Singing for Change
Singing for Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation founded by Jimmy Buffett in 1995 that grants funds to grassroots nonprofits serving children, families, and disenfranchised groups, supported by individual donations and a Tennessee Margaritaville specialty license plate program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersSullivans Island, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Singing for Change does
Singing for Change (legally SFC Charitable Foundation, EIN 65-0565248) is a 501(c)(3) private nonprofit foundation established by Jimmy Buffett in 1995 and headquartered in Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. Per the foundation's own materials, it funds non-traditional, grassroots organizations that conventional funders tend to overlook, with a stated focus on children, families, the environment, and disenfranchised groups. Its primary output is grant capital directed to community-based nonprofits working on self-sufficiency, housing, education, healthcare access, and violence prevention.
The foundation has distributed over $17 million in grants since 1995 to a diverse roster of grassroots recipients, including The Doe Fund (transitional work for formerly incarcerated individuals), Insight Garden Program, Al Wooten Jr. Youth & Adult Cultural Education Center, Beyond Shelter, Bicycle Action Project, Help for Abused Women and Children, Canine Assistants, Breaking Ground, Manhattan Youth Recreation and Resources, and Healing the Children. Distributions are made through a grant application process, with the foundation explicitly favoring non-traditional applicants.
Revenue is generated through two streams: individual donations accepted via PayPal and check, and a Tennessee Margaritaville specialty license plate program ($35 plus a $1.50 credit card processing fee per plate) created by Tennessee state legislation, with plate proceeds restricted to support the Singing for Change grant program within Tennessee. The foundation is governed by a board of directors and a small staff with no disclosed headcount, no technology products, no APIs, and no commercial offerings; it operates with traditional nonprofit mechanics rather than a technology-enabled growth model.
Singing for Change firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Singing for Change
- Legal name
- SFC Charitable Foundation
- Website
- https://singingforchange.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Singing for Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation founded by Jimmy Buffett in 1995 that grants funds to grassroots nonprofits serving children, families, and disenfranchised groups, supported by individual donations and a Tennessee Margaritaville specialty license plate program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Singing for Change industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Foundation / Philanthropy
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)
Keywords
Where Singing for Change is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sullivans Island
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Singing for Change business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Others, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: The foundation accepts donations from individuals via PayPal and check. Donors can contribute to advance Jimmy Buffett's desire to give back and share success. The foundation states its EIN is 65-0565248.
- Specialty License Plate Sales: Tennessee Margaritaville specialty license plates are sold for $35 plus $1.50 credit card processing fee. Funds from plate sales and renewals are used exclusively in Tennessee to support the Singing for Change Grant program.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time | Tennessee Margaritaville Specialty License Plate |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Singing for Change product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Singing for Change (SFC Charitable Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation founded by Jimmy Buffett in 1995 that accepts donations from individuals and distributes grants to non-traditional, grassroots nonprofit organizations serving children, families, the environment, and disenfranchised groups. The foundation also generates funds through the Tennessee Margaritaville specialty license plate program, with proceeds restricted to Tennessee-based grantmaking.
Product overview
Singing for Change is a charitable foundation (SFC Charitable Foundation) established by Jimmy Buffett that provides grants to non-profit organizations supporting self-sufficiency and community improvement. The organization operates as a traditional nonprofit with no commercial product offerings. Its primary activities include: grantmaking to grassroots organizations focused on children, families, and community development; accepting donations via PayPal and check; administering a Tennessee Margaritaville specialty license plate program; and publishing an annual report. The organization has no technology products, software platforms, or SaaS offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SFC Grant Program Grantmaking program that provides financial grants to small, non-traditional, grassroots nonprofit organizations focused on helping individuals become more self-sufficient. The program targets organizations serving children, families, low-income communities, and addressing homelessness, education, youth development, domestic violence, animal assistance, and healthcare access. Grants are administered through a formal application process available on the foundation's website.
- Tennessee Margaritaville Specialty License Plate Specialty license plate created by Tennessee legislation to benefit Singing for Change. Priced at $35.00 per plate plus a $1.50 credit card processing fee. Plates are produced only after 1,000 pre-orders are secured, and all funds from plate sales and renewals support the Singing for Change Grant program exclusively within Tennessee.
Quantifiable outcome
- $17 million in grants donated since 1995
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Singing for Change
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Singing for Change technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Singing for Change partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Food Lion Store #385 (Virginia Beach, VA)minorSinging for Change made a contribution to Children's Miracle Network hospitals on behalf of Food Lion Store #385 in Virginia Beach, VA. Food Lion has been a corporate sponsor of Children's Miracle Network for 14 years.
