The Top 50 Franchise Brands That Give Back to Their Communities

The franchise business model offers companies a unique opportunity to impact multiple communities at once. Instead of one locally owned and operated business, franchise systems can include hundreds of local businesses owned by franchisees across the country and united under one common brand mission. 

In celebration of Thanksgiving, here are the top 50 brands that are using their reach to achieve the mission of giving back.

Chicken Salad Chick

The chicken salad franchise’s Giving Card program is raising funds to help feed the hungry and support children with cancer this year.

Chicken Salad Chick’s annual Giving Card program raises money to help feed the hungry and support children with cancer. The Chicken Salad Chick Foundation, which was established by Stacy and Kevin Brown in 2014 following Kevin’s own cancer diagnosis, leads this initiative and has raised almost $1.5 million for local charities in the past five years.

Two Men and a Truck

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK*® locations across the country have donated thousands of service hours to their communities. 

With charitable events like First Book and One Warm Coat, Two Men and a Truck provides several avenues for franchisees to make a real impact in the communities they serve. The moving franchisor works with several impactful organizations and has its own giving programs: Movers for Moms®, Movers for Military®, Movers for Meals®, Movers for Mutts®, and Truckload of Warmth®.

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme Fundraising helps organizations across the country raise some dough.   

Krispy Kreme Fundraising was created in 1955 by Krispy Kreme to provide a way for qualifying community organizations to raise funds for their worthwhile causes. In 2021, the brand helped organizations raise approximately $37 million to support their initiatives. The franchise offers both digital and in-person fundraising.

Lightbridge Academy*

The Lightbridge foundation surpassed $1 million raised in 2022. 

In 2011, the early education and childcare franchise Lightbridge Academy® started the Lightbridge Foundation®, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supporting parents and children along life's journey. Its work is central to the core beliefs of all Lightbridge family members — meeting the needs of all parents and children is a natural extension of the Circle of Care philosophy. In 2022, the foundation surpassed $1 million raised.

 Griswold Home Care

‘Griswoldness’ is at the heart of this in-home senior care franchise. 

Griswold Home Care, the in-home senior care franchise, has always prioritized giving back to those who spend their time giving back to others — a trait they have coined as “Griswoldness.” This year, the brand launched a National Caregiver Scholarship Program in partnership with its nonprofit organization, the Jean Griswold Foundation, to award scholarships of up to $2,000 to qualified caregivers across the 

Footprints Floors*

The First Fruits Fund is dedicated to partnering with faith-based organizations. 

Footprints Floors, a 160-plus-unit flooring franchise, prides itself on being an organization that believes in the greater good. The brand recently undertook a philanthropic effort called The First Fruits Fund, which is dedicated to partnering with faith-based organizations that offer holistic family care services like help for single moms, counseling/drug rehabilitation, orphan prevention, foster care and adoption assistance. The franchise has committed to donating 25% of annual profits to the Fund.

Famous Toastery

The better breakfast and lunch brand works hard to ensure franchise owners and team members have a platform to give back to loyal guests and those in need.

Famous Toastery, the North Carolina-based better breakfast and lunch franchise, aims to create beloved neighborhood establishments in every market it enters. As a part of that community-driven mission, the Famous Toastery team makes a considerable effort to give back to the dedicated guests that support the brand by donating to several charities and regularly embarking on charitable initiatives across its franchise system.

Pool Scouts*

The pool cleaning and maintenance franchise has raised thousands of dollars for swim lessons across the country. 

As a business that is centered around the water, Pool Scouts knows how vital pool safety is. That’s why the pool cleaning and maintenance franchise has partnered with Hope Floats Foundation for the past several years to raise money during May, which is Water Safety Month, to provide swim lessons for families in need. This year, Pool Scouts raised over $16,000 to cover 800 swim lessons all over the United States.

Build-A-Bear

GIVE is one of Build-A-Bear’s core values and has been a key element of the brand throughout its history. 

