Franchising

Taco Bell Foundation awards record $32M to 700 youth nonprofits

Photo: Taco Bell

September 25, 2026

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The Taco Bell Foundation is awarding a record $32 million in community grants to 700 nonprofits nationwide, marking its largest investment in the program to date, the company announced in a news release.

The 2026 funding represents a 40% increase in nonprofit partners from last year and more than doubles the amount the foundation invested through community grants just three years ago. The grants are designed to support organizations providing young people with education, career readiness, mentorship and other resources. The program includes national organizations such as Junior Achievement, City Year and College Advising Corps as well as hundreds of local nonprofits selected with input from Taco Bell franchisees.

"When you think about how this started, with fans giving a little extra at checkout, it's incredible to see that generosity grow into $32 million for organizations serving young people across the country," Morgan Tabor, executive director of the Taco Bell Foundation, said in a company press release. "What I love most about Community Grants is how local they are. Taco Bell franchisees know these organizations, they believe in their work, and together we're helping more young people see just how much is possible for their futures."

The foundation's Community Grants program is largely funded through Taco Bell's Round Up initiative, which allows customers to round up their order totals and donate the difference to the Taco Bell Foundation. The average Round Up contribution is 43 cents, according to the foundation.

Those small donations can add up quickly. In 2025, Taco Bell customers contributed more than $51 million through Round Up, helping fund the foundation's grants and other programs supporting young people. The Community Grants program is designed to keep much of that impact local. Taco Bell franchisees nominate nonprofits in the communities they serve, directing funding toward organizations already working with young people in those markets.