In-N-Out Burger: A Fast-Food Chain on a Worthy Human Rights Mission

By: Donald V. Watkins

Copyrighted and Published on January 6, 2026 

Slave 2 Nothing Foundation fights substance abuse and human trafficking.

An Editorial Opinion

In-N-Out Burger is a chain of fast-food restaurants with locations primarily in California and to a lesser extent the West Coast and Southwest. It was founded in 1948 by Harry (1913–1976) and Esther Snyder (1920–2006). The chain is headquartered in Irvine, California.

The company has expanded outside Southern California into the rest of California, as well as into Nevada, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Colorado, Idaho, Washington, and Tennessee.  It is also planning expansion into New Mexico.

The current owner is Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, the Snyders' only grandchild.

In-N-Out Burger, which has 424 locations, 27,000 employees, and an estimated $2 billion in annual revenue, has chosen not to franchise its operations or go public. The company believes that rapid business growth, via franchising or going public, would compromise food quality and/or customer consistency.

In-N-Out Burger has developed a highly loyal customer base and is rated as one of the top fast-food restaurants in America. I am one of those loyal customers.  My son Light Watkins introduced me to In-N-Out Burger in Los Angeles 24 years ago. I eat their hamburgers at least once a week.

When I went to the restaurant last night in Sacramento, In-N-Out Burger asked me if I wanted to make a donation to its Slave 2 Nothing Foundation. They offered to match my donation 3-to-1 in January.  Without hesitation, I contributed to this worthy cause.

The Slave 2 Nothing Foundation’s mission is to free people from being enslaved to any person or substance. It was formed by Lynsi and her husband Sean Ellingson.

The Foundation fulfills its mission by contributing financially to organizations that align with its causes and actively provide services in communities served by In-N-Out Burger. It assists individuals and their families to gain freedom and healing from substance abuse.  It also creates, educates, and assists with solutions to eliminate human trafficking.

Slave 2 Nothing Foundation partners with more than 100 local non-profit organizations in communities served by In-N-Out Burger.  Since 2016, the Foundation has granted over $17 million to organizations fighting substance abuse and human trafficking.

In-N-Out Burger covers all administrative costs associated with the Foundation, thereby ensuring that 100% of every dollar raised goes to organizations that assist individuals and families to gain freedom and healing from substance abuse and human trafficking.

This month, the Foundation is highlighting its fight to end human trafficking. It is partnering with those on the front lines and working to expose trafficking threats against children that pose as Trojan Horses in an enhanced effort to protect the survivors and end human trafficking.

In-N-Out Burger matches your donation 3-to-1 in January.

The Foundation's mission evidences superb corporate responsibility and leadership during the nationwide surge of pedophiles and the increasing sexual abuse of women.