- Lowcountry Parrothead Club of CharlestonminorThe Lowcountry Parrothead Club of Charleston pledged to paint ceiling fans, rockers, Adirondack chairs, and porch railings at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston using Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville theme colors and lyrics.
- Tennessee LegislaturecoreThe Tennessee Legislature passed legislation creating a Margaritaville specialty license plate to benefit Singing for Change. The plate requires 1,000 pre-sales before production and all funds from plate sales and renewals support the Singing for Change Grant program exclusively in Tennessee.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Singing for Change competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- (RED): Co-founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006, (RED) leverages celebrity-driven partnerships and consumer-product tie-ins to fund global health programs. Comparable as a celebrity-founded philanthropic brand that channels cultural capital into mission funding.
- Robin Hood Foundation: New York-based poverty-fighting foundation that funds high-impact, often non-traditional programs serving low-income families and children. Comparable as a private foundation that prioritizes underserved grassroots grantees and emphasizes measurable outcomes (e.g., $3.60 taxpayer ROI per grant dollar, mirroring Doe Fund metrics cited by Singing for Change).
- The V Foundation for Cancer Research: Founded by ESPN and Jim Valvano, this cancer research charity channels sports/celebrity brand affinity into high-impact grantmaking. Comparable as a celebrity-anchored private foundation with focused mission-driven giving and grassroots appeal.
- Dollywood Foundation / Imagination Library: Dolly Parton's personal foundation, best known for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library which provides free books to children. Highly comparable as a music-celebrity-founded philanthropic organization focused on children and families.
- Newman's Own Foundation: Founded by Paul Newman in 1982, this celebrity-founded private foundation channels profits from Newman's Own food products to charitable causes. Directly comparable to Singing for Change as a celebrity-legacy foundation with grassroots grantmaking and brand-driven fundraising.
Broad incumbents
- Skoll Foundation: Jeff Skoll's foundation is a major global grantmaker focused on social entrepreneurship and systemic change. Comparable as a high-profile individual-founder private foundation, though operating at a significantly larger scale than Singing for Change.
Emerging players
- Tiger Woods Foundation: Athlete-founded youth development foundation focused on education and college access for underserved students. Comparable as another celebrity-athlete-anchored private foundation serving youth and families through nonprofit grantmaking.
- Tony Hawk Foundation: Athlete-founded foundation funding youth-skatepark infrastructure and programs for at-risk youth. Comparable as a celebrity-anchored private foundation supporting youth and community development through grants.
- Mohammed Ali Center / The Ali Center Foundation: Celebrity-anchored cultural and philanthropic institution preserving Muhammad Ali's legacy through grants and community programs. Comparable as a celebrity-named private foundation turning cultural capital into ongoing grantmaking activity.
Others
- Pinkaloo / Charitable-Giving Vendor Platforms (e.g., Network for Good): Donor-management and online giving platforms used by small to mid-sized nonprofits. Comparable as adjacent ecosystem infrastructure that foundations like Singing for Change could leverage to upgrade their PayPal-and-check donation infrastructure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Singing for Change social profiles
Digital presenceSinging for Change financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Singing for Change leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Singing for Change funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Singing for Change M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Singing for Change
What does Singing for Change do?
Singing for Change (SFC Charitable Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation founded by Jimmy Buffett in 1995 that accepts donations from individuals and distributes grants to non-traditional, grassroots nonprofit organizations serving children, families, the environment, and disenfranchised groups. The foundation also generates funds through the Tennessee Margaritaville specialty license plate program, with proceeds restricted to Tennessee-based grantmaking.
Is Singing for Change a public or private company?
Singing for Change is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Singing for Change founded?
Singing for Change was founded in 1995.
Where is Singing for Change based?
Singing for Change is headquartered in Sullivans Island, United States, in the North America region.
How does Singing for Change make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are specialty License Plate Sales.
Who are Singing for Change's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are (RED), Robin Hood Foundation, The V Foundation for Cancer Research, Dollywood Foundation / Imagination Library and Newman's Own Foundation. Skoll Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Tiger Woods Foundation, Tony Hawk Foundation and Mohammed Ali Center / The Ali Center Foundation. Pinkaloo / Charitable-Giving Vendor Platforms (e.g., Network for Good) is listed as an others.
Does Singing for Change have an API?
No public API is recorded for Singing for Change.
What industry is Singing for Change in?
Singing for Change's product category is Charitable Foundation / Philanthropy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211.