Chef Ann Foundation
The Chef Ann Foundation is a public charity based in Boulder, Colorado. It supports school food change through resources, training, technical assistance, and grant programs that help schools serve fresh, healthy meals cooked from scratch.
Chef Ann Foundation at a glance
In short: Chef Ann Foundation gave $1.4M across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $128K), top state Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,403,915
- +117.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- -35.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $127,629
- +235.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $137,427
- Total assets
- $9,270,800
- +58.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (23% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Chef Ann Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests outside its specific grant programs. Its website says applications for current grant opportunities must be submitted by a district’s Food Service Director or the person in charge of food service. The website page for Get Schools Cooking gives a September 30 application date but does not specify the year, so it does not establish a current deadline.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1495 Canyon Blvd Suite Main, Boulder, CO 80302
Phone: (720) 500-2112
Website: https://chefannfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
12 open opportunities from Chef Ann Foundation
Alabama Farm-to-School Culinary Challenge
Chef Ann Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Bulk Milk Grants
Chef Ann Foundation
Amount
Unspecified amount in in-kind support
Deadline
Deadline not published
Chef Ann Foundation: Get Schools Cooking Grant
Chef Ann Foundation
Amount
Unspecified amount in in-kind support
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Chef Ann Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Commonwealth Kitchen ($325K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
36 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 36 (53%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s programs include national school-food initiatives. Its 2025 grants went to organizations in Alaska, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Reported shares of 2025 grant dollars included Massachusetts at 23%, Michigan at 21%, West Virginia at 16%, Maine at 13%, and Washington at 10%. Virginia Food for Virginia Kids is a state-specific partnership program.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Chef Ann Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $50K (2022) to $1.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth Kitchen Dorchester, MA | Systems Assistance Grant | $324,755 |
| New Roots Community Farm Fayetteville, WV | Systems Assistance Grant | $228,499 |
| Detroit Public School Community District Detroit, MI | Systems Assistance Grant | $153,058 |
| Anchorage School District Anchorage, AK | Systems Assistance Grant | $143,010 |
| Gulf of Maine Research Institute Portland, ME | Systems Assistance Grant | $141,249 |
| Muskegon Area Intermediate School District Muskegon, MI | Systems Assistance Grant | $137,427 |
| Northeast Washington Educational Service District Spokane, WA | Systems Assistance Grant | $108,748 |
| Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development Amana, IA | Systems Assistance Grant | $62,169 |
| Lewiston Public Schools Lewiston, ME | Systems Assistance Grant | $35,000 |
| Howard-Suamico School District Green Bay, WI | Systems Assistance Grant | $35,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Chef Ann Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $9,270,800 | $20,795,646 | $17,547,067 | $1,403,915 | 11 | $171,034 |
| 2024 | $5,832,573 | $20,510,630 | $19,198,375 | $646,076 | 17 | $15,163 |
| 2023 | $4,442,340 | $8,750,411 | $7,931,131 | $115,000 | 4 | $1,882 |
| 2022 | $2,616,480 | $3,766,687 | $2,856,653 | $50,000 | 1 | $1,803 |
| 2021 | $1,615,962 | $1,392,155 | $1,589,038 | $135,000 | 3 | $794 |
| 2020 | $1,770,231 | $2,361,662 | $1,716,471 | — | — | $4,393 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to ensure school food professionals have the resources, funding, and support needed to provide fresh, healthy, delicious meals cooked from scratch that support children’s health and the planet.
Its programs include scratch-cooking support and workforce development, as well as sustainability initiatives. These include Get Schools Cooking, which provides school districts with assessments, strategic planning, and system improvement grants; The Lunch Box resource library; School Food Institute courses; and the Healthy School Food Pathway’s pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, and fellowships. Grant programs also support salad bar and bulk milk equipment, and PLANTS subgrants fund projects led by local partners working to transform school food supply chains.
Among its 2025 grantees, Commonwealth Kitchen describes its mission as building a food economy grounded in racial, social, and economic justice by supporting diverse food entrepreneurs. New Roots Community Farm says it works to strengthen local farms, increase access to local food, and provide food-systems learning opportunities. The Gulf of Maine Research Institute describes its mission as developing and delivering collaborative solutions to global ocean challenges.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 11 grants totaling $1,403,915. Grants ranged from $35,000 to $324,755, with a median of $137,427. All 11 itemized grants were identified as Systems Assistance Grants.
