Wawa Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• EIN: 464021003
• Annual Giving: $14.7 million (2023)
• Number of Awards: 158 grants (2023)
• Decision Time: 2-3 months for grants over $2,500; 4 weeks for grants under $2,500
• Grant Range: Under $2,500 (Local Connection Grants) to $250,000 (Fly Beyond Key Issue Grants)
• Geographic Focus: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, and Washington D.C.
• Charity Navigator Rating: 4/4 Stars (94% score)
• Program Expense Ratio: 99.94%

Contact Details

Address: 260 W Baltimore Pike, Wawa, PA 19063-5620

Phone: 610-358-8000

Website: www.thewawafoundation.org / www.wawa.com/thewawafoundation

Application Portal: www.wawa.com/thewawafoundation/apply-for-support

Contact: Online form available on website

Overview

The Wawa Foundation was established in 2014 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Wawa Food Markets, when the company committed $50 million to charity over five years. As the grantmaking arm of Wawa, Inc., a privately-held convenience store chain with roots dating back to 1803, the Foundation has grown significantly since its inception. In its first decade (2014-2024), the Foundation donated more than $182 million to causes supporting health, hunger, and everyday heroes, impacting 6,500 organizations and providing 35 million meals across their communities.

The Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity and has earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a 94% score, reflecting exceptional financial management with 99.94% of funds directed toward programs. The Foundation's strategic approach focuses on building strong communities through targeted grants in three key areas: health-related issues (particularly pediatric care and life-saving research), combating hunger through food bank partnerships, and recognizing everyday heroes including first responders, military personnel, veterans, and youth mentors.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Financial Grants (Over $2,500)

• Amount: Typically $2,500 - $50,000+
• Submission Windows: January, April, July, and October
• Process: Organizations submit grant requests and Letters of Inquiry during designated windows
• Decision Timeline: Responses provided before the next submission window opens (approximately 2-3 months)

Local Connection Grants (Under $2,500)

• Amount: Up to $2,500
• Submission: Rolling basis throughout the year while budgeted funds last
• Decision Timeline: Responses within 4 weeks
• Note: Once budget is reached, inquiries are declined for current year; applicants encouraged to reapply the following year

Fly Beyond Key Issue Grants

• Amount: $5,000 - $250,000
• Focus: Providing underserved youth with increased access to nutritious meal and snack options through school or community-based programs
• 2025 Awards: $1.5 million distributed to 33 food banks across 12 states
• Eligibility: Primarily for Feeding America food bank network partners and current/future Check-Out Hunger food bank partners
• Impact: 2024 recipients served more than 7 million meals across their communities

Hero Award Program

• Winner: $50,000 grant
• Finalists: Three finalists each receive $10,000
• Focus: Philadelphia-based (Pennsylvania) and Virginia-based programs honoring nonprofits committed to preserving independence, protecting safety, and mentoring/inspiring youth
• Process: Public voting component; winner announced on July 4th during Wawa Welcome America Celebration of Freedom Ceremony
• Application Period: Typically May (check current year dates)

In-Kind Support: Wawa Community Care

• Products: Soft pretzels, Wawa branded water, gift baskets, Free Hot Beverage coupons
• Purpose: Support for community events, fundraisers, and first responders
• Requirements: Event date must be at least 3 weeks from submission; products must be picked up at local store; products cannot be resold
• Availability: While store/area/region budget lasts

Priority Areas

Health

• Hospitals with focus on pediatric institutions
• Life-saving research and care for people in need
• Organizations serving families and children in Wawa's operating areas
• 2023 health grants: $8,630,650 in assistance

Hunger

• Food banks and hunger relief organizations (particularly Feeding America partners)
• Youth nutrition programs providing access to fresh, nutritious food and healthy meals
• School pantry programs and backpack programs for students
• Community-based meal and snack programs
• Daily food donations to local pantries through Wawa Share
• 2023 hunger grants: $2,567,788 in assistance
• Check-Out Hunger campaign: Over $14 million contributed since 2003

Everyday Heroes

• Military personnel and veterans support
• First responders and crisis responders
• Educators and mentors
• K-12 youth education and mentoring programs for at-risk youth
• Organizations recognizing and supporting community heroes
• 2023 heroes grants: $3,511,006 in assistance

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Private charities or private foundations
• Organizations not exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
• Marketing, advertising, or commercial business ventures
• Religious activities (unless the program benefits a large portion of community without regard to religious affiliation)
• Political causes, candidates, organizations, or campaigns
• Organizations whose primary purpose is to influence legislation
• Sports sponsorships
• Organizations outside their six-state service area (PA, NJ, DE, MD, VA, FL) and Washington D.C.
• Organizations that don't align with the three focus areas: health, hunger, or everyday heroes
• Programs that promote specific religious or political agendas

Governance and Leadership

Board Officers (2019/2020):

Maria Kalogredis - Chairperson; Vice President-Chief People Officer, Wawa, Inc.