Since 1997, Build-A-Bear has been adding a little more to life for children and families. Through the Build-A-Bear Foundation, the brand has contributed more than $22 million and 1.5 million stuffed animals to charitable organizations. The Build-A-Bear Foundation Literacy Program supports children’s literacy by donating reading materials worldwide, while the Hearts ‘n’ Hugs Fund distributes furry friends to children in need of comfort.

McDonald’s

The iconic fast-food brand has been serving its communities for decades. 

McDonald’s decades-old charity, the Ronald McDonald House Charity (RMHC), provides overnight stays for families of medically needy children to be near their loved ones as they complete treatments or hospital stays. RMHC gives families more than one million overnight stays every year and has launched a service offering basic dental and medical care. 

The fast-food chain also has charitable initiatives such as the McDonald's HACER National Scholarship and the McDonald's Black and Positively Golden Scholarship.

Jersey Mike's

Jersey Mike’s Day of Giving is the culmination of a Month of Giving fundraising campaign every March.

During Jersey Mike's annual Day of Giving, which it holds annually on the last Wednesday of March, 100% of the company's sales go directly to nonprofits. In 2022, the sandwich franchise raised $20 million for the Special Olympics USA Games just from the one-day charity.

 Little Caesars

The legacy pizza franchise knows how important it is to give back. 

Little Caesars gives back to the community in several ways, including an easy-to-find contact form on its website for organizations to request donations from their local restaurants. One of its most well-known initiatives is Love Kitchen, where a fleet of traveling restaurants visits places in need. The brand also supports Veterans and provides scholarships to eligible youth participants in the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club and the Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League.

Taco Bell

The Taco Bell Foundation breaks down barriers to educate and inspire the next generation. 

Since 1992, the Taco Bell Foundation has reached more than 4 million young people across the country and has awarded more than $110 million in Live Más Scholarships and grants to youth-serving nonprofit organizations focused on education and career readiness. Donations collected in Taco Bell restaurants through the Round-Up Program support the Live Más Scholarships for Consumers Program, the Community Grants Program, and educational programming. 

Hounds Town USA

Hounds Town Charities is more than a traditional rescue group.

Approximately two million dogs are euthanized at shelters every year. At Hounds Town Charities, Inc., the goal is to rehabilitate and train society’s abandoned or unwanted animals. The charity by Hounds Town USA is committed to aiding those dogs labeled the most difficult to adopt because of misunderstood behavior issues and offering them a second chance at life. Through programs including Handcuffs to Healing, Rehabilitation & Training, and The Fresh Air Fund, the company is bridging the gap from rescue to adoption. 

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut aims to make the world better by acting responsibly in regard to food, the planet and people.

Pizza Hut and its local franchise partners give back to the communities it serves through various initiatives, including a partnership with Uplift Education which operates a network of tuition-free college preparatory, public charter schools; the Harvest Program, which has donated more than 100 million pounds of surplus food to local charities; the Book It! Program, the nation’s first corporate-supported reading motivation program; and 100,000 opportunities, a coalition focused on employing young people facing barriers to employment and education. 

Longhorn Steakhouse

Longhorn Steakhouse is helping serve in the fight against hunger. 

As part of parent company Darden Restaurants’ efforts to fight hunger, Longhorn Steakhouse partners with Feeding America to enhance mobile food pantry programs in communities where food insecurity rates are disproportionately high. Through grants from the Darden Foundation and additional support, 15 Feeding America food banks in 15 different parts of the country have received a 26-foot refrigerated box truck to help increase access to nutritious food. 

Panera Bread

Panera Bread’s dough-nations are impacting communities across the United States. 

At Panera Bread, the motto is “eat well, share more and take care of each other.” The franchise gives back by donating unsold baked goods to local nonprofits at the end of the night through its Day-End Dough-Nation® program, while the Panera Bread Foundation invests in underserved and at-risk children and youth and encourages them to become leaders. Other initiatives include fundraising, community partnerships and volunteer opportunities. 

KFC

Colonel Sanders was passionate about changing lives for the better. 

