JBF Investment Fund FAQs

Independently owned food or beverage businesses with 50 or fewer full- or part-time employees as of February 15, 2020, and who are at least 51% owned by Black and/or Indigenous Americans may apply once each time a new funding window opens. Once a business has received a disbursement from the Fund, they are no longer eligible to receive funding in future rounds of grants.

The application process will consist of a form that will gather necessary information for determining an applicant’s eligibility. Applicants should visit the application page to review the materials that will need to be compiled. Please review the criteria to see what documentation is necessary to submit an application.

An application will be time-stamped and considered complete once the applicant clicks submit. Unfortunately, applications that are in process but not submitted by the closing time will not be able to be completed. All completed applications will be reviewed by the Selection Committee.

Any applicant who submits an application by 12:00 P.M. ET on September 10, 2021 but which is found to be incomplete will be contacted by the Foundation and given a period of forty-eight (48) hours from the time of 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. Unfortunately, applications that are in process but not submitted by the 12:00 P.M. ET closing time on September 10, 2021, or sooner if the 500 application maximum is reached, will not be able to be completed for consideration in this round.

Applications received for a specific round of funding will only apply for that round of funding and applicants will need to apply again for future rounds of funding. Applicants who receive a grant will not be eligible for future rounds of funding.

To qualify for funding, a food or beverage business must be (i) independently owned with 50 or fewer full- or part-time employees as of February 15, 2020, or (ii) a restaurant group in which each member restaurant had 50 or fewer full- or part-time employees on that date, and (iii) at least 51% owned by Black and/or Indigenous Americans. The Fund will ask applicants to identify the business type that best describes their business, but their category will not determine if they receive funding or not. Categories are defined as:

• Category 1: Food and beverage businesses without a standalone brick-and-mortar footprint (food trucks, food stalls, supper clubs, food and beverage consultants)
• Category 2: Brick-and-mortar food and beverage businesses without seated table-side service (fast casual restaurant, counter service restaurant or cafe, bakeries, distillery, etc.)
• Category 3: Brick-and-mortar food and beverage businesses with seated table-side service (full-service restaurant, brewpub, or speakeasy with full menu).

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 grant from the Fund. The Fund retains the right to reclassify an applicant to the appropriate category as needed.

 

To qualify for funding, a restaurant must be (i) independently owned with 50 or fewer full- or part-time employees as of February 15, 2020, or (ii) a restaurant group in which each member restaurant has 50 or fewer full- or part-time employees on that date.

For the purposes of this Fund, franchise owners are not eligible for this grant because their affiliation with a parent company does not allow them to fall under our definition of an independent restaurant.

Restaurant groups who are at least 51% owned by Black and/or Indigenous Americans are eligible to apply for funding if each of their member restaurants has 50 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 it meets the criteria. A restaurant that is part of a group may not apply on its own; it must apply as part of its group.

The Fund must avoid fraud and confirm that distributions are being made to the owner of a qualified small, independent food or beverage business. To aid in confirming the legitimacy of the business that is applying, please choose option 1 or option 2 below and submit all of the requested documentation outlined.

• Provide at least two proof of ownership documents. At least one of the documents must confirm at least 51% ownership by the Black or Indigenous American requesting a grant. Acceptable proof is a copy of a business license, ownership agreement, health certificate, liquor license, or other official government document showing the name of the qualified restaurant and the name of the restaurant owner. 
• Provide the account name for the bank account you use for your business. 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.
• Provide one letter of recommendation which outline the role of your business in your community and the service you provide.  Provide at least two of the below:  Copy or photo of your menu  Photo of your place of business  Receipt for goods used to run your business (food, paper goods, etc) 

At least one of the documents must confirm at least 51% ownership by the Black or Indigenous American requesting a grant. Acceptable proof is a copy of a business license, ownership agreement, health certificate, liquor license, or other official government document showing the name of the qualified food or beverage business and the name of the business owner. 

The Fund will review and contact the authors of the letters of recommendation that are submitted to confirm the legitimacy of the business and ownership by a Black or Indigenous American.

No, the Fund intends to support all types of food and beverage businesses.

No, the Fund is available to all applicants who meet the outlined criteria.

Completed applications will be reviewed by the Selection Committee. Each applicant approved by the Fund shall receive a one-time payment of $15,000. Approved applicants will be contacted by the Fund to confirm full banking details for a wire transfer, or to determine the best delivery method for grant funds.