Elizabeth Simeone - President; Wawa Foundation and Community Care Senior Manager, Wawa, Inc.

• Quote: "The Wawa Foundation is committed to building strong communities and one of our main focuses is to support the heroes who serve our communities every day."

Lori Bruce - Board Member; Senior Manager of Media Relations, Wawa, Inc.

Executive Compensation: $0 - The Foundation operates with no executive compensation Professional Fundraising Fees: $0 Other Salaries and Wages: $0

The Foundation operates with strong governance, reflected in its Four-Star Charity Navigator rating and exhibits no material diversion of assets.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Financial Grants (Over $2,500):

1. Visit www.wawa.com/thewawafoundation/apply-for-support
2. Submit grant requests and Letters of Inquiry only during designated submission windows: January, April, July, or October
3. Ensure your organization is a registered 501(c)(3) operating in Wawa's six-state area plus D.C.
4. Align your proposal with one of the three focus areas: Health, Hunger, or Everyday Heroes
5. Requests will be reviewed and organizations will receive responses before the next grant submission window opens

For Local Connection Grants (Under $2,500):

1. Submit online inquiry through the Foundation's website
2. Applications accepted on rolling basis while budgeted funds last
3. Receive response from Foundation representative within 4 weeks
4. Once budget is exhausted, inquiries declined for current year with encouragement to reapply following year

For Fly Beyond Key Issue Grants:

• By invitation to Feeding America food bank network partners and current/future Check-Out Hunger food bank partners
• Foundation reviews proposals based on Fly Beyond criteria and goals, program reach and impact, and size of Wawa market served

For Hero Award:

• Submit during designated application period (typically May)
• Four compelling stories selected for public voting
• Public voting period (typically mid-June through late June)
• Organization with most votes presented to Hero Award Panel for final approval
• Winner announced July 4th

For In-Kind Support (Wawa Community Care):

1. Submit request at least 3 weeks before event date
2. Complete online form at wawa.com/thewawafoundation/apply-for-support
3. Products must be picked up at local Wawa store
4. Products cannot be resold at programs or events

Decision Timeline

Grants Over $2,500: Approximately 2-3 months (time between submission windows - applicants receive responses before next window opens)

Local Connection Grants (Under $2,500): Within 4 weeks of submission

In-Kind Donations: Some organizations report approval within 24 hours to a few days

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However, in 2023, the Foundation made 158 grant awards totaling $14.7 million, indicating selective grantmaking. The Foundation advises that Local Connection Grant inquiries are considered "while budgeted funds last," suggesting early submission in the year may improve chances.

Reapplication Policy

For Local Connection Grants: Once budget is reached and inquiry is declined, applicants are encouraged to reapply for the following year.

For Larger Grants: Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Organizations may submit applications during any of the quarterly submission windows, but it is recommended to contact the Foundation directly at 610-358-8000 for guidance on reapplication after a declined request.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Focus Areas

The Foundation emphasizes strict alignment with their three pillars: Health, Hunger, and Everyday Heroes. Applications must clearly demonstrate how the proposed program fits within one of these focus areas. Review the Foundation's criteria carefully - health organizations should focus on pediatric care or life-saving research, hunger organizations should address food insecurity and access to nutritious meals for youth, and heroes programs should support first responders, military/veterans, or K-12 youth mentoring.

Community Impact and Measurable Outcomes

Craft compelling narratives demonstrating your organization's community partnerships and measurable impact. The Foundation values evidence of strong local relationships and concrete outcomes. Be specific about your community impact and include tangible outcomes in your application. Avoid vague project descriptions - instead, provide data on how many people will be served, what measurable improvements will result, and how success will be evaluated.

Geographic Relevance

Ensure your organization operates within Wawa's six-state market area (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida) or Washington D.C. The Foundation explicitly states it only supports organizations within this geographic footprint. Demonstrate how your program serves communities where Wawa operates and raises funds.

Strong Financial Management

With the Foundation's own program expense ratio of 99.94%, they value organizations that demonstrate fiscal responsibility. Show clear budget justification and explain how grant funds will directly support program delivery rather than administrative overhead.

Timing Strategy

For grants over $2,500, submit early in the designated submission window (January, April, July, or October) to ensure review. For Local Connection Grants, submit early in the year while budgeted funds are still available. Applications submitted later in the year may be declined simply due to budget exhaustion.

