Feed the Soul Foundation Celebrates Partnership with Grubhub
Feed the Soul Foundation, the non-profit arm of Black Restaurant Week, LLC, celebrates their partnership with Grubhub. As a recipient of the food ordering and delivery platform’s Donate the Change program, Feed the Soul Foundation is benefiting from diner donations this month, as well as from Grubhub’s virtual concert series, Sound Bites.
In addition to the historical systemic barriers, the global pandemic has disproportionately affected Black-owned businesses. According to the Restaurant Business analysis, only 130 Black-owned businesses received larger PPP loans in 2020. Only 7% of U.S. businesses before the coronavirus pandemic were Black-owned, according to data from a University of California, Santa Cruz study in June 2020.
In 2020, Feed the Soul Foundation received hundreds of applications – of which 94% were Black-owned – for their Restaurant Business Development Fund from marginalized businesses. With the support from Grubhub, Feed the Soul Foundation is able to expand the number of businesses in their unit and create additional programs.
“Two out of three minority businesses are concerned about the impending possibility of business closure due to the effects of COVID,” says Dr. Asheli S. Atkins, executive director of Feed the Soul Foundation. “One of our top priorities was to create the Restaurant Business Development Fund because it is designed to aid minority businesses and prevent closures."
Feed the Soul Foundation will use the diner donations to support the following initiatives:
* Multiple $10K grants will go to restaurant owners for business development, such as menu consultation, operations or marketing initiatives.
* Restaurant emergency fund supports restaurants with unexpected emergencies such as flooding or a break-in. * Scholarships to marginalized hospitality management college students, creating a pathway to grow the next generation of restauranteurs.
“We are committed to both uplifting and celebrating Black-owned restaurants every day,” said Jessica Burns, vice president, brand marketing and creative at Grubhub. “Feed the Soul Foundation has made an inspiring impact in helping this culinary community grow and we’re honored to help support their important mission with the help of our diners.”
During February, all proceeds from Grubhub’s Donate the Change program benefit the Feed Soul Foundation. Grubhub’s Donate the Change feature allows diners who opt-in to round up their change on their orders.
Grubhub also matches Donate the Change contributions by Grubhub+ members on eligible Grubhub+ orders. Feed the Soul Foundation was also Grubhub’s donation partner for Sound Bites, a virtual concert series which featured performances by Anderson .Paak and The Soul Rebels, with special guests Big Freedia, Trombone Shorty and Tarriona “Tank” Ball. During the live concert, fans tuned in and were encouraged to comment during the live stream, and Grubhub donated $5 for every comment, up to $100K, to Feed the Soul Foundation. Sound Bites took place on Feb. 12 on the Grubhub YouTube channel.
For more information about Feed the Soul Foundation, please visit feedthesoulfou.org.
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