Pepsico Foundation

Charity Number: CUSTOM_09815346

Annual Expenditure: £38.6M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $38.6 million (2023, globally)
  • Grant Range: £5,000 - £1,000,000+
  • Average Grant: $50,000 (approx. £40,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Global (including UK)
  • Application Method: Letter of interest system (invitation-only for full proposals)
  • UK Grants: Recent £210,000 to FareShare; 3.4 million Quaker porridge bowls annually to Magic Breakfast

Contact Details

Email: [email protected] (for letters of interest only)

Website: https://www.pepsico.com/our-impact/philanthropy/pepsico-foundation

Important Note: Letters of Interest must include the organization name and project name in the email subject line.

Overview

The PepsiCo Foundation is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 13-6163174) headquartered in Purchase, New York, established to support PepsiCo's philanthropic activities globally. In 2023, the Foundation awarded $38.6 million in grants across 79 organizations worldwide. While not a UK-registered charity, the Foundation actively supports UK organizations through strategic partnerships and grants aligned with their three core pillars: Food Security, Safe Water Access, and Economic Opportunity. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications; instead, they operate on an invitation-only basis, soliciting proposals from organizations whose missions align with their strategic goals. UK beneficiaries include major partnerships with FareShare (£210,000 grant in 2025), Magic Breakfast (3.4 million porridge bowls annually), and GroceryAid (Gold star partner status).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Major Grants (over $100,000): The Foundation solicits proposals for all major grants through their invitation process. Recent UK example: £210,000 to FareShare for two programs in Leicestershire.

Community Impact Grants: $10,000 grants awarded to public charities and organizations across the United States and Canada (100 grants awarded in recent cycle).

In-Kind Donations: Significant product donations including 250,000 bowls of Quaker porridge to Magic Breakfast (2024) and 2,200+ tonnes of surplus products to FareShare since 2017.

Grant Range: Awards vary from a few thousand dollars to over $1 million, with an average grant size of approximately $50,000.

Priority Areas

The Foundation focuses on three core pillars:

Food Security: Supporting organizations that address hunger, food waste, and access to nutritious food. UK examples include FareShare's Surplus with Purpose program (redistributing surplus vegetables to 8,000+ charities) and Magic Breakfast (providing school breakfasts to children facing food insecurity).

Safe Water Access: Grants supporting clean water access and water conservation initiatives globally.

Economic Opportunity: Programs providing job readiness training, entrepreneurship support, and workforce development. UK example: FareShare's Leicestershire Employability Programme (supporting 600+ people with workshops, job application support, and one-to-one mentoring).

Additional Focus Areas: Women and girls empowerment, sustainable agriculture, healthy lifestyles, and affordable nutrition.

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations not aligned with their three core pillars
  • Unsolicited proposals (they will not respond to these)
  • The Foundation operates strategically rather than responding to general appeals
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Governance and Leadership

Chairman of the Board: Stephen Kehoe, Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of PepsiCo, assumed this role in May 2023.

President: C.D. Glin oversees the Foundation's strategic direction towards a more sustainable food system. Appointed Vice President, Global Head of Philanthropy effective May 17, 2021, he was later named President.

Key Quotes from Leadership

C.D. Glin on the Foundation's approach: “We look up to the community organizations across America that work tirelessly every day to ensure their neighbors thrive.”

On their funding philosophy: "We believe lasting impact is led by those with lived experiences in local communities. These Black nonprofit leaders are proximate to the issues their organizations are striving to address and closest to the Black communities we're working to support more broadly."

On their strategic approach: The Foundation “creates game-changing solutions that help communities thrive by providing grants to local non-profits, investing startup funding in breakthrough social enterprises, building cross-industry alliances to solve systemic issues, and catalyzing funding from like-minded organizations.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The PepsiCo Foundation does not have a public application process. They do not accept or respond to unsolicited grant proposals. The Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, soliciting proposals from organizations whose missions and program objectives align with their strategic goals.

Letter of Interest Process (Initial Contact Only)

For organizations seeking to be considered for future funding opportunities:

  • Which specific PepsiCo Foundation focus area does your project/program address? (Health, Environment, Education) - 350 words or less
  • Describe the project/program, its goals, objectives, implementation plan, and timeframe - 350 words or less
  • Describe how the project is innovative/develops best practice, can be replicated/scaled, sustainability plan, and collaborators - 200 words or less
  1. What to Expect: PepsiCo will contact organizations to submit a full proposal only if their program is a fit with the Foundation's priorities. Being contacted does not guarantee funding.

For Major Grants: The Foundation solicits proposals for all grants over $100,000.

Getting on Their Radar

SPECIFIC TO PEPSICO FOUNDATION:

Strategic Partnerships: The Foundation favors long-term partnerships over one-time grants. UK examples include the seven-year FareShare partnership (since 2017) and the 15+ year Magic Breakfast partnership (since 2009). Organizations should be prepared to demonstrate capacity for multi-year collaboration.

