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Newman's Own Foundation

Annual Giving
$26.0M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo

Newman's Own Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $26,000,000
  • Total Distributed Since 1982: Over $600 million
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $100,000 (typical); grants up to $4.8 million for major partnerships
  • Number of Annual Grants: 200+
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily U.S.-based, with some international grants
  • Application Cycle: Annual calls (typically announced Q1)

Contact Details

  • Website: newmansown.org
  • Email: hello@newmansown.org
  • Phone: 203-222-0136
  • Address: 1 Morningside Dr N, Westport, CT 06880-3847
  • Newsletter: Sign up for "Radically Good™ News" newsletter for application announcements

Overview

Newman's Own Foundation was established in 1982 by actor Paul Newman with a revolutionary philanthropic model: owning a food company and distributing 100% of profits and royalties from Newman's Own product sales to charitable causes. Over the past 40+ years, the Foundation has distributed more than $600 million to thousands of organizations worldwide. The Foundation's mission is to nourish and transform the lives of children who face adversity. In recent years, the Foundation has sharpened its focus on three core programmatic areas: Joyful Experiences for Children with Serious Illnesses (through SeriousFun Children's Network), Nutrition Education & School Food, and Indigenous Food Justice. Under the leadership of President and CEO Alex Amouyel (appointed April 2023), the Foundation continues to innovate its grantmaking approach, including the 2024 launch of the Food Justice for Kids Prize in partnership with JustFund.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Food Justice for Kids Prize (Launched 2024)

  • Grant Amount: Up to $50,000 in Year 1, with opportunity for additional $50,000 in Year 2
  • Additional Award: Community Choice Award for an additional $10,000
  • Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public schools, and federally recognized tribes
  • Focus: Two program areas - Nutrition Education & School Food, and Indigenous Food Justice
  • Application Platform: JustFund (common grant application)

General Grantmaking

  • Typical Range: $5,000 - $100,000
  • Larger Grants: Up to $4.8 million for major partnerships (though vast majority remain under $500,000)
  • Annual Distribution: Approximately $26 million across 200+ grants
  • Application Process: Annual calls for applications, typically announced in Q1 via newsletter

SeriousFun Children's Network Support

  • Long-term partnership supporting children with serious illnesses
  • 30 camps and programs worldwide providing over 1.5 million camp experiences free of charge

Priority Areas

Indigenous Food Justice Strengthening Indigenous food sovereignty, reconnecting Native Americans with ancestral food knowledge, and supporting tribal agricultural and cooking practices. Recent grantees include:

  • North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NĀTIFS)
  • Metlakatla Indian Tribe of Alaska
  • Makoce Agricultural Development (South Dakota)
  • First Nations Development Institute
  • Native American Youth and Family Center (Portland, OR)
  • Zuni Youth Enrichment Project (New Mexico)
  • Cheyenne River Youth Project, Inc.
  • Texas Tribal Buffalo Project

Nutrition Education & School Food Programs that provide nutritious food in schools and education about healthy eating. Recent grantees include:

  • Green Bronx Machine (expanded to 120 new schools in 2024 alone; grantee partner since 2016)
  • FoodCorps
  • Chef Ann Foundation (The LunchBox program)
  • Ma Ka Hana Ka 'Ike (Hawaii)

Joyful Experiences for Children with Serious Illnesses Supporting camps and programs that allow children with serious medical conditions to experience joy and adventure, primarily through SeriousFun Children's Network founded by Paul Newman in 1988.

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation focuses exclusively on children facing adversity. While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the Foundation's focused programmatic areas suggest they do not fund:

  • Programs not serving children under 18
  • Causes outside their three core areas (unless through special initiatives)
  • Applications received outside of announced grant cycles

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

Alex Amouyel - President & CEO (Appointed April 2023) Alex Amouyel brings experience convening leaders and scaling resources to tackle global challenges. On joining the Foundation, she stated: "I have been so inspired by the work of Newman's Own Foundation, in particular, their collaborative and trusting approach with partners, and I look forward to continuing Paul Newman's legacy of 'giving it all away' to support impactful organizations." Amouyel has delivered a TED Talk titled "Can Salad Dressing Transform Capitalism?" exploring the "100% for Purpose" movement.

Michael Clayton - Chair of the Board On Amouyel's appointment, Clayton stated: "Across her career, Alex has brought together brilliant minds and scalable resources to tackle the world's biggest challenges. We are highly confident in her abilities to carry on Paul Newman's legacy."

Key Staff

  • Sam: Oversees operational aspects including board management, executive leadership, and cross-functional partnerships
  • Emily Yu: Chief Partnerships and Program Officer
  • Jackie (Jaclyn) Blackbird (Aaniiih): Indigenous Communities Officer
  • Christina Chauvenet: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officer

Grant Approval Authority

  • President & CEO: Can approve grants up to $250,000
  • Director of Philanthropy: Can approve grants up to $50,000
  • Board of Directors: Approval required for grants over $250,000

Former Leadership

Dr. Miriam E. Nelson - Former President & CEO (retired after three years) On the Foundation's mission, Nelson stated: "I have long been inspired by Paul Newman's path-breaking model of founding a business that gives away all profits to good causes. His compassion for children facing adversity resonates with me."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Newman's Own Foundation accepts applications only during announced grant cycles - they cannot review applications submitted outside these periods. Application opportunities are announced annually, typically in the first quarter of the year.

