General Questions
What are the mission and business model of Newman’s Own Foundation?
The mission of Newman’s Own Foundation is to nourish and transform the lives of children who face adversity.
Funded by the millions of people who buy our food products, we’ve given away more than $600M to good causes since 1982. Newman’s Own Foundation is the sole owner of Newman’s Own, Inc., which means our grant dollars come from the profits and royalties of the sale of Newman’s Own products.
What types of children’s organizations do you support?
Newman’s Own Foundation provides grants in three core programmatic areas:
- Joyful Experiences for Children with Serious Illnesses through SeriousFun Children’s Network: Learn More
- Nutrition Education & School Food: Learn More
- Indigenous Food Justice: Learn More
Why food justice?
Newman’s Own Foundation envisions the United States as a country where all children have access to nutritious, culturally relevant foods; learn about healthy foods and sustainable food systems; and have opportunities to grow, gather, and cook food and be nourished physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Where do you operate outside of the U.S.?
Newman’s Own Foundation primarily supports organizations in the U.S.; however, the Foundation does provide some grants to organizations headquartered in countries around the world, in addition to nonprofits in the U.S. that operate abroad. Newman’s Own food products are sold throughout the world, including the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
How is Newman’s Own Foundation related to the SeriousFun Children’s Network?
They are separate organizations with a shared founder. Paul Newman founded both Newman’s Own Foundation and the first camps in what is now the SeriousFun Children’s Network. SeriousFun has its own Board of Directors and raises funds for camps and partner programs around the world.
Grants/Support
Who does the Foundation support and how are funding decisions made?
The Foundation provides grants to organizations that fit our priorities. Please sign up for Radically Good™ News to be the first to hear about new funding opportunities.
If you are interested in applying for a grant, please apply as part of one of the Foundation’s annual calls for applications. Please note, due to the high volume of inquiries we receive, we are unable to review applications received outside of these periods.
How does my organization apply for a grant?
Every year, the Foundation opens opportunities to apply or to nominate organizations for grants. Please sign up for our newsletter, Radically Good™ News, and follow us on LinkedIn to be the first to hear about new funding opportunities.
Is there a specific range for dollar amounts awarded for grants?
The Foundation awards grants of varying sizes depending on the specific project being funded.
Newman’s Own Business Model
What is the relationship between Newman’s Own, Inc., and Newman’s Own Foundation?
Newman’s Own Foundation is a private foundation governed by an independent Board of Directors. Newman’s Own, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Newman’s Own Foundation also governed by an independent Board of Directors.
Do you really give 100% of profits away? What does that mean?
Yes!
Newman’s Own Foundation continues Paul Newman’s commitment to use all the money that it receives from the sale of Newman’s Own products to support children, their families, and their communities.
Ever since 1982, when Paul Newman said, “Let’s give it all away,” 100% of Newman’s Own profits have gone to great causes. By profits, we mean what’s left over (surplus, balance, difference) at Newman’s Own, Inc., after normal business expenses (such as employee compensation and benefits, cost of goods, transportation, marketing and advertising, supplies, occupancy costs, and taxes) are deducted from income.
Newman’s Own Foundation receives its income primarily from two sources: profits from sales of Newman’s Own products sold by our subsidiary Newman’s Own, Inc., and royalties paid by both Newman’s Own, Inc., and third parties licensed to sell Newman’s Own products.
The Foundation makes grants to charitable organizations, pays for other qualifying charitable expenses, and sets aside reserves to carry out charitable purposes and cover contingencies.
Are there other companies structured like Newman’s Own?
Newman’s Own, Inc., is the first for-profit company we are aware of that is entirely owned by a private foundation and exists solely to give all profits to great causes. Passage of the Philanthropic Enterprise Act in 2018 made it possible for other wholly charitable businesses to structure themselves the same way.
In January 2025, in honor of what would have been Paul Newman’s 100th birthday, we teamed up with other organizations to launch the 100% for Purpose™️ Club, with the mission to support and inspire the next generation of organizations dedicating 100% of their profits for purpose.
Financials
How much does Newman’s Own Foundation give away each year?
The amount varies year to year. In total, more than $600 million has been donated worldwide since 1982.
Are your financial records open to the public?
As a U.S. nonprofit, our IRS Form 990-PF is publicly available. Our most recent Form 990-PF can be accessed by going to our Financials page.
Use of Intellectual Property
How may I request the rights to use Paul Newman’s name and likeness?
All rights associated with Paul Newman, including use of his name, image, and likeness, are owned by No Limit, LLC (No Limit). These rights are valuable intellectual property and may not be used without the prior written permission of No Limit.
All requests for approval to use any of these rights must be made in writing. Please include your name, your organization, how you desire to use rights associated with Paul Newman, what specific rights you desire to use, and any other information that you believe will be helpful to No Limit when it processes your request. Please address all requests for approval as follows:
Attn: Chief Legal Officer
No Limit, LLC
One Morningside Drive North
Westport, CT 06880
pnewman@newmansown.org
No Limit will make every effort to respond to your request for approval in a timely fashion. In some instances, however, No Limit may take time to review your request or may not be able to respond. Failure of No Limit to respond to your request for approval should not be construed as granting, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, any license or right of use of any rights associated with Paul Newman. No Limit may only grant your request for approval in an express written document and absent such writing you may not use such rights.
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Photo courtesy of SeriousFun Children's Network.