Corporate Alignment: The Foundation works closely with PepsiCo's business operations. Organizations serving communities where PepsiCo operates (e.g., Leicester where they have significant operations) or aligned with their product portfolio (food, beverages) have stronger positioning. The FareShare grant specifically supports programs in Leicestershire where PepsiCo has a presence.

Cross-Sector Collaboration: The Foundation values organizations that “build cross-industry alliances to solve systemic issues.” Projects involving multiple partners or innovative sector collaborations are more likely to gain attention.

Lived Experience Leadership: C.D. Glin has specifically stated the Foundation believes “lasting impact is led by those with lived experiences in local communities” and seeks leaders “proximate to the issues their organizations are striving to address.”

Food System Innovation: Organizations working on innovative approaches to food waste, surplus redistribution, or sustainable food systems align strongly with current UK funding priorities, as evidenced by both major UK partnerships.

Decision Timeline

No specific public timeline is available. The Foundation operates on its own strategic schedule rather than fixed application deadlines. Based on their process:

  • Letter of Interest submitted → Review by Foundation staff → Invitation to submit full proposal (if aligned) → Grant decision
  • Multi-year partnerships suggest extended relationship-building periods before major grants are awarded
  • Specific program timelines vary (e.g., Hispanic Business Program notifies mid-July with disbursement by end of July)

Success Rates

2023 Grants: 79 awards from $38.6 million in total giving

2022 Grants: 123 awards

2021 Grants: 155 awards

The declining number of awards with stable funding suggests the Foundation is making larger strategic grants to fewer organizations, consistent with their invitation-only, partnership-focused approach.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly documented due to invitation-only process. However, the long-term partnerships (FareShare: 7 years; Magic Breakfast: 15+ years) suggest the Foundation values sustained relationships and continued support over time.

Application Success Factors

PEPSICO FOUNDATION-SPECIFIC INSIGHTS:

Strategic Alignment Over General Need: The Foundation explicitly states they "solicit proposals for grants from organizations whose mission and program objectives align with the corporation's strategic goals." Generic appeals highlighting need will not succeed—organizations must demonstrate clear alignment with Food Security, Safe Water, or Economic Opportunity pillars.

Multi-Year Impact Potential: Both major UK partnerships (FareShare and Magic Breakfast) are multi-year commitments. The £210,000 FareShare grant builds on seven years of collaboration. The Foundation seeks “game-changing solutions” and organizations that can “be replicated/scaled” rather than short-term projects.

Measurable Outcomes: The Foundation highlights specific metrics in funded projects: “550,000 meals,” “600+ people prepared for work,” “8,000 charities served,” “2,200 tonnes donated.” Organizations must be able to articulate concrete, quantifiable impact.

Innovation and Systems Change: Letters of Interest must address “how this project is innovative and/or develops a best practice” and “can the project be replicated/scaled.” The Foundation isn't looking to fund standard service delivery but rather innovative approaches that can catalyze broader change.

Lived Experience Leadership: C.D. Glin's emphasis on leaders “proximate to the issues” and “with lived experiences in local communities” suggests the Foundation favors organizations led by people directly affected by the challenges being addressed.

Collaboration Capacity: The Foundation “builds cross-industry alliances to solve systemic issues” and asks about “collaborators” in Letters of Interest. Solo projects are less likely to succeed than those involving strategic partnerships.

Food System Connection: In the UK, 100% of identified grants connect to food systems (FareShare: food waste/redistribution; Magic Breakfast: food security for children). Organizations working in food-adjacent areas should emphasize these connections.

Corporate Synergy: The Foundation supports communities “where the company operates.” UK grants focus on Leicester (PepsiCo operational presence) and use PepsiCo products (Quaker porridge, Walkers crisps). Demonstrating relevance to PepsiCo's business footprint strengthens applications.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is NOT an open grant-maker: The Foundation operates invitation-only and will not respond to unsolicited proposals. A Letter of Interest is the only entry point and does not guarantee progression to a full application.
  • Think partnership, not grant: Seven-year and 15+ year partnerships characterize UK funding. Position your organization for long-term collaboration aligned with Foundation strategy rather than one-off project funding.
  • Food security is the UK priority: Both major UK grants address food access and redistribution. Organizations working in other Foundation pillars (water, economic opportunity) have less track record of UK success.
  • Scale and innovation are essential: The Foundation seeks “game-changing solutions” that can be “replicated/scaled.” Small, localized projects without growth potential are unlikely to secure funding.
  • Geographic targeting matters: Proximity to PepsiCo operations (Leicester, Fife, Wigan, Reading mentioned in UK context) appears to influence funding decisions.
  • Demonstrate measurement capacity: The Foundation publicizes specific impact metrics for all funded projects. Organizations must have robust systems for tracking and reporting quantifiable outcomes.
  • Average grant is substantial: At approximately $50,000 (£40,000) average globally, with UK grants ranging to £210,000, the Foundation makes meaningful investments. Small grant seekers may not be the target audience.

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