Funds will be disbursed by November 1, 2021. Approved applicants will receive an email communication to confirm the distribution timeline.

The purpose of the Fund is to provide financial resource for food or beverage businesses that are majority-owned by Black or Indigenous individuals, 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.

2020 was a year of long-overdue upheaval and introspection, across wider society and within the food and beverage industry. While inequity and racial disparity have finally jumped into the national spotlight, these issues have always been present in the larger food system. According to a report by NPR, the gap has been greatest in higher-end and fine-dining restaurants where the white staff members tend to make up the majority of front-of-house (higher-paid) employees, while Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) tend to make up the majority of back-of-house (lower-paid) employees. Furthermore, individuals from these marginalized communities typically have a harder time accessing capital, often resulting in having to “boot strap” a business with personal debt or loans from friends and family.

The American food system is particularly relevant when understanding the history and oppression of Black and Indigenous people. From knowledge of the native foods already present in the Americas, to agricultural know-how for the newly introduced crops—such as African rice—which would become American food staples, to the preservation of cooking techniques from their native cultures, the influence of these groups on America’s food culture and food system cannot be overstated. And yet, throughout the nation’s history, the contributions, cultures, and identities of these groups have been appropriated for the profit of others with no monetary or other benefit to their communities.    The James Beard Foundation is committed to celebrating and supporting the people behind America’s food culture and championing a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability. As part of this commitment, we feel a responsibility to recognize and uplift all members of our industry, especially those whose contributions have been historically minimized and/or erased. We recognize that as a Foundation we have contributed to upholding systems of oppression—especially in the food world—and know it is time for us to take intentional and aggressive action to help create a more equitable industry for communities that are disproportionately impacted by systemic racism.

In acknowledgement of the immeasurable contribution that these two communities have made to the modern American foodscape, the Foundation is launching the James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Investment Fund for Black and Indigenous Americans to provide financial resources for food or beverage businesses that are majority-owned by Black or Indigenous individuals. These grants are one part of our Open for Good campaign, launched in April to rebuild an independent restaurant industry that is stronger, more equitable, more sustainable, and more resilient when it re-opens post-COVID-19.

This new Fund is part of the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to continually lift up the Black and Indigenous business owners in our industry, not just in light of the pandemic, but for good. Financial resource is that much more impactful when coupled with support from organizations and experts who make themselves available to provide guidance on professional skills like marketing, structuring business plans, and negotiating contracts. The Foundation is in the process of creating new partnerships to deliver this value to our grant recipients in an effort to see these businesses thrive for the long term. Additionally, all grantees will have unrestricted access to our new portal www.openforgood.com, which contains webinars, educational resources, and a one-on-one mentorship hub.   With this new Fund, we will support and encourage contributions of all forms and types which help to make American food delicious and diverse.

 

BIPOC in the United States face systemic barriers and racial inequities that prevent many from moving into positions of leadership and/or ownership in the food and beverage industry. America’s Black and Indigenous communities in particular have faced oppression for centuries, and were foundational groups upon which American systemic racism was designed. Through the processes of kidnapping, slavery, colonization, and mass genocide, these groups endured atrocities that would result in systems designed to oppress them and eventually oppress all people of color. These systems became a part of the fabric of our country.   The structure of the American food system was built, literally and figuratively, on the backs of Black and Indigenous Americans. From knowledge of the native foods already present in the Americas, to agricultural know-how for the newly introduced crops—such as African rice—which would become American food staples, to the preservation of cooking techniques from their native cultures, the influence of these groups on America’s food culture and food system cannot be overstated. And yet, throughout American history, the contributions, cultures, and identities of these groups have been appropriated for the profit of others with no monetary or other benefit to their communities.    

Black and Indigenous people often have their cuisines and cultures appropriated, their hand in creating major American food and beverage items and dishes erased, and their images exploited and racialized to the benefit of their white counterparts. We recognize these facts and seek to highlight the merits and contributions of Black and Indigenous people.    In acknowledgement of the immeasurable contribution that these two communities have made to the modern American foodscape, the Foundation is launching the James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Investment Fund for Black and Indigenous Americans to provide financial resources for food or beverage businesses that are majority-owned by Black or Indigenous individuals.