Growing Chefs
Growing Chefs is a Vancouver-based registered Canadian charity, founded in 2005, that delivers hands-on food education and barrier-free school meal programs (LunchLAB, Classroom, SummerLAB) to K-12 children across British Columbia, funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and an annual gala.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersVancouver, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Growing Chefs does
Growing Chefs is a registered Canadian charity (BN 841127566RR0001), founded in 2005 and headquartered in Vancouver, BC, that delivers hands-on food education and school meal programs to children, families, and community members. Its mission targets food illiteracy, limited access to nourishing culturally-relevant foods, and disconnection from food systems. The organization operates three core programs: LunchLAB, a barrier-free school meal program at five Vancouver schools in which students prepare and serve up to 200 lunches per session under the mentorship of a 5-person Chef-In-Residence team; the Classroom Gardening & Cooking Program, a three-lesson edible education curriculum delivered across BC schools; and SummerLAB, a new week-long summer camp launched in June 2026 at King George High School for grades 2-7. Programs are delivered on-site through direct school partnerships, primarily with the Vancouver School Board (which has recognized LunchLAB as a model program) and in collaboration with Fresh Roots, with an underlying 'culturally-relevant, barrier-free' methodology rather than a software/technology stack. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by founder Merri Schwartz, with Carol Neuman appointed Executive Director in May 2026.
The business model is a diversified charity revenue stack: individual donations (one-time plus the Champion Radish Club monthly giving program starting at $5/month, with over 100 monthly donors); corporate sponsorships (RBC as presenting sponsor of the From Farms to Forks gala, plus Aritzia, Vancity, TELUS, CIBC and others); foundation grants (Face the World, SpencerCreo, TELUS Friendly Future, CIBC Children's, Vancouver Community Foundation, Port Moody); federal and provincial government support; program fees on a sliding-scale basis (e.g., $500 per Classroom Program cohort, with no child turned away for inability to pay); and special-event revenue (the annual From Farms to Forks gala, which raised $120,000 in 2023 and targets $200,000 in 2026, plus the Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival partnership which contributed $19,620 in 2026). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: school partnerships, volunteer engagement, and high-profile fundraising events create the touchpoints that drive donor acquisition, while the Chef-In-Residence mentorship model and proprietary edible-education curriculum constitute the core 'product' that the charity sells to schools, donors, and grant-makers. Cumulative impact since founding: 442 gardens built and 11,200+ children taught to cook, with 19,187 meals served in the 2023/24 school year alone.
Growing Chefs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Growing Chefs
- Legal name
- Growing Chefs Society
- Website
- https://growingchefs.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Growing Chefs is a Vancouver-based registered Canadian charity, founded in 2005, that delivers hands-on food education and barrier-free school meal programs (LunchLAB, Classroom, SummerLAB) to K-12 children across British Columbia, funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and an annual gala.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Growing Chefs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Food Education Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Food Service Contractors (72231), Community Food Services (62421)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Culinary Arts & Cooking (Baking, Pastry, Global Cuisines) (EDAAAGAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Menu Planning, Nutrition & Dietary Accommodation Services (Allergens, Special Diets) (EDAEAEAD), Cooking Classes & Chef-Led Workshops (THAJAGAI), Nutrition, Special Diets & Wellness Cooking (EDAOAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Growing Chefs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vancouver
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Growing Chefs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individuals. Monthly donors join the Champion Radish Club and receive event invitations and discounts. One-time donations via CanadaHelps, e-transfer, cheque, and other platforms.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from businesses for events (From Farms to Forks gala) and programs. Includes presenting sponsors (RBC), venue sponsors, kitchen sponsors, and beverage sponsors.
- Foundation and Government Grants: Funding from foundations including Face the World Foundation, SpencerCreo Foundation, TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, and government sources. Featured in University of Saskatchewan report on school food programs.
- Special Events Revenue: Annual gala 'From Farms to Forks' ticket sales, raffle tickets, and silent auction proceeds. Event raised $120,000 at 14th annual gala and aims to raise $200,000 in 2026.
- Program Fees: Sliding scale fees for LunchLAB program. Classroom Program fee of $500 per classroom (3 sessions), though no school is turned away due to lack of funds.
- Third-Party Fundraising: Partnership with Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival as charitable partner. Vendors donate portions of proceeds. Also benefits from community fundraisers like Barb Mackenzie's birthday workout events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | One-time Donation |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Donation (Champion Radish Club) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Classroom Program Fee |
| Subscription | Annual | LunchLAB Program |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | From Farms to Forks Gala Tickets |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Growing Chefs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Growing Chefs is a registered Canadian charity that delivers hands-on food education programs to children, families, and communities in the Vancouver and BC Lower Mainland area. It operates three core programs: LunchLAB (a barrier-free school meal program where students prepare and serve culturally-relevant lunches under Chef-In-Residence mentorship), Classroom Gardening & Cooking Programs (three edible education lessons delivered in classrooms), and SummerLAB (week-long summer camp). Programs are delivered directly in partner schools through Vancouver School Board partnerships and supported by fundraising events, monthly giving programs, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants.
Product overview
Growing Chefs is a nonprofit organization operating as a single unified mission rather than a platform architecture. The organization offers food education programs primarily through three core initiatives: LunchLAB (an innovative school meal program where students prepare and serve lunches with Chef-In-Residence mentorship), the Classroom Gardening & Cooking Program (interactive edible education lessons in schools), and SummerLAB (summer camp extension). Major annual events include the From Farms to Forks gala. The organization also operates donor programs including the Champion Radish Club (monthly giving) and Adopt-A-Classroom initiatives, plus corporate and individual volunteer opportunities. All programs work together toward the mission of connecting chefs, kids, and communities to foster systemic change towards healthy, sustainable, just food practices.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- LunchLAB: An innovative school meal program that serves students barrier-free, nourishing, culturally-relevant lunches prepared by students with the mentorship of Chefs-In-Residence.
