PepsiCo Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $38,647,192 (2023)
Total Grants Awarded: 79 (2023)
Average Grant Size: $489,205
Grant Range: $10,000 - $10,000,000+
Geographic Focus: Global (with emphasis on areas where PepsiCo operates)
Application Method: Invitation only (no unsolicited proposals accepted)

Contact Details

Address: 700 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY 10577

Phone: 914-253-2569

Email: [email protected] (for Letters of Intent only)

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

Note: The Foundation does not accept or respond to unsolicited proposals. They solicit proposals from organizations whose mission and program objectives align with their strategic goals.

Overview

Established in 1963, the PepsiCo Foundation is the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo Inc, one of the world's leading food and beverage companies. The Foundation invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a mission to support thriving communities worldwide. Through strategic partnerships with non-profits and experts globally, the Foundation helps communities obtain more equitable access to food security, safe water, and economic opportunity. The Foundation operates internationally in numerous countries where PepsiCo does business, including the United States, Brazil, China, India, Mali, the Philippines, Pakistan, Colombia, Haiti, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Peru, Egypt, Uganda, and across the Middle East and North Africa. The Foundation has delivered more than 245 million meals to more than 41 million people worldwide through its Food for Good initiative.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Food for Good Initiative

Commitment: $100 million to combat hunger globally
Focus: Delivering meals, strengthening food bank operations, providing logistical support and nutrition expertise, supporting long-term food security
Impact: Delivered 245+ million meals to 41+ million people worldwide

2. Juntos Crecemos Platform

Commitment: $50 million over five years
Grant Amount: $10,000 per recipient
Focus: Supporting Hispanic-owned restaurants, bodegas, and meat markets
Services: Business coaching, mentoring, and capital access

3. Uplift Scholars Program

Commitment: $40 million nationwide
Launched: March 2021
Beneficiaries: Community college students pursuing certificates and associate degrees
Partners: 20 community colleges across the U.S.
Support: Scholarships, academic support, career readiness training, emergency funds, mentorship with PepsiCo employees

4. Community Impact Awards

Grant Amount: $7,500 - $25,000 per organization
Recipients: 100 nonprofits annually (nominated by PepsiCo employees)
Focus: Local organizations addressing food insecurity, economic opportunity, and safe water access

5. S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship

Amount: Four-year $2,500 college scholarships
Beneficiaries: Urban youth in San Jose, Los Angeles, Miami, Detroit, and Dallas who have demonstrated ability to overcome adversity

6. Employee Matching Gifts Program

Match Ratio: 1:1
Maximum: $10,000 per donor annually
Minimum: $25
Eligibility: PepsiCo employees, retirees, and board members worldwide
Special Provision: Unlimited matching for FEMA-sanctioned disaster relief

7. Safe Water Programs

Focus: Distribution, purification, and conservation programs
Target: 3+ billion people worldwide without home access to water
Impact: Provided safe water to 3+ million people in Brazil, China, India, and Mali

Priority Areas

Food Security & Nutrition

Providing access to nutritious foods and beverages to underserved communities
Supporting locally sourced and produced products
School meal programs in developing countries
Food bank strengthening and operational support

Safe Water Access

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects
Innovative approaches to improve local sanitation conditions
Water distribution, purification, and conservation
Climate-adaptive water security solutions

Economic Opportunity

Workforce development and job readiness programs
Women's empowerment initiatives
Support for female farmers (particularly in Peru, Egypt, and Uganda)
Small business development for Hispanic entrepreneurs
Higher education access and vocational training

Environmental Sustainability

Sustainable agriculture capability
Recycling programs and waste reduction/elimination
Climate change adaptation strategies

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the Foundation:

Does not accept unsolicited proposals
Focuses exclusively on organizations aligned with PepsiCo's strategic goals in food security, water access, and economic opportunity
Requires 501(c)(3) status for U.S. organizations

Governance and Leadership

Chairman of the Board of Directors: Stephen Kehoe

Executive Vice President, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of PepsiCo
Assumed role in May 2023

President: C.D. Glin

Appointed November 2022
Oversees the Foundation's strategic direction toward a more sustainable food system through the three core pillars: Food Security, Safe Water Access, and Economic Opportunity

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: The PepsiCo Foundation does not have a public application process.

The Foundation does not accept or respond to unsolicited proposals for funding. Instead, they proactively identify and solicit proposals from organizations whose mission and program objectives align with PepsiCo's strategic goals.

