1. Why did the James Beard Foundation create this Fund?
The James Beard Foundation recognizes the dire situation the food and beverage community is in due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund (the “Fund”) is to provide critical financial assistance to small, independent restaurants that, due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) national disaster, have an immediate need for funds to pay set operating expenses and keep from going out of business. Our goal is to do our part along with federal, state, and local governments to provide for workers, sustain local business, reduce the financial impact on communities, and otherwise mitigate the severe economic consequences of this global pandemic.
 
2. Why is the Fund needed?
Restaurants, bars and other independent food and beverage operations are strong economic drivers. For example, the culinary industry generates  $1 trillion in revenue per year, or 4% of U.S. GDP. The food and beverage community also employs nearly 16% of the American workforce.
 
These businesses support local economies and, according to some studies, restaurants pump as much as 60% of their money back into their local communities. They pay taxes, support municipal utilities and bring life into underserved neighborhoods.

Simply put, these businesses are essential. They are woven into the social and cultural fabric of our country, and it is our hope that the Relief Fund will help bring them swift economic relief and assistance during this time.
 
3. Who are the main funders and sponsors?
S. Pellegrino and PATRÓN tequila are founding corporate donors. Other recently confirmed corporate donors include Argyle Winery, Oatly, True Refrigeration, and White Claw. To date, the Fund has also received contributions from more than 300 individual donors.
 
4. When will applications be open?
We’re aiming to open applications early the week of March 30, 2020.
 
5. How long will the applications be open?
Due to an overwhelming response within hours of opening, the Foundation suspended the application for the JBF Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund. We recognize the tremendous need from independent restaurants across the country and will continue to work to support you however best we can. We will notify our audiences if the application is going to reopen.. Completed applications in each region will be reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each applicant (whether an independent restaurant or restaurant group) approved by the Fund shall receive a one-time payment of $15,000. 

We expect to begin distributing funds the week of April 6, 2020. We will continue to process applications until all funds are disbursed in each region. As additional funds are raised, we will allocate them evenly across the 12 regions and will process previously received but unfunded applications in each region first and then reopen the process for new applications. 
 
6. How were the 12 regions decided?
The 12 regions are the same as the regions that are used in the James Beard Awards process. Regions are reviewed and approved by the James Beard Foundation Awards Committee, the Restaurant and Chef subcommittee, and the James Beard Foundation based on information from the national census and a study of restaurant density.

7. Is there a deadline to apply?
Due to an overwhelming response within hours of opening, the Foundation has suspended the application for the JBF Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund at this time. We recognize the tremendous need from independent restaurants across the country and will continue to work to support you however best we can. We will notify our audiences if the application is going to reopen.
 
8. Can I apply multiple times?
Independently owned restaurants with 100 or fewer full or part-time employees or a restaurant group in which each member restaurant has 100 or fewer full- or part-time employees may only apply one time.
 
9. What will the application process entail?
The application process will consist of a short form that will gather necessary information for determining an applicant’s eligibility. Applicants should be prepared to provide all of the following:

  • Corporate/Individual Name of Owner and Address
  • Owner’s Tax Identification Number
  • Tradename of Restaurant or Restaurant Group and location(s)
  • Contact Name and Information (mailing address, email, telephone)
  • Electronic Funds Transfer (ACH) banking information
  • Upload at least one Proof of Ownership:
    • Business license, health certificate, liquor license, or other official government document showing the name of the qualified restaurant and the name of the restaurant owner. (Note: the name of the bank account holder to which funds are transferred must match either the restaurant’s or owner’s name shown on the proof provided.)
  • Website and social media information for the restaurant(s)
  • Number of full- or part-time employees at your restaurant as of February 15, 2020 

10. When is an application considered complete?
An application will be time-stamped and considered complete once the applicant hits submit.
 
11. What is the process if my application is not complete?
Any applicant who submits an incomplete application will be contacted by the Fund and given a period of forty-eight (48) hours from the time of the Fund’s outreach to provide the missing information. If the missing information is not provided within 48 hours, the application will be disqualified, and the applicant will need to begin the application process again. If the information is provided in time, the application will be considered complete as of the time it was originally submitted.
 
12. What if I apply but don’t get funded because the Fund runs out of money?
For applicants who apply and do not receive funding in the first round of disbursements, the Fund will hold your application. As additional funds are raised, we will process applications previously received but unfunded first and then reopen the process for new applications.
 
13. Are grants received from the Fund tax deductible?
Check with your tax professional, but the funding is designed to be a non-taxable charitable grant to those with critical financial need.
 
14. How are small restaurants defined for the purposes of the Fund?
To qualify for funding, a restaurant must be (i) independently owned with 100 or fewer full- or part-time employees as of February 15, 2020, or (ii) a restaurant group in which each member restaurant has 100 or fewer full- or part-time employees on that date. Brick-and-mortar businesses with a restaurant license and whose primary business is food service have been prioritized in each region.
 
15. How do restaurant groups receive funding?
Restaurant groups are eligible to apply for funding if each of their member restaurants has 100 or fewer full-or part-time employees as of February 15, 2020. Eligible restaurant groups should submit one application on behalf of the group, and the group will be eligible for one grant of $15,000 if they meet the criteria and on a first-come first-served basis. A restaurant that is part of a group may not apply on its own; it must apply as part of its group. Restaurant groups with locations in multiple regions must apply in only one region of their choice.
 
16. Who is eligible? 
To qualify for funding, a restaurant must be (i) independently owned with 100 or fewer full- or part-time employees as of February 15, 2020, or (ii) a restaurant group in which each member restaurant has 100 or fewer full- or part-time employees on that date.  Restaurants must conduct business in any U.S. State or Territory. Brick-and-mortar businesses with a restaurant license and whose primary business is food service have been prioritized in each region.
 