KFC is passionate about changing lives for the better. The KFC Foundation provides education and hardship assistance to resilient restaurant employees in an inclusive environment. Through REACH and Rise, the brand supports college and GED education for its employees, while the MyChange and Family Fund programs support employees during economic crises. 

Paris Baguette*

The bakery café franchise is giving back through baking. 

Paris Baguette’s Love Baked In programs are at the heart of the franchise’s commitment to serving its local neighborhoods. Dough Raisers allow local organizations to host a bake sale at a bakery cafe to earn partial proceeds from the sales. The brand also donates partial proceeds from a designated baked good to a local charity year-round, and, during Cake Day, proceeds from all cakes go directly to that same local charitable partner. 

Through Cakes for Every Kid, a random act of kindness initiative, Paris Baguette surprises deserving children with special cakes to help bring smiles to the faces of those who need it most.

Wendy’s

Wendy's was founded with the belief that a company should do more than just sell a product or service. 

Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas, believed everyone must put back into life more than what they take out. Today, the brand is honoring him by giving back to those who give so much. This includes supporting causes such as foster care adoption, hunger and food integrity, youth and families, and vibrant communities. 

 JDog Brands

JDog Brands is making a difference in the lives of Veterans and their families around the country. 

JDog Junk Removal & Hauling, a junk removal franchise from Veteran-exclusive franchisor JDog Brands, stands out in the industry with its unique goal of lowering Veteran unemployment and giving franchisees access to a tight-knit community of fellow Veteran business owners. The brand has a nationwide, strategic partnership with the VFW to give back to local veterans. 

Earlier this year, JDog Brands also announced a partnership with Soldiers' Angels, a nonprofit dedicated to providing aid, comfort, and resources to the military, veterans, and their families.

Burger King

To provide a helping hand in times of need, Burger King Corporation established the BK? Family Fund for its employees in 2004.

The Burger King Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public nonprofit from the fast-food giant Burger King. The nonprofit believes that without education, you limit your potential to be your own way. Inspired by Burger King Restaurants Co-founder Jim McLamore, the mission is to create brighter futures through education and emergency relief. The Burger King Foundation partners with select nonprofits focusing on scholarships, literacy and creating sustainable learning environments. 

Sylvan Learning*

How the nation's leading supplemental and enrichment franchise is giving back to hundreds of communities.

Sylvan Learning, the nation's leading supplemental and enrichment franchise, has given back to hundreds of communities. In 2021, the brand and its franchise partners donated more than $35,000 to charitable organizations across the country as a result of its discounted educational assessment program. For every $29 assessment given, Sylvan’s local franchisees donated $10 to a charity of their choice, while Sylvan corporate donated a percentage of the assessment to the Boys & Girls Club of America.

Pret A Manger

The Pret Foundation ensures as much unsold food as possible is given to people who really need it. 

Pret A Manger, the grab-and-go sandwich shop chain, sells sandwiches, breads and salads daily. For those items that go unsold, The Pret Foundation donates them to local food banks and shelters. Partners include City Harvest in NY, Thrive DC, Food Connect and more. After starting with just a handful of sandwiches, Pret's first shop in London has now donated millions of food items across cities around the world. 

Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A encourages franchise owners to get involved with philanthropy and has its own foundation and scholarship program. 

Chick-fil-A operators often do philanthropy at a local level, holding military appreciation events, sponsoring programs or participating in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table® program – an initiative to donate surplus food items. Franchise owners also nominate nonprofits to receive grants of $50,000 to $350,000 at the annual Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards, where $12 million has been given to 171 organizations over the years. 

The brand also offers scholarships for team members and has assisted more than 80,000 employees with scholarships that equal a total of $136 million. The corporation's Chick-fil-A Foundation has also donated $52 million to organizations impacting the local communities.

Yum! Brands

The parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill is dedicated to helping hunger.

Yum! Brands is devoted to hunger relief through its Harvest food donation program. Since 1992, the company has provided more than $1 billion worth of food to over 3,000 nonprofit organizations. The group works with the Food Waste Reduction Alliance and the ReFed advisory council.

