Ben & Jerry’s Foundation says it will shut down amid legal dispute with parent company
The foundation says 200,000 supporters have signed petitions as it seeks to restore funding and independence through a federal lawsuit.
- On Tuesday, the Ben & Jerry's Foundation announced it will suspend operations on December 31, 2026, unless it wins a legal challenge against its parent company, The Magnum Ice Cream Company.
- Following an audit revealing governance and financial control issues, Magnum—a Unilever spinoff—withheld funding and ordered the foundation to vacate its South Burlington offices by July 15.
- According to Board of Trustees president Liz Bankowski, the dispute jeopardizes approximately $600,000 in annual grants for Vermont organizations and threatens the foundation's 40-year mission of supporting progressive social change.
- Co-Founder Ben Cohen launched a petition amassing around 160,000 signatures demanding Magnum sell the brand, while the foundation pursues litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
- Foundation leaders characterize the dispute as a "David and Goliath" fight, vowing to continue their battle for independence as legal proceedings are expected to extend into next year.
26 Articles
26 Articles
Associated Press News
Ben & Jerry’s Foundation says it will shut down amid legal dispute with parent company
The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation says it will shut down at the end of the year after its corporate parent cut off funding and evicted its three staffers Wednesday.
Ben & Jerry’s Foundation Plans to Shut Down by End of Year
The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the iconic Vermont ice cream brand, says it will shut down at the end of the year unless it wins a court battle with its parent company over funding. The news, announced on Wednesday, comes as Ben & Jerry’s cofounder, Ben Cohen, continues his effort to buy the company back from its corporate owner, the Magnum Ice Cream Company, which is a spinoff of multinational corporation Unilever. For 40…
The Ben & Jerrys Foundation plans to terminate its operations by the end of the year, after its parent company, Magnum Ice Cream Company, has withdrawn its funding and dismissed its staff this week.
Ben & Jerry's Foundation may suspend operations after funding cut
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