The True Inspiration Awards™ were created in 2015 to honor the legacy of Chick-fil-A’s founder, S. Truett Cathy. Since then, we've granted $7.1 million to nonprofits doing amazing things in their communities. This year, we’re committing $5 million in grants to nonprofits that are Black-led or serve Black communities and other communities of color through our annual True Inspiration Awards.
Applications are open July 27 through September 25, 2020.
Apply now
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for a True Inspiration Award, an organization should:
- Be either (i) a 501(c)(3) based in the U.S. or (ii) a Canadian charitable organization that can provide an opinion of counsel that confirms it is the equivalent of a U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity in its home jurisdiction
- Have a majority Black board of directors, executive leadership and staff or provide services that currently and intentionally impact Black communities or other communities of color in a quantifiable or measurable way
- Serve in the areas of education, hunger or homelessness
Types of awards
S. Truett Cathy honoree
One organization will be selected as the S. Truett Cathy honoree. The S. Truett Cathy honoree will embody the generous, innovative spirit of Chick-fil-A’s founder — pioneering new ways to solve problems and serve others.
Award amount: $350,000
Category winners
Nine organizations will be selected as Category winners. Category winners will demonstrate leadership and impact in the areas of education, hunger and homelessness.
- Education (three winners): Programs or projects focused on fostering character and leadership development, academic excellence and community involvement
- Hunger (three winners): Programs or projects focused on addressing hunger and food insecurity
- Homelessness (three winners): Programs or projects focused on providing housing and other direct services to support those experiencing homelessness
Award amounts: $175,000 to $300,000
Regional winners
Twenty-four organizations will be selected as Regional winners for their work in one of the three categories (education, hunger or homelessness). These organizations must be nominated by a Chick-fil-A Operator, and Chick-fil-A One Customers will have the opportunity to vote on finalists in the Chick-fil-A App.
Award amounts: $50,000 to $150,000
Meet past winners
Read inspiring stories of previous True Inspiration Award recipients who are finding solutions to issues facing their communities.
Note: These organizations were chosen in past award cycles prior to this year's change in focus.
