In 2025, Feed the Soul Foundation continued its mission to empower marginalized culinary entrepreneurs and students through education, business development, grants, scholarships, and community support. As restaurants and food businesses across the country faced mounting pressures from inflation, labor shortages, operational costs, and shifting consumer habits, the foundation expanded its reach and deepened its commitment to helping entrepreneurs not only survive while also building sustainable futures.
Founded in 2020, Feed the Soul Foundation was created to address the unique challenges faced by underserved culinary businesses. Over the last five years, the organization has evolved into a national support system for restaurateurs, chefs, caterers, food truck owners, hospitality students, and aspiring culinary entrepreneurs. In 2025, that work reached new heights.
Project NXT: Investing in the Next Generation
One of the most meaningful parts of Feed the Soul Foundation’s work in 2025 was expanding access to education and hands-on learning opportunities for students pursuing careers in culinary arts and hospitality.
Through Project NXT, the foundation continued investing in future culinary leaders by creating opportunities for scholarships, mentorship, career exposure, and experiential learning.
At the 2025 Global Culinary Conference in Houston, Feed the Soul Foundation hosted the inaugural Heart & Soul Scholarship Dinner, raising more than $100,000 in scholarships for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The evening brought together chefs, restaurateurs, industry leaders, and community supporters to celebrate the next generation of culinary talent.
Students from the Houston City College Culinary Arts Program gained valuable hands-on experience by working alongside professional chefs during the Heart & Soul Scholarship Dinner while also receiving scholarship support to continue their training.
The foundation also celebrated the success of Claude Tekem, a C-CAP scholarship recipient whose business management studies at Prince George’s Community College were supported through Feed the Soul Foundation scholarships. That support helped ease the financial burden of school and allowed Claude to focus fully on education and long-term career goals.
In another important milestone, students from Bethune-Cookman University’s Hospitality Management Program received scholarship support to attend the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality Fall Conference. There, students connected with hospitality leaders, explored career opportunities, and gained industry insights that will help shape their futures.
By investing in students today, Feed the Soul Foundation is helping create a stronger, more inclusive culinary industry for tomorrow.
Strengthening Small Culinary Businesses
Throughout 2025, Feed the Soul Foundation continued listening closely to the needs of food entrepreneurs and creating programs rooted in real-world experiences.
This fall, the organization introduced its first State of Small Culinary Businesses Report, designed to elevate the voices of culinary entrepreneurs while identifying the biggest challenges impacting small food businesses today. The report also highlighted solutions and opportunities that can help businesses grow and sustain long-term success.
To continue those conversations in person, the foundation hosted Coffee & Conversations at La Cocina de TJ. The community discussion brought together restaurant owners, city officials, and community leaders to openly discuss barriers facing small culinary businesses, while also identifying opportunities for collaboration and support.
These conversations are helping ensure the foundation’s programs remain grounded in lived experience and community feedback.
Financial Literacy and Business Growth
In 2025, Feed the Soul Foundation took important steps to help culinary entrepreneurs move from survival to sustainability.
This year, the foundation proudly graduated the first cohort of the 60% Pledge Financial Literacy Program, which provided three months of financial education and bookkeeping support for 30 culinary business owners.
Participants gained practical tools to better understand their finances, improve bookkeeping systems, and strengthen business decision-making. Today, many of those entrepreneurs are using stronger financial records to access capital and position their businesses for growth.
The foundation also launched the Culinary Business Network, a virtual training and community hub where food entrepreneurs can connect, learn, and grow together.
Since launch, the network has already seen significant engagement, including 175% growth in YouTube subscribers and more than 100 hours of watch time on business training content.
Most importantly, the network is creating a space where entrepreneurs no longer have to navigate business challenges alone.
Global Culinary Conference
In January, Feed the Soul Foundation hosted the Global Culinary Conference at Rice University in Houston, Texas, bringing together 125 culinary entrepreneurs and aspiring food business owners from across the country for three days of in-person education, networking, and community.
This year, the conference introduced the new Launchpad Track, designed specifically for individuals looking to start culinary businesses and gain foundational knowledge for long-term success.
Attendees participated in workshops and training sessions covering topics such as operations, branding, financial management, business growth, and entrepreneurship.
The conference also featured the Midflight Supplier Showcase at the Ion, where participants connected directly with organizations and companies offering small business solutions and resources. Featured partners included ADP, Mikasa Hospitality, Stella Artois, Sysco, and several others dedicated to supporting culinary entrepreneurs.
The event welcomed an inspiring lineup of keynote speakers, including Chef JJ Johnson, James Beard Award-winning chef, television personality, and restaurateur; Chef James Tahhan, three-time Emmy Award-winning chef and bestselling author; and Gocha Hawkins-Haynes, celebrity chef and owner of Gocha’s Breakfast Bar and Gocha’s Tapas Bar.
Together, these industry leaders shared valuable insights, personal stories, and actionable business strategies that participants could immediately apply to their own journeys.
The Global Culinary Conference continues to serve as a powerful reminder that when entrepreneurs come together, momentum happens.
Looking Ahead
As Feed the Soul Foundation looks toward the future, its mission remains rooted in creating opportunity, strengthening community, and building pathways for long-term success in the culinary industry.
The organization’s work in 2025 showed what is possible when education, mentorship, financial literacy, and community support come together with purpose. From scholarships and student training to business education, networking opportunities, and financial literacy support, Feed the Soul Foundation continues to invest in people and ideas that help the culinary industry grow stronger and more equitable.
Supporters also played an important role in helping move the mission forward through initiatives like employer matching gifts and the Dine & Donate fundraiser program. Participating restaurants, including Comfort Foodies and Gotti’s, helped customers turn everyday meals into meaningful impact by raising funds that support culinary students and entrepreneurs nationwide.
As the foundation moves into a new year, the mission remains clear: expand access to culinary education, strengthen small businesses, provide critical support to entrepreneurs in need, and continue building a more inclusive culinary ecosystem.
This is how lasting change happens. One student, one entrepreneur, one business, and one meal at a time.
As Feed the Soul Foundation looks toward the future, its mission remains clear: to provide pathways of growth and sustainability for marginalized culinary businesses and students. The organization’s work in 2025 demonstrated that meaningful impact happens when financial support is paired with education, mentorship, and community. From grants and scholarships to conferences and digital networking platforms, Feed the Soul Foundation continues to create opportunities that strengthen businesses, empower entrepreneurs, and inspire the next generation of culinary leaders.
In an industry where many small businesses continue to face uncertainty, Feed the Soul Foundation continues to show how access to resources, relationships, and knowledge can uplift lives, strengthen communities, and create lasting opportunities. Through innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to equity, the foundation is helping shape a more sustainable and inclusive future for the culinary industry.
