Investing in the next generation of culinary professionals.
Where culinary careers begin
Built to take students from the classroom to the industry. Project NXT is Feed the Soul Foundation’s workforce and scholarship initiative for culinary and hospitality students. We partner with schools, colleges, and universities to give students what a classroom alone cannot:
- Direct exposure to real industry careers
- Connections with working professionals
- A clear path into culinary arts, hospitality, and business careers
HOW IT WORKS
Many students in vocational culinary programs have deep skills but a narrow view of what the hospitality industry actually offers. FTSF coordinates the program and provides industry connections, and our partners bring the students.
- Fellowships with real industry responsibility
- Workforce training in business and professional skills
- Field trips to partner campuses and industry sites
- Immersion days at the Global Culinary Conference
THE JOURNEY
The Project NXT pipeline follows a student from first exposure to career ready. Each stage builds on the last, creating a continuous arc from the high school classroom to the culinary industry.
1
High School
Career Discovery
High school students build hands-on culinary skills, explore hospitality careers, and get their first look at what the industry can offer beyond the kitchen.
2
Trade Programs
Workforce Training
Trade program students earn a workforce training completion award through business instruction and professional event experience that creates a direct, paid pathway into the industry.
3
University
Career Application
University hospitality fellows lead real event functions, build professional portfolios, and forge industry relationships through the Project NXT fellowship.
4
Industry
Career Ready
Trained, networked, and experienced professionals enter the culinary economy ready to grow businesses, create jobs, and build lasting careers.
3 ways we invest in students
Each program is built around a specific gap in what students can access on their own. Here is what we provide at each level.
High School Culinary Career Pathway Program
We work with culinary arts programs to give high school students classroom support, access to industry professionals, and real exposure to the full range of careers available to them in food, hospitality, and entrepreneurship.
Trade Workforce Development Program
We partner with trade programs to give culinary students structured business training and hands-on professional event experience, so they leave with more than a technical skill set and a clear path into the industry.
Project NXT Fellowship
We place hospitality students in paid fellowship roles at real industry events, giving them the professional experience, portfolio, and relationships that turn a degree into a career.
Student Scholarships
We fund scholarships for students at partner institutions pursuing careers in culinary arts, hospitality, and business. Funding is available through FTSF and through active programs at partner schools.
Being at the Global Culinary Conference showed me that this industry is so much bigger than the kitchen. I left knowing exactly what I wanted to build.
The fellowship gave me real responsibilities at a real event. That experience opened doors I did not know existed when I started the program.
programs we have supported
Project NXT has partnered with HBCUs, HSIs, trade programs, and university hospitality programs to place scholarships and create career pathways for students across the country.
Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership
UH | Houston, TX
Houston City College
HCC | Houston, TX
Florida A&M University
FAMU | Tallahassee, FL
Texas Southern University
TSU | Houston, TX
Morehouse College
MHC | Atlanta, GA
Bethune-Cookman University
BCU | Daytona Beach, FL
Culinary Careers Program (HISD)
C-CAP | Houston, TX
Culinary Careers Program (National)
C-CAP | Nationwide
Help us reach more students
Project NXT is ready to grow. More funding means more schools, more students, and more pathways into the culinary industry. Here is how you can help make that happen.
Sponsor A Student
Your contribution goes directly to student stipends, scholarship awards, and the program costs that make participation possible for students who otherwise could not access these opportunities.
Corporate Sponsorship
Join Grubhub, H-E-B, and Coca-Cola in investing in the culinary workforce pipeline. Program sponsorships include co-branded recognition and custom partnership structures.