(SANTA ANA, CA) – The Santa Ana College Foundation is proud to announce it has been selected as a recipient of a 2026 Community Grant from the Taco Bell Foundation. The funding will support the Foundation’s President’s Circle and Connect to Career programs, helping Santa Ana College students overcome barriers, access meaningful learning opportunities, and stay on track toward their educational and career goals.
“[Insert quote from nonprofit program lead, e.g., ‘This grant allows us to reach more students with the tools and guidance they need to build a successful future,’ said NAME, TITLE. ‘We’re grateful to the Taco Bell Foundation for believing in our mission and investing in the potential of our youth.’”
2026 is Taco Bell Foundation’s biggest Community Grants year yet: a record $32 million supporting 700 nonprofits nationwide, representing a 40% increase in nonprofit partners from last year. Fueled by fans who Round Up their Taco Bell order totals, the investment is creating more opportunities for young people through education, career readiness, mentorship and youth empowerment.
The Santa Ana College Foundation was nominated for the grant by their local Taco Bell franchisee, whose continued commitment to uplifting youth has helped expand access to education, mentorship, and career readiness programs across the community.
“When you think about how this started, with fans giving a little extra at checkout, it’s incredible to see that generosity grow into $32 million for organizations serving young people across the country,” said Morgan Tabor, Executive Director of the Taco Bell Foundation. “What I love most about Community Grants is how local they are. Taco Bell franchisees know these organizations, they believe in their work, and together we’re helping more young people see just how much is possible for their futures.”
Through this grant, the Santa Ana College Foundation will expand support for students through its President’s Circle and Connect to Career programs, helping young people overcome financial barriers that can disrupt their education while increasing access to meaningful career and experiential learning opportunities. President’s Circle funding provides flexible, responsive support for urgent student needs and high-impact opportunities that help students remain enrolled and progressing toward their goals, while Connect to Career provides students with stipends to participate in unpaid internships and gain hands-on experience directly connected to their fields of study. Together, these programs equip Santa Ana College students with the resources, experience, and confidence they need to persist in college, prepare for the workforce, and build successful futures.
To learn more about the Santa Ana College Foundation, please visit givetosac.org. To learn more about the Taco Bell Foundation and the Community Grants program, please visit https://www.tacobellfoundation.org/who-we-support/.
About Santa Ana College:
Santa Ana College (SAC), founded in 1915, serves more than 70,000 students yearly for credit and noncredit classes. At present, SAC students can work toward completing an associate degree, university transfer, career/workforce training or a bachelor's degree in occupational studies. In 2025, the college launched a second bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies. As part of Santa Ana College, the School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center offers free classes throughout the community for adults of all ages and academic backgrounds. Santa Ana College is an award-winning college and was recently ranked as one of the nation's top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students and named one of the best community colleges in California by Intelligent.com for a 2nd consecutive year. The college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and medical personnel.
About Taco Bell Foundation
Taco Bell Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity that empowers the next generation to pursue their passions by breaking down barriers to education and providing resources to help young people chase their boldest ambitions. Since 1992, the Taco Bell Foundation has reached more than 13 million young people across the country and has awarded more than $278 million in grants and scholarships, focused on education and career readiness. For more information about the Taco Bell Foundation, visit www.tacobellfoundation.org.