BENEFICIARIES

JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION/WEL

James Beard Foundation’s flagship program, Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (WEL), is an advanced educational, training and networking program for owners or co-owners of brick-and-mortar food and beverage businesses in the United States. Each cohort is comprised of 20 participants. WEL alumnae form a strong and broad community, with regular opportunities to connect with each other and the Foundation. Through an extensive 11-week virtual curriculum, participants work to refine and articulate their goals and vision for their business(es), identify solutions to improve operations and internal processes. They also develop sustainable strategies to scale and increase revenue, improve their leadership skills and create a network of support with each other and the broader WEL community.

WEL currently has 227 alumnae who own more than 400 businesses across 40 states and employ 4,000 full-time and 3,200 part-time staff . Twenty-one women are members of the most recent 2025 cohort of WEL, which graduated in December 2025. Combined, they own 42 business units, employ over 850 staff, serve over 2 million covers annually, and generate $76 million in revenue.

THE LEE INITIATIVE

The restaurant industry is one of the most culturally diverse and economically significant sectors in the U.S., employing over 10% of the workforce and generating 4% of the national economy. It’s also characterized by uneven access and structural instability. The LEE Initiative was established in 2017 by renowned Chef Edward Lee to address these issues -particularly in underserved regions such as the Midwest and Southeastern United States. With Chef Lee at the helm, SHIA opened in Union Market District in 2024 as the LEE Initiative’s first brick-and-mortar restaurant. The fi ne dining nonprofit establishment’s unique concept combines culinary excellence with community impact, conducting and implementing on-site research for getting the hospitality industry closer to zero-gas, plastics and waste solutions.

Regarding Her

Regarding Her is dedicated to accelerating economic mobility and long-term resiliency for women leaders in the food and beverage industry through its C.A.R.E.
framework—Capital, Access, Resources and Exposure. Serving more than 1,400 small business owners nationwide, including 278 in DC, the organization supports a community in which over 72% identify as women of color who collectively drive $715 million in purchasing power, employ 82,500 workers and serve 16.5 million customers each year. With a 12.5% business-closure rate—far lower than the industry average—members benefit from robust education, resources and networking.