EIN: 46-2037695
Mission Statement
Kitchen of Purpose uses the power of food to change lives. An agent for socio-economic change, the Kitchen of Purpose generates workforce and entrepreneurship development and provides healthy food assistance in the D.C. metro area. Together, the Kitchen of Purpose community–staff, students, entrepreneurs, partners, supporters– create employment, launch new food businesses, and work to end hunger.
Program Summary
Workforce Development Program
Culinary Training
In our state-of-the-art training kitchen, community members seeking jobs with family-sustaining salaries learn the skills they need to work as qualified cooks and chefs. After the 8 weeks of training, our students begin a four-week paid internship with one of our employer partners. Internships lead to permanent job offers, and our graduates earn an average of $18.50/hour after they have completed our program that includes:
Front of House Training
Front of House Training is training for careers in the restaurant industry, focusing on barista and bartending skills. The 6-week training includes TIPS certification and job placement.
The Food Lab
With the right support, a small business can be a way to earn a family-sustaining income. Kitchen of Purpose provides the training and resources low-to-moderate income community members seek in order to launch successful businesses. Our Food Lab small business incubator offers:
Food Assistance
Meals to Low-Income Families
Our meals are prepared in our kitchen with fresh ingredients. Working with our partners, we alleviate food insecurity through nutritious meals without the stress and cost of preparation.
Meals to At-Risk Kids
This is where Kitchen of Purpose steps in. We provide after-school enrichment programs and after-school meals. The meals are fresh and balanced, meeting childhood nutrition needs.
Family Meal
This year, Kitchen of Purpose is launching Family Meal, “meals with dignity,” in our organization’s beautiful space where low-income community members enjoy a 3-course meal and learn about community resources.
Impact Statement
Kitchen of Purpose supports low-income communities with job training for jobs in the food service industry that pay family-sustaining salaries at no cost to participants. In 2024, Kitchen of Purpose achieved an 93% job placement rate, placing students in positions with $18.50/hr average wage.
Kitchen of Purposes empowers diverse entrepreneurs. Aspiring entrepreneurs seek Kitchen of Purpose’s support as they strike out on their own, having worked for years in the food service industry. Entrepreneurs of all backgrounds face barriers to entry, such as knowledge about business requirements as well as access to infrastructure and access to capital.
Kitchen of Purpose works for the health of our community through our Food Assistance Program, providing prepared meals with fresh ingredients and alleviating hunger. Since 2015, Kitchen of Purpose has prepared and delivered 50,000 healthy meals for the Northern Virginians experiencing food insecurity.
What ways can the public get involved?
We invite the community to change lives through the power of food! Opportunities to get involved include:
Mentorship and Coaching: Business professionals with financial expertise and small business experience provide essential support to our entrepreneurs. Volunteers share their experience with clients in our Small Business Incubator as they start or expand their small food businesses.
Skill Share: Kitchen of Purpose invites those with expertise in technology, social media, marketing, and communications to share their skills with Kitchen of Purpose and help us advance our mission.
Preparing Healthy Meals: We invite corporate and community groups to a team building activity that also transforms food into healthy meals as part of Kitchen of Purpose’s Food Assistance Program.
How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?
Information provided March 2025