Promote whole-ingredient, scratch cooking in schools so schools can serve the healthiest, tastiest meals and ensure children are well-fed and ready to learn; replace ultraprocessed foods with fresh, healthy, scratch-cooked meals that protect kids and the planet.
Chef Ann Foundation funds systems-level work to move school meal programs toward scratch-cooked food. The strongest recent signal is a 2025 Systems Assistance Grant of $115,226 to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland, Maine, which fits the foundation’s emphasis on implementation support rather than direct service funding. Across its recent grants, the foundation backs schools, school districts, food service departments, and intermediaries that help school food systems change how meals are prepared and delivered. Its support shows up in grants to Acton Boxborough Food Service in Acton, Massachusetts; Nosh in Napa, California; and New Roots Community Farm in Fayetteville, West Virginia. Those awards sit alongside funding for school nutrition departments and educational service agencies, reflecting a mix of operational assistance and system redesign. The foundation’s public mission centers on whole-ingredient, scratch cooking in schools, with related work in salad bars, bulk milk, school food training, workforce development, policy, research, and technical assistance. It is a public charity with annual grants of $646,076 and total assets of $5,832,573 on the latest filing.
A core theme is school food systems support. Chef Ann Foundation gave $88,000 to Acton Boxborough Food Service in Acton, Massachusetts, as a Systems Assistance Grant, showing direct support for district-level operations. It also funded Nosh in Napa, California, with $71,085 for systems assistance, pointing to work that helps school food operators implement scratch-cooking models. Workforce development is another clear priority. The foundation’s Healthy School Food Pathway includes pre-apprenticeship programs in California, Colorado, and Virginia, plus a national fellowship for experienced school food professionals. That structure aligns with its broader focus on training and career pathways in school food. It also supports food access infrastructure in schools. One recent grant went to San Ysidro School District in San Ysidro, California, and its program list includes salad bars and bulk milk initiatives tied to healthier school meals and operational support.
Chef Ann Foundation’s recent grants cluster in a middle range rather than a few very large awards. In the 2025 list provided, the top grant was $115,226, while several others fall between about $6,500 and $88,000, including multiple awards in the $10,000 to $15,000 range. The same grant label, Systems Assistance Grant, appears across the recent grants table, which suggests a standardized support model. The foundation is a public charity, not a private family foundation or DAF, and it does not fund individuals. Its active programs also accept unsolicited applications, including Get Schools Cooking, Salad Bars to Schools, and Healthy School Food Pathway programs. The recent grants shown are all in 2025, so the provided data supports a current, programmatic pattern of grantmaking rather than a multi-year recipient pattern.
$1.4M
$9.3M
$20.8M
$17.5M
About 6% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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All recent grants in the provided sample went to U.S. recipients. The distribution spans schools, districts, and intermediaries in places such as Portland, Maine; Acton, Massachusetts; Napa, California; Fayetteville, West Virginia; Bedford, Kentucky; and Spokane, Washington. California appears multiple times through San Ysidro, Willows, Sacramento, and Lodi, while Michigan appears in Detroit and Muskegon. The data also shows a Colorado recipient, Weld County School District 8 in Greeley, though the foundation’s HQ state share is listed as 0%.
It funds nonprofit organizations, public sector agencies, and school food service systems. The recent grants list includes school districts, school nutrition departments, an educational service district, and a research institute, which fits its systems-level approach to school meal change.
The foundation focuses on school meal programs, scratch cooking, school food policy and advocacy, training and workforce development, salad bars, bulk milk programs, research and evaluation, and pre-apprenticeship and fellowship programs.
The recent grants are labeled Systems Assistance Grants, and the amounts shown range from $6,513 to $115,226. The active programs also point to technical assistance, equipment and operational support, and workforce development rather than individual aid.
Yes. The active programs listed for Get Schools Cooking, School Food Institute, Salad Bars to Schools, Healthy School Food Pathway programs, The Lunch Box, and Bulk Milk all indicate that they accept unsolicited applications.
