Specialized Programs
The Chef Ann Foundation administers and supports a variety of specialized programs seeking to improve the quality of school meals, increase the amount of scratch-cooking in schools, and advance food systems change.
Read on to learn about our wide array of specialized programs.
Specialized Programs
The Chef Ann Foundation administers and supports a variety of specialized programs seeking to improve the quality of school meals, increase the amount of scratch-cooking in schools, and advance food systems change.
Read on to learn about our wide array of specialized programs.
We’re seeking proposals for research projects that will increase understanding of the current state of the school food workforce in the United States and/or explore strategies to create a stable and respected workforce that can provide healthy meals to students while supporting resilient local and regional food systems. We anticipate awarding 5–7 subgrants with a project maximum of $250,000.
This subgrant research program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service and cooperatively administered by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Chef Ann Foundation, and Food Insight Group.
The application period opens December 2, 2024.
We’re seeking proposals for research projects that will increase understanding of the current state of the school food workforce in the United States and/or explore strategies to create a stable and respected workforce that can provide healthy meals to students while supporting resilient local and regional food systems. We anticipate awarding 5–7 subgrants with a project maximum of $250,000.
This subgrant research program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service and cooperatively administered by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Chef Ann Foundation, and Food Insight Group.
The application period opens December 2, 2024.
Partnerships for Local Agriculture and Nutrition Transformation in Schools (“PLANTS”) is a sub-grant program that funds projects led by groups of local partners advancing systemic and equity-driven approaches to transforming school food supply chains.
Projects will build and strengthen relationships among community-based food system stakeholders and school districts as well as expand scratch cooking in schools in order to build more nourishing school meal programs and increase access to values-aligned foods.
This program is funded by the USDA Food & Nutrition Service Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative and is administered by Chef Ann Foundation in partnership with Kitchen Sync Strategies Collaborative, Center for Nutrition and Health Impact, and National Farm to School Network.
Photo credit: Sarah Trent
Partnerships for Local Agriculture and Nutrition Transformation in Schools (“PLANTS”) is a sub-grant program that funds projects led by groups of local partners advancing systemic and equity-driven approaches to transforming school food supply chains.
Projects will build and strengthen relationships among community-based food system stakeholders and school districts as well as expand scratch cooking in schools in order to build more nourishing school meal programs and increase access to values-aligned foods.
This program is funded by the USDA Food & Nutrition Service Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative and is administered by Chef Ann Foundation in partnership with Kitchen Sync Strategies Collaborative, Center for Nutrition and Health Impact, and National Farm to School Network.
Photo credit: Sarah Trent
As part of a cooperative agreement to develop and implement the USDA Food and Nutrition Service’s Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative, Action for Healthy Kids, and its partners RMC Health and Chef Ann Foundation, have awarded nearly $30 million in grants to 264 small and/or rural School Food Authorities across 44 states and the District of Columbia to improve the nutritional quality of school meals.
As part of this partnership, Chef Ann Foundation is providing technical assistance to grantees. This support includes facilitating innovative staff training programs, modernizing operations, and advancing other efforts to support school food professionals and healthy school meals.
As part of a cooperative agreement to develop and implement the USDA Food and Nutrition Service’s Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative, Action for Healthy Kids, and its partners RMC Health and Chef Ann Foundation, have awarded nearly $30 million in grants to 264 small and/or rural School Food Authorities across 44 states and the District of Columbia to improve the nutritional quality of school meals.
As part of this partnership, Chef Ann Foundation is providing technical assistance to grantees. This support includes facilitating innovative staff training programs, modernizing operations, and advancing other efforts to support school food professionals and healthy school meals.
Custom District Support projects are designed by Chef Ann Foundation in collaboration with school districts to address their specific school food challenges and goals. These projects are opportunities for one district or multiple districts to receive individualized and direct support for improving their meal programs. We work with districts in five key areas: Food, Finance, Facilities, Human Resources, and Marketing. Custom District Support is for districts that fall outside the parameters and/or timeline of our Get Schools Cooking program but are ready to create change. Projects are reviewed and selected on a case-by-case basis.
