JBF FAQs

We are a nonprofit culinary arts organization based in James Beard’s former Greenwich Village townhouse.

Our mission is to celebrate, nurture, and honor chefs and other leaders making America's food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone.

Our diverse programs include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships for culinary students, publications, chef advocacy training, and thought-leader convening. The Foundation also maintains the historic James Beard House in New York City’s Greenwich Village as a “performance space” for visiting chefs. Learn more about the James Beard Foundation's events and programming.

James Beard was a prolific food writer, teacher, and cookbook author, who was also known as the “Dean of American Cookery.” These days we like to think of him as America’s first celebrity chef. Learn more about James Beard.

Although we do have a very robust scholarship program for culinary students, we are not a grant-giving organization in the way that some other foundations with large endowments are. The James Beard Foundation was founded posthumously by a group of Beard’s friends and colleagues without an endowment but with the desire to maintain Beard’s house as the important culinary gathering place it was during his lifetime and to further his legacy of supporting chefs and educating people about food.

The James Beard Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and accordingly the money we raise at our various events is used to fund our mission-driven programs and cover the cost of overhead. View our audited financial statements here.

Absolutely. We generally have student interns working in a number of our departments including special events, media, awards, and more. If you are interested in applying, please email us a cover letter and your resume.

Established in 1991, the James Beard Foundation Scholarship Program assists aspiring and established culinary professionals who plan to further their education at a licensed or accredited culinary school or hospitality institution, college, or university. As of 2018, the Foundation will have awarded close to $8 million in financial aid to 2,000 recipients. Learn more about the James Beard Foundation scholarship program.

Each April the list of scholarships being offered will be available on our website. The application form and full directions for completing the application are accessible at that time as well.

The scholarships offered depend on the funds raised, tuition waivers donated, and on criteria specified by donors.

Completed application forms are received and processed by Scholarship America, a respected independent non-profit group that specializes in scholarship administration. The James Beard Foundation’s scholarship selection committee reviews the semifinalists and selects the recipients.

In preparation for applying for a James Beard Foundation scholarship, it helps to gather and organize the following information even before the applications for this year are posted:

• Personal contact information
• Educational history (high school or college transcripts)
• History of other scholarships or grants received
• Work/apprenticeship history
• Brief statement of culinary goals
• Financial statement and copy of most recent federal income tax return
• A professional or educational source who will provide a brief evaluation/recommendation

Scholarship applications must be submitted online, as instructed on the application form.

Yes.

Yes. The scholarship application acts as a universal application, putting you in the running for all the scholarships we offer that you qualify for.

No.

Scholarship winners will be notified in August of the application year. The scholarship awards will be administered for the fall semester on behalf of the James Beard Foundation by the independent non-profit organization Scholarship America.

Yes. There is almost nothing more rewarding than helping a passionate, talented student realize his or her dreams. Scholarships are core to our mission, and we can work with you to determine the specific structure and criteria for the type of scholarship you would like to support. To endow a scholarship or donate to the Foundation’s scholarship program, please contact Keith Butler, JBF’s director of development at 212-627-1111 x566 or via email.

The Beard Foundation offers volunteer opportunities for current culinary and pastry students who would like to assist our guest chefs in the kitchen of the James Beard House. Our guest chefs come from all over the country and the world and cannot always bring their staff with them to New York City to help create the food they are known for in their restaurants. Culinary student volunteers work side by side with these chefs and their staff to prepare and plate a meal specifically designed to highlight the chef's talents. Volunteering is a fun, educational, and rewarding experience.

Begin by reviewing the policies and procedures and completing the application found here. Within two weeks of receipt, you will be contacted by our student programs manager to discuss the schedule and your availability.

Upcoming events at the Beard House are posted online one month in advance. Members at the Fellow level and above will have access to Previews, a digital newsletter which lists three months of upcoming events.

Scheduling for the upcoming month begins on the first day of the prior month. For example, bookings for all of April’s events begin on the first of March, and bookings for all of May begin on the first of April. If you are interested in getting on the calendar, please call the student programs manager to discuss dates and times that work best with your schedule. After this conversation, you are considered "penciled in" for the dates discussed, and we ask that you please keep those dates open until you have been contacted again to confirm the schedule. Three weeks to 10 days prior to the event, you will be contacted via phone to confirm your date and time slot, or to let you know that there is no availability for that date and time, with other possible options offered. It is very important to return all calls in a timely manner.

