Learn more about how Wendy's philanthropy and how we give back to communities where we do business.
Give Something Back
Dave Thomas founded Wendy's with the belief that we give back in the communities where we do business.
"You earn your reputation by the things you do every day." - Dave Thomas
Dave Thomas founded Wendy's with the belief that we give back in the communities where we do business.

Our founder, Dave Thomas, believed everyone has an obligation to put back into life more than what they take out. He founded Wendy's with the belief that a company should do more than just sell a product or service. Dave taught us to treat people with respect, do the right thing, and give something back to the communities where we do business. 

When you visit Wendy’s, you are supporting our signature cause, foster care adoption, and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption® (DTFA).
Every Child Deserves A Family

Since our founding, supporting foster care adoption has been at the heart of the Wendy’s system. Wendy’s employees, franchisees, and suppliers are dedicated to fundraising for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption® and their signature program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids®. Together, we’ve found thousands of permanent, loving homes for children in foster care, and we won’t stop until every child has a family.

Giving Back to Those Who Give So Much

The causes we support help us create joy and opportunity through food, family & community: 

Wendy’s is dedicated to supporting the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption's mission: to dramatically increase the number of adoptions from foster care.
Foster Care Adoption
Foster Care Adoption

Since our founding, supporting foster care adoption has been at the heart of the Wendy’s system. Wendy’s employees, franchisees and suppliers are dedicated to fundraising for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption® and their signature program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids®. Together, we’ve found thousands of permanent, loving homes for children awaiting adoption from foster care, and we won’t stop until every child has a family.

As a restaurant company, Wendy's recognizes the importance of supporting local initiatives that help build a hunger-free community.
Hunger & Food Integrity
Hunger & Food Integrity

Children and adults in every community face hunger every single day. We know that food insecurity can have a wide impact and affect physical and emotional health, the ability to learn and grow, and create lifelong, negative outcomes. As a restaurant company, we recognize the importance of supporting initiatives that help build hunger-free communities. 

Wendy's proudly supports organizations that provide education and job training for local youth and families.
Youth & Families
Youth & Families

We believe the restaurant industry offers career opportunities to individuals of all ages. We want to help youth and families acquire the skills and knowledge they need to be successful and access equal opportunities to develop, grow and learn. We proudly support organizations that provide education, job training and community-based support for local youth and families.

Wendy's believes partnering with organizations that create a great place to live and work is important to our brand.
Vibrant Communities
Vibrant Communities

At Wendy’s we know that our company and restaurants can have a tremendous impact on our communities, and we continuously strive to be productive citizens. We partner with organizations that create fair, inclusive and thriving places to live, work and learn. We strive to be good stewards of the environment by working to reduce negative environmental impacts. And we support efforts that allow our employees to be proud of the places they call home.

Wendy’s is dedicated to supporting the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption's mission: to dramatically increase the number of adoptions from foster care.
Foster Care Adoption
Foster Care Adoption

Since our founding, supporting foster care adoption has been at the heart of the Wendy’s system. Wendy’s employees, franchisees and suppliers are dedicated to fundraising for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption® and their signature program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids®. Together, we’ve found thousands of permanent, loving homes for children awaiting adoption from foster care, and we won’t stop until every child has a family.

As a restaurant company, Wendy's recognizes the importance of supporting local initiatives that help build a hunger-free community.
Hunger & Food Integrity
Hunger & Food Integrity

Children and adults in every community face hunger every single day. We know that food insecurity can have a wide impact and affect physical and emotional health, the ability to learn and grow, and create lifelong, negative outcomes. As a restaurant company, we recognize the importance of supporting initiatives that help build hunger-free communities. 

Wendy's proudly supports organizations that provide education and job training for local youth and families.
Youth & Families
Youth & Families

We believe the restaurant industry offers career opportunities to individuals of all ages. We want to help youth and families acquire the skills and knowledge they need to be successful and access equal opportunities to develop, grow and learn. We proudly support organizations that provide education, job training and community-based support for local youth and families.

