Nonprofits Are Embracing Culinary Education
Across the country, more nonprofits are turning to culinary education as a powerful means of supporting young people. Cooking, gardening, and hands-on learning through food are showing measurable benefits for confidence, wellness, school engagement, and community connection—outcomes that youth-focused organizations are striving to strengthen every day.
At Emeril Lagasse Foundation, we see this momentum firsthand through the programs we operate and the organizations we support. Culinary education is resonating with nonprofits because it offers something young people respond to immediately: a place to explore, create, and feel proud of what they accomplish.
Why Culinary Education Is Gaining Ground
Walk into a garden classroom or teaching kitchen, and you can see the appeal. Students are moving, tasting, asking questions, and learning through experience. They connect with food in a way that fosters both understanding and curiosity.
When young people prepare a dish they helped grow, or when a recipe clicks after a moment of teamwork, something shifts. These experiences support:
- Confidence and self-belief
- Practical life skills
- A sense of ownership and accomplishment
- Emotional and social development
- Stronger relationships with peers and adults
For many students, especially those in communities where food access and wellness are ongoing challenges, culinary education becomes a meaningful entry point to healthier habits and broader opportunities.
Nonprofits are embracing this approach because it supports the whole child. It blends creativity, skill-building, and wellness in a way that feels relevant and personal to young people.
Why Culinary Programs Thrive Through Collaboration
Another reason this model is expanding is its natural ability to bring people together. Culinary programs often involve teachers, families, local chefs, youth mentors, school leaders, and community partners, all contributing their expertise to shape the experience.
At Emeril Lagasse Foundation, collaboration is at the heart of every initiative we support. Whether through grants, scholarships, youth development programs, or our signature program, Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen, we work with schools and organizations that understand the value of shared learning and long-term partnership.
These collective efforts help create consistency, sustainability, and deeper impact across communities. When programs share ideas, adapt strategies, and learn from one another, everyone involved becomes stronger.
How Foundation Investments Help Grow This Work Nationwide
The growth in culinary education is reflected across the organizations we support. Through targeted investments and long-standing community partnerships, programs are expanding in meaningful ways:
- In Chicago, more than $750,000 in Foundation funding has strengthened hands-on culinary learning for youth and supported long-term community collaboration.
- In Spring 2025, $262,000 in community grants helped nonprofits teach cooking, nutrition, and wellness skills in both school and after-school environments.
- In 2024, the Foundation invested over $1.5 million in 28 organizations, reaching more than 55,000 young people nationwide.
These investments reinforce and expand the work local leaders are already doing, helping programs grow their reach and deepen their impact. As these organizations continue to learn from one another, culinary education becomes more accessible and more effective across the country.
Why This Movement Continues To Grow
Culinary education meets a range of needs that nonprofits prioritize:
- Supporting students’ confidence
- Encouraging healthier eating habits
- Strengthening academic engagement
- Building community and belonging
It’s adaptable across cultures, ages, and environments, and it resonates with both students and families. This flexibility makes it an appealing strategy for organizations that want to help young people thrive in school, at home, and in the community.
A shared path forward
As more nonprofits embrace culinary education, the field continues to evolve, and so does the opportunity to create lasting change. Through grants, partnerships, mentorship opportunities, and our programs that encourage hands-on learning, Emeril Lagasse Foundation is committed to supporting a future where every young person has access to meaningful, engaging food education.
If you are exploring ways to support youth and strengthen communities, culinary education offers a powerful path forward. And when we work together—sharing knowledge, resources, and purpose—the results reach far beyond a single classroom or growing season.
Please explore our programs and contact us to learn more about how we support culinary learning nationwide and the partners who help make this work possible.
