The Darden Restaurants Inc Foundation focuses on strengthening food security, emergency response, and local community wellbeing while also supporting youth development, arts in Central Florida, and workforce/education programs tied to the restaurant industry. Its giving mixes large national partners (e.g., Feeding America, Red Cross) with repeated investments in regional community organizations in the Orlando area, reflecting both sector-wide and place-based priorities. Darden also invests in industry-aligned workforce and scholarship initiatives and occasional conservation support.
Darden Restaurants Inc Foundation’s giving is shaped by large, repeated commitments to hunger relief and emergency response. The biggest recent grant in the dataset is a $4,000,000 award to Feeding America in 2025, and the same network also received $2,000,000 in both 2023 and 2024. Alongside that national food-security work, the foundation has made repeated $500,000 grants to the American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches, showing a parallel emphasis on disaster response. The foundation also supports community-based efforts tied to youth development, education, arts, and workforce pathways. Boys & Girls Clubs of America appears multiple times across the recent grants list, while Scholarship America and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation show an education-and-careers thread. In Orlando, Heart of Florida United Way and United Arts of Central Florida have both received recurring support, and Second Harvest Food Bank and Seniors First Inc appear among local recipients as well. The pattern is a mix of national intermediaries and place-based grants, with a strong Florida presence and a clear interest in community wellbeing.
Food security is the largest visible theme. Darden Restaurants Inc Foundation gave $4,000,000 to Feeding America in 2025 for Healthy Communities, after $2,000,000 grants in both 2023 and 2024 to the same national network. Disaster response is another recurring area: the American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches received $500,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Youth development also appears through a $750,000 grant to Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 2025 and earlier $500,000 awards in 2023 and 2024. Education support includes a $328,000 gift-match to Scholarship America Inc in Saint Peter, MN and a separate $324,000 grant to Scholarship America Inc in Manchester, NH. Workforce-linked giving appears through the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, which received $250,000 in 2025 for Education Gift Match and additional Healthy Communities support in prior years.
Typical grant size is $2,500 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $175,000 at the 75th percentile, indicating a mix of small gifts and much larger institutional grants. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including national networks and local community groups, so this is not a one-off funder. Darden Restaurants Inc Foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Some support is structured as gift matching, including grants to Scholarship America Inc and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
$6.6M
$12.1M
$7.6M
$6.7M
Most grants fall between $3K and $175K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$175K
About 57% of grants go to recipients in NH.
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small set of repeat national and regional partners with multiple-year or multiple-grant relationships; combines large flagship gifts for national infrastructure (hunger, disaster relief) with targeted local investments in community, arts, and workforce programs.
Notable grantees: Feeding America, American National Red Cross & its chapters, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Heart of Florida United Way, National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
The grant record is entirely U.S.-based, with 101 grants in the United States. Florida is the main recipient state by grant count, accounting for 57% of grants to recipients in the HQ state, though the top state by grant count is New Hampshire. Recent recipient cities include Orlando, FL; Chicago, IL; Atlanta, GA; New York, NY; Washington, DC; Saint Peter, MN; Manchester, NH; and Tallahassee, FL. This points to a statewide Florida base with additional national nonprofit partners and a notable concentration of giving beyond the headquarters city.
The foundation supports food-security networks, disaster-response organizations, youth-development groups, arts and community organizations in Central Florida, and workforce or scholarship programs connected to the restaurant industry. Recent grantees include Feeding America, the American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Heart of Florida United Way, and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeated awards across multiple years to several organizations, including Feeding America in 2023, 2024, and 2025; the American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The typical grant size profile is $2,500 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $175,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes much larger awards, such as $4,000,000 to Feeding America and several $500,000 grants.
Yes. Education and workforce support appears through Scholarship America Inc, which received $328,000 in Saint Peter, MN and $324,000 in Manchester, NH, and through the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, which received $250,000 in 2025 for Education Gift Match plus earlier Healthy Communities support.