17. How will funds be distributed? How much money will each restaurant receive? 
Completed applications in each region will be reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each applicant (whether an independent restaurant or restaurant group) approved by the Fund shall receive a one-time payment of $15,000. We expect to begin distributing funds the week of April 6, 2020. We will continue to process applications received in a region until we run out of funds in that region. If additional funds are raised, we will allocate them across the 12 regions and will process previously received but unfunded applications by region first and then reopen the process for new applications.  
 
18. Is the Fund accepting restricted donations?
The Fund is accepting donations that are restricted to one of the 12 regions. At this time, the Fund is not accepting donations that have restrictions beyond the 12 regions.

19. What is the New Venture Fund?
The New Venture Fund (“NVF”) is a 501(c)(3) public charity that supports innovative and effective public interest projects. NVF was established in 2006 in response to demand from leading philanthropists for an efficient, cost-effective, and time-saving platform to launch and operate charitable projects. The organization executes a range of donor-driven public interest projects in conservation, global health, public policy, international development, education, disaster recovery, and the arts. The James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund is administered by NVF with technical assistance from the James Beard Foundation.

20. Will the New Venture Fund have oversight into the eligibility or selection process?
Eligibility criteria and the selection process were developed in partnership between JBF and NVF to comply with IRS requirements for a charitable, disaster relief fund.
 
21. Are fine dining restaurants going to be prioritized?
No, the Fund is available on a first-come, first-served basis to applicants who meet the outlined criteria.
 
22. Are James Beard Award winners being prioritized?
No, the Fund is available on a first-come, first-served basis to applicants who meet the outlined criteria.
 
23. When will funds be distributed?
We expect to begin distributing funds the week of April 6, 2020. We will continue to process applications until we run out of funds in each region. If additional funds are raised, we will allocate them evenly across the 12 regions and will process previously received but unfunded applications first and then reopen the process for new applications. Any funds that have been allocated to a region but have not been granted as of April 15th will be reallocated in the Fund’s sole discretion to another region where the request for support has not been met.
 
24. Will the distributed funds go to workers? Or owners?
The purpose of the Fund is to provide critical financial assistance to small, independent restaurants that, due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, have an immediate need for funds to pay set operating expenses and keep from going out of business. Our goal is to do our part along with federal, state, and local governments to provide for workers, sustain local business, reduce the financial impact on communities, and otherwise mitigate the severe economic consequences of this national disaster.

25. Who is making the decisions about who will receive distributions from the Fund?
To qualify for funding, a restaurant must be (i) independently owned with 100 or fewer full- or part-time employees as of February 15, 2020, or (ii) a restaurant group in which each member restaurant has 100 or fewer full- or part-time employees on that date. Brick-and-mortar businesses with a restaurant license and whose primary business is food service have been prioritized in each region.
 
Due to an overwhelming response within hours of opening, the Foundation has suspended the application for the JBF Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund at this time. We recognize the tremendous need from independent restaurants across the country and will continue to work to support you however best we can. We will notify our audiences if the application is going to reopen.

Funds will be divided evenly across 12 regions as defined within the James Beard Awards. Completed applications in each region will be reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each applicant (whether an independent restaurant or restaurant group) approved by the Fund shall receive a one-time payment of $15,000. We expect to begin distributing funds the week of April 6, 2020. We will continue to process applications received in each region until we run out of funds in that region. If additional funds are raised, we will allocate them across the 12 regions and will process previously received but unfunded applications first and then reopen the process for new applications.  
 
The Fund retains the right to make final funding decisions, in its sole discretion, consistent with the applicable criteria, which the Fund may amend as needed to ensure smooth operations.  In addition, the Fund, in making these charitable grants, wants to promote a safe, fair and respectful workplace.  Any restaurant that does not provide a workplace consistent with these values will be disqualified from receiving a distribution from the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to reallocate any funds still remaining in a given region as of April 30 to another region where the request for support has not been met.
 
26. Why is the Foundation distributing funds through a first-come, first-serve basis?
The James Beard Foundation acknowledges that distributing funds via a first-come, first-serve basis is not perfect. We recognize that many will be disappointed, but our number one priority is to send relief out as expeditiously as possible during this national disaster.  

27. How are you ensuring the diversity of recipients in terms of restaurant type, ethnicity, etc.?:
The fund will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis to eligible applicants. Although there are no diversity criteria per se, we hope that many of the chefs and restaurateurs within the JBF community will apply. From James Beard Foundation Award winners to Beard House dinner chefs, our community is the most diverse it’s ever been. 
 
28. What’s the difference between this Fund versus all the individual GoFundMe initiatives, and, on the other end of the scale, the Federal Relief Package?:
There are multiple fundraising initiatives across the country – at the restaurant / city / state level – illustrating the profound need for economic support for the restaurant sector. This nation-wide fund is designed to complement those efforts. The James Beard Foundation has a unique platform, and we are all motivated to harness it to support our community.

We have been actively involved in supporting the lobbying efforts to secure federal relief for our industry, and, as the details of the economic packages become clear, we trust there will be significant provisions for the restaurant sector. However, we recognize that our community needs immediate cash relief, and we want to do all we can to support that as the federal provisions roll out.

29. How else can I help the food and beverage industry?
Outside of donating to the relief fund, the James Beard Foundation has created an ongoing list of resources that you can share and view here. Additionally, you can sign up for our industry updates during COVID-19 newsletter here where you will receive additional resources, toolkits, and other forms of support.