KeHe Cares Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• EIN: 47-4416998
• Annual Giving: $5,542,392 (2023)
• Total Assets: $14,073,652
• Number of Grants: 86 (2023)
• Average Grant: $64,446
• Grant Range: Varies widely by program type
• Geographic Focus: National (United States) and International (28 countries)
• Application Type: Employee involvement required - no public application process

Contact Details

Website: https://www.kehecares.org/

Email: [email protected]

Mailing Address: 1250 Northland Dr., Suite 130 Mendota Heights, MN 55120

Registered Address: 1245 E Diehl Rd, Suite 200 Naperville, IL 60563

Overview

The KeHe Cares Foundation Inc, established as the philanthropic arm of KeHe Distributors, is a corporate foundation with total assets of $14,073,652. In 2023, the foundation awarded 86 grants totaling $5,542,392. The foundation operates with a unique model tied to KeHe Distributors' employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), established in 2000. KeHe commits 10% of its pre-tax profits to the foundation annually, with disbursement managed by a 12-person Employee Giving Committee made up of employees from various departments.

The primary purpose of the KeHe Cares Foundation is the relief of human suffering, with the mission to "extend the work of KeHE to drive positive impact through compassionate service, purposeful partnership, and transformative change." The foundation focuses on moving children and families from dependence to dignity through caring and purposeful outreach. Everyone at KeHE holds a dual role: they are owners through the ESOP structure, and they are donors because their success on the job directly unlocks funding for the foundation. Since becoming employee-owned in 2000, some long-term employee stock accounts have reached values over $1 million, demonstrating the success of this model.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation supports organizations across multiple focus areas with an average grant size of $64,446. Specific grant programs include:

• Community Partnerships: Grants to organizations where KeHe employees volunteer and serve
• International Development: Support for child development centers, anti-trafficking work, and community development in 28 countries
• Employee Hardship Support: Financial assistance for employees facing catastrophic events, medical costs, or natural disasters
• Education Scholarships: Scholarships for employees and their families based on need, academic achievement, and character
• Disaster Relief: Support for organizations responding to natural and human disasters

Priority Areas

The foundation's specific areas of support include:

• Hunger Relief: Partnerships with organizations like Blessings in a Backpack, where employees have packed food for 4,000 children nationwide
• Disaster Relief: Support for organizations like Eight Days of Hope responding to hurricanes and natural disasters
• Community Development: Long-term partnerships with grassroots organizations in marginalized communities
• Victim Advocacy: Support for organizations working with those affected by poverty and trafficking
• Rehabilitation Support: Programs helping individuals move from dependence to dignity
• Education/Scholarships: Financial support for education based on need, achievement, and character
• Orphan/Refugee Support: Child development centers in Central America and support for vulnerable populations

Notable Partnerships

• Compassion International: Since 2017, KeHe has launched 12 Compassion child development centers (11 in Honduras, 1 in Guatemala). KeHe employees who become Compassion child sponsors receive a 50% company match toward sponsorship costs.
• Breakthrough Urban Ministries: Since 2013, supporting this Chicago nonprofit in the Garfield Park area through grants and service opportunities, including leadership development and training retreats.
• Mission Lazarus: Partnership in Haiti and Honduras for comprehensive community development work.
• Restoring Hope Nepal: Partnership for rescuing trafficked women and girls from brothels in Nepal and India.
• Blessings in a Backpack: Food packing events at KeHe warehouses nationwide.
• Eight Days of Hope: Disaster response and recovery efforts.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's model makes clear that they do not fund:

• Organizations without KeHe employee involvement and volunteer engagement
• Projects where employees cannot directly participate in serving
• Organizations outside their strategic partnership focus on marginalized communities

Governance and Leadership

President: Rusty Bland (also serves as EVP, Culture at KeHe Distributors)

Board of Directors:

• Brandon Barnholt, Director
• Brad Helmer, Director
• Bryan Aldridge, Treasurer
• Justin Mallot, Secretary

All directors and officers contribute their time without compensation.

