Kitchen of Purpose
Kitchen of Purpose is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Arlington, Virginia providing free bilingual culinary training, barista and bartending courses, a small business incubator, food assistance programs, and a shared commercial kitchen to low-income, immigrant, refugee, and veteran populations across the DMV region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersArlington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Kitchen of Purpose does
Kitchen of Purpose, operating under the legal entity La Cocina VA, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization headquartered at 918 S. Lincoln St., Suite 2, Arlington, Virginia. Founded in 2013, the organization runs an interconnected portfolio of six programs: the Bilingual Culinary Training Program (English/Spanish), the Barista & Bartending Program, the Food Lab Small Business Incubator, the Family Meal food assistance initiative, the After School Supper Program, and a membership-based Shared Commercial Kitchen with eight professionally equipped stations. Its primary beneficiaries are unemployed and underemployed adults from low-income and underserved communities in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region, including immigrants, refugees, veterans, returning citizens, and victims of domestic violence; all training programs are offered tuition-free with transportation stipends and wrap-around social service referrals.
The revenue model is predominantly donation-driven, with tax-deductible contributions from individuals, corporations, and family foundations constituting the primary funding stream, augmented by workplace giving through United Way NCA (Designation Code 9220) and the Combined Federal Campaign (Designation Code 88959), employer matching gifts, Donor-Advised Funds, stock gifts, and a year-end Givebutter campaign. A secondary revenue stream comes from recurring Shared Kitchen membership subscriptions (6-day/week, 2-day/week, and day add-on tiers) with a 30% discount for verified low-income members, and a small third stream from employer partnerships across 40+ DMV hospitality establishments that host paid internships and hire graduates. No proprietary technology platform is described; the value proposition rests on industry-recognized certifications (ServSafe, AllerTrain Manager, TIPS), a 160-hour paid internship, two-year post-graduation employment support, and the only bilingual culinary curriculum in the DMV.
Operational scale is modest, with an 11–50 employee team and a single physical location. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by John W. Gardner, Jr., with a Treasurer (Jonathan Sterlin, J.P. Morgan M&A) and Secretary (Todd Miller, Baker & Miller PLLC antitrust attorney) providing financial and legal oversight. CEO Brian MacNair previously spent 10 years at DC Central Kitchen and helped launch World Central Kitchen for Chef José Andrés. To date, Kitchen of Purpose has produced 800+ program graduates placed into food service careers.
Kitchen of Purpose firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kitchen of Purpose
- Legal name
- La Cocina VA
- Website
- https://kitchenofpurpose.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Kitchen of Purpose is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Arlington, Virginia providing free bilingual culinary training, barista and bartending courses, a small business incubator, food assistance programs, and a shared commercial kitchen to low-income, immigrant, refugee, and veteran populations across the DMV region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kitchen of Purpose industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workforce Development and Culinary Training Services
- NAICS
- Food Service Contractors (72231), Community Food Services (62421)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating Places (5812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Professional Culinary Arts (Chef Training) (EDAOAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Restaurant & Foodservice Operations Management (EDAOAKAE), Food Service & Dining Operations Management (Managed Cafeterias) (EDAEALAG), Institutional Catering (Schools, Hospitals, Government) (THAFAIAE)
Keywords
Where Kitchen of Purpose is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Arlington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kitchen of Purpose business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Individual and Corporate Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and family foundations constitute the primary funding source. The organization accepts donations via PayPal, check, Donor-Advised Funds (EIN 46-2037695), stock gifts, employer matching gifts, estate/bequest giving, and a year-end campaign (Givebutter). United Way NCA designation code 9220 and CFC designation code 88959 enable payroll deductions for donors.
- Shared Kitchen Memberships: Revenue generated from shared commercial kitchen rental memberships (6-day/week, 2-day/week, and day-add-on options) with 3 and 6-month contract terms. Low-income verified members receive a 30% discount. One-time costs include a security deposit and start-up fee; ongoing monthly costs include a membership fee, maintenance fee, and taxes/payment processing fees.
- Employer Partnership & Job Placement: Employer partners in the DMV food and hospitality industry (40+ establishments) host internships, job shadowings, and hire graduates, creating indirect economic value and sustaining the program's reputation and referral pipeline.
