Established in 1991, the Scholarship Program serves a particular need in a post-pandemic world, with culinary school applications decreasing while the projected need for head cooks and chefs rising an estimated 15 percent from 2021 to 2031—over double the growth of other professions. As of 2023, JBF will have awarded nearly $9 million in financial aid to over 2,000 recipients, thanks in part to new partnerships with the Tasting Texas Food and Wine Festival and donor Jamie Hormel.
Applications for the 2023-2024 James Beard Foundation Scholarships are open, from February 7 to March 31, 2023. This year we're accepting applications for several scholarships, tuition waivers, and grant opportunities. Below is a selection of scholarships the James Beard Foundation will be offering:
- Debbie Lewis Women in Wine: the Debbie Lewis Women in Wine Scholarship honors the life of Debbie Lewis. Debbie had a lifelong passion for mastering the business of wine and set an inspiring example of dedication and hard work to all those around her. Up to one (1) scholarship of $5,000 will be granted.
- The JBF Caviar Chefs of Tomorrow Scholarship Fund: the JBF Caviar Chefs of Tomorrow Scholarship Fund was established in partnership with Caviar with the mission to increase diversity in the premium restaurant industry and aims to support BIPOC individuals who reside in the United States who are planning to pursue culinary or pastry training at an accredited institution. Up to two [2] scholarships of $20,000 will be granted.
- The JBF Mondelēz International Scholarship Fund for Equity in Leadership: the JBF Mondelēz Foodservice Scholarship Fund for Equity in Leadership is open to women-identifying and BIPOC individuals who are planning to enroll, or are currently enrolled, at an accredited institution, focusing on culinary arts, pastry and baking, culinary science, or food business, and who reside in the United States. Up to three [3] scholarships of $10,000 will be granted.
- JBF National Scholars Scholarship: JBF's National Scholars Program, which launched in 2016, provides ten (10) high-impact scholarships of $20,000 each to food-focused candidates of exceptional talent. Candidates for the National Scholarships are selected according to academic merit, as well as personal and professional recommendations. To ensure regional diversity of this national program, one awardee will be selected from each of the ten geographic regions defined by the James Beard Foundation Awards. The program awards $20,000 scholarships to ten (10) candidates from across the U.S., who demonstrate the potential for leadership roles in culinary arts, food studies, agriculture, hospitality management, and related fields.
- The JBF Visit San Antonio Culinaria Scholarship Fund: the JBF Visit San Antonio Culinaria Scholarship Fund is open to women and BIPOC individuals who reside in the state of Texas and are pursuing a degree at an accredited institution in culinary, pastry, restaurant management, or wine studies. Up to four [4] scholarships of $10,000 will be granted.
View the full list of scholarships here. To learn more about the program and application process, visit jamesbeard.org/scholarships. All scholarship application materials must be submitted by March 31, 2023.