- SummerLAB
- Classroom Gardening & Cooking Program
Products and services
- LunchLAB
Quantifiable outcome
- 19,187 meals served in 2023/2024 school year
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Growing Chefs
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Growing Chefs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Growing Chefs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- AritziamajorVenue Sponsor providing A-OK Commissary at ARITZIA HQ for From Farms to Forks 2026 event.
- Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate FestivalcoreCharitable partner for the annual Hot Chocolate Festival. Cafés and bakeries donate portions of proceeds to Growing Chefs through this partnership.
- Local Farms and Food ProducerscorePartnership with farms including UBC Farm, Snowy Mountain Farm, Sole Food Street Farms, Vive Le Veg, and others who supply ingredients for LunchLAB and From Farms to Forks events.
- Fresh to FamiliesminorCo-charitable partner with Fresh to Families (Vancouver Farmers Market program) for Hot Chocolate Festival. Both organizations benefit from festival proceeds.
- Fresh RootscoreCollaboration with Fresh Roots to operate LunchLAB school meal program. Fresh Roots brings urban farming expertise and additional resources to the partnership, while Growing Chefs provides culinary education and program delivery.
- Vancouver School Board (VSB)coreStrong partnership with Vancouver School Board to deliver LunchLAB and Classroom Programs in district schools. VSB has recognized LunchLAB as a model program.
- Hawksworth RestaurantminorChef collaboration dinner with portion of proceeds donated to Growing Chefs.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Growing Chefs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- FoodCorps: US-based nonprofit placing service members in schools to deliver hands-on food education and garden-based learning. Closest international analogue to Growing Chefs' Classroom Program and Chef-In-Residence mentorship model.
- The Stop Community Food Centre: Toronto-based community food centre delivering food access, skills, and education programs. Comparable as a multi-program Canadian food charity with school meals, community kitchens, and gardening programs.
- Farm to Cafeteria Canada: National Canadian charity coordinating farm-to-school food programs across provinces. Direct peer in school food procurement and education, with broader national geographic footprint — relevant as both collaborator and potential scale competitor.
- Whole Kids Foundation: US-based nonprofit funding school gardens, salad bars, and food education programs. Comparable as a funder and operator of school food and garden programs targeting children, with larger scale corporate backing.
- Edible Schoolyard Project: Founded by Alice Waters, Edible Schoolyard operates school gardens and kitchens teaching children about food. Direct peer in mission, school-based delivery, and edible education curriculum model.
- Chef Ann Foundation: US nonprofit focused on school food reform, scratch-cooking education, and cafeteria program support. Comparable in mission to overhaul school food systems and equip kitchens with culinary-led programming.
- Fresh Roots: Vancouver-based nonprofit operating urban farms and school food programs in Metro Vancouver. Direct peer and active program partner with Growing Chefs on LunchLAB — comparable food-literacy mission, school-based delivery, and BC geographic focus.
- FoodShare Toronto: Toronto-based nonprofit focused on food justice, school food programs, and community food education. Comparable in mission scope, school delivery model, and policy advocacy for healthy school food — serves as the Ontario analogue to Growing Chefs.
Broad incumbents
- Slow Food USA: US national nonprofit advocating for good, clean, and fair food with school garden and food education programs. Operates more broadly in advocacy and education, but overlaps with Growing Chefs' food literacy and community-based food mission.
Regional players
- Nourish Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia-based school food program and food literacy nonprofit. Comparable in delivering school food and food education to children, but operates regionally in Atlantic Canada rather than BC.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Growing Chefs social profiles
Digital presenceGrowing Chefs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Growing Chefs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Growing Chefs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Growing Chefs 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 Growing Chefs
What does Growing Chefs do?
Growing Chefs is a registered Canadian charity that delivers hands-on food education programs to children, families, and communities in the Vancouver and BC Lower Mainland area. It operates three core programs: LunchLAB (a barrier-free school meal program where students prepare and serve culturally-relevant lunches under Chef-In-Residence mentorship), Classroom Gardening & Cooking Programs (three edible education lessons delivered in classrooms), and SummerLAB (week-long summer camp). Programs are delivered directly in partner schools through Vancouver School Board partnerships and supported by fundraising events, monthly giving programs, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants.
Is Growing Chefs a public or private company?
Growing Chefs is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Growing Chefs founded?
Growing Chefs was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Growing Chefs based?
Growing Chefs is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Growing Chefs make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, foundation and Government Grants, special Events Revenue, program Fees and third-Party Fundraising.
Who are Growing Chefs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are FoodCorps, The Stop Community Food Centre, Farm to Cafeteria Canada, Whole Kids Foundation, Edible Schoolyard Project, Chef Ann Foundation, Fresh Roots and FoodShare Toronto. Slow Food USA is listed as a broad incumbent. Nourish Nova Scotia is listed as a regional player.
Does Growing Chefs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Growing Chefs.
What industry is Growing Chefs in?
Growing Chefs's product category is Food Education Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAGAG, Culinary Arts & Cooking (Baking, Pastry, Global Cuisines), with a secondary code of EDAEAEAD, Menu Planning, Nutrition & Dietary Accommodation Services (Allergens, Special Diets). Its NAICS code is 72231 and its SIC code is 8351.