When Harmon Dobson founded the first Whataburger in 1950, it didn’t take long for him to realize that if he valued people as family, he’d be successful not matter what.  Over 75 years later – and with more than 50,000 Family Members across 17 states and growing – we still believe our success is rooted in family first.

Established in 2003, the Whataburger Family Foundation (WFF) awards more than $2 million each year in Hardship Assistance and Scholarships to Whataburger Family Members—including Franchise Family Members—and their immediate families.

The WFF Hardship Assistance Fund provides critical support during times of urgent and unforeseen need—such as natural disasters, housing or food insecurity, utility bills, medical emergencies, and funeral expenses.

The Whataburger Family Foundation doesn’t just help during hard times- it helps through the most fun and formidable college years by assisting students with continuing education costs. The WFF Scholarship Fund invests in brighter futures and awards scholarships each semester to support its Family Members educational goals.

We truly can’t say it enough: Our Family Members mean the world to us.

The Whataburger Family Foundation is made possible thanks to the generosity of our Family Members, suppliers, franchisees, and friends. Donations to the WFF Endowment Fund support both the Hardship Assistance and Scholarship programs in perpetuity, ensuring we can continue caring for our Family—now and in the future.

All requests for hardship assistance are reviewed and managed by a trusted third party, Canary, to ensure fairness and confidentiality.

Your gift, big or small, makes a lasting difference.
Join us in putting Family first.