Denver, CO

COLORADO RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION EDUCATION FUND (operating as Colorado Restaurant Foundation)

EIN 74-2488379

Education & Youth Development Job Training & Career Pathways Children & youth

Mission

The Colorado Restaurant Foundation’s mission is to enhance the restaurant and hospitality workforce through education, skills training, career development, and by supporting the wellbeing of industry employees through emergency and wellness programs.

IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity Contributions are tax-deductible

Claim this page Visit corestaurant.org/foundation

About COLORADO RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION EDUCATION FUND (operating as Colorado Restaurant Foundation)

The Colorado Restaurant Association Education Fund (doing business as the Colorado Restaurant Foundation, CRF) is the 501(c)(3) philanthropic arm of the Colorado Restaurant Association. Founded in 1987, the foundation focuses on workforce development, scholarships, apprenticeship and ProStart® programs for high school students, and emergency and wellness support for restaurant and hospitality workers. CRF runs Colorado ProStart, manages an award-winning statewide apprenticeship program in partnership with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, administers the Angel Relief Fund for workers facing unexpected hardship, and has launched mental-health partnerships to expand affordable care for industry employees. In recent years the foundation has received multi-year grant support from institutional funders and reported substantial program spending (including reported revenue and Form 990 activity in 2024), underscoring active operations and donor-facing fundraising efforts.

Notable achievements

Established statewide ProStart & apprenticeship programs

CRF operates Colorado ProStart® (a high-school culinary and management program) and helped Colorado become one of the states selected to implement certified restaurant apprenticeship programs, creating clear pathways from secondary education into hospitality careers.

Angel Relief Fund — emergency & mental-health grants

CRF’s Angel Relief Fund provides one-time hardship and mental-health grants (typically up to $500–$1,000) to Colorado restaurant and hospitality workers; since the COVID-19 pandemic the foundation has distributed millions in emergency assistance and continued to expand mental-health support with local partners.

Major institutional grant support (recent)

In the last 2–3 years CRF has attracted institutional funding to scale programs, including multi‑year grants from foundations and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and notable support from the Daniels Fund (a six-figure grant reported in recent filings).

At a glance

Total assets: $1.1M
Annual revenue: $1.7M
Tax status: 501(c)(3)Public charity
EIN: 74-2488379
Location: Denver, CO
Website: corestaurant.org/foundation
On Mahalo since: September 2026

Financial figures from the IRS Business Master File, the IRS’s registry of tax-exempt organizations.

Recognition

Active 501(c)(3) public charity with tax-exempt status and regular Form 990 filings (founded 1987; federal ruling in the late 1980s).

Recognized program partner of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation for ProStart and apprenticeship efforts.

Credited by industry and local media for statewide workforce and relief efforts (Angel Relief Fund, scholarship programs, and mental-health initiatives).

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