Guide for Chef and Restaurant Benefit Dinners

• Jacques Pépin will be turning 90 years old on December 18, 2025. In honor of this momentous occasion, professional chefs, culinary personalities, and home cooks across the country will host dinners and fundraising events to support the Jacques Pépin Foundation.
• The Jacques Pépin Foundation supports free culinary and life skills training, through community-based organizations, that help individuals detached from the workforce gain confidence, skills, and employment in food service.
• As we celebrate and honor Jacques’ legacy, we aim to connect professional chefs with their local Community Kitchens and become ambassadors of our mission to change lives through culinary education.
• The 90/90 campaign will also fund the creation of a JPF Curriculum and dedicated educational website for Community Kitchens nationwide.
• Why does the Jacques Pépin Foundation’s mission resonate with you? Perhaps you have a personal connection to Jacques, the Foundation, or have known and/or experienced just how impactful culinary training has benefited someone with barriers to employment.
• A personal story, combined with statistics about the Jacques Pépin Foundation’s impact, will help donors understand why your fundraiser is important. Read more about our impact online here, and find photos, stories, and quotes on our Instagram.

• Host a dinner in support of the JPF at your restaurant or venue of choice anytime from Fall 2024 – December 2025.
• Some restaurants will offer a “Jacques Pepin-inspired” prix-fixe menu for one night and donate a percentage of the restaurant’s proceeds and/or run a special for a longer period of time to help raise awareness and funds for the JPF.
• Seated, multi-course ticketed dinners are a popular format, but if you have a creative idea that will allow you to cover your costs, align with your brand, and make a meaningful contribution to the Foundation, we encourage you to do so!
• Meaningful collaborations – It can be hugely valuable to collaborate with others from your community and join forces. You may have some collabs in mind. See who is doing events in your area.
• Here is a sample Run of Show to use as a guideline.

• The cost of the event ticket should cover the restaurant’s costs and provide a tax-deductible contribution to the Jacques Pépin Foundation. There are suggested donation amounts on the registration form.
• Create a realistic budget to make sure your finances are in order – even if you don’t sell out. As a rule of thumb, you should be happy at 80% occupancy and happy at 100% occupancy. This sample event budget may be helpful in calculating your event costs and fundraising goal.
• The JPF is confirming sponsored products to help with hard costs.  As sponsorships are confirmed, we will provide information regarding integrations.
• Product donations from your purveyors could help defray costs; JPF can provide non-profit certificate if need be.
• Your tax-deductible donation can be made via check or via the JPF website donation portal.
• Please make all checks payable to: The Jacques Pépin Foundation
, P.O. Box #28, Barrington, RI 02806.

Find event our Chef Toolkit and event collateral— visuals, graphics, press photos — on our Resources page for review and download to support your 90/90 event.

• JPF will highlight your event on the JPF website and social media channels
• Get social. Share updates, stories, and request donations on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and tag us @jacquespepinfoundation and #CelebrateJacques
• For tips and guidance on publicizing your event on social media, check out the 90/90 Social Media Toolkit
• Share your story about why this initiative resonates with you
• Send out emails and updates to your contacts requesting support. Demonstrate your passion to your potential donors and challenge them to match your commitment.
• Don’t be afraid to ask. No one will donate if you don’t give them the opportunity! On your invitations, you may want to include some language like “If you are not able to attend, but would like to support the JPF and culinary education, click here to donate.”

• Please send us your guest list so we can send a thank you note with a link for guests to activate a complimentary 90-day JPF Commis Membership, which grants access to Cook with Jacques Pépin & Friends Video Recipe Book.
• Send us your photos and videos from the event!  We’ll provide a Dropbox link when your event concludes.
• Post photos and event highlights and tag us @jacquespepinfoundation and #CelebrateJacques