The need for volunteers depends on the chef. Some require more than others, some require none. We cannot guarantee the number of slots until the chef tells us exactly how much help and at what times he or she will need during their Beard House experience.

Due to the popularity of this program, it can take up to six weeks from receipt of your completed application to secure a confirmed spot on the calendar. Once you are on the calendar, bookings will not take that long.

The volunteer schedule changes several times each day; therefore, it is only available via the student program manager’s office. To learn about event openings, please call the student programs manager.

No, once you have been confirmed, you are responsible keeping your own calendar and for showing up at the scheduled date and time. The chefs will be counting on your commitment.

Please contact the student programs manager as soon as you find out that you are not going to be available so that another student can fill your slot.

There are two standard shifts for volunteers: 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. and 1:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. The lunches end by 3:00 P.M. and dinners end no later between 10:00 P.M. and 11:00 P.M. Guest chefs determine the call time required for their event. You will be asked to arrive at the earliest slot that you are available for. Depending upon the chef’s needs and your availability, you may either do a full-day shift or the morning or afternoon shift, and this will be determined when you speak with the student programs manager.

All volunteers should show up for their shifts at the James Beard House, 167 West 12th Street. Please note that the student program manager’s office is at a different location on West 18th Street. Please do not confuse the addresses.

Each student in the kitchen is responsible for bringing his or her own knives and a clean uniform.

If you are volunteering in the morning of a scheduled lunch, you will be assisting with last minute prep and plate-out. If you are volunteering in the morning of a scheduled dinner, you will be assisting the chef with prepping the ingredients for service later on. If you are scheduled for the afternoon of a scheduled dinner, you will be assisting with last minute prep and service plate-out. Please remember that all students must act and present themselves in a professional manner at all times.

Please inform the chef that you are new in school and want to do your best; the chef will take extra care to see that you are able to do whatever it is that he or she needs. If your skills are not up to the chef’s needs, he or she will try to find another task for you. If you find you are unable to perform most of the tasks asked of you, it is best that you observe for the rest of the evening and wait to volunteer again when your skills have improved.

Several of the Foundation’s larger New York City–area events, such as Chefs & Champagne, the JBF Gala, Sunday Supper at Chelsea Market, and many of the Greens events require student volunteers. The student programs manager will mention these to you as the dates for each approach. In addition, volunteer information for these events will be sent to your school’s student advisor in a timely fashion and will be posted accordingly. Confirmation for these events only will be via email.

We are currently creating relationships with culinary schools outside of New York City and soon hope to incorporate our volunteer program with our events that take place nationwide. To learn what events are taking place in your city, check out our James Beard Foundation events calendar. Contact the student programs manager to learn more about this opportunity.

While our official volunteer program is aimed towards current culinary students, we also offer up office internships working on wither JBF House events, or one of the out of house events listed above. These internships typically last three months. To learn more, send us an email.

Please send us an email. 

The James Beard Foundation is about good food for good™. Together with fellow food lovers, celebrate the chefs and leaders making our food system more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone.
We have a membership level for every food-loving diner and professional—many include significant discounts on dinners at the historic James Beard House in New York City.

The James Beard Foundation offers a number of different levels of membership for individuals, culinary professionals and students, as well as corporate memberships. Check out the James Beard Foundation's various membership options and benefits.

The enrollment process will walk you through a few options based on how often you expect to be attending James Beard Foundation events, if at all, and/or what level of support you are willing to commit to our mission. Start the process of becoming a member of the James Beard Foundation.

Follow the simple enrollment process online or call membership services at 212.675.4984.

Memberships expire one year (12 months) from the month of purchase.

Memberships are tax deductible above and beyond the value of the benefits you receive. This calculation is different for each level of membership we offer. For more information, please contact membership services at 212.675.4984.

Most of our events are open to the public. We make the details known in many ways. We have a complete calendar on our website. Every two weeks we also send out Beard Bites, an electronic newsletter that contains event highlights and other Foundation news. Certain events have special printed or electronic invitations. Becoming a member is the best way to ensure you don’t miss any of the exciting things going on at the Foundation. What’s more, members receive advance notice and discounts for most events.