The recent grants are all in the United States. California appears multiple times in the recipient list, and other recipient locations include Maine, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Kentucky, Washington, Vermont, Alaska, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Iowa.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMMONWEALTH KITCHEN | DORCHESTER, MA | $324,755 | 2026 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| NEW ROOTS COMMUNITY FARM | FAYETTEVILLE, WV | $228,499 | 2026 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMUNITY DISTRICT | DETROIT, MI | $153,058 | 2026 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| ANCHORAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT | ANCHORAGE, AK | $143,010 | 2026 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| GULF OF MAINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE | PORTLAND, ME | $141,249 | 2026 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| MUSKEGON AREA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT | MUSKEGON, MI | $137,427 | 2026 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| NORTHEAST WASHINGTON EDUCATIONAL SERVICE DISTRICT | SPOKANE, WA | $108,748 | 2026 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| IOWA VALLEY RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT | AMANA, IA | $62,169 | 2026 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| ELLENSBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT | ELLENSBURG, WA | $35,000 | 2026 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| LEWISTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LEWISTON, ME | $35,000 | 2026 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| HOWARD-SUAMICO SCHOOL DISTRICT | GREEN BAY, WI | $35,000 | 2026 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| GULF OF MAINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE | PORTLAND, ME | $115,226 | 2025 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| ACTON BOXBOROUGH FOOD SERVICE | ACTON, MA | $88,000 | 2025 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| NOSH | NAPA, CA | $71,085 | 2025 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| NEW ROOTS COMMUNITY FARM | FAYETTEVILLE, WV | $70,000 | 2025 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| TRIMBLE COUNTY SCHOOL NUTRITION | BEDFORD, KY | $62,750 | 2025 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| NORTHEAST WASHINGTON EDUCATIONAL SERVICE DISTRICT | SPOKANE, WA | $52,133 | 2025 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| SAN YSIDRO SCHOOL DISTRICT | SAN YASIDRO, CA | $41,254 | 2025 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| WINDHAM CENTRAL SUPERVISORY UNION | TOWNSHEND, VT | $31,066 | 2025 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| WELD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 8- NUTRITION SERVICES | GREELEY, CO | $27,398 | 2025 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| ANCHORAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT | ANCHORAGE, AK | $15,000 | 2025 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMUNITY DISTRICT | DETROIT, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES | PITTSBURG, PA | $11,931 | 2025 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| WILLOWS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT - FOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENT | WILLOWS, CA | $10,455 | 2025 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| IOWA VALLEY RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT | AMANA, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| MUSKEGON AREA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT | MUSKEGON, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| SACRAMENTO CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT- NUTRITION SERVICES | SACRAMENTO, CA | $8,265 | 2025 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| LODI UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT- NUTRITION SERVICES | LODI, CA | $6,513 | 2025 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| WISCONSIN RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS | WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI | $35,000 | 2024 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| MANHATTAN-OGDEN USD 383 | MANHATTAN, KS | $35,000 | 2024 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| SOUTH MADISON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION | PENDLETON, IN | $35,000 | 2024 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| SAN BERNARDINO CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT | SAN BERNARDINO, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
| CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL | DENTON, MD | $50,000 | 2023 | SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT |
COMMONWEALTH KITCHEN
$324,755SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
NEW ROOTS COMMUNITY FARM
$228,499SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMUNITY DISTRICT
$153,058SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
ANCHORAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT
$143,010SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
GULF OF MAINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$141,249SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
MUSKEGON AREA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT
$137,427SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
NORTHEAST WASHINGTON EDUCATIONAL SERVICE DISTRICT
$108,748SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
IOWA VALLEY RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
$62,169SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
ELLENSBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT
$35,000SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
LEWISTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$35,000SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
HOWARD-SUAMICO SCHOOL DISTRICT
$35,000SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
GULF OF MAINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$115,226SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
ACTON BOXBOROUGH FOOD SERVICE
$88,000SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
NOSH
$71,085SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
NEW ROOTS COMMUNITY FARM
$70,000SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
TRIMBLE COUNTY SCHOOL NUTRITION
$62,750SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
NORTHEAST WASHINGTON EDUCATIONAL SERVICE DISTRICT
$52,133SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
SAN YSIDRO SCHOOL DISTRICT
$41,254SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
WINDHAM CENTRAL SUPERVISORY UNION
$31,066SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
WELD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 8- NUTRITION SERVICES
$27,398SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
ANCHORAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT
$15,000SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMUNITY DISTRICT
$15,000SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES
$11,931SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
WILLOWS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT - FOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENT
$10,455SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
IOWA VALLEY RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
$10,000SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
MUSKEGON AREA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT
$10,000SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
SACRAMENTO CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT- NUTRITION SERVICES
$8,265SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
LODI UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT- NUTRITION SERVICES
$6,513SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
WISCONSIN RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$35,000SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
MANHATTAN-OGDEN USD 383
$35,000SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
SOUTH MADISON COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
$35,000SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
SAN BERNARDINO CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
$10,000SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL
$50,000SYSTEMS ASSISTANCE GRANT
Current and upcoming funding from Chef Ann Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: K–12 schools; the FAQ states any school participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is eligible to apply. Applications must be filled out by or directly supervised by a district Food Service Director.
Deadline: Applications are accepted through the grant portal; no fixed deadline stated in the provided content.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