- Food Assistance Programs: Family Meal program serves 3-course dignified meals to 24 guests monthly from local shelters, prepared by guest chefs and volunteers. Funded through donations and corporate partnerships (e.g., Compass Group as both employer and donor).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Shared Kitchen 6-Days/Week Membership: Monday–Saturday, 7 AM–7 PM access |
| Subscription | Monthly | Shared Kitchen 2-Days/Week Membership |
| Subscription | Monthly | Food Lab Small Business Incubator: 8-week hybrid program (discussions, business plan development, QuickBooks, marketing, regulations, product testing, culinary skills) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
Kitchen of Purpose product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kitchen of Purpose is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce and economic development organization that delivers bilingual culinary training, barista and bartending training, a small business food incubator, food assistance programs (Family Meal and After School Supper), and a membership-based shared commercial kitchen. Programs are offered free of charge to unemployed and underemployed adults from low-income communities, with wraparound support services and job placement through an employer partner network of 40+ DMV food and hospitality establishments.
Product overview
Kitchen of Purpose operates as a workforce and economic development nonprofit using the power of food to change lives. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs: the Bilingual Culinary Training Program (the only one in the DMV), the Barista & Bartending Program, the Food Lab Small Business Incubator, Food Assistance programs including Family Meal and After School Supper, and a Shared Kitchen membership facility. Programs are designed to serve unemployed and underemployed adults from low-income and underserved populations including immigrants, refugees, veterans, and returning citizens.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bilingual Culinary Training Program The only bilingual (English/Spanish) culinary training program in the DMV, preparing low-income individuals for careers in the food industry through accredited training with job readiness, social services, and vocational English classes. Includes ServSafe Food Manager and ANSI-accredited AllerTrain Manager certifications, 160 hours of paid internships, financial literacy, and emotional intelligence coursework. Full scholarship covering tuition, materials, and weekly transportation stipend. Cohort-based enrollment (Jan, Mar, Jun, Aug, Oct 2026).
- Barista and Bartending Program Hospitality training program teaching guest service, table setting, full barista training, bartender training, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills. Students earn TIPS alcohol certification. Cohort-based enrollment (May and Sep 2026). Includes 2-year graduate support and job placement.
- Food Lab Small Business Incubator 8-week hybrid program for low-income culinary entrepreneurs in DC, MD, or VA featuring hands-on kitchen classes and entrepreneurial business training covering business concept development, marketing, QuickBooks, local regulations, and product testing. Includes one-on-one consulting, mentorship, product testing, and 6 months of discounted shared kitchen rates following training. No tuition cost for eligible low-income participants. Cohort-based enrollment (Mar and Jul 2026).
- Family Meal Monthly 3-course meal service serving 'meals with dignity' prepared by local guest chefs and served by volunteers in a peaceful cafe space for 24 guests from local shelters. Funded through donations and corporate partnerships including Compass Group.
- After School Supper Program Childhood hunger initiative serving healthy, balanced meals to children after school to improve health and support learning and growth.
- Shared Kitchen Membership-based commercial kitchen rental with eight professionally equipped stations, cold/freezer/dry storage, retail outlet, demo kitchen, and event space. Offers 6-day/week (Mon-Sat, 7 AM-7 PM), 2-day/week, and day add-on membership options with 30% discount for qualified low-income verified members. 3 and 6-month contract terms.
Quantifiable outcome
- 800+ program graduates placed in food service careers
- +8 more outcomes
Companies that use Kitchen of Purpose
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Kitchen of Purpose technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Kitchen of Purpose partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- United Way NCAcoreUnited Way National Capital Area (Designation Code: 9220) enables workplace giving and payroll deductions for donors supporting Kitchen of Purpose. Listed prominently on the organization's website as a trusted charity partner.
- Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)coreCFC Designation Code: 88959 allows federal employees to direct payroll donations to Kitchen of Purpose, expanding the organization's donor base to the federal workforce.
- Compass Group / Amazon HQ2 (Eurest Sector)coreCompass Group operates as both an employer partner (hiring KOP graduates) and a donor and volunteer organizer. The company organized employees to volunteer at Family Meal. Eyerusalem, a KOP Barista & Bartending graduate, was placed at Compass Group at Amazon HQ2.
- Alexandria Restaurant PartnerscoreEmployer partner providing internships and job placement for KOP graduates. One of 40+ food and hospitality establishments in the DMV hiring KOP graduates.
- ChaiamajorEmployer partner hosting internships and hiring graduates from the Culinary Training Program.
- Fabio Trabocchi (Sfoglina)majorEmployer partner in the DMV hospitality industry.
- ZaytinyamajorRestaurant partner (Jose Andres restaurant group) providing internship and hiring opportunities for graduates.
- MakettomajorRestaurant partner (Foreign National group) providing internship and hiring opportunities.
- Ritz Carlton ArlingtoncorePremium hotel employer partner providing hospitality industry job placements for KOP graduates.
- MGM National HarbormajorCasino/hospitality employer partner in the DC Metro area hiring KOP graduates.
- Tatte Café & BakerycoreEmployer partner. Leah, a KOP Culinary Training graduate, was placed as prep cook at Tatte Café & Bakery.