The Yum! Foundation also donates to organizations in the local community of its Kentucky headquarters, such as Dare to Care, Metro United Way™ and Fund for the Arts. In 2020, the company announced a five-year, $100 million commitment to tackle inequality in the restaurant business. 

Zambrero

The Australian-born Mexican food chain donates a meal for every burrito or bowl purchase.

With the Plate 4 Plate initiative, Zambrero has donated nearly 62 million meals to those in need. It’s part of the company’s goal to donate 1 billion meals by 2025 in an effort to fight world hunger. For every burrito or bowl that is purchased at the “Feel Good Mex” chain, the company distributes a meal through its partnerships with Rise Against Hunger, Love Mercy Foundation and Foodbank Australia. The company also hosts an annual Plate 4 Plate Day in October, where volunteers come to help pack meals to be donated, and donations are doubled for the day.

Boston Pizza

This Canadian-based franchise is dedicated to charity that enriches the lives of children.

Boston Pizza created the Future Prospects initiative to partner with LiveDifferent and help connect young people with volunteer programs that allow them to make a difference in the world. Through its foundation, Boston Pizza has raised more than $33 million for charity, $12.7 million of which has come from the annual BPFI Charity Golf Tournament. The company hosts yearly fundraising events, from its Paper Hearts campaign in February to the Kids Card Program. 

Petland

The pet store franchise’s philanthropic efforts focus on their four-legged friends and the country’s youth.

Petland, which operates 200-plus pet stores that sell animals and supplies, is dedicated to a number of charitable causes. The brand’s Safari Stan’s Children’s Charities works with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, donating more than $850,000 in the last 13 years, has provided $250,000 in pet-related wishes for Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, and given 600 grants to teachers. The franchise often donates animals for use for pet therapy, participates in the Pets in the Classroom program and has supported dozens of K9 units and service dogs. The company donates thousands of dollars to local shelters each year and sponsors the cost of therapy training for a dog through Heartland.

CMIT Solutions

This organization of managed service providers rallied together to take care of healthcare workers during the coronavirus outbreak.

CMIT Solutions is a franchise that offers IT services to local businesses, with more than 250 locations across the continent. The brand’s franchisees sponsored hundreds of meals for frontline workers during the pandemic and donated thousands of dollars to different charities. Many CMIT owners donated supplies, sanitation products or food to various hospitals, healthcare centers and shelters.

CertaPro Painting

Franchise owners can choose which causes are near and dear to them for philanthropic efforts. 

At CertaPro Painting, the brand encourages franchisees to pick a charitable cause that matters to them and focus on that for their philanthropic efforts. Some owners choose to hold winter clothing drives and book drives; others sponsor local charities and host fundraising events.

Every year in October and November, CertaPro Painters partners with Breast Cancer Research Foundation for the “Paint It Pink” initiative. Participating franchisees have committed to donating $10 from each painting project completed during the two-month span, with the goal of raising $50,000 to fund 1,000 research hours.

Figaro’s Pizza

International pizza chain Figaro’s H.E.L.P. program was designed to support schools.

Quick service restaurant Figaro’s Pizza launched the H.E.L.P charity, which stands for ‘Helping Education with Love and Pizza,” in 2010. It was created to offer grants and donations to many local schools to fund music camp scholarships, summer reading programs, library books, sports equipment, supplies and more. The program has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for educational institutions in America.

Denny’s

Denny’s efforts to feed hungry people go beyond patrons in its restaurants.

Since 2011, Denny’s has partnered with an organization that’s dedicated to ending childhood hunger, No Kid Hungry. Over the years, the franchise has provided more than 100 million meals to youth who are in need and facing food insecurity. The company has also created a Mobile Relief Diner, a transportable kitchen that has offered over 70,000 meals to victims of national disasters and tragedies.