For most James Beard Foundation events you will see a price for members and a price for the general public. Starting with Associate-level members and moving up the membership ladder, you are entitled to purchase a certain number of reservations per event at the member price. Any additional reservations for that event can be made at the general public price. For example, Associate members can purchase one reservation per event at members price and as many reservations as they want at the general public price. Fellow-level members can purchase two reservations per event at members price and additional tickets at the general public price. You can review the benefits associated with different James Beard Foundation membership levels.

Sure. Sign up to receive Beard Bites, our biweekly digital newsletter which features information about upcoming events, recipes and photos from the Beard House, scholarship details, restaurant news from around the country, and the latest on other Foundation happenings. Sign up for the James Beard Foundation's digital newsletter here.

Yes. Anyone can purchase gift certificates for any value and gift memberships over the phone with any major credit card by calling membership services at 212.675.4984. You do not have to be a member to purchase gifts.

You can cancel your membership by contacting membership services at 212.675.4984.

You can make tax-deductible donations to the Foundation and its programs. For more information, please contact our director of membership and individual giving at 212.675.4984 x 552 or at nrodriguez@jamesbeard.org. You can also visit our donation page here.

The James Beard Foundation Awards, a.k.a. the Beard Awards, are the food industry’s highest honor. Awards are given in many categories, including chefs and restaurants, books, journalism, broadcast media, and restaurant design and graphics, as well as for special achievements. Time magazine called them “the Oscars of the food world.” Find out more about the James Beard Foundation Awards.

The judges for the awards are selected by the governing committee for each awards category. For example, the book awards committee selects the judges for the book awards. The judges choose the winners by reviewing the entries and voting with secret ballots. The judges are all experts in their fields who may not enter their awards category during the year they are judging. (Judges may, however, enter awards categories they are not judging.) The judging process is overseen by an independent accounting firm.

Fortunately, the reputation of the Beard Awards means that we get thousands of entries from across the country. Anyone can enter. Each awards category, such as journalism or books, is administered in a slightly different way consistent with other awards in the field. This means that the entry process, requirements, and deadlines vary from one category to the next. But the process for each category begins on our website, where entry details and forms are posted in mid October for the following year’s awards. Learn more about entry details for the James Beard Foundation Awards.

The Awards are a program of the James Beard Foundation, which means the trustees of the Foundation have overall fiduciary responsibility for them. Sponsorship, entry fees, and ticket and advertising sales are intended to cover the cost of the Awards program, which includes fees for the independent auditors, administrative costs for the judging, the costs for the production of the ceremony, and the costs associated with the reception.

Absolutely. Every step is taken to assure that the Awards are open to all eligible candidates and administered fairly. James Beard Foundation staff members are not allowed to vote on the Awards, nor are trustees. And although we are extremely grateful to everyone who participates in our events, those events are in no way related to the awards process. Also, you do not need to be a James Beard Foundation member to receive a nomination or win an award. In fact, some of our highest honors have been received by chefs who have never joined the Foundation or participated in a Foundation event.

Besides performing to the best of his or her abilities, there’s nothing anyone can do to affect the outcome of an award. We hear stories of people campaigning for various awards but our procedures are overseen by an independent accounting firm and are not susceptible to outside influence.

No, James Beard Foundation trustees are not eligible to win a James Beard Foundation Award. (Nor can they influence the voting in any way.) Trustees must sign a statement of conflict of interest that states that they or their relatives will not be eligible for an award.

No. As with the trustees, all management and staff sign a conflict of interest statement that states that they or their relatives will not be eligible for an award.

No, sponsors do not take part in judging.

Bragging rights, a handsome medal, an impressive certificate, a lot of publicity, and the satisfaction of having been recognized by your peers. There are no cash awards.

Beard House events include dinners, lunches, brunches, workshops, readings, and education events. Each year we have more than 250 events, which break down to four to six dinners each week; occasional lunches, brunches, and cocktail parties; and one or two daytime readings each month as part of our Beard on Books and Enlightened Eaters series. Other events are sometimes scheduled around this core calendar. See what’s happening at the James Beard House this month.

