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The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the only charitable organization dedicated exclusively to our profession, supporting nutrition and dietetics students and professionals by empowering them to help consumers live healthier lifestyles. Although affiliated with the Academy, the Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) public charity and does not receive any portion of member dues. The success and impact of its programs and services are attributed to the generous support of its donors, which have helped the Foundation become a catalyst for Academy members and the profession to come together to solve the greatest food and nutrition challenges now and in the future.

Our Academy Foundation was established in 1966 with a donation to provide a scholarship for a deserving student. Now, more than 50 years later, Foundation donors have helped the Foundation become the world’s largest provider of scholarships to students focused on the food and nutrition profession at all levels of study.

2023 Scholarship Impact

For the 2023-2024 academic year, the Foundation proudly recently announced that we awarded just over $806,800 in scholarships to support the educational advancement of more than 294 students and dietetic interns.

Sarah Fruit

"Being awarded a scholarship helps lighten the burden that is college tuition. This allows me to focus more on myself and enjoy my time in graduate school. It also serves as motivation to continue to do well in my studies and excel on campus. Receiving this scholarship gives me the opportunity to allot more time to professional development activities, which will help me better prepare for my future."

Sarah Fruit
Frances A. Gallagher Scholarship Recipient

Hundreds of Academy members each year receive scholarships, awards, fellowships, research grants and disaster relief funds through the Foundation. These members represent all ages, ethnicity, backgrounds and skill sets. The Foundation relies on donations to provide these programs and our success and impact are directly attributable to the generosity of our donors.

A complete look at all of our impact numbers can be found here.

When donating to our Foundation, you may designate your gift to any of these funds:

Annual Sustaining Fund
A gift to the Annual Fund supports the Foundation's areas of greatest immediate and emerging needs.

Lived Experience to Advance Dietetics (LEAD) Fund
A gift to the LEAD Fund supports individuals who have lived experiences outside of traditionally recognized academic and professional indicators of success, such as overcoming adversity.

Make it a Million Scholarship Campaign Fund
A gift to the Make it a Million Scholarship Campaign Fund supports Foundation efforts to award $1M in scholarships annually.

Nutrition Education for the Public Fund
A gift to the Nutrition Education for the Public Fund expands the Foundation's impact through collaborations and public educational efforts, helping create a world where all people thrive through the transformative power of food and nutrition.

Research Fund
A gift to Research funds food and nutrition research and the dissemination of outcomes, positioning the Academy and its members as the evidence-based nutrition experts.

Disaster Relief Fund
A gift to the Disaster Relief Fund provides support for your fellow Academy members in need during a natural disaster or life changing event.

Donate Today

If you are a not a member of the Academy and wish to donate…

If you are not an Academy member or corporation and wish to donate to the Foundation, you may fill out the Academy Foundation Contribution form below and mail it in or donate online here. Or feel free to use this downloadable Foundation contribution form:

Academy Foundation Contribution Form

View the infographic to see how Foundation relies on donations, not dues, to fund our work.

Meet Our Donors

Donor Report

The 2022-2023 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Donor Report includes all individual, affiliate, DPG and MIG donors, as well as corporate supporters.

View the Foundation Donor Report

Emeritus Society

The Emeritus Society is made up of a special group of members have displayed exemplary leadership, commitment and ongoing financial support to the Foundation. Emeritus status is conferred on a member who has been with the Academy for 25 years or more and supported the Foundation with lifetime giving of at least $50,000.

Thank you to our Emeritus donors for sharing their time, talent and treasure with the Foundation. Your passion for creating healthy futures through philanthropy is an incredibly valuable asset.

Anonymous
Patricia Babjak, MLIS
William C. Barkley, MBA, RD, FAND
Mary Ruth Bedford, PhD
Neva Cochran, MS, RD, LD
Sonja Connor, MS, RD, LD
Judith Dodd, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND
Suzanne Domel Baxter, PhD, RD, LD, FADA, FAND

Becky Dorner, RDN, LDN, FAND
Jim and Susan Finn, PhD, RD, FADA
Nylda Gemple
Jean M. Grant, MA
Jean Hankin, DrPH, MPH, MS, RetRD
Diane W. Heller, MMSc, RDN, LD
Mary Hess, LHD, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND
Molly Kellogg, RD LCSW

Karen P. Lacey, MS, RDN, CD, FAND
Susan Laramee, MS, RDN, FADA, FAND
Maye Musk, MS, RD
Janet Schilling, MPH, MS, RD
Alice Wimpfheimer, MS, RD, CDN
Cynthia Wolfram, RDN, LD

I WILL Legacy Society Members

Many members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics have shown their support by naming the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation in their will. Special thanks for the following who have included the Foundation in their estate plans. View the I WILL Legacy Society Members.

Tribute Gift Program

Honorary and Memorial Gifts

Would you like to honor a special Registered Dietitian Nutritionist that has made a difference in your life or provide a memorial gift in memory of a loved one through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Tribute Gift Program?

