Local Connection Grants
Who can apply: Local nonprofit organizations with requests that align to the Foundation’s focus areas and available budget.
Deadline: Considered on an ongoing basis while budgeted funds last.
To strengthen the communities Wawa serves by supporting hunger relief, education and youth development, and community safety and sustainability through charitable giving, partnerships and employee volunteerism.
The Wawa Foundation Inc’s recent grantmaking shows a clear pattern of large, repeated support for organizations tied to food access, pediatric care, blood cancer services, and emergency response. Its biggest recent grant in the list is $1,696,935 to Community Food Bank of New Jersey Inc in Hillside, New Jersey, followed by $1,524,681 to the American Red Cross in Philadelphia. Those awards sit alongside other seven-figure grants to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society entities, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and United Service Organizations Inc, indicating a portfolio built around recurring institutional partners rather than one-off awards. The foundation’s stated priorities also center on hunger relief, education and youth development, community safety, and sustainability, while its active community-grant programs emphasize health, hunger, and everyday heroes. Recent grants include support for both local and regional nonprofits, with multiple awards to the same organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025. The result is a grantmaking profile that combines major operating support, program initiatives, and targeted partnerships across several community needs.
Hunger relief is one of the foundation’s clearest funding areas. In 2025, it gave $300,000 to Philabundance in Philadelphia and $475,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida Inc in Orlando, both for foundation program initiatives. Health-related funding appears in several forms. The foundation gave $999,607 to Children’s Miracle Network in Salt Lake City in 2025 and $567,621 in 2024, and it also supported The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation with $823,333 in 2025. Community safety and emergency response show up through a $1,524,681 grant to the American Red Cross in Philadelphia and another $1,113,296 to United Service Organizations Inc in Arlington. The foundation also supports youth and disability sports through grants to Special Olympics entities in Florida, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Typical grants cluster around a middle range: the 25th percentile is $10,000, median grant size is $15,000, and the 75th percentile is $35,000. At the same time, the recent list includes repeated large program-initiative awards, which suggests a tiered approach that combines many smaller awards with a smaller set of very large commitments. The same organizations appear across multiple years, including the American Red Cross, Community Food Bank of New Jersey Inc, Children’s Miracle Network, United Service Organizations Inc, and several Special Olympics affiliates. The foundation is a public charity and a regular funder. It also accepts unsolicited applications through its community grants program.
Current and upcoming funding from Wawa Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Local nonprofit organizations with requests that align to the Foundation’s focus areas and available budget.
Deadline: Considered on an ongoing basis while budgeted funds last.
$15.4M
$7.1M
$20.3M
$18M
Most grants fall between $10K and $35K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$35K
About 41% of grants go to recipients in FL.
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Grants are concentrated in the United States, with 491 recipient grants all staying domestic. Florida is the top state by grant count, while 41% of grants go to recipients in Pennsylvania, the foundation’s headquarters state. Recent awards land heavily in Philadelphia, Hillside, New York, Arlington, and Orlando, with additional recipients in Lawrenceville, Norristown, Clermont, and Media. The geography reflects both regional support around Wawa’s footprint and broader support through national partnerships.
The foundation’s stated priorities include hunger relief, education and youth development, community safety and sustainability. Its active community grant programs also emphasize health, hunger, and everyday heroes, and its recent grants include support for food banks, pediatric care, emergency response, and disability sports.
Yes. Its community grants program says nonprofit organizations may apply for funding, and the application is available through an online portal. The foundation also describes a direct support pathway for organizations aligned with its focus areas.
The typical grant-size distribution is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $35,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes much larger program-initiative awards, showing that the foundation makes both smaller and major grants.
Several recipients appear across multiple years. Community Food Bank of New Jersey Inc appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; American Red Cross appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Children’s Miracle Network and United Service Organizations Inc also recur across multiple years.
Florida is the top state by grant count. Pennsylvania receives 41% of grants, and recent recipient cities include Philadelphia, Hillside, New York, Arlington, and Orlando.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Who can apply: Qualifying local community and youth organizations with events at least 3 weeks away. Each organization is eligible for one in-kind donation per calendar year, subject to budget availability.
Deadline: Event date must be at least 3 weeks from online submission; available while budget remains.
Who can apply: Only registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating in Wawa’s areas are eligible. Requests must align with the Foundation’s areas of focus and funding priorities.
