Ronald McDonald House Charities®
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC®) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to care for families when their child is ill or injured.
Through a global Chapter network, RMHC1 envisions a world where every family has what they need to ensure the best health outcomes for their children.
On this page, you'll find information about our ongoing partnership with RMHC and links to related topics. For progress and performance relating to RMHC, see the Goal Performance & Reporting page where you'll find our latest Purpose & Impact Report.
Our Strategy
What RMHC Does
Through three core global programs and hundreds of local programs, RMHC operates with the mission to provide essential services that help to remove barriers, strengthen families and promote healing when children need healthcare.
Ronald McDonald House® programs – More than just a place to sleep, each House is near a hospital and provides meals and a range of supportive resources to families when their child is hospitalized.
Ronald McDonald Family Room® programs – Located within a hospital, this program offers families a place to recharge, rest and access food at no cost, all within a few steps of their child’s bedside.
Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® programs – In partnership with a clinical services provider, these mobile units provide medical, dental and healthcare resources to children and families in underserved communities.
In addition to the three core global programs, RMHC Chapters have developed hundreds of Ronald McDonald local programs that are tailored to address unmet needs and help make a measurable difference in the lives of families and children throughout their healthcare journeys.
The Company & RMHC Working in Partnership
Collective support from the Company and its Franchisees, suppliers and customers helps RMHC deliver on its mission. In 2024, the Company celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first Ronald McDonald House opening in Philadelphia. For 50 years, McDonald’s ongoing support of RMHC is consistent with its purpose, which is to feed and foster communities, and the Company is proud to be more than a founding partner of RMHC – it is its forever partner.
The Company plays a key role in helping support RMHC in its care for families when their children need healthcare.
In-Restaurant Support
In some locations, McDonald’s restaurants donate a percentage of their sales of specific products to RMHC or run other special promotions in restaurants to benefit RMHC. In fact, it was a product promotion – the Shamrock Shake – that helped open the first Ronald McDonald House in 1974. Around the world, many McDonald’s markets also host McHappy Days, during which a percentage of sales or a set dollar amount per menu item is donated to RMHC. The Company also makes it easy for crew and customers to support RMHC through a range of giving opportunities (as described below).
See our Community Impact & Philanthropy page for more information.
Volunteers
Volunteers help make a difference in the lives of families served by each RMHC Chapter – such as by cooking, greeting, listening, cleaning or simply by being there. Volunteers are the heartbeat of RMHC, helping to offset costs by allowing RMHC to direct more of the donations it receives directly to services supporting children and their families. The Company encourages its employees – and Franchisees and their employees – to volunteer in support of RMHC.
Read more about the Company’s approach toward volunteerism on its Community Impact & Philanthropy page.
Helping Customers Give to RMHC Chapters
The Company is committed to providing customers with opportunities to support RMHC.
There are many ways for McDonald’s customers to support RMHC. For example, the Round-Up for RMHC program allows customers to round up their purchase to the nearest whole number, with the difference being donated to RMHC.
Additionally, RMHC Donation Boxes, which sit at locations such as restaurant counters and drive-thru windows, can be used to donate.
Finally, in-restaurant events and product fundraisers are also used to help customers participate in giving to RMHC.
A few cents added to an order or a coin dropped in a box might not feel like much, but if millions of McDonald’s customers choose to give at thousands of McDonald’s restaurants around the world, those coins can add up!