The grant record is U.S.-only, and Florida is the main recipient state by grant count, with 57% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Florida recipients include Heart of Florida United Way, United Arts of Central Florida Inc, Volunteer Florida Foundation Inc, Seniors First Inc, and Second Harvest Food Bank.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEEDING AMERICA | CHICAGO, IL | $4,000,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA | ATLANTA, GA | $750,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS & ITS CONSTITUENT CHAPTERS AND BRANCHES | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS & ITS CONSTITUENT CHAPTERS AND BRANCHES | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA INC | SAINT PETER, MN | $328,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA INC | MANCHESTER, NH | $324,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| UNITED ARTS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA INC | ORLANDO, FL | $265,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| UNITED ARTS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA INC | ORLANDO, FL | $250,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| HEART OF FLORIDA UNITED WAY | ORLANDO, FL | $250,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| HEART OF FLORIDA UNITED WAY | ORLANDO, FL | $250,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| SENIORS FIRST INC | ORLANDO, FL | $110,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK | ORLANDO, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| THE MONARCH LEARNING ACADEMY INC | ORLANDO, FL | $23,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA | HYDE PARK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $13,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| MEALS ON WHEELS INC | SANFORD, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF CENTRAL FL INC | ORLANDO, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF CENTRAL FL INC | ORLANDO, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| MEALS ON WHEELS INC | SANFORD, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| SENIORS FIRST INC | ORLANDO, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| TAMPA PREPARATORY SCHOOL | TAMPA, FL | $9,549 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE | MANCHESTER, NH | $7,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| ROLLINS COLLEGE | WINTER PARK, FL | $5,500 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| A GIFT FOR TEACHING INC | ORLANDO, FL | $4,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FOUNDATION INC | GAINESVILLE, FL | $3,500 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| LAKE HIGHLAND PREPARATORY SCHOOL | ORLANDO, FL | $3,400 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| FOUNDATION ACADEMY OF WINTER GARDEN | WINTER GARDEN, FL | $3,000 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| SEACOAST CHARTER SCHOOL | DOVER, NH | $2,500 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| LAKE HIGHLAND PREPARATORY SCHOOL | ORLANDO, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| FOUNDATION ACADEMY OF WINTER GARDEN | WINTER GARDEN, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| SEACOAST CHARTER SCHOOL | DOVER, NH | $2,500 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| CONDUCTIVE EDUCATION CENTER OF ORLANDO INC | WINTER PARK, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $2,300 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| MOREHOUSE COLLEGE INC | ATLANTA, GA | $1,040 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| WALNUT HILLS HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $750 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| MARIETTA COLLEGE | MARIETTA, OH | $500 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| MIAMI UNIVERSITY | OXFORD, OH | $500 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| ST MARYS EPISCOPAL SCHOOL | TAMPA, FL | $500 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| MARIETTA COLLEGE | MARIETTA, OH | $500 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| CHRISTIAN BROTHERS LASALLE HIGH SCHOOL | WYNDMOOR, PA | $500 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| PULASKI ACADEMY | LITTLE ROCK, AR | $250 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| A GIFT FOR TEACHING INC | ORLANDO, FL | $100 | 2025 | GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH |
| FEEDING AMERICA | CHICAGO, IL | $2,000,000 | 2024 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA | ATLANTA, GA | $500,000 | 2024 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS & ITS CONSTITUENT CHAPTERS AND BRANCHES | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2024 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| HEART OF FLORIDA UNITED WAY | ORLANDO, FL | $300,000 | 2024 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2024 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
| UNITED ARTS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA INC | ORLANDO, FL | $250,000 | 2024 | GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES |
FEEDING AMERICA
$4,000,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA
$750,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS & ITS CONSTITUENT CHAPTERS AND BRANCHES
$500,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS & ITS CONSTITUENT CHAPTERS AND BRANCHES
$500,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA INC
$328,000GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA INC
$324,000GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
UNITED ARTS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA INC
$265,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
UNITED ARTS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA INC
$250,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
HEART OF FLORIDA UNITED WAY
$250,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$250,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$250,000GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
HEART OF FLORIDA UNITED WAY
$250,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
SENIORS FIRST INC
$110,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK
$100,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
THE MONARCH LEARNING ACADEMY INC
$23,000GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA
$20,000GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY
$13,000GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
MEALS ON WHEELS INC
$10,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF CENTRAL FL INC
$10,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF CENTRAL FL INC
$10,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
MEALS ON WHEELS INC
$10,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
SENIORS FIRST INC
$10,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
TAMPA PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$9,549GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE
$7,000GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
ROLLINS COLLEGE
$5,500GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
A GIFT FOR TEACHING INC
$4,000GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FOUNDATION INC
$3,500GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
LAKE HIGHLAND PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$3,400GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
FOUNDATION ACADEMY OF WINTER GARDEN
$3,000GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
SEACOAST CHARTER SCHOOL
$2,500GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
LAKE HIGHLAND PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$2,500GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
FOUNDATION ACADEMY OF WINTER GARDEN
$2,500GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
SEACOAST CHARTER SCHOOL
$2,500GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
CONDUCTIVE EDUCATION CENTER OF ORLANDO INC
$2,500GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
$2,300GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE INC
$1,040GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
WALNUT HILLS HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI FOUNDATION
$750GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
MARIETTA COLLEGE
$500GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
MIAMI UNIVERSITY
$500GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
ST MARYS EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
$500GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
MARIETTA COLLEGE
$500GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS LASALLE HIGH SCHOOL
$500GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
PULASKI ACADEMY
$250GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
A GIFT FOR TEACHING INC
$100GRANTS - EDUCATION GIFT MATCH
FEEDING AMERICA
$2,000,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA
$500,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS & ITS CONSTITUENT CHAPTERS AND BRANCHES
$500,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
HEART OF FLORIDA UNITED WAY
$300,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$250,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
UNITED ARTS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA INC
$250,000GRANTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES