National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation

What National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation does

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization established in 1987 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., operating as the philanthropic workforce development arm of the National Restaurant Association. It runs a portfolio of programs targeting the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality labor pipeline across the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia: ProStart, a free two-year high school career and technical education program reaching 222,500+ students across 2,275+ high schools; the National ProStart Invitational annual competition; RHLC accredited apprenticeship programs (Line Cook through Restaurant Manager) registered with the U.S. Department of Labor; Restaurant Ready for first-job skills training; HOPES for justice-involved reentry; military transition programs; and an annual scholarship program awarding over $1 million to post-secondary students.

The operating technology is a workforce development and training delivery platform centered on the MyProStart online portal for student and educator management, certification tracking, and program administration, integrated with the ServSafe food safety certification and ServSuccess management certification credentialing systems. Programs are delivered through a 51-state-restaurant-association network, 32+ community-based organizations, 72 employer apprenticeship partners, and 314 corporate supporters; revenue is generated through federal grants (notably $9M+ from the U.S. Department of Labor in 2025 for HOPES), private foundation grants (Conrad N. Hilton, Kessler, PepsiCo), corporate sponsorships (Burger King, Coca-Cola, Darden, Hormel, PepsiCo, Rachael Ray's Yum-O!, American Express, Golden Corral, Marriott, Yum!, DoorDash, Hilton, Sam's Club), individual donations, and event fundraising such as the Ted J. Balestreri Leadership Classic ($3M raised in 2025). Programs are provided at no cost to participants, with total Foundation revenue of $17.5M reported in 2025 under the leadership of President & CEO Michelle L. Korsmo and CFO Keri Stockland (appointed January 2026).

Name

National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation

Legal name

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation

Website

https://chooserestaurants.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization running ProStart culinary education for 222,500+ high school students, registered apprenticeships (RHLC), the HOPES justice-reentry program, and scholarships to build the U.S. restaurant and hospitality labor pipeline.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development & Hospitality Education

NAICS

Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Restaurant & Foodservice Operations Management (EDAOAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional Culinary Arts (Chef Training) (EDAOAKAA), Hospitality & Food Service (EDABALAO)

Keywords

• Workforce development
• Hospitality education
• Culinary training
• Apprenticeship programs
• Restaurant certifications

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Revenue: As a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit, NRAEF generates revenue through a combination of grants from government agencies (Department of Labor), private foundations (Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Kessler Foundation, PepsiCo Foundation), corporate sponsorships, individual donations, and event fundraising such as the Ted J. Balestreri Leadership Classic. Total Foundation revenue was $17.5M in 2025.
2. Scholarship Program Administration: Manages scholarship programs funded by corporate partners including Burger King Foundation, The Coca-Cola Company, Darden Foundation, Hormel, PepsiCo, Rachael Ray's Yum-O! Organization, and others. Awards range from $2,500-$10,000 per scholarship.
3. Event Revenue: National ProStart Invitational competitions and annual Leadership Classic fundraising events generate revenue and awareness. The 2025 Ted J. Balestreri Leadership Classic raised $3 million.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) provides workforce development education, training, credentialing, and scholarship programs for the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry. Its offerings include the ProStart two-year high school CTE curriculum, DOL-registered apprenticeship programs through the Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center (RHLC), workforce entry training via Restaurant Ready and HOPES, military transition programs, and ServSafe/ServSuccess industry certifications, all delivered free of charge to participants.

Product overview

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) operates as a platform of workforce development programs designed to Attract, Empower, and Advance the restaurant and foodservice workforce. The portfolio consists of: ProStart, a two-year high school career and technical education program reaching over 222,000 students; the National ProStart Invitational annual competition; Scholarships awarding over $1 million annually; the Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center (RHLC) providing accredited apprenticeship programs; Restaurant Ready and HOPES providing first-job skills training and job placement; and Military programs supporting service members transitioning to civilian careers. Supporting programs include ServSafe (food safety certification), ServSuccess (management certification), the Hospitality Pathways Conference, Restaurants Advance Leadership Awards, and Military Foodservice Awards. The Foundation also maintains strategic partnerships with state restaurant associations across 51 states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ProStart: Nationwide two-year high school career and technical education program teaching culinary arts and restaurant management fundamentals
• Restaurant Ready
• HOPES (Hospitality Opportunities For People ReEntering Society)
• Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center (RHLC)
• Restaurant Ready / HOPES
• National ProStart Invitational

Products and services

• ProStart A nationwide, two-year high school career and technical education program teaching culinary arts and restaurant management fundamentals to more than 222,000 students in 2,275+ high schools across every U.S. state, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.
• Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center (RHLC) Apprenticeship Programs Provides employers with U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship training programs for Line Cook, Assistant Kitchen Manager, Kitchen Manager, Assistant Restaurant Manager, and Restaurant Manager roles.
• HOPES (Hospitality Opportunities For People (Re)Entering Society) Workforce development program that helps justice-involved individuals gain employment and independence through industry training, credentialing, job placement, and mentorship, operating across 23 sites in 13 states.
• Restaurant Ready Partners with 32+ community-based organizations to provide people with first-job skills training and job placement services in the restaurant industry.
• NRAEF Scholarships Program Annual scholarship program awarding more than $1 million in scholarships ($2,500-$10,000 per recipient) to individuals pursuing post-secondary degrees in the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry.
• Military Programs Programs supporting active-duty military personnel and those transitioning to civilian careers with training, apprenticeships, certification grants, and scholarships for restaurant and foodservice careers.
• National ProStart Invitational The country's premier secondary school competition focused on restaurant management and culinary arts, held annually in Baltimore, MD.
• ServSafe Certification Food safety certification and training program for restaurant industry professionals.
• ServSuccess Certification Professional certification program for restaurant management and leadership development.
• Hospitality Pathways Conference Annual conference for workforce development stakeholders, justice agencies, community-based organizations, and state restaurant associations focused on career pathways in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• 837 justice-impacted individuals secured training and job placement in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Sam's ClubsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter for veteran hiring initiatives expanding efforts in Georgia to help employers hire justice-impacted veterans with criminal records.
• 51 State Restaurant AssociationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnerships with all 51 state restaurant associations for program delivery, advocacy, and local coordination including ProStart, Restaurant Ready, and HOPES programs.
• Community-Based OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor32+ community-based organizations partner with Restaurant Ready program to provide skills training and job placement services for people of all backgrounds.
• Soulcial KitchensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise developing U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship credentials. Soulcial Kitchen's Food Truck Apprenticeship has been adopted nationally by NRAEF.
• National Restaurant Association ShowsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with National Restaurant Association Show for JumpStart grant program providing immersive industry experience for students.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Year Up: Year Up is a workforce development nonprofit providing training and job placement for young adults from underserved backgrounds. NRAEF's HOPES and Restaurant Ready programs serve a comparable population segment through an industry-vertical lens.
• Goodwill Industries International: Goodwill is a large-scale nonprofit workforce development organization focused on underserved populations, including justice-involved individuals and people with disabilities. NRAEF's Restaurant Ready and HOPES programs address similar population segments, though across the restaurant industry specifically.
• National Skills Coalition: A national policy advocacy organization focused on workforce development, skills training, and equitable access to employment. Aligns with NRAEF on workforce policy advocacy and federal funding priorities.
• Per Scholas: Per Scholas provides tuition-free tech workforce development to individuals from nontraditional backgrounds. Comparable to NRAEF in its free-to-participant model and underserved-population focus, though focused on tech rather than hospitality.
• Jobs for the Future (JFF): JFF is a national nonprofit driving workforce transformation and economic mobility. Operates at the workforce-policy level similar to how NRAEF operates at the restaurant-industry workforce level, often partnering on federal grant initiatives.

Others

• National Restaurant Association: The parent trade association of NRAEF. Operates industry advocacy, research (e.g., State of the Restaurant Industry report), and the National Restaurant Association Show. While the parent shares leadership and brand, its lobbying/trade mission is distinct from NRAEF's charitable education mission.

Direct peers

• Institute of Culinary Education (ICE): ICE is a leading for-profit culinary and hospitality career training school. It competes for the same post-secondary culinary students NRAEF serves through scholarships and apprenticeship pathways, and operates in adjacent curriculum delivery models.
• Culinary Institute of America (CIA): The CIA is the premier post-secondary culinary education institution in the U.S. While NRAEF focuses on secondary-school and entry-level workforce development, both organizations train professional culinarians and feed the same restaurant industry talent pool.
• American Culinary Federation (ACF) Education Foundation: ACF is the professional association for chefs and culinarians, with an education arm that provides certification (similar to NRAEF's ServSuccess) and scholarships. Overlaps directly with NRAEF's mission of professionalizing the culinary workforce.
• American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AHLEF): AHLEF is the 501(c)(3) educational foundation of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, structurally and functionally analogous to NRAEF. Both are industry trade-association foundations delivering workforce development, apprenticeships, scholarships, and certifications for their respective hospitality sectors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/nraef
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/NRAEF/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/nraefoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nraef
• Instagraminstagram.com/nraefoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation