The JCPenney Foundation concentrates on basic-needs and youth-focused services, combining a small number of sizable national grants (notably to hunger relief and school/health programs) with many smaller, locally directed store 'leader' grants supporting community nonprofits. Its giving reflects both corporate philanthropy toward food security, youth development and health/mental-health awareness and an employee-driven/local community emphasis through store-selected partners and associate relief. The foundation also funds education and workforce-readiness supports (scholarships, Dress for Success) and responds to disaster and emergency needs.
A defining pattern in The Jcpenney Foundation’s recent giving is the combination of national-scale hunger relief with locally selected community grants. The largest recent award in the file is $175,000 to Feeding America for child hunger programming, followed by a $100,000 grant in 2024 to the same organization for the same purpose. That sits alongside a separate stream of store-directed Leader Grants, where a JCPenney store general manager or district manager selects a local nonprofit partner. In the recent grants list, that model appears through awards to Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Camp Good Days, and several local Boys & Girls Club affiliates. The foundation’s portfolio also includes youth development and school-related support. Alliance for a Healthier Generation received $100,000 for The Walking Classroom, a program offering educational instruction, social emotional learning content, and in-class mobility. Another $100,000 grant supported the National Pan-Hellenic Council Foundation scholarship fund for undergraduate members of NPHC sororities and fraternities. Smaller grants extend the same pattern into community-based service, with gifts to mental health, workforce readiness, disaster response, and legacy projects tied to JCPenney history.
Food security is a central theme. The foundation gave $175,000 to Feeding America in 2025 and $100,000 to the same organization in 2024, both designated for child hunger programming. That places children’s nutrition at the center of one of its largest recurring national commitments. Youth education and social-emotional development are another clear focus. Alliance for a Healthier Generation received $100,000 for The Walking Classroom, described as a program for students that combines educational instruction, social emotional learning content, and in-class mobility. Simon Youth Foundation also received $25,000 for Simon Youth Academy programming that provides inclusive access to education for at-risk youth. The foundation also supports college access and women’s economic mobility. The National Pan-Hellenic Council Foundation received $100,000 for its scholarship fund, and Dress for Success received $20,000 for tools and services that help women transform their lives.
Typical grant size is small: p25 is $5,971, median is $8,612, and p75 is $12,474. The recent list also shows a handful of much larger awards, which indicates a split between broad community grantmaking and a smaller number of higher-dollar national commitments. Repeated recipients appear across multiple years, including Feeding America, Mental Health America, Boys & Girls Clubs affiliates, and J C Penney Homestead Inc. The foundation is a public charity and does not fund individuals. The data also shows store-selected Leader Grants, with local nonprofit partners chosen by a store general manager or district manager; no open application process is described in the provided material.
$507K
$4.7M
$2.6M
$1.4M
Most grants fall between $6K and $12K, with a median of $9K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$9K
75th Percentile
$12K
About 8% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Jcpenney Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 86 | $1.3M | 97.7% |
| 2 | Puerto Rico | 2 |
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Mix of a few large national grants and many small-to-midsize local grants: concentrated multi-thousand-dollar support for flagship national causes (hunger, youth/education, mental health) alongside distributed, repeat store-level 'Leader Grants' and associate relief grants. Several repeat grantees and multiple small recurring grants indicate an ongoing relationship with youth organizations and community partners rather than one-off giving.
Notable grantees: Feeding America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (and local Boys & Girls Clubs), Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Mental Health America, National Pan-Hellenic Council Foundation
The Jcpenney Foundation gives nationally, with 97.7% of grants in the U.S. and 2 grants listed to recipient country code RQ. Texas accounts for 11% of grants to recipients, though that is not the same as headquarters. Recent recipient cities include Chicago, Portland, Oakland, Alexandria, Indianapolis, Dallas, Houston, New York, Phoenix, and Wilmington. Louisiana is the top state by grant count, and one recent award went to James J Buquet Jr Bayouland YMCA in Houma, LA. Puerto Rico also appears in the recent list through Fondos Unidos De Puerto Rico Inc in San Juan.
Its recent grants center on child hunger, youth development, school-based learning and social-emotional support, mental health awareness, scholarships, women’s workforce readiness, and community relief. Large awards include Feeding America for child hunger programming, Alliance for a Healthier Generation for The Walking Classroom, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council Foundation for scholarship support.
Yes. Feeding America appears in both 2024 and 2025 for child hunger programming, Mental Health America appears in 2023 and 2024, Boys & Girls Clubs affiliates show up in multiple years, and J C Penney Homestead Inc appears more than once for museum and legacy-related support.