The Foundation invites you to celebrate a mentor or special accomplishment of a RDN through an honorary gift or provide a memorial gift for a loved one that has passed away, while making a gift to your Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation. This is the perfect way to recognize the special people who make a difference in your life while making an important investment in the future of the dietetics profession. Your friend, colleague or loved one’s family will be notified of your thoughtfulness through a personalized acknowledgement letter.

The purpose of the Foundation’s Tribute Program is to support Foundation’s fundraising and grant making activities. These gifts will be directed to the Foundation’s annual Fund, unless otherwise specified.

For more information, contact the Foundation at 312/899-1746 or foundation@eatright.org.

Planned & Estate Gifts

Leave Your Legacy – How to make a planned or estate gift…

There are various ways to make a significant, long-lasting gift to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation that can provide support our efforts for years to come.

Gifts of Cash
A gift of cash is the simplest way to make an immediate impact on a particular program or effort at the Academy Foundation. A contribution of cash is tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and can be specifically designated to our Annual Fund or any other Foundation Fund. Gifts of cash can be made through your will by inserting some simple language (see Gifts by Bequest).

Gifts of Securities
A gift of appreciated stocks or bonds is another way to make an immediate impact on the Academy Foundation. Your contribution will help you avoid any tax on capital gains and you are able to deduct the full fair market value of long-term appreciated securities. Gifts of appreciated stocks or bonds can also be made through your will by inserting some simple language (see Gifts by Bequest).

Charitable Annuities and Trusts
Annuities and Trusts allow you to make legacy gifts to the Academy Foundation now and receive immediate tax benefits and regular income for you and your spouse for the remainder of your life. There are many variations of these annuities and trusts which allow you to choose what is best for you.

Beneficiary Designations of IRAs & Other Qualified Plans
Another way to leave a legacy gift is to designate the Academy Foundation as a beneficiary to your IRA and other tax qualified retirement plans, paid upon the death of the owner. This method of donating helps the donor avoid estate tax on the amount of the donation as well as the income tax that would have been charged if paid to the individual.

IRA Charitable Rollover
If you are at age 70½ or older, and are the owner of a Traditional IRA, and do not need all or part of your required minimum distribution, you can make tax-free IRA contributions directly to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation. Each age-eligible IRA owner can transfer up to $100,000 tax-free per tax year. Your IRA gift must be complete on or before December 31 of the calendar year in which you choose to utilize the IRA Charitable Rollover gift vehicle for tax purposes. The check must be made payable directly to Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. For more information view the Foundation’s Roll Over IRA fact sheet.

Gift of Life Insurance
At some point your life insurance policies might not be as necessary as they were before, in that case you could make Academy Foundation the beneficiary of the policy or the owner of the policy, depending on what makes more sense for you financially.

Gifts by Bequest
The easiest and most common way to make a legacy gift to the Academy Foundation is through a bequest in your will. Bequests of any amount come “off the top” off your taxable estate and tax laws provide an unlimited charitable deduction for them. You may include the Academy Foundation as a bequest in your will by using any of the following language:

I give ____ % of my estate to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation.
I give the remainder of my estate to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation.
I give $____ to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation.

To assure that the Academy Foundation will benefit, a copy of the provision should be provided to the Foundation.

The Academy Foundation suggests all individuals interested in providing a planned gift also consult with your accountant, tax attorney, or financial advisor to select the best options for your situation.

The purpose of the Foundation’s Planned Giving Program is to support Foundation’s fundraising and grant making activities. Planned gifts will be directed to the Foundation’s Annual Fund, unless otherwise specified. The minimum amount to establish a named fund is $25,000 and $100,000 for an endowed named fund.

If you intend to make a gift to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation through your estate planning, please fill out our Declaration of Intent form so we may properly recognize you. Any additional questions and information about a future gift can be directed to:

Susan Burns
Foundation Director
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation (FEIN# 36-6150906)
sburns@eatright.org
312-899-4752

Matching Gifts

The impact of your gift to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation may be doubled or possibly tripled! Many employers sponsor matching gift programs that will match any charitable contribution made by their employees. Some companies will match gifts made by retirees and/or spouses. If your company offers an employee matching gifts program, you can make your donation go twice as far with a matching gift to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation.

Please check with your human resources department to see if your company participates in a matching gift program or use the Charity Navigator search tool to see if your employer matches gifts.

Establish a Fund

The Foundation encourages individuals, corporations, affiliates and dietetic practice groups to support the scholarship, awards and grants programs.

Honorarium Gifts

If you are speaking at an industry event and earning an honorarium for your efforts, please consider donating the honorarium to the Foundation. Your honorarium donation is a great way to make an investment in the future of the dietetics profession. You may request the honorarium check to be made out to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation or donate the sum of the honorarium.

Contributions are tax deductible to the extent provided by the law.

All donor contact information is kept confidential and will not be released outside the Foundation. Donors who wish to remain anonymous will not have their names posted on any donor lists.

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