The largest awards were $324,755 to Commonwealth Kitchen in Dorchester, Massachusetts; $228,499 to New Roots Community Farm in Fayetteville, West Virginia; $153,058 to Detroit Public School Community District in Detroit, Michigan; $143,010 to Anchorage School District in Anchorage, Alaska; and $141,249 to Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland, Maine.
The foundation’s website describes Get Schools Cooking as a three-year program for K–12 districts that includes technical assistance, assessments, strategic planning, and system improvement grants. A program listing describes the support as in-kind, with no amount specified. The website also identifies Virginia Food for Virginia Kids as a partnership focused on scratch cooking, local procurement, and student-inspired meals in Virginia schools.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ann Cooper as president and Anya Hamill as treasurer. Directors listed on that filing are Tom Spier, Nathan Irons, David De La Rosa, Helene York, Norbert Wilson, Tariq Sheriff, Devon Klatell, and Melissa Honeywood.
Chef Ann Foundation is led by Mara Fleishman, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2020; 1 of 12 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mara Fleishman
Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$142K (2020) → $277K (2025)
Ann Cooper
President
President & Chair → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$37K (2021) → $0 (2025)
Helene York
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nathan Irons
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Spier
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David De La Rosa
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Honeywood
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Norbert Wilson
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne Galle
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anya Hamill
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Devon Klatell
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tariq Sheriff
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Amy Shipley (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Kevin Emore (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Charles Dukes (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Emily Friedberg (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Einav Gefen (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Smitha Haneef (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Eric Span (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Maria Emmer-Aanes (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Mark Law (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Patrick O'Kelly (2020–2021) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $277K, to Mara Fleishman (Chief Executive Officer).
Frequently asked questions about Chef Ann Foundation
How much does Chef Ann Foundation give each year?
Chef Ann Foundation gave $1.4M across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $646K across 17 grants.
What is Chef Ann Foundation's typical grant size?
Chef Ann Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $137,427, and its average grant was $127,629, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Chef Ann Foundation give grants?
Chef Ann Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 23% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Michigan (21%) and West Virginia (16%).
Does Chef Ann Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Chef Ann Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Systems Assistance Grant" (11 grants).
Who are Chef Ann Foundation's largest grantees?
Chef Ann Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Commonwealth Kitchen ($324,755), New Roots Community Farm ($228,499) and Detroit Public School Community District ($153,058), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Chef Ann Foundation?
Chef Ann Foundation reported $9.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $20.8M.
What does Chef Ann Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to ensure school food professionals have the resources, funding, and support needed to provide fresh, healthy, delicious meals cooked from scratch that support children’s health and the planet. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chef Ann Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests outside its specific grant programs. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Chef Ann Foundation's EIN?
Chef Ann Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-2496810. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Chef Ann Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Chef Ann Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chef Ann Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Henry P Kendall Foundation
Marion, MA
The Henry P. Kendall Foundation supports New England food systems, especially regional food supply chains and local food procurement by schools and colleges, as well as related leadership and networks. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $500,000, with a median of $50,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests for general grants, but the New England Food Vision Prize is an open application opportunity for eligible projects.
Assets
$96.9M
Grants
39
Total Given
$3.3M
Bridge to Work Foundation Inc
Camden, ME
Assets
$6.3M
Grants
6
Total Given
$137K
TC Energy Foundation
Houston, TX
TC Energy Foundation previously supported charitable organizations, with 2023 grants focused on areas including education, community development, safety, and the environment; grants went to organizations in Texas, Montana, and Alabama. It awarded 7 grants totaling about $1.29 million in 2023, including grants of $41,423 to $250,000, but it has since wound down and stopped grantmaking. It gave only to preselected organizations and did not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
—
Grants
7
Total Given
$1.3M
Foundation for a Strong Maine Economy
Augusta, ME
Focusmaine propels the growth of Maine's most promising industries and transforms Maine into a hub for top talent.
Assets
$2.2M
Grants
7
Total Given
$1.9M
Richard & Elaine Ades Family
New Haven, CT
Assets
$144K
Grants
7
Total Given
$7K
Scanlan Family Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Scanlan Family Foundation funds preselected charitable organizations, with recent grants supporting education, universities, research, and related organizations, primarily in Iowa, Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, and Illinois. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $4 million, with a median of $1 million. It does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$103.4M
Grants
11
Total Given
$16.9M
More similar funders
More Funders in Colorado
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Chef Ann Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/chef-ann-foundation-morg_824c371bc8104a5b8f112772b9326e1a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_262496810_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Chef Ann Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/chef-ann-foundation-morg_824c371bc8104a5b8f112772b9326e1a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Chef Ann Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Chef Ann Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?