Deadline: Submission windows for grants over $2,500 are in January, April, July, and October.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF NEW JERSEY INC | HILLSIDE, NJ | $1,696,935 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,524,681 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,215,696 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| UNITED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $1,113,296 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| CHILDRENS MIRACLE NETWORK | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $999,607 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| BREAKTHROUGH T1D | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $896,330 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| THE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $823,333 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL FLORIDA INC | ORLANDO, FL | $475,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEW JERSEY | LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ | $395,275 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| THE RIDDLE HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION | RADNOR, PA | $390,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS PENNSYLVANIA INC | NORRISTOWN, PA | $336,096 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS FLORIDA INC | CLERMONT, FL | $323,967 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| PHILABUNDANCE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $300,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| VARIETY-THE CHILDREN'S CHARITY OF THE DELAWARE VALLEY | WORCESTER, PA | $250,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC | FORT WASHINGTON, PA | $165,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| CITY YEAR INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $150,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| EDEN AUTISM SERVICES FOUNDATION | PRINCETON, NJ | $125,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| FOOD BANK OF SOUTH JERSEY INC | PENNSAUKEN, NJ | $125,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS VIRGINIA INC | RICHMOND, VA | $109,686 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| BANCROFT | CHERRY HILL, NJ | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| SAINT JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY (SJU) | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| FEEDING AMERICA TAMPA BAY | TAMPA, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| ORLANDO HEALTH FOUNDATION INC | ORLANDO, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| DEBORAH HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | BROWNS MILLS, NJ | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| JOHNS HOPKINS CHILDREN'S CENTER | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| ELWYN | MEDIA, PA | $90,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS DELAWARE | NEWARK, DE | $83,800 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| DREXEL UNIVERSITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $77,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| THE FOOD BANK OF MONMOUTH & OCEAN COUNTIES INC | NEPTUNE, NJ | $75,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| CITY YEAR INC | BOSTON, MA | $75,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| REGIONAL FOOD BANK OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA INC | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $71,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| FEED MORE INC | RICHMOND, VA | $70,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| CHILDREN'S SCHOLARSHIP FUND PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $70,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $70,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS MARYLAND INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $68,779 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOUNDATION | RICHMOND, VA | $60,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $60,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF PHILADELPHIA DELAWARE & SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY | BLUE BELL, PA | $60,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF NEW JERSEY | MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ | $60,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS INDEPENDENCE REGION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $57,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| OPERATION WARM INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA | PEMBROKE PARK, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| FOOD BANK OF DELAWARE INC | NEWARK, DE | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FOX CHASE CANCER CENTER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND FOUNDATION | WYNNEWOOD, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| KENNEDY KRIEGER INSTITUTE | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| MARYLAND FOOD BANK INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| PHILADELPHIA FIRE DEPARTMENTEMS EXPLORERS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
| FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA | RALEIGH, NC | $45,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES |
COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF NEW JERSEY INC
$1,696,935TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$1,524,681TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY INC
$1,215,696TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
UNITED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS INC
$1,113,296TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
CHILDRENS MIRACLE NETWORK
$999,607TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
BREAKTHROUGH T1D
$896,330TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
THE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION
$823,333TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL FLORIDA INC
$475,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEW JERSEY
$395,275TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
THE RIDDLE HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION
$390,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
SPECIAL OLYMPICS PENNSYLVANIA INC
$336,096TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
SPECIAL OLYMPICS FLORIDA INC
$323,967TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
PHILABUNDANCE
$300,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
VARIETY-THE CHILDREN'S CHARITY OF THE DELAWARE VALLEY
$250,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC
$165,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
CITY YEAR INC
$150,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
EDEN AUTISM SERVICES FOUNDATION
$125,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
FOOD BANK OF SOUTH JERSEY INC
$125,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
SPECIAL OLYMPICS VIRGINIA INC
$109,686TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
BANCROFT
$100,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
SAINT JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY (SJU)
$100,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
FEEDING AMERICA TAMPA BAY
$100,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE OF PHILADELPHIA
$100,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
ORLANDO HEALTH FOUNDATION INC
$100,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
DEBORAH HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$100,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
JOHNS HOPKINS CHILDREN'S CENTER
$100,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
ELWYN
$90,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
SPECIAL OLYMPICS DELAWARE
$83,800TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
DREXEL UNIVERSITY
$77,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
THE FOOD BANK OF MONMOUTH & OCEAN COUNTIES INC
$75,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
CITY YEAR INC
$75,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
REGIONAL FOOD BANK OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA INC
$71,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
FEED MORE INC
$70,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
CHILDREN'S SCHOLARSHIP FUND PHILADELPHIA
$70,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
THE SALVATION ARMY
$70,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
SPECIAL OLYMPICS MARYLAND INC
$68,779TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOUNDATION
$60,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
$60,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF PHILADELPHIA DELAWARE & SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY
$60,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF NEW JERSEY
$60,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS INDEPENDENCE REGION
$57,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
OPERATION WARM INC
$50,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA
$50,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
FOOD BANK OF DELAWARE INC
$50,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FOX CHASE CANCER CENTER
$50,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND FOUNDATION
$50,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
KENNEDY KRIEGER INSTITUTE
$50,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
MARYLAND FOOD BANK INC
$50,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
PHILADELPHIA FIRE DEPARTMENTEMS EXPLORERS
$50,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES
FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA
$45,000TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM INITIATIVES