Many people leave New York City on the weekends, so we're closed on those days during the summer months.

A typical event at the Beard House includes a reception featuring passed hors d’oeuvre and wine or cocktail pairings, followed by a seated meal which includes five courses (four for lunches/brunches) and wine pairings for each course. You also have the unique opportunity to meet the chefs and ask questions about the dishes you’ve eaten. Our occasional cocktail parties are walk-around events that highlight popular chefs and exciting themes.

The menu for each Beard House event is set by the chef months in advance and publicized along with the event. Occasionally, due to the seasonal availability of ingredients, the menu is slightly different on the night of the event. There is one set menu for the evening and the event is served in courses to all guests. There is no special ordering.

Because the Beard House receives a different guest chef every night and does not operate like a typical restaurant, it is very difficult for chefs to accommodate special needs. There is no pantry of ingredients to draw on and deviating from the set, published menu is difficult. If a special request is made at the time of booking a reservation, it can be conveyed to the chef, who may or may not be able to accommodate it. Special requests made on the night of the event will certainly be entertained but there is no guarantee they can be fulfilled

That depends on your membership level. Fellow-level members and the levels above them are given three months advance notice of upcoming events. Other members receive notification up to 60 days prior. The complete calendar is posted on our website for all to see one month in advance, and offers online booking through OpenTable. You can also call our reservations department directly at 212.627.2308.

No, all events must be booked and paid for in advance. The exceptions are general admission events, like our reading series Beard on Books and Enlightened Eaters, for which a donation is suggested.

Not exactly. The configuration of tables at the Beard House is pretty much fixed so we can’t really manipulate the seating. Part of the fun of the experience of dining at the Beard House is getting to meet interesting people who share a passion for food. That said, we always try to honor special requests for parties to sit together or to have a large group occupy a specific table. Such requests should be made at the time the reservation has been made. Seating changes are very difficult to accommodate on the day of the event.

For the most part our prices are set depending on the type of the event: lunch, dinner, or cocktail party. As most of our events serve two functions—programming and fundraising—we are always trying to find the perfect balance between making them accessible to as many people as possible and raising money to cover costs and contribute to our operating budget for our other programs.

Tipping at the Beard Foundation is not allowed. Unlike for-profit restaurants, our waitstaff are paid as regular employees and are entitled to benefits. There is no tax on James Beard Foundation events.

That depends. The law states that anything above the fair market value of an event for a charitable nonprofit is tax deductible. Because most of our Beard House events are priced at or below their fair market value—were you to go to a restaurant in Manhattan and order a similar amount of great food and wine you would pay a lot more money for it—the event charges are generally not tax deductible. Occasionally, when we plan fundraisers or special high-ticket events, a portion of the price may be tax deductible. In these cases we make the amounts that are tax deductible known and will issue letters for all tax-deductible amounts over $250 upon request as required by law.

The programming department receives inquiries and recommendations from various sources: working chefs and restaurateurs, winemakers, cookbook authors, publicists, members of the Foundation, staff members, JBF trustees, and members of the volunteer-staffed programming committee. In addition, the director of house programming actively seeks noteworthy talent as evidenced by press reviews and positive word of mouth.

The programming committee and its chairman meet monthly to recommend chefs and events to the director of house programming. The committee is made up of a group of food and wine professionals and gastronomic enthusiasts who volunteer their time to the Foundation. Their participation broadens the field of qualifying chefs, provides perspective from outside of the Foundation, and brings various areas of expertise and knowledge to the chef selection process. The director of house programming retains the final decision in extending invitations and scheduling events.

No. Events at the James Beard House are independent of the Beard Awards, though we are honored to welcome award winners to perform at the house from time to time for various events.

The James Beard Foundation welcomes the media at our events, but the responsibility of inviting the press and purchasing seats for them is solely the responsibility of the participating chef/restaurant.

No. Chefs and restaurants are considered based on their merit, their menu, and their ability to execute a banquet dinner for up to 80 guests. Once a chef, winemaker, or guest speaker is invited to participate in a Beard House event he/she will receive a complimentary Food and Beverage Professional-level membership to the James Beard Foundation for one year.

Typically, six months to a year in advance.