Employee Outreach Committee: A 12-person volunteer employee committee evaluates scholarship requests and grant applications based on need, achievement, and character. This cross-functional team reviews applications during specific times of the year.

Funding Philosophy: The foundation's leadership emphasizes that "real change and impactful work is rooted deeply within people and how they see themselves, their neighbors, and their communities." The goal is to help people move from dependence to dignity, while also moving KeHe employees from a mindset of mere success toward greater significance. The heartbeat of their work focuses on coming alongside marginalized communities and catalytic leaders with the goal of seeing people flourish.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The KeHe Cares Foundation supports organizations where KeHe employee-owners are directly involved and committed to serving others by donating their time and talents for the betterment of those in need.

The foundation intentionally partners with smaller, grassroots organizations that share their passion for transformational growth and change, but these partnerships are built on employee engagement and volunteer involvement rather than unsolicited applications.

For KeHe Employees: Employees seeking information about hardship support or education scholarships can reach out to their local HR representative or email [email protected].

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's documented approach and partnership history, organizations seeking support from KeHe Cares Foundation should focus on:

1. KeHe Employee Connections: The foundation explicitly requires employee involvement. Organizations should identify and build authentic relationships with KeHe employees who might become volunteers and advocates. KeHe has distribution centers across multiple states (California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, and others), providing opportunities for local connections.

2. Volunteer Opportunities: KeHe employees have served with partners in 28 countries and across the United States. Organizations that can offer meaningful, hands-on volunteer opportunities for KeHe employees—both domestically and internationally—align with the foundation's model. Past partnerships have included warehouse food packing events, construction projects (latrine installation, home repair), and immersive serving experiences.

3. Alignment with Strategic Focus: The foundation focuses on "marginalized communities and catalytic leaders" with programs addressing hunger relief, disaster relief, community development, victim advocacy, rehabilitation, education, and refugee/orphan support. Organizations working in the East Garfield Park area of Chicago, Central America (particularly Honduras and Guatemala), or other underserved communities may find alignment.

4. Grassroots Community Development: The foundation's stated preference for "smaller, grassroots organizations" suggests they are interested in community-based organizations with local leadership rather than large national nonprofits. Their partnership with Mission Lazarus emphasizes "empowering local leadership and stewarding resources."

5. KeHe Summer and Holiday Shows: KeHe hosts trade shows where the KeHe Cares Foundation is featured. These events may provide networking opportunities to learn about the foundation's current priorities and meet employee committee members.

6. Long-term Partnership Approach: The foundation's partnerships (Breakthrough Ministries since 2013, Compassion International since 2017) demonstrate they invest in long-term relationships rather than one-time grants. Organizations should be prepared to engage in multi-year partnerships.

Decision Timeline

The Employee Outreach Committee reviews applications and grant requests during specific times of the year rather than on a rolling basis. Exact timing is not publicly disclosed, but the committee evaluates each request in a timely and dignified manner.

Form 990 Filing Schedule: Recent filings have been submitted in November (Nov 17, 2025; Nov 14, 2024; Oct 10, 2023), suggesting the foundation operates on a fiscal year that may align with KeHe Distributors' business calendar.

Success Rates

With 86 grants awarded in 2023, 82 in 2022, and 59 in 2021, the foundation shows consistent and growing grant-making activity. However, success rates for external applications are not applicable given the employee involvement requirement.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the partnership-based model rather than traditional application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates through employee involvement rather than traditional applications, success factors differ from typical grant-seeking:

1. Employee Engagement is Essential: The foundation explicitly states they "support organizations where employee-owners are directly involved and committed to serving others in donating their time and talents." Organizations must demonstrate how KeHe employees can meaningfully participate, not just receive grant funding.

