

“I realized I do not have a safety net for myself in case my income stops for whatever reason. MyChange with SaverLife has taught me the importance of having a plan financially. I used to be pretty reckless with my spending habits and if there was ever an emergency, I would have to ask to borrow money until I got paid again. Now I’ve started planning my spending ahead of time and making sure I have money in my savings. I really like how SaverLife has daily articles about different financial topics, including the answers to some questions that I have had myself but just never knew who to ask.” – Jocelyn

“I wanted to finish and get my GED before September and my advisor was able to help me reach that goal. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted since.” – Josue

$1.2 million in college tuition assistance to 583 restaurant employees

$177,000 in financial assistance to 72 restaurant employees facing an unexpected hardship or crisis

$110,000 in grants to 11 local non-profit organizations, nominated by KFC restaurant teams

600+ restaurant employees building a habit of saving and boosting their emergency savings by a collective $15,000+ in Savings Rewards

23 restaurant employees rewrote their history and earned their high school credential

“I wanted to finish and get my GED before September and my advisor was able to help me reach that goal. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted since.” – Josue, Rise with GEDWorks graduate

*Numbers YTD as of Sept. 16, 2021

Our programs inspire participants to grow their careers with KFC

46% of KFC Foundation 2020 program participants were still employed 1 year later

26% of 2020 REACH Grant winners have been promoted since receiving the grant

The KFC Family Fund’s impact continues to grow year after year.

2016: Disbursed $48,582 to 23 restaurant employees
2017: $108,682 to 57 restaurant employees*
2018: $151,955 to 60 restaurant employees
2019: $180,166 to 75 restaurant employees
2020: $275,187 to 117 restaurant employees

*These totals do not include large-scale grant disbursements after natural disasters. The purpose and intent of this chart is to show program growth on an individual case basis, hence why large-scale disbursements were not counted.

Financials

of KFC Foundation expenses go to programs to take care of restaurant employees

FY2020

How our work is funded

Revenue: $2,426,337
-Cole Slaw: $1,878,780 (77.4%)
-Misc. Donations: $485,760 (20%)
-Investment Income: $61,797 (2.6%)

Where your giving goes

Expenses: $2,639,806
-Program Expenses: $2,508,886 (95%)
-Management and General: $96,426 (3.7%)
-Fundraising Expenses: $34,494 (1.3%)

How your giving helps

-REACH Educational Grant Program: 69%
-KFC Family Fund: 25%
-Rise with GEDWorks: 3%
-MyChange with SaverLife: 3%

We’re excited to embark on this new journey with life-changing Secret Recipe fries!

Side Item

Cole Slaw
Fries

Fee Rate

$1.23
$.90

Yearly Volume

1,677,729
2,302,947

Anticipated 2022 Donations

$2,063,607
$2,063,607

Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Justin Stewart

Board Chair
Stewart Restaurant Group, COO

“I’m really excited about our National Round Up fundraising campaign from Nov. 15-Dec. 24, where we hope to raise over $1 million to benefit even more restaurant employees and local charities next year! Thank you for helping us achieve our goal of becoming a $10 million Foundation by 2024. The future is bright!”

Holly Winkel

Board Treasurer NCAC,
Marketing Director

“I love finding new ways to help KFC team members however we can, be it education assistance, family or personal needs, improving their lives and giving back to their communities.”

John Kurnick

Corporate Representative,
CPO, KFCC

“Through the very unfortunate times of the pandemic, we have learned so much about the needs and desires of KFC restaurant teams. We’ve seen how passionate they are to help those around them—which the Foundation built upon with our new community-focused Kentucky Fried Wishes—and how they take care of each other. I look forward to seeing how we change even more lives with the programs the KFC Foundation offers.”

Directors

Karen Adams

KFCC, Director of Field HR

“I love being a part of the KFC Foundation because it makes such a big difference in the lives of restaurant teams. Whether it’s education, financial support in times of crisis or building skills around saving money, each program can have such a huge life-changing impact.”

Joan Bowling

Dunn & Bowling, Ltd.,
Owner

“The program I am most excited about is MyChange with SaverLife. This is something that can benefit all employees and can change their lives. Learning to save money is a skill that can make someone's life easier and more successful.”

Chris Caldwell

KFCC, CTO

“My favorite part of being on the KFC Foundation Board is seeing firsthand the impact our programs have on restaurant team members. I think we have a massive opportunity to increase fundraising and increase our impact.”

Nancy Fox

KBP Foods, CPO

“Serving on the Board provides many benefits, but my favorite part is the ability to connect with and be a voice for employees. My cup is constantly filled by the connections made with fellow franchise owners, managing partners and restaurant employees through our growing KFC Foundation programs.”

Jeff Griffin

KFCC, Director of Operations

“I am excited about the possibilities ahead. I believe the KFC Foundation will continue to evolve to meet the restaurant employees’ needs in very relevant and impactful ways.”

Marcus Shelton

Bacon Enterprises,
Owner/Operator

“Serving on the Foundation board has been one of the great blessings of my career and I am proud of the impact we have had on KFC team members’ lives. I have personally seen the impact of REACH and the Family Fund. So many of my own employees have been beneficiaries of these programs and I love supporting them and seeing them thrive.”

Staff

Emma Horn

Managing Director

“What excites me for the future of the KFC Foundation? Knowing that we have the opportunity to change lives for thousands more KFC restaurant employees. KFC restaurant teams are incredible and we have the privilege of being there for them wherever they are on life’s journey.”

Debbie Rollins

Program Leader

“When I started with the Foundation over 11 years ago, we had one program. Today, we have five programs! The work we do as a Foundation is like no other, and the impact we make on team members is tremendous. I’m looking forward to continuing growing as a Foundation, improving our programs and celebrating more team members as they become their best selves!”

Liz Edrington

Communication Coordinator

“I love working for the KFC Foundation because everyone involved is wholly focused on our mission—to take care of restaurant employees—and we’re continually striving to help team members grow, achieve and thrive. It’s such a great feeling to be part of an organization that is genuinely heart-led and does everything possible to impact as many people as possible.”

Brittany Gilbert

Program Specialist

“I love getting to work with the restaurant employees for personal and professional development. How cool is it to become part of someone’s life story? To hear someone say ‘the KFC Foundation helped me during a time of need in my life’ and knowing you were part of that – there is no better feeling.”