Nutella® Stacks for Giving Back
As a brand that aspires to spread smiles for the past 60 years, this pancake season Nutella® is seeking to shine a light on those who spread positivity in their local communities with “Stacks for Giving Back.” Through this program, now in its third year, Nutella has partnered with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the leading association representing the nation’s volunteer fire and emergency services, and Pearl Milling Company to award $50,000 in fire department grants. Consumers can also nominate fire departments for a chance to receive a kit to help pull off their next pancake breakfast fundraiser.
Fire Department Grants
Application period: Open through April 30
Rice (TX) Volunteer Fire Department purchased new gear with their 2024 Nutella Stacks for Giving Back grant.
Fire departments face many challenges to afford equipment, recruit and retain firefighters, and keep up with high pressure demands due to increasing call volume, new training requirements, and much more. To help volunteer fire departments secure the necessities they need to best serve their communities, Nutella has partnered with the NVFC to award $25,000 in grants to local departments. Pearl Milling Company, the official pancake partner of Nutella, is providing an additional $25,000 in grants. In total, 10 deserving volunteer fire departments will receive a $5,000 grant.
To be eligible, departments must meet the following criteria:
- Department must have at least one active NVFC member. Check your membership status HERE. You can learn more about NVFC member benefits and join HERE.
- Be over 50% volunteer; paid on-call is considered volunteer
- Serve a population of 25,000 or less
- Be located in the U.S. and legally organized under state law
- Demonstrate a need for the grant by communicating what the funds will be used for (breakdown of cost required) and the impact this grant will have on the department and community
- Be willing to share a department photo or video and publicize the grant award (NVFC will provide sample promotional tools and templates to help)
- Grant recipients must utilize funds within six months and report how the funds were spent.
- Only one application will be accepted per department; subsequent applications received for that department will be disqualified.
Department grants may be used to purchase needed equipment or gear, support recruitment and retention efforts, fund training initiatives, enhance community outreach and education, or help fund other department necessities. Grant recipients must utilize funds within six months and report how the funds were spent.
Nutella® Pancake Breakfast Kits
Entry period: Open through April 30
Many fire departments rely on donations received through fundraising activities such as pancake breakfasts. Nutella hopes to honor and celebrate all that firefighters do by providing fire departments with the materials and products they need to hold a fundraising pancake breakfast. Consumers (including members of fire departments) can nominate their local fire departments for a chance to receive one of 350 Nutella Pancake Breakfast Kits containing the following supplies and ingredients to host their next delicious fundraiser:
- $50.00 Visa gift card
- Jars of Nutella (26.5oz each)
- Pearl Milling Company pancake mix (2LB each)
- Griddle breakfast kit accessories
- Nutella apron
- Red spatula
- Menu table cards
- Window/wall decals
- Custom Stacks for Giving Back patch
Tasty Extras
To inspire participation for “Stacks for Giving Back,” Nutella has teamed up with celebrity chef, cookbook author, and television personality Alex Guarnaschelli and fellow Food Network star and celebrity chef Christian Petroni to encourage nationwide pancake enthusiasts to support their local firehouse communities and top their fluffy stacks with the beloved hazelnut spread. To spread their love for Nutella and firefighters, Guarnaschelli and Petroni have each developed a special recipe for firefighters to create at their next pancake breakfasts and for fans to recreate at home. Stay tuned for the recipe!
Get in on the creation! Share your photos and videos of your fire department making Pancakes with Nutella using hashtag #StacksForGivingBack
Program Partners
About Nutella®
Nutella was born in 1964. The unique hazelnut spread that millions of people around the world love is made with a meticulous selection of high-quality ingredients and an exacting, artisan-inspired production. Today, the popular hazelnut spread is available in around 160 countries worldwide and has expanded to offer delicious snacks filled with creamy Nutella, including Nutella Biscuits, Nutella B-ready, and Nutella & Go.
About Ferrero®
Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food companies, with over 35 iconic brands sold in more than 170 countries. The Ferrero Group brings joy to people around the world with much-loved treats and snacks including Nutella®, Kinder®, Tic Tac®, and Ferrero Rocher®. More than 38,000 employees are passionate about helping people celebrate life’s special moments. The Ferrero Group’s family culture, now in its third generation, is based on dedication to quality and excellence, heritage and a commitment to the planet and communities in which we operate.
Ferrero entered the North American market in 1969 and has grown to more than 5,100 employees in 15 plants and warehouses, and eight offices in North America across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. It has expanded its presence and portfolio with the addition of iconic brands such as Butterfinger®, CRUNCH®, Keebler®, Famous Amos®, Mother’s Cookies®, and other distinctive cookie and chocolate brands. Follow @FerreroNACorp on X and Instagram. www.ferreronorthamerica.com
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo is the parent company of Pearl Milling Company. PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $94 billion in net revenue in 2025, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and drinks, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that places sustainability at the center of our business strategy, seeking to drive growth and build a stronger, more resilient future for PepsiCo and the communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.
About the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC)
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire and emergency medical services. The NVFC unites and supports volunteer and combination fire and EMS organizations through education, advocacy, leadership development, and collaboration. Guided by professionalism and innovation, we provide the tools and resources needed to protect communities, advance responder health and safety, and prepare leaders for the future. Learn more and join at www.nvfc.org.
