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Taco Bell Foundation Inc

EIN 33-0523542 · Irvine, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE TACO BELL FOUNDATION BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS.

Income
$56.3 million
Spending
$41.9 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
23 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
20
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$812,063, executive director(until 05/31/2024)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $27.5 million spent. TACO BELL FOUNDATION GRANTS YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS IN AND AROUND COMMUNITIES WHERE TACO BELL DOES BUSINESS. OUR LOCAL GRANTS SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND EXPERIENCES THAT PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND EMPOWER THEM TO CHANNEL THEIR PASSIONS SO THEY CAN GO ON TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS THROUGH SECONDARY EDUCATION. SINCE 2013, THE TACO BELL FOUNDATION HAS GRANTED MORE THAN $189 MILLION TO APPROXIMATELY 500 NONPROFITS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
  2. $12.7 million spent. THE LIVE MAS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP INNOVATORS AND CREATORS AGES 16-26 PURSUE UNIQUE PASSIONS THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY FIT INTO THE TRADITIONAL "ACADEMIC OR "ATHLETIC" SCHOLARSHIP CATEGORIES. THE APPLICATION ONLY REQUIRES AN APPLICATION WHERE APPLICANTS SHARE WHAT THEY LOVE TO DO. THE 2024 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AWARDED NEARLY $11 MILLION. THE WIDE RANGE OF STUDENT PASSIONS INCLUDE MEDICINE, FILM, ENGINEERING, MUSIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. TACO BELL FOUNDATION HAS ALREADY AWARDED $50 MILLION IN EDUCATION SUPPORT TO 2,825 STUDENTS. STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM HAVE ALSO BEEN GIVEN ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND FINANCES, THROUGH WORKSHOPS TO HELP DEVELOP PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1993.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.