Catering Education Grant 2026

2026 Catering Education Grant

Accepting Applications Now

GROW Catering Educational Foundation Grant Application

In keeping with our purpose to strengthen the catering community by providing education programs and scholarship opportunities, the GROW Board of Trustees has founded the Catering Education Grants Program. This Program offers an opportunity for qualified organizations to apply for a grant to support or develop an appropriate catering education curriculum for the catering industry.

Online application is below. Deadline for submission is 11/30/25.

Currently, GROW receives the bulk of its endowment funds from Industry Sponsors, the Catering Community, and other events produced as fundraisers, including GROW Culinary Learning Journeys. If you would like to support GROW, please click the link HERE.

GROW Mission Statement

GROW strengthens the catering community by providing educational programs and opportunities.

GROW Grant Program Purpose

GROW will award grant monies to a qualifying organization for the purpose of developing or enhancing catering education programs. For the upcoming period, GROW will award one grant for a maximum of $10,000.

Qualifying Organizations:

Must have a direct connection to providing education that advances careers in the catering industry.
Must either have a history of success in providing education in catering or an in-depth plan for how they intend to do so.
Must use funding for scholarships, faculty salaries, or identified program costs.
Have demonstrated a commitment to the catering and events industries and have relevant expertise in these areas.
Must demonstrate how this grant will further the mission of the GROW Catering Educational Foundation

Grant Guidelines:

Grants are intended to fund projects that will be completed or started and progressing during the period of the grant.

Please submit the Application online along with a cover letter.
The requested documentation and supporting materials your organization chooses to send should be sent as an attached document or as JPEG or PDF Files.
Applications for the 2026 fiscal year must be submitted no later than 11/30/25. All decisions of the GROW Education Grants Committee are final and will have been approved by the GROW Executive Committee.
If at any time the organization’s objectives or scope in programs change, the organization must notify the GROW Grants Program in writing prior to expenditure of funds for continued approval of the grant.
A site visit by a representative of GROW may be required as part of the application process.
If you receive a grant for 2026, the grantee will provide two (2) progress updates throughout the year. One after six months of the award and one at the end of the grant period. No extensions shall be granted for the Final Report submission. No additional funds will be considered until/unless the report is submitted.

Application 2026

2026 GRANT APPLICATION

The following documentation is required along with the Application and Cover Letter
and must be submitted by 5:00 pm Pacific time on 11/30/25.

Your applications will not be considered if all documentation is not attached:

A list of the Board Members or Administrators with contact information
A current budget for the organization
A project budget
Additional information related to your grant request that may be helpful for reviewing your application
Letters of support from members of the catering community or your community supporters
Most recent Form 990
Most recent financial statement

Please attach cover letter here + any other materials:

Maximum file size: 10MB

Organization

Legal Name (Organization): (List the name of your organization as it appears on your IRS Determination Letter.)

Organization Name (Provide the “Doing Business As” name of your organization, if applicable.)

Employer Identification (EIN) Number

Address

City

State

Zip Code

Phone ex: 999-999-9999

Email: this email will receive a confirmation email

Organization Website

Mailing Address, if different from above.

Contact Information/Executive Director/CEO/President Contact Information:

Name

Title

E-mail

Best phone number

Contact information for this request:

Name

Title

E-mail

Best phone number

Organization Background

Year Organization was established

Organization Mission Statement:

Organization History:

Organization History, Track Record and Future Vision:(Describe the organization, including current programs, accomplishments, operational values and how they are aligned or connected to the catering industry)

Constituents:

(Describe the people your organization serves, and the number of constituents served annually.)

Staff & Volunteers:

(Describe your staff and volunteer structure.)

Please attach two years of financials for the organization. (Total organization operating budget, including itemization of income and expenses.)

Maximum file size: 10MB

Grant Proposal Information

Summary of the project or program that will benefit from the grant

Total Project/ Program Cost

Amount requested from GROW

How are you planning to fund this project?

Funds on hand:

Funds pledged:

Other committed sources of funding:

Requests pending from other organizations: (list all below):

Name of organization & Amount requested

Time frame for use of grant funds:

How will the funds be used?

Describe the client population that will benefit from this grant:

How many people will benefit from this project / program?

How will the funds further the mission of GROW?

Upload program brochure or other collateral materials.

Maximum file size: 33.55MB

Board Chairman and/or Administration Information

Name of Board Chairman/Administrator (authorized representative)

Mailing Address + City, State, Zip:

Office Phone or Best Phone Number:

List the name and positions of additional Board Members:

Attest

By submitting a GROW Grant Application, your organization

I certify that the information contained herein, and the attached materials are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

I, we, agree to notify the GROW Grants Committee immediately in the event requested funding for the item/project is committed or received by another source, or should the item/project change from what is described in the Application.

It is understood that should grant money be awarded and is not used for the intended purpose stated in this application; all money will be returned to GROW.

Your Full Name

If you are human, leave this field blank.

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