Participating in an event at the Beard House is costly for both the chef and the James Beard Foundation. Generally, chefs need the physical and financial support of a restaurant and its staff to help with the preparation and execution of their event, but we are happy to consider unique situations when they arise.

Chefs and other participants cover the cost of travel to New York City, accommodations, as well as food and beverage costs associated with the event. The James Beard Foundation covers the cost of staffing (waiters, stewards, and kitchen managers), linen, rentals, and marketing the event directly to its membership and the general public through electronic and printed publications. The Foundation also provides participating chefs with a portion of the event’s proceeds to help offset food costs.

Yes, events can be sponsored at the Foundation’s discretion and for a negotiated sponsorship fee. For more information, please email the director of house programming. Chefs and restaurants are encouraged to seek sponsorship directly to help offset the costs of their event, but the notice of that sponsorship will be limited to the event itself. No logos or other company information will appear in our publications or on our website.

Yes. Group events create a unique experience and help to spread the cost of doing the event across the participants. Smaller restaurants often team up with others to offset the costs of coming to the Beard House.

The costs to the Foundation associated with producing each event and maintaining the Beard House are covered by the price of each event. Those costs include publications, waitstaff, linens, upkeep, administrative staff, cleaning staff, chef reimbursement, and other expenses related to the event itself. What’s left goes to the general operating and programming budgets of the Foundation. View our most current audited financial statements.

Participating chefs all receive a comprehensive chef information packet in the mail, but all information about cooking at the James Beard House ​is on this website.

No. Although we host over 250 events a year at the Beard House, the Foundation also hosts events in other venues in the New York City area and across the country, including Chefs & Champagne®, our annual JBF Gala, Celebrity Chef Tour, and Friends of James Beard Benefit® dinners. Occasionally we even host events in other countries. We refer to events not held in the Beard House as out-of-house events.

No. Most Foundation events are open to the general public, although there is usually a discounted price for members.

It depends on the event. Every time you see information about an event, we will give you the appropriate number to call or website to visit for reservations. And you can always call our James Beard Foundation main reservations line at  212.627.2308.

For organizations or companies looking to promote themselves by associating with our events, there are a number of different opportunities. For example, organizations can become cash sponsors, donate products, contribute to our auctions, become gift bag underwriters, and/or purchase VIP tables. Our sponsorship department can tailor an attractive promotion/association program to suit your organization’s needs. For more information, please call 212.627.2090 or email yros@jamesbeard.org or jmarshall@jamesbeard.org.

As with all of our events and fundraising, the proceeds from out-of-house events go to the Foundation’s general operating fund, scholarships, or to cover the costs of other specified programs.

A national program held in cities throughout the country. Like a James Beard House dinner, each event features a reception and multi-course dinner prepared by JBF Award winners and other acclaimed chefs, as well as a Q&A with the evening’s chefs. With a minimum of 24 events per year, the program attracts approximately 3,000 guests and features approximately 130 chefs annually.

Friends of James Beard Benefits are fundraising dinners hosted by restaurants and hotels around the county. They are usually initiated by the hosting restaurants, who invite a group of guest chefs to participate. We refer to them as FOJBBs.

Friends of James Beard Benefits have a minimum fundraising requirement. Half of the funds raised at all FOJBBs are allocated to are allocated to one of three of JBF’s programs: the JBF National Scholars, Impact Programs, or the JBF Women’s Leadership Programs. The remaining funds are used to support the operations of the James Beard Foundation, including the administration of our programs.

We recommend that you start the planning process at least six months before the event. The James Beard Foundation starts to publicize and promote the event three months in advance.

Anyone who enjoys a great food and wine experience is welcome, whether or not they are James Beard Foundation members. Reservations are usually taken by the host restaurant; this information will be posted everywhere the event is promoted. Find out if there is a Friends of James Beard Benefit happening near you.

For a complete list of guidelines, contact Michelle Santoro at 212.627.1111x552 or via email.

The James Beard Foundation’s Greens events are geared to foodies ages 21 to 39 and held at the Beard House and different venues around New York City and Chicago. Greens events are open to members and non-members alike. The idea is to bring young people who share an interest in food and wine together to experience, learn, and have fun. Though Greens is not a membership category, James Beard Foundation members receive member discounts to Greens events and we strongly encourage all Greens attendees to become members of the Foundation. Check out upcoming James Beard Foundation Greens events.