The company also has partnered with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, donating a portion of proceeds from every kid's entrée purchased, which the brand projects will bring $1 million annually for youth cancer research. Denny’s corporate also donates to organizations like United Way and volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, Cookies for Kids Cancer and Susan G. Komen.

Scenthound

This dog washing and grooming franchise has a pet-friendly philanthropic focus. 

At Scenthound, the mission is to make a difference in pets’ lives. Through the brand’s Scenthound Salutes philanthropy program, the company sponsors a free month of bath, nail trim, teeth cleaning and haircut services for select pets whose owners are heroes in the community. The franchise has also partnered with the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League to host charity dog washes, Clean-Start Membership Drives and offer coupons. 

Interim Healthcare

The nation’s oldest healthcare franchise has a foundation that helps with patients’ financial needs. 

Through the Interim Healthcare Foundation, the company provides donations that help relieve the financial burden for elderly patients and those with terminal illnesses so they can instead focus on their health. The foundation provides those in need with volunteer companionship, monetary donations, gifts and property. Many of the franchise’s owners do various events throughout the year to raise money for the foundation.

During the pandemic, Interim HealthCare also was a huge source of support for the medical field, launching a website for sourcing essential equipment like gloves, N95 masks, gowns, thermometers and more. Through the effort, the brand distributed about 3 million units of critical PPE items to more than 1,000 agencies around the world.

Church’s Chicken

The chicken franchise is dedicated to giving back in a number of ways.

Church’s Chicken Partners Foundation is the charitable arm of the beloved QSR franchise. The organization is committed to donating to end hunger, as well as to providing money for school scholarships. Through its partnership with No Kid Hungry, Church’s has donated 7 million meals since 2016. The franchise also has a Community Scholarship Program that has assisted high school seniors in going on to higher education.

To offer philanthropic help for its internal system, Church’s created the Church's Partners Foundation (CPF) Emergency Fund, which donates money to employees impacted by a crisis or emergency like fire, natural disaster, illness or death in the family.

Marriott International

Hotel giant Marriott donates to a number of global initiatives, from environmental causes to human rights. 

“Serve Our World” is one of Marriott International’s core values. The hospitality franchise values volunteering, fundraising and donating to impact many issues, including poverty, hunger, education, sanitation, climate and equality. The company provides disaster relief and aid, has invested in environmental protection projects and works closely with children’s groups.

Marriott helped raise about $7 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and UNICEF in 2019, over $470,000 for communities affected by natural disasters, and over 7 million points donated by loyalty members. The brand supported a pilot program with Nilus for food access in Puerto Rico and has planted 1,500 mangrove trees in Thailand, 24,000 trees in Canada and 159,275 trees in the United States.

The Melting Pot

The fondue chain has partnered with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to help fight youth illnesses. 

The Melting Pot supports St. Jude Children's Research Hospital’s efforts against childhood illness in a number of ways and has donated nearly $15 million to the organization thanks to fundraising efforts with guests. The brand also participates in the St. Jude Walk/Run each year. 

The brand’s annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign goes from October until the year’s end and allows guests to receive a $20 off $50 Donate & Dine coupon for every $10 they pledge to the hospital. TMelting Pot also donates $1 from every sale of its signature chocolate wafers and gives diners the opportunity to donate with their check during the summertime Forever Fondue promotion.

 Juice Plus+

The virtual nutrition products franchise has its own foundation to help charities.   

A company that focuses on promoting healthy living, Juice Plus+ is also dedicated to making the world a better place through philanthropy efforts. The brand works to help children and families around the world through the Juice Plus+ Children’s Foundation, which supports four charities: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Volunteers of America and Church Health Center of Greater Memphis.

Wingstop

Wingstop Charities has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to good causes. 

Wingstop has been engaging in philanthropic efforts for the last 25 years. Through Wingstop Charities, the franchise has given over $685,000 in grant funding to 175+ community organizations and donated over a million meals through its yearly Flavor for Good Week.

