3.9% Cover the Fee

Supporting the next generation of food & beverage entrepreneurs. The Mentor Grant is a community-driven initiative designed to support aspiring and growing entrepreneurs in the food & beverage industry. Through your donation, you are directly contributing to an annual grant that helps bring a business idea to life or supports the growth of an existing concept.

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Make an Impact Today

Dear Community,

I have always dreamed of creating opportunities for those in the food & beverage industry, whether it’s helping young chefs pursue culinary school or supporting small business owners through scholarships and grants. It is both humbling and incredibly meaningful to bring that vision to life through The Mentor Grant. With strong connections to restaurateur communities around the world, we have the reach to make a real impact, and my goal is simple: to award a meaningful sum each year to help someone take the next step toward their dream.

If you’ve ever owned or worked in this industry, you understand the struggle. We are often overlooked when it comes to traditional grants, scholarships, and even formal education pathways. Yet our work brings people together, creates experiences, and fuels communities. It’s time we support our own.

Each year, donations will be collected through December 31, followed by an application and nomination period from January 1 through March 31. Finalists will be selected by our committee and featured right here on our website, where our community will have the opportunity to vote. The grant recipient will be announced on May 1st each year.

This is more than a grant, it’s a movement to invest in our industry, our people, and the dreams that keep it alive. Thank you so much for choosing to make an impact and possibly someone’s dream come true!

~ Dana Calhoun, B.S.

Founder, The Mentor Project

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“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”


— Winston Churchill