Restaurant Business Development Grant Program

The Feed the Soul Foundation’s Restaurant Business Development Grant Program is a private funding initiative designed to bolster the growth and sustainability of marginalized culinary businesses. The Foundation’s overarching mission is to provide a pathway of advancement through business development, education, grants, and scholarships, specifically focusing on historically underrepresented communities in the culinary space. This grant program is part of their broader efforts to uplift small restaurant owners through targeted resources and personalized development support. The grant program offers a comprehensive support package valued at $15,000 per recipient. Rather than direct monetary distribution, the value is provided through six months of tailored consulting and educational services. These services span several critical areas of business operation, including finance and accounting, marketing and advertising, human resources, operations, and business expansion planning. The intention is to provide long-term value by enabling entrepreneurs to develop internal systems and strategies that will enhance efficiency, visibility, and profitability. Key offerings include inventory and theft-reduction strategies under finance and accounting; promotional support through digital, radio, and PR channels under marketing; operational guidance through the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); and human resource consultations for hiring and staff development practices. Business expansion assistance is also a focus, helping owners navigate scaling processes like opening new locations or franchising. This holistic approach ensures that grantees receive actionable support across multiple domains of their business. Eligibility is targeted toward culinary business owners, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds. While specific eligibility criteria such as nonprofit status, business size, or years in operation are not explicitly outlined on the program’s public-facing webpage, the program clearly centers on restaurant operators in need of developmental support. No match requirement is indicated. Applicants are encouraged to subscribe to the Feed the Soul Foundation newsletter for updates regarding future application cycles. The grant application period runs from February 1st to April 15th each year, indicating an annual recurring cycle. This fixed window allows prospective applicants to prepare accordingly. There is no indication of a pre-application requirement such as a Letter of Intent or concept paper. Similarly, details on the application components, evaluation criteria, or review process are not publicly available, though the Foundation does spotlight past recipients as examples of program impact. In terms of contact, interested applicants or those seeking additional information can reach out via the official email address: info@feedthesoulfou.org. No phone number or specific program officer is listed. Although the program has operated since at least 2021, no downloadable PDF guidelines or NOFO were located on the site. The absence of these documents suggests that application and guideline details may be shared directly through the application portal or via email/newsletter communication.