2. Transformational vs. Transactional: The foundation's language emphasizes "transformational growth and change" and moving people "from dependence to dignity." Organizations should focus on sustainable community development and empowerment rather than short-term assistance.

3. Alignment with Employee-Owner Values: KeHe employees are both owners (through ESOP) and donors (through their work success). Organizations that can demonstrate how volunteer engagement benefits both the community served and the employee volunteers are more likely to succeed. The foundation notes that volunteer opportunities help move KeHe employees "from a mindset of mere success toward greater significance."

4. Character-Based Evaluation: The 12-person committee evaluates requests based on three criteria: need, achievement (in the case of scholarships), and character. Organizations should be prepared to demonstrate not just programmatic effectiveness but also values alignment.

5. Focus on Marginalized Communities: The foundation's stated heartbeat is "coming alongside marginalized communities and catalytic leaders." Organizations serving well-resourced communities or populations are unlikely to align with the foundation's mission.

6. Local Leadership and Sustainable Models: The partnership with Mission Lazarus emphasizes "empowering local leadership and stewarding resources." Organizations with strong local leadership and sustainable operational models align with this approach.

7. Geographic Presence Near KeHe Locations: While the foundation supports work in 28 countries, their domestic partnerships are often in areas with KeHe employee concentrations. Organizations near KeHe distribution centers or the Naperville, IL headquarters may have more opportunities for employee engagement.

8. Multi-Faceted Engagement: Successful partnerships include both financial support and volunteer opportunities. For example, Compassion International receives grants AND KeHe employees become child sponsors with company matching. Blessings in a Backpack receives grants AND hosts packing events at KeHe warehouses.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is not a traditional grant opportunity: KeHe Cares Foundation requires KeHe employee involvement and does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations should not submit standard grant proposals.

• Employee connections are the gateway: The path to funding runs through KeHe employees. Organizations should focus on building authentic relationships with KeHe employee volunteers before any funding discussions.

• Think volunteer engagement first, funding second: The foundation's model funds organizations where employees actively serve. Design volunteer opportunities that are meaningful, hands-on, and allow employees to "donate their time and talents."

• Long-term partnerships over one-time grants: The foundation's major partnerships (Breakthrough Ministries, Compassion International, Mission Lazarus) span multiple years. Be prepared for relationship building over time.

• Substantial funding is available: With $5.5 million in annual giving and an average grant of $64,446, this foundation has significant resources for organizations that fit their model.

• Employee ownership model creates unique dynamics: KeHe employees' success directly funds the foundation (10% of pre-tax profits). Organizations that can demonstrate how partnerships benefit both communities and KeHe employees have stronger alignment.

• Geographic flexibility but employee access matters: The foundation supports work in 28 countries, but practical volunteer access matters. Consider whether KeHe employees can realistically engage with your organization's work.

References

• KeHe Cares Foundation official website: https://www.kehecares.org/ (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• KeHe Distributors KeHe Cares page: https://www.kehe.com/about/kehecares/ (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - KeHe Cares Foundation Inc: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/474416998 (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report - KeHe Cares Foundation Inc: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/kehe-cares-foundation-inc (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• Cause IQ - KeHe Cares Foundation: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/kehe-cares-foundation,474416998/ (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• Compassion International - KeHe Cares Partnership: https://www.compassion.com/corporate-partners/kehe-cares.htm (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• Blessings in a Backpack - KeHe Cares Foundation Partnership: https://www.blessingsinabackpack.org/kehe-cares-foundation/ (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• Built In Chicago - Employee-owned: How KeHE Distributor's Unique Benefits Impact Its Employees: https://www.builtinchicago.org/articles/kehe-distributors-employee-owners (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• KeHe Cares Foundation Blog - Breakthrough Urban Ministries: https://www.kehecares.org/blog/breakthrough-urban-ministries (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• GuideStar Profile - KeHe Cares Foundation Inc: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/47-4416998 (Accessed March 4, 2026)