NRAEF Programs
Military
NRAEF works with all branches of the U.S. military while in service and in transition with programs to assist in their Military development, and transition skills needed for restaurant and foodservice jobs and careers during transition from the military.
ProStart®
From culinary techniques to restaurant management skills, ProStart’s industry-driven high-school curriculum provides real-life experience and creates opportunities for career exploration.
Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center
RHLC provides employers with accredited training programs for Line Cook, Kitchen Manager, and Restaurant Manager. RHLC’s Registered Apprenticeship Programs compliment the Youth Readiness and Employer Advancement programs which help people within the industry overcome barriers.
Restaurant Ready & HOPES
Restaurant Ready is dedicated to helping people acquire basic job and life skills necessary to pursue jobs in the restaurant & hospitality industry and jumpstart a pathway to independence.
Hospitality Opportunities For People (Re)Entering Society (HOPES) helps start justice-involved individuals on a path to employment and independence.
Scholarships
Each year, NRAEF awards more than $1 million in scholarships available to individuals pursuing a post-secondary degree in the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry. We also provide grants to individuals pursuing industry certifications, to educators for professional development, and to ProStart educators for classroom enhancements.
National Restaurant Association Resources
The National Restaurant Association serves our indutry to help strengthen operations, mitigate risk and develop talent, advance business vitality through advocacy, and drive knowledge and collaboration. The Association provides a variety of training and certification programs for restaurant and foodservice works, as well as professional development and credentials for managers. Our flagship program, ServSafe®, is the industry standard for everything from basic food safety to management and workplace environment safety. We also have comprehensive resources for workforce engagement and industry statistics and trends.
Career Development News
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Launches JumpStart Initiative, Bringing Louisiana High School Students to Chicago for Immersive Experience at the National Restaurant Association Show
ProStart students from W.D. & Mary Baker Smith Career Center selected for a weekend of restaurant-focused learning and interaction through the first-ever JumpStart Grant
Maryland Teacher Phillip Cropper Named ProStart Teacher of the Year by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
Cropper named 2025 James H. Maynard Teacher of the Year during National ProStart Invitational, in Baltimore, MD
San Dimas High School and Chalmette High School Capture National Honors in High School Culinary and Restaurant Management Competition
Teams outshine competition from 47 states and the District of Columbia to win the National ProStart Invitational