To stay informed:

  1. Subscribe to the "Radically Good™ News" newsletter at newmansown.org
  2. Follow Newman's Own Foundation on LinkedIn
  3. Visit their grant application page: newmansown.org/apply-for-a-grant

Recent Application Process (Food Justice for Kids Prize 2024):

  • Platform: JustFund (common grant application - load information once, use for multiple funders)
  • Application Deadline: June 11, 2024, at 1:00 pm ET
  • Finalists Announced: Late July
  • Virtual Pitch Event: September 10, 2024
  • Winners Announced: Following deliberations

The Foundation partnered with JustFund, a grant application platform created by funders and organizers of color to remove barriers in philanthropy, specifically to streamline applications for social change organizations and reduce administrative burden.

Decision Timeline

For competitive prize programs:

  • Application deadline to finalist announcement: Approximately 6-8 weeks
  • Finalist announcement to final selection: Approximately 6 weeks
  • Total process: Approximately 3-4 months from application to award announcement

For general grants: Specific timelines are not publicly disclosed. Organizations should expect to wait several weeks to months for decisions depending on grant size and whether board approval is required.

Notification Methods: Email notification to applicants

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, with approximately 200+ grants made annually from an annual distribution of $26 million, and given the competitive nature of their application cycles, applicants should expect a selective process. The Foundation receives high volumes of inquiries and applications.

Reapplication Policy

The Foundation does not publicly document specific reapplication policies or waiting periods for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations are welcome to apply again in subsequent grant cycles when announced. The Foundation notes that they do not enter into discussions regarding the selection process.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Seeks

Focus on children facing adversity: All programs must serve children under 18 who face challenges such as serious illness, food insecurity, or lack of access to cultural food traditions.

Alignment with core program areas: The strongest applications clearly demonstrate how they advance one of the Foundation's three focus areas: Joyful Experiences for Children with Serious Illnesses, Nutrition Education & School Food, or Indigenous Food Justice.

Innovation and impact: The launch of the Food Justice for Kids Prize signals the Foundation's interest in identifying innovative organizations and communities doing groundbreaking work in food justice.

Diversity and equity: The Foundation particularly welcomes applications from organizations led by and/or representing historically marginalized groups including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

Measurable outcomes: Organizations should demonstrate measurable impact on children's lives through their programs.

Strategic Approach to Grantmaking

The Foundation employs a portfolio-based giving approach, investing across a diverse set of nonprofits rather than pursuing single solutions. Key elements of their strategy include:

  1. Long-term partnerships: Multi-year commitments with flexible funding for core organizational needs (e.g., Green Bronx Machine has been a grantee partner since 2016)

  2. Multi-level change: Distributing grants to nonprofits, groups, and communities working at different scales of change

  3. Collaborative leverage: Seeking peer funders and strategic partners for co-investment to amplify impact (e.g., nominating NĀTIFS founder for the Elevate Prize, resulting in $300,000 in additional funding over 2 years)

  4. Collaborative and trusting approach: As CEO Alex Amouyel noted, she was particularly inspired by the Foundation's "collaborative and trusting approach with partners"

Recent Successful Grantees

Organizations recently funded provide models of what the Foundation values:

  • Green Bronx Machine: Expanded programming to 120 new schools in 2024, demonstrating scalability and impact
  • NĀTIFS (North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems): Advancing Indigenous food sovereignty with culturally-grounded approaches
  • Zuni Youth Enrichment Project: Connecting tribal youth with local traditions including agriculture and cooking
  • FoodCorps and Chef Ann Foundation: Established organizations with proven track records in nutrition education

Application Tips

  1. Subscribe and follow directions: Sign up for the newsletter and thoroughly follow all directions once an RFP is open
  2. Meet deadlines: Submit applications no later than the given deadline
  3. Use available platforms: When applications use JustFund or similar platforms, take advantage of the streamlined process
  4. Demonstrate child-centered impact: Clearly articulate how your work nourishes and transforms the lives of children facing adversity
  5. Show cultural competency: For Indigenous Food Justice applications, demonstrate deep understanding of and connection to Indigenous communities and food sovereignty
  6. Highlight innovation: Share what makes your approach unique or groundbreaking in your field
  7. Be specific about outcomes: Provide concrete evidence of impact and measurable results

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Wait for the call: Do not submit unsolicited applications; wait for announced grant cycles (typically Q1) and subscribe to the newsletter to be notified
  • Stay focused on children: Every aspect of your application should demonstrate impact on children under 18 who face adversity
  • Align tightly with one of three areas: Clearly position your work within Joyful Experiences for Children with Serious Illnesses, Nutrition Education & School Food, or Indigenous Food Justice
  • Think long-term partnership: The Foundation values multi-year relationships; demonstrate your organization's sustainability and capacity for ongoing impact
  • Emphasize collaboration: Show how you work with other organizations and how additional funding could amplify your reach
  • Use precise language: Frame your work using terms like "food justice," "food sovereignty" (for Indigenous programs), "nutrition education," and "children facing adversity"
  • Expect competition: With 200+ grants from a competitive pool, applications must clearly demonstrate exceptional alignment and impact
  • Be patient with timelines: Allow 3-4 months for competitive processes; board approval for larger grants may extend timelines

References

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