National Restaurant Association

What We Do

The goal of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation is to enhance the stature of the restaurant industry by attracting, developing and retaining a career-oriented professional workforce and by creating a more positive business climate..

Engagement Programs

Our educational and training programs provide management, culinary, food safety and employee skills training to millions of Americans, building a pipeline of industry talent. These engagement programs include:

• ProStart^® program for high school students
• ManageFirst^® program for college students
• ServSafe^® Food Safety Training
• ServSafe Alcohol^® Responsible Alcohol Training
• Foodservice Management Profession^® (FMP^®)

Career Opportunities & Pathways

The NRAEF promotes career opportunities and pathways in the restaurant industry by offering programs, partnerships, outreach and scholarships. We celebrate industry careers through: 

• Real-life experience in ProStart
• Educator professional development programs in ProStart
• Scholarships for students and educators
• Faces of Diversity Awards that honor leaders who achieve the American Dream
• Restaurant Neighbor Awards that celebrate community service
• Research defining the American restaurant employee and career opportunities

Philanthropic Mission

The Foundation’s efforts generate program support to advance the Foundation's mission, including growing ProStart and scholarships. Our fundraising efforts include:

• Events
• Online donations
• ProStart donations
• Scholarship donations
• Memorials and tributes
• Planned gifts