Specific Program Examples

The Foundation has funded programs such as:

• Feed More's School Market program (Fly Beyond Grant, 2024)
• Second Harvest of the Big Bend ($10,000 Fly Beyond Grant, 2025)
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Health focus)
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (Health focus)
• West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (Hero Award recipient)
• Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey (Hero Award recipient)
• Backpacks for Middle School Students program ($1,000 grant, 2025)

Model your proposal on successful grants in your focus area, emphasizing direct service delivery, measurable impact, and community benefit.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Vague project descriptions without specific outcomes
• Misaligned goals that don't clearly fit Health, Hunger, or Everyday Heroes
• Applications from organizations outside the six-state service area
• Failure to verify 501(c)(3) status
• Religious or political programs without clear community-wide benefit regardless of affiliation
• Marketing, advertising, or business venture proposals

Application Components

According to guidance, applications should clearly articulate:

• How funding supports specific initiatives
• How the program strengthens community bonds
• Evidence of strong local relationships
• Measurable outcomes and concrete impact metrics

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Focus Area Alignment is Critical: Ensure your organization and proposed program clearly fits within Health, Hunger, or Everyday Heroes. The Foundation is strict about these parameters and won't fund outside these areas.

2. Timing Matters: Submit during the correct quarterly window (January, April, July, October) for grants over $2,500. For smaller grants, apply early in the calendar year before regional budgets are depleted.

3. Geography is Non-Negotiable: Only organizations in PA, NJ, DE, MD, VA, FL, and D.C. are eligible. Don't apply if you're outside this footprint.

4. Demonstrate Measurable Impact: Use specific data, concrete outcomes, and evidence of community partnerships. Avoid vague descriptions and focus on quantifiable results.

5. Consider Multiple Grant Opportunities: The Foundation offers various funding streams - Financial Grants, Local Connection Grants, Fly Beyond (for food banks), Hero Award, and in-kind support. Choose the program that best fits your organization's needs and capacity.

6. Leverage the Food Bank Connection: If your organization works in hunger relief and is connected to Feeding America network, you may have access to the larger Fly Beyond Key Issue Grants ($5,000-$250,000).

7. Exceptional Financial Stewardship: With 99.94% of funds going to programs, the Foundation values fiscal responsibility. Highlight your organization's efficient use of resources and low overhead costs in your application.

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Wawa Foundation Inc (EIN: 464021003): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/464021003 (Accessed February 24, 2026)

2. Charity Navigator - Wawa Foundation Inc: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/464021003 (Accessed February 24, 2026)

3. The Wawa Foundation official website: https://www.wawa.com/thewawafoundation (Accessed February 24, 2026)

4. Inside Philanthropy - Wawa Foundation: Grants for Philadelphia: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/pennsylvania-grants/wawa-foundation (Accessed February 24, 2026)

5. Instrumentl - Wawa Foundation 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/wawa-foundation-inc (Accessed February 24, 2026)

6. GiveFREELY - Reviews of The Wawa Foundation Inc: https://givefreely.com/charity-directory/nonprofit/ein-464021003/ (Accessed February 24, 2026)

7. Cause IQ - Wawa Foundation: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/wawa-foundation,464021003/ (Accessed February 24, 2026)

8. NBC Philadelphia - "Wawa is looking for 'Hero' nonprofits. Here's how to apply for $50K grant": https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/entertainment/the-scene/wawa-welcome-america/wawa-is-looking-for-hero-nonprofits-heres-how-to-apply-for-50k-grant/3858189/ (Accessed February 24, 2026)

9. CStore Decisions - "Wawa Foundation Awards $1.5 Million in Grants to Local Food Banks": https://cstoredecisions.com/wawa-foundation-awards-1-5-million-in-grants-to-local-food-banks/ (Accessed February 24, 2026)

10. WRNJ Radio - "Wawa, The Wawa Foundation celebrate 10 years and more than $160M in donations": https://wrnjradio.com/wawa-the-wawa-foundation-celebrate-10-years-and-more-than-160m-in-donations-to-causes-surrounding-health-hunger-and-everyday-heroes/ (Accessed February 24, 2026)

11. Delco Today - "Wawa Charity Is Expanding, Too, With 6,500 Organizations Helped So Far": https://delco.today/2024/05/wawa-charity-6500-organizations/ (Accessed February 24, 2026)

12. Feed More - "Feed More Receives Fly Beyond Grant from The Wawa Foundation": https://feedmore.org/feed-more-receives-fly-beyond-key-issue-grant-from-wawa-foundation/ (Accessed February 24, 2026)

13. Wawa official website - Fly Beyond: https://www.wawa.com/about-us/community/fly-beyond (Accessed February 24, 2026)

14. Feeding America - The Wawa Foundation + Feeding America Campaign: https://www.feedingamerica.org/partners/current-promotions/wawa-foundation-feeding-america-campaign (Accessed February 24, 2026)

15. Globe Newswire - "The Wawa Foundation Celebrates World Kindness Day with $100,000 Match": https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/11/13/2778879/0/en/The-Wawa-Foundation-Celebrates-World-Kindness-Day-with-100-000-Match-of-Customer-Donations-to-Check-Out-Hunger-Campaign-Supporting-Feeding-America-Food-Banks.html (Accessed February 24, 2026)