The organization also runs the Wingstop Team Member Foundation, which offers financial support to employers in a hard spot, and has distributed more than $400,000 to those who need it. And with the recently launched Morrison Family Scholarship Program,  Wingstop offers post-secondary education scholarships for team 

Moe’s Southwest Grill

The Atlanta-based franchise encourages owners to get involved with philanthropy.

Moe’s Southwest Grill is a brand that’s big on charity: the company’s franchise owners have helped their local communities through all sorts of fundraising and donations over the years. Franchisees participate in taco kit fundraisers where a portion of proceeds from each kit sold is donated to local programs, totaling $295,300 raised since 2021. 

Some franchise owners have set up scholarship funds at local colleges for their employees, while others feed Habitat For Humanity workers or donate to youth programs or organizations like Prevent Blindness North Carolina, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Kenston Foundation. Locations will also host school fundraisers, blood donation drives and more. 

ChariSnack

This food distribution franchise has “charity” as part of its name. 

UK-based franchise ChariSnack partners with the charity Bliss to fund medical help for premature or sick babies. The brand has been in partnership with the organization since 2017 and donates a portion of profits to its efforts, and hosts fundraising events. In the first year, the company hoped to raise £15,000 for Bliss and surpassed that by almost £12,000.

Massage Envy

The spa service brand is dedicated to promoting wellness through philanthropy.

Massage Envy has long been a charitable brand, with the franchise supporting a number of philanthropic organizations that are dedicated to wellness and healthy living. The company has partnered with the Arthritis Foundation to donate a portion of sales to help fight the disease. Massage Envy has also been very generous with donations to the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation and the Massage Therapy Foundation’s research grant program. Furthermore, the brand’s therapists gave 2,300 free hour-long massages to frontline workers during the pandemic. 

CKE

The franchisor of Hardee's and Carl's Jr. is committed to causes that focus on military support.

Since 2011, Carl Karcher Enterprises (CKE) has held an annual Stars for Heroes promotion in its many Hardee's and Carl's Jr. locations. The in-store fundraising event takes place in May and June, where patrons are encouraged to donate to organizations that help members of the armed forces, like USA Cares and the Stand Up and Play Foundation. CKE has raised over $10.5 million with the Stars for Heroes initiative. 

Golden Corral

Giving back to military families is at the heart of the brand’s charity efforts. 

Golden Corral gives back in many different ways to charities, schools and non-profit organizations. The brand is heavily involved in supporting the military community, hosting annual appreciation nights for active duty members and veterans. Over the years, Golden Corral has donated more than $17 million to Disabled American Veterans, and has funded over $5 million for Camp Corral, a free summer camp experience for children of wounded veterans.

Premium Service Brands 

The multi-brand franchisor is committed to helping kids in local communities.

Kids-Lift is the charitable organization of Premium Service Brands. Franchise owners with the brand’s companies (360° Painting, ProLift Garage Doors, Maid Right, Kitchen Wise* & Closet Wise, Renew Crew, Rubbish Works Junk Removal, The Grout Medic, House Doctors and RooterMan) work with local youth organizations in their areas to help kids in areas of education, food stability and basic resources. Kids-Lift has a backpack program where they distribute backpacks filled with supplies, offer meals and snacks to students and hold food donation drives.

Valpak

The marketing and advertising franchise is deeply involved in local community efforts.

The team at Valpak values being charitable and helping the community. The brand’s staff has done numerous charitable initiatives like food drives to feed hundreds of families, planting trees and cleaning up public spaces. Valpak hosts a variety of fundraising efforts like summer BBQs, wine tastings, games nights, bake sales and more, and has donated to organizations like Acorns Children's Hospice, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Safeline, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and Stratford-upon-Avon Foodbank.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers 

This QSR chain does frequent fundraising efforts to help organizations and local institution

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is committed to helping out the communities in which it serves. The brand does fundraising partnerships with local schools, teams and nonprofits, donating 15% of all sales to the organizations. Each year, Freddy’s also holds donation drives for various charities, including Folds of Honor, American Red Cross and Kids In Need Foundation, to which the brand has donated more than $100,000.