The Chef Ann Foundation promotes whole-ingredient, scratch cooking in schools. This approach enables schools to serve the healthiest, tastiest meals so that kids are well-fed and ready to learn.

Visit Overview
Our Mission
Why School Food Matters
Founder Chef Ann
Our Team
Board of Directors
Financials & Annual Reports
Employment

We’re dedicated to empowering schools nationwide with the tools, training, resources, and funding they need to serve meals. Browse through programs to learn more about our work and apply for a grant.

Visit Overview
Get Schools Cooking
Salad Bars to Schools
School Food Institute
The Lunch Box
Bulk Milk
Research & Evaluation
Healthy School Food Pathway
California Pre-Apprenticeship
Colorado Pre-Apprenticeship
Virginia Pre-Apprenticeship
National Fellowship
Specialized Programming
Policy & Advocacy

Since 2009, the Chef Ann Foundation has worked with schools to implement healthy school meal programs. Dive into the organization’s history and learn about our impact on school food reform over the years.

Visit Overview
Our Impact
Our History
Success Stories

Want to learn how you can create school food change? Our toolkit lays out how to approach your district and advocate for healthier food in your child’s school.

Visit Overview
Step 1: Get Educated
Step 2: Get Organized
Step 3: Get Support
Step 4: Take Action
Tools for Home

Learn more about school food with resources, home recipes, and press materials.

Visit Overview
Resource Library
Home Recipes
About School Food
Press Room
Press Releases

Everyone has a role to play in transforming school food. Your gift fuels this movement, helping ensure every child has access to healthy, nourishing meals at school. Join us in changing the way we feed our students.

Visit Overview
Donate
Ways to Give
Our Supporters
The Lunch Box
School Food Institute
SCALE
Apply for a grant
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The Lunch Box
School Food Institute
SCALE
Apply for a grant
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WHO WE ARE

The Chef Ann Foundation promotes whole-ingredient, scratch cooking in schools. This approach enables schools to serve the healthiest, tastiest meals so that kids are well-fed and ready to learn.

Visit Overview
Our Mission
Why School Food Matters
Founder Chef Ann
Our Team
Board of Directors
Financials & Annual Reports
Employment

WHAT WE DO

We’re dedicated to empowering schools nationwide with the tools, training, resources, and funding they need to serve meals. Browse through programs to learn more about our work and apply for a grant.

Visit Overview
Get Schools Cooking
Salad Bars to Schools
School Food Institute
The Lunch Box
Bulk Milk
Research & Evaluation
Healthy School Food Pathway
California Pre-Apprenticeship
Colorado Pre-Apprenticeship
Virginia Pre-Apprenticeship
National Fellowship
Specialized Programming
Policy & Advocacy

WHAT WE’VE DONE

Since 2009, the Chef Ann Foundation has worked with schools to implement healthy school meal programs. Dive into the organization’s history and learn about our impact on school food reform over the years.

Visit Overview
Our Impact
Our History
Success Stories

PARENT ADVOCACY TOOLKIT

Want to learn how you can create school food change? Our toolkit lays out how to approach your district and advocate for healthier food in your child’s school.

Visit Overview
Step 1: Get Educated
Step 2: Get Organized
Step 3: Get Support
Step 4: Take Action
Tools for Home

KNOWLEDGE CENTER

Learn more about school food with resources, home recipes, and press materials.

Visit Overview
Resource Library
Home Recipes
About School Food
Press Room
Press Releases

SUPPORT US

Everyone has a role to play in transforming school food. Your gift fuels this movement, helping ensure every child has access to healthy, nourishing meals at school. Join us in changing the way we feed our students.

Visit Overview
Donate
Ways to Give
Our Supporters
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Our Mission & Vision

Mission

Ensure that school food professionals have the resources, funding, and support they need to provide fresh, delicious, cooked-from-scratch meals that support the health of children and our planet.

Vision

All children have equal access to fresh, healthy, delicious food providing them the foundation to thrive and meet their true potential.

Our Mission & Vision

Mission

Ensure that school food professionals have the resources, funding, and support they need to provide fresh, delicious, cooked-from-scratch meals that support the health of children and our planet.

Vision

All children have equal access to fresh, healthy, delicious food providing them the foundation to thrive and meet their true potential.

Our Story

The Chef Ann Foundation is the nation’s champion for real food in schools.

Founded in 2009 by “renegade lunch lady” Ann Cooper, the Chef Ann Foundation helps schools replace ultraprocessed foods with fresh, delicious meals cooked from scratch. 

Our team of school food changemakers includes former school food service professionals with nearly 200 combined years of experience managing school meal programs, chefs, registered dieticians, sustainable agriculture and food systems specialists, public health experts, researchers, policy advocates, parents, and former kids who relied on school meals.

Together, we operate local, state, and national programs that collectively advance one goal: Get schools cooking. 

To Date, We’ve Reached
19,000+

schools nationwide
5.9

million children
106643

Resource Downloads

To Date, We’ve Reached
19,000+

schools nationwide
5.9

million children
106643

Resource Downloads

Recommended Next Topic: Why School Food Matters

American kids start their life-path in K-12 schools where they learn the skills necessary to thrive and meet their potential. While the country debates the best ways to teach math, science, and English, we spend little to no time on food and nutrition.

Learn More

Recommended Next Topic: Why School Food Matters

American kids start their life-path in K-12 schools where they learn the skills necessary to thrive and meet their potential. While the country debates the best ways to teach math, science, and English, we spend little to no time on food and nutrition.

Learn More

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