Note: While our Get Schools Cooking grant is funded, Custom District Support projects are not. During the appraisal period, we may partner with an organization or district to support fundraising efforts to cover program costs.
Custom District Support projects are designed by Chef Ann Foundation in collaboration with school districts to address their specific school food challenges and goals. These projects are opportunities for one district or multiple districts to receive individualized and direct support for improving their meal programs. We work with districts in five key areas: Food, Finance, Facilities, Human Resources, and Marketing. Custom District Support is for districts that fall outside the parameters and/or timeline of our Get Schools Cooking program but are ready to create change. Projects are reviewed and selected on a case-by-case basis.
Note: While our Get Schools Cooking grant is funded, Custom District Support projects are not. During the appraisal period, we may partner with an organization or district to support fundraising efforts to cover program costs.
Virginia Food for Virginia Kids (VA)
The Virginia Food for Virginia Kids program is a partnership with the Virginia Department of Education that focuses on increasing scratch cooking, prioritizing local procurement and providing student inspired meals in schools across Virginia.
Through this partnership, over 419,000 students are positively impacted by the Virginia Foods for Virgina Kids Program. Learn more about this initiative from our blog.
Virginia Food for Virginia Kids (VA)
The Virginia Food for Virginia Kids program is a partnership with the Virginia Department of Education that focuses on increasing scratch cooking, prioritizing local procurement and providing student inspired meals in schools across Virginia.
Through this partnership, over 419,000 students are positively impacted by the Virginia Foods for Virgina Kids Program. Learn more about this initiative from our blog.
Tompkins County School Food Reboot (Tompkins County, NY)
Tompkins County School Food Reboot supports public school districts in Tompkins County, NY to improve their meal programs by emphasizing whole ingredient, scratch-cooked meals, procuring locally wherever possible and providing a strong foundation for students’ academic success.
Through the School Food Reboot initiative, over 18,300 children in Tompkins County, NY are positively impacted. Learn more about the Tompkins County School Food Reboot project.
Chef Ann Foundation is partnering with the Park Foundation on this initiative.
Tompkins County School Food Reboot (Tompkins County, NY)
Tompkins County School Food Reboot supports public school districts in Tompkins County, NY to improve their meal programs by emphasizing whole ingredient, scratch-cooked meals, procuring locally wherever possible and providing a strong foundation for students’ academic success.
Through the School Food Reboot initiative, over 18,300 children in Tompkins County, NY are positively impacted. Learn more about the Tompkins County School Food Reboot project.
Chef Ann Foundation is partnering with the Park Foundation on this initiative.
Foothills Fresh (Western Nevada County, CA)
Foothills Fresh is an assessment and technical assistance program designed to support a school meal program that provides students from nine small, rural districts daily access to fresh, healthy food.
Over the three-year program, Chef Ann Foundation is conducting an onsite assessment; developing recommendations and a strategic plan; and providing technical assistance to help transform the meal program. This multi-district meal program impacts over 7,600 students in Western Nevada County and is positioned to be a model for other rural school districts to follow across the nation. Learn more about our Foothills Fresh initiative.
Chef Ann Foundation is partnering with local California nonprofit, Sierra Harvest, on this initiative.
Foothills Fresh (Western Nevada County, CA)
Foothills Fresh is an assessment and technical assistance program designed to support a school meal program that provides students from nine small, rural districts daily access to fresh, healthy food.
Over the three-year program, Chef Ann Foundation is conducting an onsite assessment; developing recommendations and a strategic plan; and providing technical assistance to help transform the meal program. This multi-district meal program impacts over 7,600 students in Western Nevada County and is positioned to be a model for other rural school districts to follow across the nation. Learn more about our Foothills Fresh initiative.
Chef Ann Foundation is partnering with local California nonprofit, Sierra Harvest, on this initiative.