The distribution is relatively small: p25 is $5,971, median is $8,612, and p75 is $12,474. At the same time, the recent list includes larger outliers such as $175,000 to Feeding America and several $100,000 grants.
The recent grants list shows a Leader Grant model in which a JCPenney store general manager or district manager selects a local nonprofit partner. That appears in grants to groups such as Boys Girls Clubs of America, Camp Good Days, and local Boys & Girls Club affiliates.
No. The foundation’s profile indicates that it does not fund individuals. Its recent grants instead go to nonprofit organizations, including national charities, local clubs, scholarship funds, and community support groups.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| $11K |
2.3% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEEDING AMERICA | CHICAGO, IL | $175,000 | 2025 | THIS DONATION IS TO SUPPORT FEEDING AMERICA'S CHILD HUNGER PROGRAMMING. |
| EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $22,300 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO ASSOCIATES IN NEED. |
| HOUSTON FOOD BANK | HOUSTON, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | FOOD NEEDS OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE BERYL. |
| LITTLE LAMBS | EVANSVILLE, IN | $14,193 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY INC | WAYNE, NJ | $11,750 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF LYNN | LYNN, MA | $11,330 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SOUTHEASTERN NC | WILMINGTON, NC | $11,315 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF TOLEDO | TOLEDO, OH | $10,984 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF WHITTIER INC | WHITTIER, CA | $10,719 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| J C PENNEY HOMESTEAD INC | KEMMERER, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE JAMES CASH PENNEY HOMESTEAD AND MUSEUM IN KEMMERER, WY. |
| FONDOS UNIDOS DE PUERTO RICO INC | SAN JUAN, PR | $9,958 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| THE LEBRON JAMES FAMILY FOUNDATION | AKRON, OH | $9,607 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF UNIONINC | UNION, NJ | $9,519 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| CAPTAIN COMMUNITY HUMAN SERVICES INC | GLENVILLE, NY | $8,216 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| YMCA OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INC | FORT MYERS, FL | $8,135 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BIG BROTHERS - BIG SISTERS OF WILL AND GRUNDY COUNTIES | JOLIET, IL | $7,770 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| OSCAR CROSS BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF PADUCAH | PADUCAH, KY | $7,317 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| LAKE COUNTY YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION | PAINESVILLE, OH | $7,263 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| HEART & HANDS WORKING TOGETHER | SAN YSIDRO, CA | $7,212 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| AHFOUT OF THE CLOSET | LOS ANGELES, CA | $7,115 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| CITY KIDS CARE INC | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $6,819 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| CARE AND SHARE INC | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $6,422 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY INC | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $6,402 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BRIDGE TEEN CENTER NFP | ORLAND PARK, IL | $6,249 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN INC | ASHLAND, KY | $6,245 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF SOUTHESATERN MICHIGAN | ROCHESTER, MI | $6,161 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CHICAGO INC | CHICAGO, IL | $5,957 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| AHA INC | GRAND JUNCTION, CO | $5,951 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE SOUTHERN ADIRONDACKS INC | GLEN FALLS, NY | $5,893 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ST LOUIS | SAINT LOUIS, MO | $5,859 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE VIRGINIA PENINSULA FOUNDATION INC | NEWPORT NEWS, VA | $5,841 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF RIVERSIDE | RIVERSIDE, CA | $5,693 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BEST BUDDIES IN INDIANA | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $5,677 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| WEST VALLEY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB | CANOGA PARK, CA | $5,651 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CENTRAL ARIZONA | PRESCOTT, AZ | $5,554 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| EUGENE ACTIVE 20-30 FOUNDATION | EUGENE, OR | $5,524 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF WASHINGTON COUNTY | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $5,513 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF HERNANDO COUNTY INC | SPRING HILL, FL | $5,496 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| CAMP GOOD DAYS & SPECIAL TIMES INC | MENDON, NY | $5,388 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF MASILLON | MASSILLON, OH | $5,271 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF WEBER DAVIS | OGDEN, UT | $5,072 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| YMCA OF CENTRAL MARYLAND INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,035 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| NATIONAL PAN-HELLINIC COUNCIL FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | THIS DONATION SUPPORTS NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL (NPHC) SCHOLARSHIP FUND, WHICH SUPPORTS UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THESE NPHC SORORITIES AND FRATERNITIES, HELPING TO EASE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF OBTAINING A COLLEGE EDUCATION |