- Capital One / Restaurant AssociatesmajorCorporate dining services partner (Restaurant Associates) operating at Capital One headquarters.
- WegmanscoreGrocery and food retail employer partner with multiple DC and Virginia locations.
- Miriam's KitchenmajorNonprofit kitchen that served as a feeder organization for KOP — Estela (KOP graduate) previously worked as a Prep Cook at Miriam's Kitchen before joining KOP's training program.
- The Watergate HotelmajorIconic hotel employer partner in DC providing hospitality job placements for graduates.
- Luminis HealthcareminorHealthcare community partner that previously collaborated with Amy Caruso on a Wellness Program for diabetes prevention among at-risk Latino women.
- Le Cordon BleuminorPrestigious culinary arts institution where Daniela Hurtado (Director of Programs) was trained in gastronomy and culinary arts. Represents the program's academic credibility foundation.
- Georgetown UniversityminorDaniela Hurtado holds an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Georgetown University, strengthening her leadership capacity at KOP.
- Local Housing, Food, Childcare, Mental Health, and Legal Aid OrganizationscoreKOP partners with local organizations to provide wrap-around support services — housing, food, childcare, mental health, and legal aid — that help participants gain stability needed to pursue professional goals.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kitchen of Purpose competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- La Cocina: San Francisco-based nonprofit food business incubator that provides affordable commercial kitchen space and training to low-income entrepreneurs — a direct analog to KOP's Food Lab Incubator + Shared Kitchen combination, but for the Bay Area immigrant community.
- Hot Bread Kitchen: NYC nonprofit that combines workforce culinary training for immigrant women with a food business incubator and wholesale bakery — directly comparable to KOP's combined training + incubator + commercial-kitchen model.
- Emma's Torch: Brooklyn-based nonprofit operating a paid culinary apprenticeship for refugees and survivors of trafficking, with an in-house restaurant social enterprise. Closest functional peer to KOP's bilingual culinary training model.
- DC Central Kitchen: Washington, DC-based nonprofit that combines culinary workforce training for underserved adults with food distribution and social-enterprise catering — the same operational model Kitchen of Purpose operates, and at materially larger scale. Also the organization where CEO Brian MacNair spent 10 years prior to joining KOP.
- HIAS Sanctuary Kitchen: Refugee-support organization with culinary-training programs that help newly arrived refugees gain food-industry employment — directly comparable to KOP's refugee-services segment, though operating at the national level through HIAS's resettlement infrastructure.
Emerging players
- Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free tech workforce training to underserved adults — comparable workforce-development model and employer-paid internship structure, though in technology rather than food service.
- Catalyst Kitchens: Network and advocacy body for nonprofit culinary training programs across the U.S. KOP would be a candidate member; the network provides shared curriculum, peer benchmarking, and funding access for member programs.
Broad incumbents
- World Central Kitchen: Global nonprofit founded by Chef José Andrés with disaster-relief and food-distribution focus. Not a workforce-development peer, but directly relevant via KOP CEO Brian MacNair's role in helping start the organization and the shared DMV food-systems network.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Kitchen of Purpose social profiles
Digital presenceKitchen of Purpose compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Kitchen of Purpose financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kitchen of Purpose leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Kitchen of Purpose funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kitchen of Purpose M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kitchen of Purpose
What does Kitchen of Purpose do?
Kitchen of Purpose is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce and economic development organization that delivers bilingual culinary training, barista and bartending training, a small business food incubator, food assistance programs (Family Meal and After School Supper), and a membership-based shared commercial kitchen. Programs are offered free of charge to unemployed and underemployed adults from low-income communities, with wraparound support services and job placement through an employer partner network of 40+ DMV food and hospitality establishments.
Is Kitchen of Purpose a public or private company?
Kitchen of Purpose is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Kitchen of Purpose founded?
Kitchen of Purpose was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kitchen of Purpose based?
Kitchen of Purpose is headquartered in Arlington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kitchen of Purpose make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual and Corporate Donations are the primary driver. The others are shared Kitchen Memberships, employer Partnership & Job Placement and food Assistance Programs.
Who are Kitchen of Purpose's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are La Cocina, Hot Bread Kitchen, Emma's Torch, DC Central Kitchen and HIAS Sanctuary Kitchen. Emerging players are Per Scholas and Catalyst Kitchens. World Central Kitchen is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Kitchen of Purpose have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kitchen of Purpose.
What industry is Kitchen of Purpose in?
Kitchen of Purpose's product category is Workforce Development and Culinary Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOAKAA, Professional Culinary Arts (Chef Training), with a secondary code of EDAOAKAE, Restaurant & Foodservice Operations Management. Its NAICS code is 72231 and its SIC code is 5812.