Southern Smoke Foundation
To create a healthier and more sustainable food and beverage industry by providing emergency relief grants nationwide and access to no-cost mental health counseling for food and beverage workers.
About Southern Smoke Foundation
Southern Smoke Foundation is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides emergency relief grants and no-cost mental health counseling to people who work in the food and beverage (F+B) industry. The organization operates a nationwide Emergency Relief Fund and the Behind You mental-health program, which offers free counseling in a growing list of states while providing financial aid for those outside the counseling service areas. In the last 2–3 years Southern Smoke has continued to scale program delivery and fundraising: it has distributed millions in emergency grants since 2017, delivered more than ten thousand no-cost counseling sessions, expanded Behind You into additional states, and sustained regular fundraising through its Southern Smoke Festival and related events. In 2026 the foundation was recognized with a James Beard Foundation Impact Award for its industry-wide work supporting food and beverage workers.
Notable achievements
Millions Distributed in Emergency Relief
Since its founding the foundation has distributed more than fifteen million dollars in emergency relief grants to food and beverage workers affected by illness, accidents, natural disasters, job interruptions and other crises.
No-Cost Mental Health Program Scale-up
The Behind You program has provided over ten thousand no-cost counseling sessions and expanded into multiple states, improving access to short-term therapy tailored to F+B workers.
Field-Building Fundraising Events
The annual Southern Smoke Festival and a portfolio of industry events have raised significant unrestricted funds and increased public awareness of the foundation’s work, enabling sustained grantmaking and program expansion.
At a glance
- Total assets
- $5.1M
- Annual revenue
- $4.3M
- Tax status
- 501(c)(3)Public charity
- EIN
- 81-2423050
- Location
- Houston, TX
- Website
- www.southernsmoke.org
- On Mahalo since
- September 2026
Financial figures from the IRS Business Master File, the IRS’s registry of tax-exempt organizations.
Recognition
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