O u r  M i s s i o n

The James Beard Foundation is a national not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization based in New York City dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and nurturing America's culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate the appreciation of our culinary excellence.

PROGRAMS OF THE JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION

The following programs support the Foundation's mission of promoting the culinary arts:

Dinners and Workshops at the James Beard House
All performing artists deserve a great stage. Musicians have Carnegie Hall. Opera singers have the Metropolitan Opera House. And chefs, winemakers, and cookbook authors have the James Beard House. More than 20 dinners, lunches, and workshops are held each month at the James Beard House to showcase culinary artists from around the world.

Scholarships
The Foundation's scholarship program administers and funds scholarships for aspiring culinary professionals. The scholarships fall into three categories: tuition waivers or school scholarships donated by the culinary schools themselves, grants from money raised by individuals or at out-of-house events hosted by chefs and restaurants around the country, and grants from the James Beard Foundation's operating fund. In 2005, the Foundation awarded a total of $251,150 in funds to 86 scholarship recipients.

Friends of James Beard Benefits
Throughout the year, restaurants and hotels around the country host fund-raisers for the Foundation. These events serve both to promote local culinary awareness and to nurture a national network of chefs. Of the money donated to the Foundation from these events, 50% is designated for the Foundation's general operating fund and 50% is earmarked for scholarships.

Education
In addition to its scholarship program, the James Beard Foundation partners with educational institutions such as New York University to produce culinary conferences and classes. The Foundation also supports Spoons Across America, an organization that provides food and nutrition education to children, families, and teachers through classroom, after-school, and other school- and community-based programs.

Kitchen Volunteer Program
Almost every night of the week, students from culinary schools have the opportunity to work hands-on with the guest chefs cooking at the Beard House, a real-world experience that cannot be duplicated in school. For more than a decade, students have worked side by side with chefs from around the country, often securing exciting internships and job opportunities as a result of their energy, enthusiasm, and potential.

The James Beard Foundation Awards
The James Beard Foundation Awards are the nation's preeminent honors for culinary professionals. More than 60 awards are given out each spring in the categories of cookbooks, restaurants and chefs, design and graphics, broadcast media, journalism, and achievement. Nominees and award winners are selected by their industry peers, with more than 600 culinary professionals involved in the voting process.

Publications
The Foundation publishes Beard Bites, a biweekly e-newsletter that’s available to the general public; Previews and JBF Events, two monthly member newsletters that provide information on upcoming events; an annual Directory of Fine Food and Beverage Professionals; and an annual online Restaurant Directory.