Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Inc

The Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Inc, with its Employer Identification Number (EIN) being 36-3271510, is a non-profit organization designated as a 501(c)(3) entity. This status makes donations to the foundation tax-deductible.

Purpose

The Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Inc. focuses on promoting education, particularly within the hospitality industry. It achieves this through various programs aimed at developing the next generation of professionals in the culinary arts and restaurant management.

Programs

• ProStart Program: This is a two-year culinary arts and restaurant management program available in over 50 Illinois high schools. The ProStart curriculum provides students with practical skills and experiences, such as career exploration, mentoring, job readiness training, and internship placements.
• Scholarships: The foundation awards significant scholarships to students pursuing culinary arts and hospitality studies, having disbursed over $3.4 million to date.

Financial Operations

As a 501(c)(3) organization, its financial operations are disclosed annually through the IRS Form 990. The foundation's income primarily consists of contributions, program services, and investment income, while expenses are allocated towards executive compensation, program execution, and other operational costs.

Categories and Recognition

The foundation falls under the category of Arts, Culture, and Humanities, specifically aligned with Historical Societies and Related Historical Activities (A82Z) in the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) system. Despite this classification, its main focus remains on educational initiatives within the hospitality sector.

Relationship with the Illinois Restaurant Association

The Educational Foundation is associated with the Illinois Restaurant Association (IRA), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, educating, and improving the restaurant industry in Illinois. The IRA itself plays a significant role in advocacy and policy-making for the hospitality sector. However, the Educational Foundation specifically focuses on workforce development and educational support.

[1] https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/363271510 [2] https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.illinoisrestaurants.org/resource/resmgr/2025/membership_brochure/2025_membership_brochure_ove.pdf [3] https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/illinois-restaurant-association-education-foundati,363271510/ [4] https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/page/IRAEF [5] https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/page/iraefscholarships