For Organizations Seeking Funding:

Submit a brief Letter of Intent via email to [email protected]
PepsiCo will contact organizations to submit a full proposal ONLY if their program aligns with Foundation priorities
Submission of a Letter of Intent does not guarantee that a full proposal will be requested or that funding will be awarded

For Product Donations: Organizations seeking product donations for events or fundraisers can contact specific PepsiCo brands directly (this is separate from grant funding).

Getting on Their Radar

The PepsiCo Foundation primarily identifies grant recipients through:

Employee Nominations: The Community Impact Awards program selects 100 nonprofits annually based on nominations from PepsiCo employees. This suggests that building relationships with PepsiCo employees who can champion your organization internally may be valuable.

Strategic Partnerships: The Foundation tends to support large, well-established organizations and NGOs for major initiatives, though U.S. funding sometimes supports smaller community organizations working in areas of interest.

PepsiCo Operational Footprint: The Foundation prioritizes areas where PepsiCo does business, so organizations in communities with PepsiCo facilities or operations may have increased visibility.

Existing Networks: The Foundation works with organizations like U.N. World Food Programme, World Central Kitchen, Save the Children, American Red Cross, CARE, Water.org, and Scholarship America, suggesting they value partnerships with established organizations that have proven track records.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given that the Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, timelines likely vary depending on the program and the organization's relationship with PepsiCo.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. The Foundation made 79 grants totaling $38,647,192 in 2023. Given the invitation-only nature of the application process, the Foundation pre-screens potential grantees before inviting full proposals.

Reapplication Policy

For scholarship programs (such as S.M.I.L.E.), students may reapply each year they meet eligibility requirements. For organizational grants, no public information is available about reapplication policies for organizations whose Letters of Intent were not selected for full proposal development. Organizations should contact the Foundation directly for clarification.

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only nature of PepsiCo Foundation funding, success factors differ from traditional grant applications:

Strategic Alignment is Critical: The Foundation explicitly states they only work with organizations whose mission and program objectives align with PepsiCo's strategic goals. Organizations must demonstrate clear connection to food security, safe water access, or economic opportunity.

Scale and Established Track Record: According to Inside Philanthropy, "PepsiCo tends to support large well-established organizations and NGOs." While U.S. funding sometimes supports smaller community organizations, international and major grants typically go to organizations with proven operational capacity and impact.

Focus on Underserved Communities: The Foundation's Uplift Program demonstrates their commitment to "unlocking access to higher education for students who have traditionally faced barriers to access" and addressing "historical barriers that often make it challenging for students to enroll, persist, and graduate."

Measurable Impact Potential: The Foundation's programs emphasize quantifiable outcomes - 245 million meals delivered, 3 million people receiving safe water, specific scholarship amounts and numbers. Applications should demonstrate clear, measurable impact potential.

Geographic Relevance: The Foundation prioritizes "areas where its parent company does business." Organizations in communities with PepsiCo operations or facilities may have strategic advantages.

Innovative Approaches: The Foundation specifically seeks "innovative approaches to improve local sanitation conditions" and "adaptive approaches to our changing climate," suggesting they value creative solutions to systemic challenges.

Sustainability Focus: C.D. Glin oversees "the Foundation's strategic direction towards a more sustainable food system," indicating that proposals should address long-term, systemic solutions rather than short-term relief.

Employee Connection: The Community Impact Awards program relies entirely on employee nominations, demonstrating the value the Foundation places on grassroots support from PepsiCo staff.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-only model: Do not waste resources preparing unsolicited full proposals. Submit only a brief Letter of Intent to [email protected] and wait to see if a full proposal is requested.
Strategic alignment is non-negotiable: Your work must directly address food security, safe water access, or economic opportunity. Tangential connections will not suffice.
Think globally, act locally: While the Foundation operates internationally, they prioritize communities where PepsiCo does business. Research PepsiCo's operational footprint to understand if your geography aligns.
Build PepsiCo employee relationships: The Community Impact Awards demonstrate that employee champions can open doors. If PepsiCo has facilities in your community, engage employees through volunteer programs or community partnerships.
Emphasize scale and sustainability: The Foundation thinks big - $100 million for Food for Good, $50 million for Juntos Crecemos, $40 million for Uplift Scholars. Demonstrate how your work can achieve systemic, sustainable impact.
Partner with established players: The Foundation collaborates with major organizations like the U.N. World Food Programme, Water.org, and CARE. Consider whether a partnership with a larger organization could strengthen your proposal.
Quantify everything: Every program description includes specific numbers - meals delivered, people served, dollars committed. Be prepared to articulate measurable outcomes and impact metrics.

References

Information compiled December 2024