Wendy's believes partnering with organizations that create a great place to live and work is important to our brand.
Vibrant Communities
Vibrant Communities

At Wendy’s we know that our company and restaurants can have a tremendous impact on our communities, and we continuously strive to be productive citizens. We partner with organizations that create fair, inclusive and thriving places to live, work and learn. We strive to be good stewards of the environment by working to reduce negative environmental impacts. And we support efforts that allow our employees to be proud of the places they call home.

Wendy’s WeCare provides short-term financial assistance to Company and franchise employees experiencing financial need due natural disasters.
Wendy's WeCare Fund

At Wendy’s, we treat each other like family, and we make it a priority to take care of one another. In 2017, we launched WeCare: an assistance fund designed to provide short-term financial assistance to Company and franchise employees within the Wendy’s system experiencing financial need due to federally or state-declared natural disasters.

Wendy’s Community-based Giving Program

We recently announced a new community-based giving program, which supports the commitment we made in June 2020 to donate at least $500,000 to support social justice, youth and education in the Black community. Wendy's field-based employees were eligible to apply for a charitable grant on behalf of a local charitable organization, with a total grant pool of $100,000 available. Read more about the 23 organizations that were selected.

With the Community Ambassador Program, company employees are selected and awarded a grant for giving back to a community organization.
Community Ambassador Grant Program

Company employees are selected and awarded a grant for giving back to a community organization they support. Since 2010, more than $300,000 has been donated to charities supported by our employees through this program.

Through WendyMail™, Veterans Advantage members enrolled in VetRewards are eligible to receive offers for patriotic holidays.
Supporting U.S. Military Veterans

Through WendyMail™, Veterans Advantage members enrolled in VetRewards are eligible to receive offers for patriotic holidays.

local giving and volunteering
Employee Volunteerism

Our Restaurant Support Center is in Dublin, OH and our employees are eager to lend a helping hand in our community. Our Company volunteer program lets employees step away from the office and volunteer with local organizations that support foster care adoption, hunger and food initiatives, and youth education. Over the past two years, we’ve volunteered for more than 3,000 hours in the Central Ohio community.

Wendy’s annual Frosty 5K Run for Adoption raises funds and awareness for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
Frosty 5K

What’s better than running with your friends and family and eating a Frosty® when you’re finished? Wendy’s annual Frosty 5K Run for Adoption raises funds and awareness for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, and every racer receives a Frosty at the finish line! Since its inception in 2013, the Frosty 5K has raised more than $300,000 for the Foundation.

The Dave Golf Tournament raises money for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption®
"The Dave" Golf Tournament

"The Dave" is Wendy’s signature golf event. Its mission is to annually bring together the entire Wendy’s business system for golf, fellowship and, importantly, to raise money for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption®.

With the Community Ambassador Program, company employees are selected and awarded a grant for giving back to a community organization.
Diversity & Inclusion Programs

As an employer and as a brand, we advocate for the continued development of a diverse and inclusive work environment. What we strive to do is simple – we want to create a work environment where everyone feels comfortable being who they are because we know that is when people are at their best. 

As an employer and as a brand, we advocate for the continued development of a diverse and inclusive work environment.
Please contact your neighborhood Wendy's for more information on community activities or support.
Local Giving

Wendy's restaurants and franchise organizations in North America support schools and organizations in their communities. Most direct requests for products, coupons or gift cards are funded through your local Wendy's. Please contact your neighborhood Wendy's for more information on community activities or support. All decisions are made locally, and we do not accept product or donation requests at the corporate level.

The Wendy’s Company and The Wendy’s Foundation support a number of charitable organizations whose work is consistent with our charitable giving focus areas. We do not solicit charitable or philanthropic grant requests. Consistent with our values, we do not contribute to any organization that discriminates on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity or any status protected by law.