Strengthening community-based culinary arts training programs across the country
The Jacques Pépin Foundation (JPF) advances Jacques’ love of culinary arts and teaching through video and recipe production and curriculum development, expanding education and training for all.
We provide grants and other resources to community-based culinary arts training programs nationwide, supporting those organizations that help individuals detached from the workforce gain confidence, skills, and employment in the food industry.
Learn more about our specific support for culinary training programs across the U.S. by clicking on the map at right. If you are interested in learning more about the JPF, please subscribe to our newsletter or reach out to us at info@jp.foundation. We would love to know about your program.
Join the JPF’s Vision to improve lives and strengthen communities through culinary education. Joining the JPF Membership directly helps expand the reach of the JPF’s Mission to promote Jacques’ generosity and passion for cooking by supporting individuals that seek, and organizations that create pathways to success through culinary professionalism, skills, and technique.
Watch video to hear directly from program participants about the advantages of culinary training
Grants and Collaborative Opportunities
The Jacques Pépin Foundation Grants Program supports culinary arts education and job training. Part of our work is to support non-profit, community-based, culinary arts training programs that offer life skills and culinary training to adults with high barriers to employment. Thousands of graduates who completed culinary programs enter the world with a sense of community and belonging. Questions about our Grants Program? Please contact Jennifer Quigley-Harris at jennifer@jp.foundation.
Request for Proposals
2025 JPF Principal Grant Program RFP
Applications are welcome from existing nonprofits for general operation costs OR specific projects to enhance a culinary training program. Grant proposals may include general operating costs, membership fees to join a community kitchen network, funds to improve facilities, expand programming, improve teaching, add certifications, support alumni, or expand or improve upon employer partnerships.
- We are accepting bids for up to $10,000 grants.
- Organizations funded during the 2024 JPF grant cycle NOT eligible to apply until 2026.
- Organizations funded during the 2023 JPF grant cycle (or earlier) are invited to apply.
- Organizations that applied during any JPF grant cycle year and were not funded are invited to apply.
- Organizations that have never applied for JPF grant funding are invited to apply.
- DUE DATE: May 1, 2025 OR October 1, 2025
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2024 Grant Program Recipient, YWCA Culinary Evanston, IL
Request for Proposals
2025 Gloria Pépin Memorial Grant
We invite previously JPF-funded community based culinary training programs to submit proposals for this special grant opportunity. In honor of Jacques’ late wife, the JPF offers the “Gloria Pépin Memorial Grant”, a $5,000 unrestricted award, to a top female graduate of a JPF grant-awarded community kitchen program. All JPF grant awardees from any year are invited to nominate one graduate per year for this award, to be distributed in June.
DUE DATE May 16, 2025
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2024 Gloria Pépin Memorial Grant Recipient Tashe Mattison, graduate of Cathedral Kitchen Culinary Program, Camden NJ
Request for Proposals
2025 Carl Robert “Bob” Wesen Memorial Grant
We invite previously JPF-funded community based culinary training programs to submit proposals for this special grant opportunity. In honor of our Executive Director Rollie Wesen’s late father, the JPF offers the “Bob Wesen Memorial Grant”, named for a man of exceptional kindness and integrity who loved to garden and grow food. This grant is a $5,000 unrestricted award, to a top male graduate of a JPF grant-awarded community kitchen program. All JPF grant awardees from any year will be invited to nominate one graduate per year for this award, to be distributed in June.
DUE DATE May 16, 2025
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2024 Carl Robert "Bob" Wesen Memorial Grant Recipient Olvin Cortes, graduate of Foodlink Career Fellowship, Rochester, NY
Request for Proposals
Grant Program For Community-Based Culinary Arts Training Programs / Two-Year Partnership Circle Grant
Invitation for previously funded JPF grantees to apply for a $50K grant dispersed over two consecutive years (2 x $25K) funding program. Applicant requirements:
- Funded by the JPF previously
- Culinary Program has systems in place to support alumni after graduation and have criteria or employer vetting in place to benefit graduates.
- Applicants must be willing to form 2-year collaborative partnership with the JPF to help inform and provide feedback on best-practices for what helps community-based culinary arts training programs succeed and grow. One organization will be funded. Due date: Oct 1. Qualified applicants may also apply for 2025 Principal Grants Program as outlined above.
- Please stay tuned for 2025 RFP in May.
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Partnership Circle Grant Recipient Kitchen of Purpose
Partners and Beneficiaries
We partner with Catalyst Kitchens, a network of nonprofits leading a movement to end joblessness through foodservice job training and social enterprise.
We support Feeding America’s network of culinary job training programs housed in food banks across the country.
JPF Support
Grant Funding
Support for Community Kitchens
Since we started our grants program in 2019, we have granted over $1.6M to over 70 organizations nationwide. The JPF mission and vision are rooted firmly in the belief that culinary skills training leads better health, increased self-confidence, and employment and career opportunities. We are proud to partner with and support organizations in every community that offer life skills and culinary training to individuals with high barriers to employment.
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2021 Grant Program Recipient, La Cocina
Curricular Materials
JPF Library
The Foundation distributes a set of books that includes two Jacques Pépin technique-driven cookbooks — Complete Techniques and Essential Pépin (along with accompanying educational DVD), and a copy of Jacques’ autobiography The Apprentice to training programs for use in their curriculum or as an addition to their lending library for participants.
Cooking Videos
The Foundation offers selections of Jacques Pépin cooking videos on its website for all culinary training programs to access and use in their curriculum.
The Foundation offers free JPF Group Memberships for organizations that have received a grant, providing multi-person logins for Cook with Jacques Pepin & Friends – the JPF Membership Video Recipe Book that features hundreds of cooking videos.
Industry Support
We continue to build relationships with food industry partners to help provide much-needed equipment and supplies for community-based culinary training program grantees. Please contact us if you would like more information about becoming a Jacques Pépin Industry Partner.
