California Restaurant Association Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $3.2 million
- Spending
- $2.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 26.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 300
- Highest pay
- $562,243, president + ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 26.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 41% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 24 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $214,174 spent. EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN THE RESTAURANT AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES.
- $501,153 spent. CREATE A BRAND OF EXCELLENCE IN TRAINING FOR HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY JOBS BY SUPPORTING PROSTART PROGRAMS THROUGH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN HIGH SCHOOLS. TO CREATE A NEW GENERATION OF RESTAURATEURS BY FUELING A DESIRE IN YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENTER THE RESTAURANT COMMUNITY.NATIONALLY, PROSTART IS RECOGNIZED AS THE INDUSTRY-BACKED TRAINING FOR HIGH SCHOOL CULINARY ARTS PROGRAMS. THE CALIFORNIA RESTAURANT FOUNDATION PROVIDES CULINARY AND HOSPITALITY TRAINING AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES TO THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE. PROSTART'S JOB READINESS TRAINING BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT. THIS BRIDGE IS CRITICAL FOR YOUTH FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE BOUND AND LOW-INCOME. VOCATIONAL TRAINING (ALSO KNOWN AS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CTE) PROGRAMS PROVIDE PRACTICAL SKILLS THAT ARE DIRECTLY TRANSFERABLE TO VARIOUS INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING TIME MANAGEMENT, TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION, AND CREATIVE THINKING. THESE BENEFITS ARE CRITICAL FOR THE STUDENTS WE SERVE. PROSTART ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO DEVELOP THEIR UNIQUE PASSIONS, INTERESTS, AND ABILITIES, WHETHER THAT'S IN THE CULINARY ARTS AND HOSPITALITY, OR ANOTHER FIELD ENTIRELY. WHILE WE HOPE TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF PASSIONATE FOOD SERVICE PROFESSIONALS, WE ARE MORE FOCUSED ON REMINDING STUDENTS EARLY (STARTING IN 9TH GRADE) AND OFTEN (THROUGHOUT ALL FOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL) THAT THEY CAN DO ANYTHING THEY SET THEIR MINDS TO. WHEN INCOME DOES NOT DETERMINE WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO OUR YOUTH, THE WORLD BECOMES MORE EQUITABLE AND THE POSSIBILITIES FOR SUCCESS ARE ENDLESS. CRF SUPPORTS TOMORROW'S CULINARY TALENT AND RESTAURANT BUSINESS LEADERS AND PROMOTES WORKFORCE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, OUT OF TWENTY CURRENT 9TH GRADERS, SIX WILL DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, SIX WILL GO DIRECTLY TO WORK AFTER HIGH SCHOOL AND EIGHT WILL BECOME COLLEGE FRESHMEN. DROPPING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL IS RELATED TO A NUMBER OF NEGATIVE OUTCOMES. DROPOUTS ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE IN THE LABOR FORCE THAN THOSE WITH A HIGH SCHOOL CREDENTIAL. STUDENTS ARE MOTIVATED TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND GRADUATE BECAUSE: THEY WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE; THEY WANT TO HAVE A GOOD JOB; THEY WANT TO ATTEND COLLEGE; AND, THEY WANT TO BE GOOD ROLE MODELS FOR THEIR PARENTS AND SIBLINGS. THE PROSTART PROGRAM OF CRF IS DESIGNED TO CAPTURE THE INTEREST AND ENGAGE THE MINDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE STRUGGLING STAYING IN SCHOOL. LEARNING THE CULINARY AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS TAUGHT BY OUR PROSTART CLASS PROVIDES PRACTICAL SKILLS FOR SUCCESS.CRF SERVES 140 PROSTART PROGRAMS WITH 13,500 STUDENTS. 50% OF PROSTART STUDENTS SURVEYED SAID PROSTART IS A MAJOR REASON WHY THEY COME TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY. 91% OF PROSTART STUDENTS CREDIT PROSTART FOR TEACHING THEM JOB READINESS SKILLS. THROUGH CRF/PROSTART EVENTS 73% OF STUDENTS FEEL BETTER PREPARED TO APPLY FOR COLLEGE AND 36% ARE MORE LIKELY TO STUDY HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT/CULINARY.
- $1.8 million spent. RESTAURANTS CARE LAUNCHED IN 2017 TO PROVIDE RELEIF GRANTS TO FOOD AND BEVERAGE WORKERS FACING UNFORSEEN HARDSHIP. BY HELPING WITH GRANTS FOR BASIC NEEDS DUE TO INJURY, ILLNESS, ACCIDENT, FAMILY DEATH OR NATURAL DISASTER, CRF UNITES THE INDUSTRY TO AWARD CRISIS GRANTS TO MEMBERS OF CALIFORNIA'S RESTAURANT AND HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY. CRF PROVIDES A SUPPORT NETWORK OF RESOURCES FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE TO FOOD AND BEVERAGE WORKERS. RESTAURANTS CARE IS A SAFETY NET FOR THOSE AT THE HEART OF RESTAURANTS AND FOODSERVICE. IN 2021 CRF EXPANDED RESTAURANTS CARE TO PROVIDE RESILIENCE GRANTS TO SMALL INDEPENDENT RESTAURANTS WITH A PRIORITY GIVEN TO PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WOMEN-OWNED RESTAURANTS.CRF CREATED THE GRATEFUL TABLE AND THE GRATEFUL TABLE DINE OUT FUNDRAISERS AS AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR RESTAURANTS CARE. OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING INCLUDE PERSONAL DONATIONS, CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS, EVENT SPONSORSHIPS, GRANTS, GIVING CREW, AND EVENTS. THE GRATEFUL TABLE IS A COMMUNAL DINNER CELEBRATION FEATURING CELEBRATED CHEFS, LIVE MUSIC, A TWILIGHT RECEPTION IN THE GARDEN, AND A DESSERT BAR UNDER THE STARS. THE GRATEFUL TABLE DINE OUT IS A MARKETING CAMPAIGN IN NOVEMBER TO DRIVE TRAFFIC TO RESTAURANTS AND SUPPORT RESTAURANT CARE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1996.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.