All communication about Greens events is conducted via email. Sign up to recieve invitations and other information about Greens.

The James Beard Foundation offers exciting events for food lovers of all ages. View a calendar of upcoming James Beard Foundation events

Reservations can be made by calling 212.627.2308, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. All reservations are prepaid, so please have your credit card on hand. You will also need to provide a phone number. You must speak to a reservations department representative to consider your reservation confirmed. (Messages left on our voicemail system do not count as reservations.) As a courtesy, your reservation will be reconfirmed two to three business days before the event. View the James Beard Foundation reservation policy.

Expect a charge to appear during the month of your event. Most charges are processed within the week of the reserved event. Since all events are prepaid, please contact us if the card used to make your reservation has been lost or stolen before the charge appears on your bill, or if you would like to use an alternate card.

Yes. To expedite this process, please provide your email address, mailing address, and fax number at the time you make your reservation. Receipts requested after an event will be generated by our accounting department.

Most Beard House events are priced at or below market value, and are therefore not tax deductible. Exceptions occur with higher priced fundraising events, for which any amount above the fair market value of the event can be deducted. When the tax-deductible amount exceeds $250, tax letters will be sent as required by law.

Our cancelation policy and fees are as follows: a fee of $5 per person is charged if a cancelation is made more than seven days before an event and a fee of $20 per person is charged if a cancelation is made seven days to 24 hours before an event. No refunds are offered for cancelations made within 24 hours of an event or for no-shows. Cancelations left on our voice mail will not be honored. Reservations made for the Peter Kump Boardroom, our private dining facility, are non-refundable.

The Beard House seats a maximum of 80 guests and our tables seat between 4 and 12 guests. Due to the layout of our dining rooms, you may be seated with other parties. If friends are booking reservations separately, please be sure to indicate to the reservations department representative that you wish to be seated together.

Reservations are accepted for up to 20 guests in one party, and while a party that large cannot be seated together at the same table, we will arrange to have everyone seated at nearby tables. To assist in the process, it helps to send a list of names of the people who should be seated together to the reservations department at the time you make your reservation. For an additional fee, our private dining room is available for parties of up to 12 guests.

The Peter Kump Boardroom is available for most events at the Beard House. The private room seats 12 guests with options for AV equipment, privately held reception hours, and more. Contact the reservations department for more information at 212.627.2308 or at reservations@jamesbeard.org.

There is no official dress code for events at the Beard House; however, we do recommend business professional or cocktail attire. Events at the Beard House celebrate the chef, and respectful dress contributes to the ambience.

No. Everything listed on the chef’s menu is served to each guest. Visit the events section of our site to view the most up-to-date menus.

Chefs who visit the Beard House create distinct tasting menus that highlight their skills and cuisine. We ask that you carefully consider any allergies or dietary restrictions before booking; however, both the chefs and the James Beard Foundation understand that these limitations should not hinder anyone’s dining experience. Upon reserving, please alert the reservations department to these issues. Event managers will discuss with the chef what items to avoid or what accommodations, if any, can be made. If arrangements cannot be made, our reservations staff will gladly steer you towards a different event with a more suitable menu.

Dinners begin at 7:00 P.M., lunches and brunches at 12:00 noon, and cocktail parties at varying times. Our literary series Beard on Books and Enlightened Eaters start at 12:00 noon and last one hour. Dining events at the Beard House generally last 2 to 3 hours.

Unfortunately, the James Beard Foundation is not able to offer a reduced price for guests who do not drink alcohol.

The attendance of small children is discouraged both for their safety and for the comfort of other diners. We do not have special children’s menus, beverages, or prices.

If you wish to attend an event that is sold out, the reservations department will be happy to add you to a waiting list. Cancelations frequently occur and you will be notified but not obligated to make the reservation if seats become available.

Become a member! Fellow-level members and above receive notifications of events three months in advance in our monthly digital publication, Previews. Menus and more detailed event information are available online about one month before the events, but events may sell out before this online posting.

