The Jacques Pépin Foundation
Our Discovery
The Jacques Pépin Foundation (JPF) empowers generations of professional chefs, home cooks, and communities nationwide by sharing Jacques’ legacy of culinary education.
Since 2019, the JPF Grants program has supported free culinary and life skills training that helps individuals detached from the workforce gain confidence, skills, and employment in food service.
Launched in 2016 by the family of renowned chef and culinary educator Jacques Pépin, the JPF engaged CFA’s support to conduct a comprehensive development assessment of its fundraising messaging and strategy to position the organization for sustainable fundraising growth.
Our Approach
CFA partnered closely with the JPF team to implement an in-depth analysis of their development program. Over the course of four months, CFA’s team of consultants conducted a giving analysis, interviewed staff, board, and donors, and reviewed fundraising materials, messaging, and systems supporting fundraising efforts.
Through this comprehensive process, CFA identified key opportunities for the JPF to achieve sustainable growth by establishing a strong foundation for its fundraising programs, expanding mission-aligned partnerships, engaging more deeply with their robust membership base to cultivate donations, and strategically leveraging its unique position in the culinary world.
CFA equipped the JPF with actionable recommendations to increase its team’s fundraising staff capacity, enhance its membership program, and strengthen its major gifts strategy in addition to providing donor segments and top priority prospects informed by an extensive donor potential analysis.
CFA also recognized the approaching 90th birthday of founder Jacques Pépin as an opportunity to solidify the future of the JPF and Jacques’ legacy through an extended celebration inviting chefs and their community of supporters to participate.
The Results
With CFA’s recommendations and guidance, the JPF recently hired its first Director of Development to lead the organization’s fundraising efforts.
The JPF also recently announced plans for its biggest fundraising initiative yet: hosting 90 ticketed dinner parties in partnership with top chefs and restaurants around the country to celebrate Jacques’ 90th birthday and lifetime of culinary and community achievements.
JPF kicked off the dinner party series in May 2024 with a dinner party at Marea in New York City and has launched a website where others can join in the celebration by hosting dinner parties of their own. These dinners will serve as a celebration of Jacques while introducing the JPF to new communities across the country.
“We thoroughly enjoyed working with your team and are so appreciative for all the tremendous resources and opportunities presented to us. We look forward to bringing the JPF to the next level based on your thoughtful feedback and assistance!”
– Marissa Ain, Director of Operations
“Our first ever year-end appeal was a success – THANK YOU for your advice and counsel on launching that. We now have a new team member as our Director of Philanthropy, and we send huge thanks for your help getting us to this stage – we loved working with you!”
– Jennifer Quigley-Harris, Director of Grants & Membership