| FEEDING AMERICA | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | THE DESIGNATION OF THIS DONATION IS TO SUPPORT FEEDING AMERICA'S CHILD HUNGER PROGRAMMING |
| ALLIANCE FOR A HEALTHIER GENERATION | PORTLAND, OR | $100,000 | 2024 | THIS DONATION SUPPORTS THE WALKING CLASSROOM A PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS THAT OFFERS EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTION, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING CONTENT AND IN-CLASS MOBILITY. |
| SIMON YOUTH FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $25,000 | 2024 | THIS DONATION SUPPORTS THE SIMON YOUTH ACADEMY PROGRAMMING PROVIDING INCLUSIVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION FOR AT-RISK YOUTH. |
| THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | THIS DONATION SUPPORTS THE WORK JCPENNEY HOMESTEAD INC. DOES TO CONTINUE MR. PENNEY'S LEGACY BY SUPPORTING THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE JAMES CASH PENNEY HOMESTEAD AND MUSEUM. |
| J C PENNEY HOMESTEAD INC | KEMMERER, WI | $20,000 | 2024 | THIS DONATION SUPPORTS THE WORK JCPENNEY HOMESTEAD INC. DOES TO CONTINUE MR. PENNEY'S LEGACY BY SUPPORTING THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE JAMES CASH PENNEY HOMESTEAD AND MUSEUM. |
| DRESS FOR SUCCESS | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | THIS DONATION SUPPORTS TOOLS AND SERVICES DRESS FOR SUCCESS WORLDWIDE PROVIDES TO EMPOWER WOMEN TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES. |
| MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $15,000 | 2024 | THIS DONATION SUPPORTS MENTAL HEALTH WORK AND AWARENESS AT THE MHA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2023. |
THIS DONATION IS TO SUPPORT FEEDING AMERICA'S CHILD HUNGER PROGRAMMING.
FOOD NEEDS OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE BERYL.
LITTLE LAMBS
$14,193GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY INC
$11,750GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
J C PENNEY HOMESTEAD INC
$10,000SUPPORTING THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE JAMES CASH PENNEY HOMESTEAD AND MUSEUM IN KEMMERER, WY.
BIG BROTHERS - BIG SISTERS OF WILL AND GRUNDY COUNTIES
$7,770GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
OSCAR CROSS BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF PADUCAH
$7,317GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
HEART & HANDS WORKING TOGETHER
$7,212GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
CITY KIDS CARE INC
$6,819GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY INC
$6,402GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
BRIDGE TEEN CENTER NFP
$6,249GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN INC
$6,245GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF SOUTHESATERN MICHIGAN
$6,161GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
AHA INC
$5,951GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE SOUTHERN ADIRONDACKS INC
$5,893GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE VIRGINIA PENINSULA FOUNDATION INC
$5,841GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF RIVERSIDE
$5,693GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
EUGENE ACTIVE 20-30 FOUNDATION
$5,524GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF HERNANDO COUNTY INC
$5,496GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF WEBER DAVIS
$5,072GENERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY
NATIONAL PAN-HELLINIC COUNCIL FOUNDATION
$100,000THIS DONATION SUPPORTS NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL (NPHC) SCHOLARSHIP FUND, WHICH SUPPORTS UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THESE NPHC SORORITIES AND FRATERNITIES, HELPING TO EASE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF OBTAINING A COLLEGE EDUCATION
THE DESIGNATION OF THIS DONATION IS TO SUPPORT FEEDING AMERICA'S CHILD HUNGER PROGRAMMING
THIS DONATION SUPPORTS THE WALKING CLASSROOM A PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS THAT OFFERS EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTION, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING CONTENT AND IN-CLASS MOBILITY.
SIMON YOUTH FOUNDATION
$25,000THIS DONATION SUPPORTS THE SIMON YOUTH ACADEMY PROGRAMMING PROVIDING INCLUSIVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION FOR AT-RISK YOUTH.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
$20,000THIS DONATION SUPPORTS THE WORK JCPENNEY HOMESTEAD INC. DOES TO CONTINUE MR. PENNEY'S LEGACY BY SUPPORTING THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE JAMES CASH PENNEY HOMESTEAD AND MUSEUM.
THIS DONATION SUPPORTS THE WORK JCPENNEY HOMESTEAD INC. DOES TO CONTINUE MR. PENNEY'S LEGACY BY SUPPORTING THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE JAMES CASH PENNEY HOMESTEAD AND MUSEUM.
THIS DONATION SUPPORTS TOOLS AND SERVICES DRESS FOR SUCCESS WORLDWIDE PROVIDES TO EMPOWER WOMEN TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES.
THIS DONATION SUPPORTS MENTAL HEALTH WORK AND AWARENESS AT THE MHA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2023.