Yes. Chivian Garage has an exclusive partnership with the James Beard Foundation. The garage is located at 101 West 12th Street, at the corner of 6th Avenue, and has a $7 parking fee from 6:30 P.M. with validation from the Beard House maitre’d. For SUVs and cars 181” or longer the fee is $17.

Yes. The Beard House can be rented for events, pending availability. Please contact membership services for more details at 212.675.4984 or via email.

Beard Bites is a weekly digital newsletter that has information about upcoming events and Foundation news. It is available to members and nonmembers. Beard Bites is the best way to stay informed about what is going on at the Beard Foundation. Sign up here.

Previews is a monthly digital publication that gives three months’ advance notice of events. It is available as a benefit to high-level members, beginning at the Fellowship level.

In 2007 the James Beard Foundation republished one of James Beard’s classic books, Beard on Food. In March, 2012, we published ​The James Beard Foundation's Best of the Best: A 25th Anniversary Celebration of America's Outstanding Chefs​, which features recipes from and profiles of every chef who has won our Outstanding Chef Award. (If you purchase these books through our Amazon store, a portion of the proceeds will come back to the Foundation.) In February, 2016, we published James Beard's All-American Eats: Recipes and Stories from Our Best-Loved Local Restaurants, which features recipes from our America's Classics Award winners. Other book projects are in the works.

Our directories have been published online since 2007. At the moment they are being redesigned to be consistent with our new website.

There is no Foundation magazine, but we do publish feature articles, news, and recipes on our blog.

Yes. We are happy to consider previously unpublished work and queries. Please email your submission, along with a cover letter, to our media department.

As a rule, we do not publicize events besides our own unless we have some sort of formal relationship with the host organization or the specific event. We enact this policy not because we do not wish all food events to be a success, but because we wish to respect the wishes of our members and subscribers who specifically signed up for information about the Foundation.

We do everything to ensure the privacy of our members and subscribers and use the utmost discretion in sending out Foundation-related marketing information. We do not share our email addresses. And, of course, you are welcome to unsubscribe at anytime.

First, check your junk mail folder. If you see James Beard Foundation communications there, please add us to your contact list. If you still can’t find any of our communications, you might have accidentally unsubscribed from our list. Please be aware that if you unsubscribe from any of our mailings through our electronic mail distribution service, SubscriberMail, you will not be able to receive any of our digital communication. We take your privacy seriously. To begin receiving our digital communications again, please resubscribe to Beard Bites.

James Beard Foundation sponsorships are designed to help companies and organizations promote and market their goods and services. We consider our sponsors partners and work creatively to help deliver the full benefits of sponsorship. Cash sponsorships are available at many levels and in several areas of the Foundation. We tailor our sponsorships so that companies interested in promoting their goods or services to chefs and professionals can do so, and those more interested in promoting to a consumer audience have that opportunity, as well. For more information, please call 212.627.2090 or email yros@jamesbeard.org or jmarshall@jamesbeard.org.

The James Beard Foundation offers a House purveyorship program to high-quality companies interested in serving their products at Foundation events. Per a contractual agreement, the company agrees to pay a minimum cash sponsorship annually to the Foundation and donate products and/or services as needed for Beard House operations and other events. You can view a list of current James Beard House purveyors. For more information, please call 212.627.2090 or email yros@jamesbeard.org or jmarshall@jamesbeard.org.

The James Beard Foundation is dedicated to transparency. As a tax-exempt organization we are committed to publishing our complete financial information for the public. Audited financial statements from 2012 through 2017 are available online. Please note when viewing these statements that our fiscal year extends from April 1 through March 31. View our financial information here.

Yes. By donating to the Foundation you are supporting our mission and programs. You are saying that you believe that food is important, that American cuisine is something to celebrate, and that you want to help the people and practitioners who continue to work so hard to elevate the culinary arts. We gladly accept donations to the Foundation and its programs. For more information, please contact our director of charitable giving and strategic partnerships, Kris Moon, at 212.627.5252 or at kmoon@jamesbeard.org. You can also make a donation to the James Beard Foundation on our donation page.

Yes. Any donations may be earmarked for specific programs, such as scholarships, or for any uniquely named fund of your choosing.

Yes. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and all donations are tax deductible.