Foundation Overview

Welcome to the website for the Sara Lee Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Sara Lee Corporation.

The Sara Lee Foundation was founded in 1981 to formalize Sara Lee’s dedication to community service. Since then, the Foundation has grown, touching millions of lives, helping those in need, and fostering diverse artistic expression.

Giving - cash contributions, product donations and volunteerism - is an important part of the culture at Sara Lee. The Sara Lee Foundation concentrates its philanthropic support on nonprofit organizations and causes in greater metropolitan Chicago, site of Sara Lee’s global corporate headquarters and in communities with Sara Lee facilities. Outside of Chicago, most giving is decentralized, as Sara Lee facilities - across the country and around the world - work with community agencies to support programs addressing critical local needs.

We take great pride in the reputation we have built as a leader in corporate citizenship and continue this role by providing strategic focused support on food-related programs (food insecurity, nutrition education, healthy and active lifestyles); women’s self-sufficiency and diversity through the support of highly visible cultural programs.

In working to enrich the lives of so many, we too have been enriched by the rewarding experiences that being a good corporate citizen brings.